VBS '26...

This year, Remi jumped in on the VBS volunteering! 

He and Elle were huge help in wrangling our lively group of Pre-K kiddos! He even came up to the church on the Saturday workday and helped out! I was pretty proud, even if it was just an excuse to get some extra time with Elle! I'll take any excuse in the book to get these boys to church!

I, of course, had an absolute ball of a fun with Gigi, trying to keep up with all the onry boys in our group.... it brought back so many memories of when my boys were that age! I laughed and laughed.... I'd be a much better mom to my boys at that age now, than I was then! The whole aging thing seems to give you a whole new perspective... or maybe it's just an appreciation for boyhood and how quickly it seems to pass!

Wisdom Teeth...

Mid-June, Remi got his wisdom teeth out! It was a pretty quick and easy ordeal, nothing is really going to keep that boy away from Elle and spending time with her. In fact, she came right along with us, and was the best little nurse to him.... all afternoon long! 

Remi had us all laughing! He kept looking over at Elle and would say "You so preeeeeetty." He wanted her right up next to him on the couch and even asked "You my gurlfrin?" as if he couldn't believe it! We all got to see how much he adores her!

And for your viewing pleasure....before, during, and after...

Texas-Oklahoma Open...

This was our 5th year to participate in the Texas Oklahoma Open in Wichita Falls. This is a three day tournament and it always represents our Texas heat in the most blazing way! You burn, you sweat and you feel like you are literally melting!

Remi struggled this year, as he never could seem find his mental momentum. But full transparency, I can't honestly say I feel he was ready or prepared for this tournament either. This isn't a tournament you can just show up to and play a decent round. Because it is so hot, so many rounds in a row and so many talented golfers, you have to put in the work before hand. Remi's scores reflect the amount of practice he put in before showing up, and simply put, he was lazy in preparation.

And to be honest, this is where it can get kind of tricky for my mama emotions. Because while he is neglecting his prep work as a golfer, my other kiddo is giving it all he's got. He shows up to the tee box with marked balls, tees (Remi forgot both of those at his last tee time), mentally locked-in, laser focused, game-face ready and prepared. This kind of helps paint the picture of how hard it is to be so frustrated with one and so proud of the other.... all at the same time. Not to mention the guilt, like maybe you are being to hard on the one, and that you are being too proud of the other in front of the one... it's a whole ring-around-the-rosy emotional dance I've got going on!

But I'll get right to it- Roen absolutely killed it out there. It was an incredible 3 days for this boy, and it was a true honor to get to watch his performance. There is no question that he has some God-given talent, but he also works so hard and takes every single round seriously. Roen started off so strong, shooting -3 on day one, -2 on day two, and he was sitting in 1st place going into day 3. He didn't play quite as well as he had hoped on the last day, although a 74 is nothing to be ashamed of, and he so badly wanted that W. He ended up in 4th out of 72 golfers, and we were beyond proud of him! He truly shined out there!

But regardless of scores, I continue to be grateful for this sport that allows us so much family time together and character building- especially in regards to self-control and sportsmanship! You may not can go out and play to your highest standards every round, but you can ALWAYS go out and play like a gentlemen... and that is something both of the boys do fabulously!

Remi: 93, 99, 92

Roen: 69, 70, 74

Happy Birthday, Micah...

Early June, we celebrated Micah turning 44... how in the world are we that old?! Thankfully, we are like fine wine and just keep getting better and better  *wink wink*!

We did our best to spoil our main man, with  Dr Pepper (picked out and bought by Remi), some of his favorite snacks, cookies, cake pops, flip-flops, a new swimsuit for the summer, and of course, chocolate yum-yum!

Always so grateful for the love and commitment Micah pours into our family. We aren't always the easiest bunch, but he loves us through our shopping habits, our crankiness when we need a nap, and all those teenage shenanigans!

NTJGT Lake Kiowa...

We kicked off June with a NTJGT tournament right here in our lake community! Nothing better than being in your own carts and on your home course!

Roen tied for 5th with a 75, and Remi ended the day with an 86. Not too bad from either boy!

Promptly followed by cereal and a swim, of course!

*No pictures of Rem this tournament, but he was there!

A Wrap on May...

This was the month that wrapped up freshman and sophomore year for the boys! It's hard to believe, but these years that are proving to be some of the best years yet, are going double speed!

Our favorite OSU senior at Signing Day, Roen eating us out house and home with his protein intake, Senior Sunday potluck at church, the girls making a new afternoon friend... and then proceeding to throw yelping fits when their turtle friend made his way back to the water, evening putting challenges with dad, sunset pictures that I will always share because they never get old, Benny snuggles making GeoGuesser homework more fun, after school snuggles with my fellow porch sitter, something about Benny snuggled up on my pink ruffle pillows making me smile, a rainy morning rainbow peaking out, a smarty pants Scout in glasses, doing an afternoon watercolor session with Mal over face time, my boy who still star gazes, watercolor postcards for a sweet friend who went on a mission trip, Remi keeping all our watercraft in tip-top, Roen doing what he does best- being social, and my boy who still unashamedly does Legos... all space themed, of course!

I do realize it's July and I'm just now wrapping up May, but hey, at least now, I've got lots of fun catching up material!

Lake Days With the Girls...

It's a pretty rare day when I get to have a bunch barbie bikini girls at the house! But on this May weekend, I got spoiled! 

Saturday, Remi and Boo took Elle, Ava, and Brock tubing for some afternoon lake fun! Then Sunday after church, Remi and Boo took all three sisters out fishing- just between us, I think the girls were really more into taking pictures than the fishing, haha! Micah told the boys that if they caught enough fish and cleaned them, he would do a fish fry for dinner! So, a fish fry we had!

The fish was delicious, the company even better! Plus, it gave Micah and I a reason to take the jet ski out for a spin!

Farewell, Faraway Land...

So, I still had one last little thing on my Nantucket bucket list!

Nantucket has a little pastry shop called Wicked Island Bakery, famous for their morning buns... and boy, oh boy, are they a hot commodity on the island! They are made small-batch, from scratch, and take 45 minutes to bake. I had been well informed that even arriving at opening time (6 AM) I should still expect a lengthy line and that they typically sellout, meaning you are waiting in that line until the next batch. But there was no way I was leaving Nantucket without having a morning bun! 

So, Micah sweetly went along with my plan, and though we didn't get up for the opening, we did have every intention of waiting at least an hour for these coveted pastries. Thankfully, I love to visit and chitchat with just about anyone who will listen, and ended up spilling our whole morning bun plan to Ben at the front desk. 

You will seriously not even believe it, I mean, it's not like this trip could have gotten any better, but oh, just wait! Apparently, there is only one account on the entire island that is allowed a pickup order every single morning... and, you guessed it!! It is Cliffside and those taste of heaven, melt in your mouth, best thing I've ever eaten buns, had been on the tiered pastry tray every single morning, right next to the tea box and coffee, right in our very own hotel lounge!

I did not dwell on all the missed buns, but I did go ahed and eat two. And I may have gotten so overly excited, that Ben insisted on bagging all the rest of the morning buns up to take home with me! So yes, I got to bring a little piece of Nantucket back home to Texas, and so, the next day, I very much enjoyed a bun for breakfast, for lunch, and as an afternoon snack. Yep, all three... in one day! I survived without  self-inducing diabetes, and lets be honest, no one would have really appreciated those buns like I did!

Best part, with all our extra time, I was able to brew a cup of tea and enjoy my breakfast on the patio with ocean views and a bun on a dainty little saucer! Swoon!! Oh, and while wearing my new sweatshirt and pearls... it's the little things!

Farewell, Nantucket! I'll be back, I can promise you that!