My Boys & G. Gram...

I am the mother of {THREE}...

She is the mother of EIGHT...

My Mom is her youngest...

This is MY Youngest...

Sweet {3 mo} old baby -J-

This is my OLDEST Mr. 4 1/2 year old -N-...

My grandmother and I share this trait...we too are the OLDEST...

But this little guy...My 2 year old -A-... well She shares a special something with him...she too is the second BORN!

Only time will tell what the future HOLDS as I mother MY 3...

But I am so glad to have both my mother and grandmother as MENTORS...

Our First Family Vacation...

So this year we decided that it was well overdue to take a family vacation. Our choice destination was to take the kids somewhere neither of us had been, and luckily neither of us has been south of Fort Worth, HA!

So we chose to visit Moody Gardens in Galveston and we had a GREAT time, so much so that we plan to go back next Labor Day!

We sat on the beach and then the kids got their first taste of a water park...

-N- loved it, -A- wasn't so sure...

They made birthday sand cakes with tools as candles and sang Happy Birthday several times...

They buried each other in the sand...

And after -A- got sand in his eyes, -B- took them over to the water park to rinse off...

After which -N- returned with this amazing GOOSE EGG! Probably not the souvenir he hoped for... 

The boys enjoyed a nap in the nice cozy hotel room!

We played at the Beach some more...

Then we got dressed and took a trip to the Aquarium!

We watched penguins swim...

-A- was brave enough to check out the touch tank...-N- was definitely more reserved.

-N- captured a couple of pics of Mom and Dad together...

rare...

The next morning we spent the day at the beach again...

-J- slept while the two older boys played in the water.

and the sand...

When it was time to head home, we drove to the touristy side of town and visited The Strand for some ice cream.  So tasty and fun!! So long Galveston, Until we meet again next year...

300+...

So today I set out to get an amazing shot of my three boys and after more than 300 pics and ending like...

(-N- age 4 1/2 yrs, -A- age 2 yrs & -J- age 3 mos)

...this . I decided to go with what I had and you would never believe it, but my favorite shot, was the first stinkin picture.  From this I will learn to trust my eye!



In My Backyard...

What better way to spend

a summer day?

I can't think of a better one!

Rare Moments...

It is becoming quite rare to find pics like this...

you know because I am actually in it.

Round and Round We Go...

We went to the mall and the boys indulged with a ride on the indoor carousel. -N- is a seasoned rider however this was -A-'s first ride.

                                     

One that started out simple enough, though -A- wasn't up for a horse and opted to ride in the stationary round bench, while -N- chose his favorite horse.

Then after a few turns, well let's just say A was done.  Maybe next time?

And maybe then -J- will be old enough for his first ride.

This Isn't My First Rodeo...

Wasn't theirs either...

But it was THEIRS...

and HIS...

and HIS...

We looked on, ooohhed and aaahhed...

sang the National Anthem...

watched riders...

and BULLS...

do their THING!

Each COWBOY out to reach that magic number...

8.00 seconds.

For the wiley bull, the cutting horses and cowboys assisted in convincing them which path they should take.

With 2 Women and 4 boys, we snacked...

watched as some of the bulls got rough...thank goodness for those HELMETS!

We took pictures

snuggled...

admired...

slept...

and ventured home when it got DARK!

We may just have to make this an annual event, because the boys LOVED it and though, try as I may, I am raising COWBOYS, afterall we are in Texas!