Back-blogging June 2009

Wow! It's amazing! I'm finally getting started on posting something about what we did in June! This is getting pathetic!!!
Okay enough of that - we all know how horrendously horrible I feel about being so far behind in my blogging due to my extremely busy and hectic life. Three kiddies (and a demanding hubcap ;) ) can really take a lot out of you!! That and I'm just extremely slow (note: slow NOT lazy - there's a difference)! ;)
So anyways...where should I begin... A week after we got back from Disneyland, we headed up to Dallas to visit Uncle Jim and Aunt Shelley Friday night after Jason got home from work. Have I mentioned before how great they are?? All of Jason's aunts and uncles are GREAT! Uncle Jim and Aunt Shelley just happen to have the wonderful privilege of living 5 hours away from us!! ;) They're the best and they're amazing with the kids (a.k.a. our little monster children)!! They make a wonderful set of surrogate grandparents!!! Their real grandkids are going to be so lucky to have them as grandparents!!!! We went up to visit and celebrate their 3rd kid's (Mark) high school graduation and their eldest's (Jesse) graduation from college!! We spent the short weekend BBQing, swimming in the pool and cackling hours on end. Ah... it was so relaxing...

Jesse and her fiance Mike with Caleb


Jesse and Caleb


Jason and Mark doing yet another pose down...this time it's a pirate themed pose down! ;)


Trying to figure out who had the bigger bubble butt - I think Jason won... ;)


Family and friends over playing rockband without the actual rockband game...


The happy grads Mark and Jesse


Caleb is ready for his sparring match!! ;)


We got back home on a Sunday night and for the rest of the month it was the same old same old. Taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning, taking kids to appointments and gymnastics, going to the gym, going on playdates and running errands while Jason is hard at work (or at least he'd better be)!!! ;)

Caleb (almost 4 months here) working out at his gym. ;)


Kristin and her new cougar friend at the San Antonio Zoo


Kristin and her friends Carol and Nora looking at the alligator exhibit


Katie taking a look at the hippos from her stroller (where she is kept nice and contained)... ;)


Kristin enjoying the new hippo exhibit


Kristin feeding a lorikeet


Katie was VERY excited to be able to feed the lorikeets!!


Kristin spending time with an owl who wouldn't take his crazy eyes off her and watched her every move.


Katie with a goat in the petting zoo


Kristin also had her first gymnastics performance in June. Unfortunately Jason was on call the Saturday of her performance, so he missed it (and which also means I had to spend a lot of time chasing Katie and not being able to videotape - at least with any success). Argh!! One day Katie will figure out how to sit still...I hope... We had also signed Kristin up for soccer at the YMCA for the summer session, but after her first and only practice, we decided to take her out and put her in swimming instead (after we found out from the coach that all they were going to do the whole season was learn how to kick the ball). Kristin can already do that and pass the ball!! We didn't want to spend our summer out in this hot Texas sun for nothing!!

Kristin and her team meeting with their coach before they begin


Kristin stretching out


How the heck is Kristin that bendable??!! Yikes! I look more like the girl behind her when I try to do this stretch!! Sheesh!


More stretching...


Kristin working on her bridge


Kristin working on her handstands


Kristin and her pre-team class


Yay for Kristin!!


A random night when Caleb decided to go to sleep with Jason. Aw...


Kristin and Caleb


Katie doesn't want to be left out!!


Caleb keeping me company in the kitchen while I cook dinner


Jason and Caleb at Kristin's 1st (and only) soccer practice this summer


The rest of the month flew by and I don't have much to show for it!! I know we went to Sea World at least a couple of times, I started going to exercise classes at the gym (much more motivating than working out alone!) and we had a pajama party with my friend Cami and her little girls. Other than that, I don't know what else went on... I am so forgetful - which is why I need to stay more on top of this blog, so I can write things down as we go along!! Sheesh!

Jason and Caleb at the waterpark at Sea World


Jason and the kids at Sea World


Jason and the girls in the kiddie pool


Jason and Katie


Kristin happily flying over the edge of a lily pad...


Katie...not so much... ;)


Me and Caleb did most of the watching while Jason and the girls did most of the playing...


All done playing and ready to go eat some BBQ at Rudy's!!


Oh - I forgot! We also spent a good week or two looking into trading out our highlander hybrid for a minivan. We were mostly interested in the Honda Odyssey. I'm so tired of not having enough room in the car for 3 kids, stroller and groceries!! It's so annoying! I love our hybrid, but it just isn't big enough anymore!! Oh well - our plans were dashed when we found out that we'd only get $18,000 for it which pales in comparison to what we owe on our loan - $30,000!!! I decided that I needed to just suck it up and accept that I just have to live with a smaller vehicle. I went and ordered 3 new carseats (safe but narrow carseats that fit 3 across without any trouble). I got a great deal on them thanks to my friend Cami who let me know they were on sale!! She saved me at least $200!! Thanks Cami!!
I also went out and bought a smaller double stroller that would fit in the trunk better (without taking up all of the space). As much as I'd like a bigger car, I think we'll be okay for at least another year...unless we have another baby that is... Then there's NO way I could keep this car!!!
We didn't do much for Father's Day besides go out to IHOP (Jason's favorite) for breakfast after church. I got him a new outdoor furniture set for the patio - much cozier than the last one we had. It was sort of a combined present for my Mother's Day and his Father's Day presents. He works so hard on his garden all of the time, we should have something nice to sit on so we can admire it...while we sip on ice cold drinks. :)

Jason, Kristin and Caleb trying out our new outdoor furniture


Caleb (at 4 1/2 months) doesn't care much for his first taste of rice cereal. I guess we'll try again later...


There wasn't too much going on in June, so now it's time to get started on July. If I can finish that up - I can start writing about our trip to Virginia last week for Joe's wedding!!