Sky Ranch Family Weekend

Sky Ranch Family weekend was even more fun than I expected. It helped that the weather was incredible and that our good friends, The Jameson's, came with us. We caravanned to Sky Ranch and although we were a smidge late for check-in due a late start and a Buc-ees stop, we made it just in time for dinner. After dinner we quickly checked in our rooms (which were surpassingly nice). As we were getting situated in our rooms, Cadie realized we had left her brand new retainer on the dinner table! She and I rushed back to the dining hall. We dug through all the trash with two of the sweetest counselors ever and we found it in the 5th and final trash can. I was so relieved and we were just in time to go to the family devotion time and then Night Zip-Lining! The Dads did not do the zip lines, but the Moms and big kids had a great time.

Saturday morning was an early breakfast, devotion time, and then on to lots of activities. We started off with Laser Tag. I think the kids liked the idea of it, but none of us were really sure how to play. It was only about 30 minutes which was good because we didn't know what we were doing. Then, we did the vertical which was basically a high-ropes course. It was a huge hit and the kids didn't want to leave even though we had played for over an hour and a half. I stayed put on the ground, but Grant made it all the way to the top! The kids were all monkeys and Colton even did the big swing.

Saturday afternoon we did Bazooka ball which was a total blast. It was basically paint guns but retrofitted with small, soft nerf balls. We all loved it. We also did the jumping pillow, maze, Christmas crafts and took a short nap before dinner. After dinner we had family pictures and minute-to-win-it game time. Grant helped kids make rockets all afternoon and evening for the big rocket blast on Sunday morning. We stayed up late on Saturday chatting and playing outside. Thankfully, Sunday was a sleep in late day, but we still had to wake the kids up around 9:15am for a 9:30 brunch.

On Sunday we had a short talk, shot our rockets and then packed up to head home. Of course, Grant and the kids rockets went the farthest! We got back home around 2pm and had a few hours to get laundry started and school bags ready for 5pm choir practice.

It was a wonderful weekend and I hope we can make it a tradition. I loved the change in scenery, the sweet counselors, the opportunity to spend so much time outside, and chance to deepen friendships. I also love how Sky Ranch helps us as parents to keep bringing our kids to Christ and infusing the Bible and God's love into their hearts and minds. Plus, camp is so FUN!

PS - Thanks to Nina for the awesome Elf jammies. They were a huge hit and I think the best family Christmas picture ever.

 

 

Thanksgiving 2017

We had the most lovely Thanksgiving! It was full of family, rest, and meaningful memories. Cadie was so excited to get her braces off Tuesday afternoon and she has the most beautiful smile. Then, we kicked off the holiday with both JR and Cadie having playdates on Wednesday afternoon. It was beautiful weather and Cadie enjoyed playing with Kamryn and JR had a fun time with Luca.

On Thursday we spent the day at DD and Big John's house and it flew by! I looked at the clock and it was 8pm! I was so surprised. It was wonderful to sit and talk with family now that I don't have to be chasing around the kids all the time.

On Friday, Grant took JR with Big John to the Scots football game and I spent the day with Cadie for our Cadie-Mom day. We spent the morning at King Spa and the afternoon at American Girl. Kristen, my doll from when I was little, got her hair done and Cadie got a new doll, Josephine. I loved getting to be with my sweet girl and be a part of her picking her first American Girl doll.

On Saturday we went to the SMU Football game. The weather was incredible. We took the GEM and had a great time sitting on the family zone and catching up with Courtney and Isaac Lynch. SMU won which was a bonus! After the game, the kids and I decorated the house for Christmas.

On Sunday we joined Katia and Russell Jonas for a very special baby - Baby Alexander's baptism. They stopped by the house on Saturday night and asked Grant to be Alex's godfather which made the day even more special. We had a lunch at Kathy and Russell's house after the service and the kids loved playing with the Beasley kiddos.

I loved getting to be home with the kids for 5 days! I also loved taking it easy each morning and staying in jammies for awhile and slowly having breakfast and a cup of coffee. I also loved that we got to see so many friends and family. It felt like a perfect few days to remember all the things we have to be thankful for!

Quick Napa Weekend

Grant's #1 love language is back scratching and his #2 love language is traveling together. So, when I emailed him back in October that I thought we should take a weekend trip together in November, he was so sweet and excited. He planned a beautiful weekend for us in Napa. We left on Friday on a 1:30pm flight (nonrev, of course) and we departed Napa around 3pm on Sunday. Even though we only had about 48 hours, it was incredible. The weather was perfect, we did a tour on Saturday with a super fun group, we had dinner on Saturday night with Whitney and Daniel, and we slept in both days. I loved the time away with Grant even more than I had expected. And I expect quite a lot with Grant because he is an awesome travel planner. I love you Grant!

Destin Florida - Oct. 18-21

Grant's annual firm retreat was in Destin, Florida and so, like the responsible parents that we are, we decided to pull the kids out of school for a few days to tack on a quick family getaway. We left on Wed., Oct. 18 which was JR's birthday - what a fun way to celebrate! It all sounded like a good idea, but quite a few things went awry.

Things were already a bit shaky to begin with since JR got his cast off the DAY BEFORE we left with strict instructions to "be very careful." Obviously being "very careful" can be challenging at the beach for a 7-year old boy. But, off we went anyway.

It was lunchtime when we arrived so we decided to get lunch at a place we had been to before that is at a small yacht club with a great view of boats and the ocean. The first incident occurred within minutes of our arrival at lunch when Colton fell into the yacht club swimming pool fully clothed, shoes and everything. Luckily Cadie was nearby and she fished him out of the pool. We had plenty of dry clothes in the car, but he was crying and kinda shaken up. We ate lunch, and then when we were walking away, somehow Cadie fell and there must have been something sharp on the ground because she got a huge gash in her calf! I quickly put some napkins on it and then I wazed it to the closest urgent care. Thankfully, the Niceville Urgent Care had the nicest people and Cadie got 5 stitches. We weren't even at the condo yet.

As we proceeded to the condo, word came in that a number of Chicago partners from Grant's firm were starting their own firm. There were a lot of unknowns and this was days before their annual firm retreat and so Grant was on high alert. On Wednesday evening we thought a simple dinner at waffle house should be stress-free. All was ok until Colton fell HARD off of the bar stool. We packed up the pancakes to go and went back to the condo to put everyone to bed. So...not everything went 100% according to plan, but then again, it never does with us.

Despite the hiccups, I am so glad we went on the trip because the kids all loved playing in sand and ocean, making friends at the beach, and exploring fun places in Destin. FuddPuckers was our #1 favorite, but we ate on our last evening together at a lovely place with their own private beach. Grant and I sat on chairs after dinner and watched the sunset with the kids playing around us. It ended up being quite special.

I appreciate that our little troop of 5 can roll with the punches and see the silver linings even when things don't go according to plan. Much of life doesn't go the way we hope, and I would like to teach them to find happiness in the middle of craziness. On this trip, we found stunning sunsets, two silly rounds of mini-golf, friends to partner with in making the biggest beach hole ever, morning donut runs with Dad, the joy of snacks on the beach, and reminders that memories made together are the best.

Just minutes before Colton plunged off that chair straight onto his head.