Fielding some ground balls
"Keep your eye on the ball!" How many times is he going to hear that in the next few months?
"Nice throw Buddy!"
They couldn't even get one hit in, before I came running out to give my "Good hit Buddy!" I was making dinner but watching every swing through the windows. He did surprisingly well when Paul pitched to him.
With my zoom lens I can take pictures from the patio and they don't even know I 'm out there. Sneaky.
Tyson always takes a lot of pride in his cookie decorating.
He's sort of an expert cookie decorator.
This pudgy little hand belongs to Emmy (as if you couldn't tell). This was her first time to decorate cookies.
The level of concentration is so intense here. Until she discovered she could eat the sprinkles, then we lost her. "Emmy eat sprinkles, Mommy?" Sure Em, have at it. I'm hoping she won't be speaking in third person when she's sixteen.
She DID NOT want him that close to her, which is a shame because this could have been a cute picture.
Y Voila! Beautifully decorated sugar cookies
So handsome, think I'll keep them both.
We survived the first day of kindergarten. By we I mean Tyson and I. He was nervous, I was nervous. He was anxious, I was anxious. He was nauseous, I was nauseous. Gee, I wonder where he gets his nerves of steel from? Tyson was pretty excited about starting kinder most of the weekend and even this morning he wanted to help pack his lunch and pick out his outfit. But as we began to prepare for departure......there went the excitement. HELLO "I don't wanna go to school!" As we pulled in to the congested mess also know as the parking lot, his exact words were, "Um, I changed my mind, I don't wanna be a big boy! Can we please not go in?" He cried off and on as we journeyed down the hallway to sit in the cafeteria. I stood by him until it was time to walk down to his classroom. I told him he had to line up with his class. I walked beside him and said good bye at the door. I was totally holding back the tears, somebody had to.
See.... here he still looks pretty excited as he gobbles down his breakfast of champions, mini pancakes and smokies.
Still looking pretty excited with the new gear (note the darkness).
On the way down to the cafeteria, eyes looking a little teary, but still holding strong.
We gave these to Tyson's teacher today. Apple cake pops. Mendi and I made these on Saturday to give as teacher 1st day gifts. They turned out quite cute, if I do say so myself.
Nora came to visit this week. We hadn't seen each other in over a year. Her last visit here was for my baby shower in 2007. And my last trip to Arlington was a while back, she had just had Addison. So we were due a visit. I met Nora in Jr. High in 1989, holy cow that was a long time ago. We were friends then and became better friends in high school and then became closer after graduation when we met back up one semester at Tarrant County College. She had come back from school in Utah and I was trying to make up what I had messed up at UTA. Anyway we got reconnected and became closer then ever. I helped her move, (several times, but I wasn't counting)anyway, I invited her on a trip skiing with my boyfriend, (soon to be fiance') and Paul invited his friend Roger. He had a feeling I wasn't gonna enjoy skiing so it worked out for me to have someone to shop with and he could have a buddy to hit the slopes with. Paul and I got married a year later and Nora and Roger moved to Utah and married a year later. Funny how things work out. They moved back to Arlington and we moved here to San Antonio. So here we are now, married with two kids and 20 years later still friends. 
Can't start the week without a visit to Krispy Kreme.
Hanging out at La Cantera
Addison was pretty fearless with animals.
Addison really liked Tyson. He seemed to just make her laugh all of the time.
Sweet Little Addison
Tyson and Alex got along pretty well this time. Tyson enjoyed showing him things. And Alex enjoyed Tyson's playroom.
Friday August 21st is officially the last day of summer vacation. Nora and I took the kids to the McKenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels. My kids have been there several times but always enjoy coming back. Nora had taken Alex a few years ago, I think he definitely enjoyed it more this time around. More on their visit in the next post. How 'bout this picture?!? Both kids smiling for the camera, it only took 2 years.
Nice pickle, Em!
These kids love the pretend grocery store.
Emmy is in deep thought inside the tee pee
Not sure what he's doing here
Daddy's future kayak partner.....some body better tell Tyson
She is finally wanting to hold hands with her brother. So sweet!
The Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City might be one of the coolest places the kids went to this summer. Mendi had the idea to take the kids to this wildlife park, it sounded like it might be fun. We thought we would invite a few other Mom's and their kiddos too. The plan was to meet at my house at 8:15 am, (since it's 200 degrees in the shade) try to beat some of the heat and bring a pack lunch. We all managed to fit into just two cars. So just like that, we headed out......four moms, ten kids and a dog (well no dog, but it sounded good) we had about a 50 minute drive ahead of us. First stop, Starbucks!!!! A couple of coffees and a frappuccino later we were on the road.
The welcoming committee greeted us as we drove through the gate on the trailer.
Emmy seems mildly impressed that there was some exotic animal sniffing her pig tails.
Here is some of the gang ready to head out to see the animals.
The llamas were beautiful.
This is Omar, he was a little aggressive with the food buckets (and no this was not taken with my zoom lens, he was really that close to me)
He was so PUMPED to see the animals. Ethan and him were so wound up the entire drive out there, they could barely sit still.
Emmy was pretty happy playing on the playground too.
Yes, that is a buffalo tongue. The boys LOVED throwing the food on this giant thing. Quick, who has the Purell???
Not sure which is funnier, Tyson's expression as this hungry camel tries to taste his fingers or the look on Justin's face while he laughs at Tyson.
They both had fun feeding the goats.
I could not get her to stop hugging the goats and the sheep.
Emmy and this floppy eared goat having a moment.....
It is official!!!! My little boy will be starting Kindergarten on Monday! I cannot believe it! We took Tyson to his new school tonight to meet his new teacher and see his classroom. It was so surreal! Especially since I clearly remember my kindergarten class. And now here I am with my own little kindergartener. He was pretty excited as he looked around and found his table. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I think Paul was too. As you can see form the picture above, we made a stop at PTA table to make contribution in the form of a hat, shirt, stuffed Timberwood Tiger, and oh yeah, a rather large paw print magnet.
Tyson asked me this morning if he "could make his new teacher a card to give to her tonight."
He wanted to draw an ostrich on it.....since we saw some today at the safari (pics to come).
He was so proud of his card and couldn't wait to give to her. That's my Buddy!!!!