Grady Spruce Campout

Oct. 17-19 Cadie and Grant attended their first YMCA Adventure Princesses Dad-daughter campout. Brooke Devault and her Dad, Brad, car-pooled with Grant and Cadie for the two and a half hour drive to camp Grady Spruce. Grant really wanted to find someone to ride with so that Cadie could get to know one of the girls one-on-one before they got into the larger group. Cadie tends to be a bit shy and it is helpful for her to have a connection before getting into the crowd. Grant and I often feel exactly the same way.

Grant said the campout was really fun and really loud. He showed me a video of the girls in the cabin and I couldn't believe how loud it was. Good thing that the Dad's all appeared to be experts at letting the girls do their thing while the Dads hung out in lawn chairs outside by the camp fire.

A few highlights - as reported to me by Grant and Cadie:
- Grant, Cadie, Brad and Brooke stopping at Wal-mart to buy Cadie and Brooke pink fishing poles
- Hiking to the top of Enchanted rock
- Cadie was nervous to ride horses, but once she got onto her horse, Squaw, she really enjoyed it
- Grant said Cadie was an "organizer" and planned activities including building a fort in Grant's bunk bed (Dad's all slept on bottom and the girls all slept in the bunks over their Dad)
- Activities including archery and fishing

When Cadie got home, she ran up and gave me a big hug. I looked at Grant and said, "This child has not showered since she left Dallas - has she?!" I was right and got Cadie right to the bath and then into bed. She slept Sunday afternoon for almost 4 hours and also lost her voice due to all the fun. I am so glad my baby girl and her Dad has such a good time together and made lots of memories.

 

 

Gus the Tortoise

Austin's girlfriend, Candace, just got a 2-year-old exotic tortoise and they brought Gus over last night to meet the kids. He was cuter than I expected and he liked our St. Augustine grass and then inside he found a corner by the kitchen table that he seemed to prefer. He didn't love Colton pulling his legs, but he didn't appear to be injured (thank goodness!). The kids all cried when Gus had to go home.

It has to be Roma's!

When I asked Jack Ranger what he might like to do to celebrate his 4th birthday, he said "Dinner at Roma's with Maddox and Will!" - DONE. He loved it, and it was so easy. I had originally planned the party for Monday evening, but then I realized Roma's is closed on Monday. When I asked Ranger if we could change to another restaurant, he said "It has to be Roma's!" So we changed the party to Tuesday night. The weather was perfect and at 5:30pm on Tuesday night, there wasn't a big crowd so we ended up having the entire patio all to ourselves (I think the other patrons were afraid to eat on the patio with us - rightfully so). The kids ran all around, threw bread to the fish and turtles in the creek and ate lots of pizza and cake.

For those that haven't been to Roma's Italian Restaurant, it isn't a natural choice for a 4-year boys birthday party. It isn't even all that particularly nice. But, Jack Ranger was so happy and he told me that it was the best birthday ever! He talked about the party for 2 days and on Thursday as I took him to school he wanted to recount the party highlights. Which for him included his great friend Will and the gifts of toy cars. Grant picked the cake and he nailed it - 3 hot wheels on top!

Jack Ranger's party included DD and Big John, Nina and Papa, Amanda, Will and his parents Carlyn and Michael and Maddox and his Dad Bruce and his brother Hudson. And of course, Grant, Cadie, Colton and I. He got a special gift of balloons from Papa, which Papa had to work harder than expected for since the first round of balloons blew away. A pirate costume from Nina. Bomber jacket from DD and Big John. Lego's from Will and a dinosaur car from Maddox. Jack Ranger was very happy with his loot.

We love you Jack Ranger! You are funny, energetic, silly, opinionated, adorable (I don't think I will ever get over those boots he wears 100% of the time), talkative and friendly. I love how you talk with your hands, sing "Our God is an Awesome God" and love your mama!

One of my favorite recent Jack Ranger stories... Colton loves to say "Da Da" and he says it ALL the time. Recently while Colton was busy repeating, "Da Da, Da Da, Da Da." I said, "Why is Colton so obsessed with Dad!" and Jack Ranger responded, "Don't worry Mom, I am obsessed with you." My sweet birthday boy, I am obsessed with you too!

Celebrating Jack Rangers 4th Birthday at Scofield

Today I took donut holes to Jack Ranger's class at school and I got to have snack with them and read two books for the class. I read "Little Blue Truck" and "Yummy Yucky" and Jack Ranger was so excited to have me there. He asked me tonight at bedtime when I could come back with donut holes and books. It was a beautiful day in Dallas and that special time with JR got my day started off right. I have been working too much and since I want to be with the kids in the evenings, that means earlier and earlier mornings. My alarm went off at 5:30am and I was out the door by 6am most mornings this week. By tomorrow night, I will be a puddle on the floor, but for now I am hanging in there and I enjoyed my sweet time today with JR. I love you little buddy!

Cadie is 6!

It has been a week of celebration for Cadie's birthday! It started out on Friday, Oct. 3 when JR and I took Mustang Donut Holes to her class for lunch. Then on Sunday, Oct. 5 (her actual birthday) Nina brought a birthday balloon to church and then after church Cadie opened a few gifts from our family. Yesterday, we had a party at our house with Carter Reese, Anna Lee, Ella Kim and LaLa Riley. DD and Big John, Nina and Papa and Ace also joined in the fun. We colored masks, made butterfly wands, wore butterfly wings, ate pizza and cake, played Candy Land and played outside. Cadie had a good time and the rest of us did as well. Grant and I kept teasing Cadie that we were canceling her birthday so that she wouldn't get older, but it happened anyway. My baby is not such a baby anymore.

JR and I had fun joining Cadie for lunch at her school.

Special birthday balloon and rocking bird from Nina.

Colton says, "I like parties too!"

Big John the butterfly catcher!!

Everyone hard at work!

Me and my birthday girl!

She thought for SO long about her wish. I wonder what it was...