A Tyler Weekend!

We took one last summer trip to Tyler last weekend. Bridget couldn't make it, since her kids started school the next Monday in TN.

We had so much fun! The cousins went non-stop and weren't phased a bit by the scorching temps.

Here's John, James, Brian & Chuck on John's amazing patio. Behind James is an oversized hot tub. To the right are some stairs that lead up to the girl's treehouse...that has it's own AC unit!

Peyton & Colton spent lots of time watching movies.
The girls love doing crafts! I found these little beads last summer and they just loved them, so I brought them with us. They design the beads, then I iron the back and they melt together, making their own little creations. Pretty cool!

I love this one of my Kennedie. She absolutely adores her cousins and was just over the moon to be with them all weeked.

Here's Colton eating his very first s'more ever...

...and it's a HIT! He loved it!

We had a little game of softball...this is one of my new favorite pictures. I really don't know how it happened, but the effect is so cool! (And it's classic John...showing off, cigarette in his mouth...)

The kids played SO HARD! I was calling Colton my little homeless child...just look at this face!

The little boys eating popsicles with Boompa,

Uncle John has these cool saddle barstools that he made. The boys thought they were so fun!

John had tons of hummingbirds...

I've always laughed at how animated Colton gets when he pretends to be a dinosaur. I guess it's a boy thing, because Peyton really gets into it, too!

We broke out the slip and slide and the kids just loved it!

Ok, I may get into trouble for this, but really...could you resist???

Sydnie with her water balloon stash, silly girl!

(see the water balloon in mid-air?)

Oh, I could just eat this sweet boy!

"Crazy Uncle John" filling up his waders...

So much fun!

Kennedie was such a big helper in the kitchen. MaryBeth made an amazing watermelon bowl...and she was right there with her helping.

I love their faces in this one!

It was so pretty and oh so yummy!

James went "survivor" and used a big magnifying glass to start a fire. What a stud! (see the smoke?)

And the crew headed out to John's pond to go fishing...

He has 4 donkeys on his property and they came right up, thinking we were there to feed them!

Sweet!

What a fun weekend, full of great memories!

American Girl Day!

A few weeks ago, Granny took Kennedie and I on a super special girl day to the American Girl store! Kennedie has been wanting to go there for ages!

She was just beside herself! She couldn't wait to see what was at the top of those escalators!
The reason for the trip was to adopt the girl of the year, Laney! This was the 1st time she set eyes on her. (And take note of her current doll, Julie's, hair.)

I saw this doll and thought it was just a hoot! Look at the dog's umbrella/leash!

Look at how much this girl is BEAMING!

Granny then treated Julie to a new hair-do! Look at all of those chairs...each one was getting a new 'do! (I kept saying, "these girls actually get PAID to stand here all day and do doll hair?!)

Then we headed into the bistro for a yummy lunch! (Yes, it looks like they're reading the menu upside down, but the inside was in there wrong, lol!)

Kennedie requested the "double decker ponytail" 'do. Here's Julie...isn't it funny how different her hair looks?!

And she was finally done! And she joined her new sister, Laney, for lunch. They had adorable little high chairs, and food for the dolls.

So sweet!

And I just HAD to take a pic (yes, I took my camera into the bathroom...and even into the stall. Oh my! I was so embarassed! I waited until I heard a flush to click the camera!) But, they had a little metal hook in each stall to hang your doll on so you could potty. Ha!

Delish!!

My sweet, sweet girl!

When we got home from Dallas, the boys had been busy little bees. They put up a new shelf on each side of my laundry room! James said that he'd noticed I was running out of storage in there and just decided to build them. I'm such a lucky girl!

And then I kept trying to get a picture of her with her new babies, and little brother kept sneaking in the shot! (look at how he's sucking in and his ribs...oh my!)

What a BOTHER (that's k's new nickname for him)!

Daddy got to work piercing Laney's ears too! Such a great Daddy!

Thank you Granny, for such a special day! What great memories we made together!