A Day In Dallas

The other day I had to make a trip to Dallas, so we decided to make a day of it.  I had to check out some fabric from Restoration Hardware.  So we got that errand out of the way first.  The boys were good and sat quietly for about 20 minutes while I did what I needed to do.  Then we walked up and down Knox Street.  They have an adorable toy store there and the boys had fun browsing there while I drank my iced coffee.

As a side note, they did not sit on this couch quietly for 20 minutes.  That would have been a disaster.  I had them all sitting in individual chairs so they couldn't touch each other.  It's the only strategy that works for me :)

I had planned on taking the boys to the Arboreteum to have a picnic lunch, but didn't anticipate it costing as much as it did.  So instead we opted for a little walk around White Rock Lake.  I'm not even sure where we were, but it was cool to walk around.

I can't believe how big they all are now.

We ate our lunch and just hung out.  The boys made up some game on these bricks.  Something about not stepping on the engraved bricks. 

Asher's signature smile stance.

Couldn't get a good smile out of Jopie.

He was feeling a little too cool for me that day too.

He got a haircut soon after this, but I kinda like when it hangs in his face.

Graham is learning to smile with his new braces.  He got a hair cut right after this picture too.

Joseph likes to mismatch his socks these days.  I keep the socks in a clothes basket and the boys have to sort through to find a pair.  It isn't that hard to find a pair that matches, but he doesn't like to be bothered with those kinds of details.  He usually chooses socks of different lengths, and it makes me laugh.

It was actually a low-stress day.  Those days when it was so hard to get out of the house are pretty much over for us.  There were so many years when I had to juggle between nap times and nursing schedules.  Our "window" where everyone had the potential to be in happy spirits was very small.  Now it is wide open and I'm realizing I need to take advantage of this more than I do.  

Nothing In Particular

I have all these good blogging intentions.  But the days have been so full and the evenings even fuller.  Seems as though every night we are all falling into bed way too late.  

(two little boys super excited about new swim trunks)

(school in the garage just for kicks)

We've started a summer schedule.  Even though we won't finish school until the end of July, we have cut back to the essentials (Math, English, Writing, Spelling, and History) so we can hit the pool in the afternoons in time to make baseball practices in the evening.  I'm trying my best to embrace these days of craziness.  On one hand, I long for a day to myself or to someday maybe complete a project I pinned on Pinterest, or heck, even start a project I pinned.  But mostly, I know that my oldest boys are on the verge of adolescence.  And these days that we traipse around Fort Worth, just the six of us, and they all haven't a care in the world except for maybe what errands we'll run that day, or if we might stop and get a slush on the way home, or how many days we have until we get to go Minnesota, or what time the Rangers are playing tonight.  These innocent days.  I know they won't last forever.  I wish they would, even though it's hectic.  I love nothing more than when we're all together, doing nothing in particular. 

(errands with the boys)

It's Friday.  What are you doing this weekend?  We've got baseball and such.  And going to dinner at a friend's house.  And church.  And I can only hope for some down time, too!  But if not, there's a season for everything, right?  And I guess this is just not my season to get anything done.

(I'm sorry to say it out loud, but there's not much cuter than this)...

... except, of course, your child in your opinion :)

Happy weekend!

Graduation Party!

A close friend of mine gave a lovely shower for a friend's daughter.  She asked me to come and take pictures and I happily obliged.

I have friends who really know how to throw a party.  I'm more of a "come over and make yourself at home" kind of a party thrower.  But I always wished I had the creative juices to make these kinds of events happen.  Lots of attention were given to details that this high school graduate would appreciate.  And it was such sweet party, I wanted to share the details with you :)

It was such a pretty table.

Notice the cute little photo bomber :)

Yummy food.

Books were incorporated in the theme.

Refreshing drinks.

And an overall great place to have a party.

The graduate with her mom and sisters... they are all gorgeous.  It's hard to pick out the mother in this picture, they all look like sisters :)

Sweet girls taking pictures of each other.

Moms' friends.  As a side note.  I totally remember my gradation party and that my parents' friends came.  Are those days just around the corner for me?  Yikes!  And blue was the color choice of the day.

There was video playing in the pool house.  One of the things I loved about this shower was that there were many generations present to encourage her.

This board was my favorite part of the party.  The hostess had asked everyone to email her a word or phrase that describe Brooke.

I would be in a pile of tears if people said these things about my kids when they were 18.

There were some powerful words.

People were given the opportunity to share with her their word and why they picked it.  In a group of women this size, of course there were tears.  

Oh to be 18 again with the whole wide world in front of you.

I hardly know you, Brooke, but you have a strong foundation in the Lord.  It was a pleasure to witness you being celebrated :)  Congratulations.