For Mother’s Day we took a mini-vacation to Galveston and Moody Gardens.  We are out of town a lot to visit family but realized we had never really done anything for just our little family.  It was a nice break to get away and do something fun with the kids!  Plus, I don’t think I heard any whining or crying all weekend.  That’s probably the best Mother’s Day present of all!

The boys had a great time playing at the beach.  I don’t know if I’ve ever seen them so happy.  Jake was all about the water and Drew was all about the sand.  Which was evident from the insides of his swimsuit and swim diaper!

Jake and Drew were so sweet with each other.  They were holding hands unprompted all weekend…that’s true love I think.

We saw a 3D movie called “Flight of the Butterflies” which was actually really good!  I may have even cried a little at the end. Trust me, you would’ve too.  One man dedicated his ENTIRE life to charting the migration paths of butterflies.  I would’ve given up after about 30 minutes…so kudos to him.

We didn’t think the boys would wear their glasses but they were a big hit!

We had lots of fun in the sun at the “Palm Beach” waterpark at the hotel.  Again, we couldn’t get Jake out of the water and Drew just mainly watched.

Hiding from the cold water on the splash pad

Our little sandman

The butterfly habitat in the rainforest was a big hit!  Jake is obsessed with anything that creeps, crawls, or flies so he could’ve stayed here all day.

Sweet Drew was pretty worn out by this point.  He was a good sport!

Again with the love

We had a wonderful time and it’s nice to have a beach so close!  I know that the Mary 2 months from now will scoff at this comment but it is already getting SO HOT in Houston.  It’s in the 90′s today and I could melt.  Melt!

I think we have done more fishing this spring than I ever have in my life! I guess I should get used to this.  The boys love to fish and play in our creek.  My dad came to visit last week so we took him down there to see what we could catch.

I just love this picture of Seth and Drew!  Like father, like son.

And I also love this picture of Drew and my dad!  They are both focusing intently on their job.

Jake just wanted to play in these crystal clear blue waters…

All dressed up for church…they all look so handsome!

We had a great visit and the boys had a blast.  I’m pretty sure my dad went home with a sore back and a headache because it was nonstop jumping and talking to Grandpa (or “Gramp” as Jake seems to have renamed him)

Thought this was so funny of Drew cutting his eyes at the camera.  He is a mess!

First, I had to share this picture.  The boys just love their daddy!  He was traveling for work at the end of last month and when he got home they were glued to him.  Pretty sure he had to use the restroom like this.

(Kidding)

Jake’s soccer “career” has taken a turn for the better and he’s done really well for the past few games!  He hasn’t had much contact with the soccer ball (who says that part is important) but he doesn’t seem to care and loves running around with his friends.

If it appears that Lexi (#5) is giving Jake a back massage during the game, you may be correct.  I don’t know what these two were up to this week!

Watch out David Beckham.  Or his kids.

Seth is the assistant coach for the “Giants” and Jake has really enjoyed him being out there.

Of course Drew had to get his picture too!  It’s tough for him to sit on the sidelines.  I think we may have a second soccer player come next year.

“Goooo Giants!”

(notice Drew in the background!)

And of course, the main reason we finally got him out on the field…an orange snowcone.

Snowcones make everything better.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and those who long to be one!  I have truly been blessed beyond all belief with our two boys.  It seems easy enough before you have kids, but being a mother has challenged me, rewarded me and brought me to my knees with thankfulness (well…and sometimes straight-up frustration…ha!).

I think it’s easy for moms to feel sometimes that they aren’t doing enough…I fall into this trap a lot.  But then I remember that you can’t take raising two little people lightly!  Raising children is one of God’s greatest mission fields.  Not only do we have to potty train, teach ABC’s, and wipe noses, but we need to train our children to love the Lord, know His Word, and teach it to others.

Yikes.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,  so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Jake had “Muffins with Mom” at his school this past week and he loved getting that extra time to hang out and show me what he does at school.  And Drew (who is just ITCHING to get in that classroom!) loved playing with Jake and his friends.  They made the sweetest bag for all the moms with their handprints in the shape of a flower.  He said, “Mommy, I made this bag for you!  I used pink because it’s your favorite and now you can carry all your lipsticks in it!!”

It was so sweet and funny because I don’t even wear lipstick.

And of course, none of this would be possible without my own mother, mother-in-law, and grandmothers!  They have shaped me into the woman I am today and are a blessing to my kids as well.

Happy Mother’s Day!

We are still alive…no worries!  Life has been a little busy and I am finishing up my classes this week (anyone else find it amusing that I’ve been a “professor” for 3 years now!?  The poor kids.)

So my first goal next week is to catch up on this blog.

Hopefully…

Drew took a spill this week and has an array of cuts and bruises on his face.  We are currently in the market for a toddler-sized bubble if anyone has a spare!

I wanted to share this wonderfully beautiful post by Ann Voskamp, especially as we approach Mother’s Day.

Enjoy the beautiful weather this week!

“You kids don’t know how lucky you are…”

I always remember my parents telling us that when we were little.  We would complain about thing like “being so bored”, “not liking our toys”, “why isn’t my favorite TV show on”, etc

And then we’d have to listen to how my dad walked uphill in the snow both ways to school everyday (debatable…it is Texas, people), they only had sticks to play with, and a random assortment of other moans and groans.

I guess it’s the same thing I will be telling Jake and Drew except it will be…”I didn’t have an iPad when I was 3…we didn’t even have cell phones!”, “We couldn’t teleport ourselves to school, we had to ride the school bus…without A/C!”

I know, I had it so tough.

So it’s funny to me when I see all the fun things our kids experience but at the same time, they (mostly Jake) are complaining about how bored they are.  Life’s tough.

I hope they always enjoy life’s simple joys…like fishing!  We are lucky to live in a neighborhood with a “lake” and a big creek.  We love to go out and catch our dinner.  Or pretend like we do at least.

Even Drew is joining in on the action.  He is a little more reckless with the fishing pole so onlookers beware!

Drew loves his little girlfriend, Kate.  They walk their big brothers into preschool every week and this week Drew decided to escort Kate.  It was so sweet!

I love these random cool fronts we keep having.  We will be wearing shorts one day and winter clothes the next.  Crazy Texas.  Drew has finally realized how to say ‘cheese’ and doesn’t hold anything back!

And Jake loves getting into Daddy’s things while he’s at work.  I think he has a few more years before these fishing boots actually fit…

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  We are setting our goals low and hoping Jake at least stands on the soccer field this Saturday.

I’m hoping we are pleasantly surprised!!

We had a great weekend with my family and I’ll get to those pictures soon.  It requires plugging the camera in though and it’s all the way across the room.

In the meantime, we’re still recovering from Jake’s first soccer game.

It came as quite the shocker that there would be other kids trying to kick the ball too.  Jake and his friend, Lexi, spent half the game crying but maybe we will use this as motivation for next week!

Drew was cheesin’ it up all weekend too.  Can’t get over that face – so funny!

Thankful for the blessings of beautiful weather and family!