DFW - Day 1

Over Labor Day weekend, we traveled to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and met up with the Dye's for a little vacation. I took 429 pictures that weekend (I counted!), so I figured it would be easier if I blogged the trip day by day. Here is Day 1:

just getting on the road
we stopped for a picnic at lunchtime

after we checked in at the motel, Preston watched cartoons while Kellyn played secretary

for dinner we met up with the Dye family at Rainforest Cafe in the Grapevine Mills Mall

the aquariums, animatronic gorillas, lights, and sounds were awesome!

the kids got balloon animals

butterflies for the girls, a monkey for Triston, and a sword for Preston

they couldn't resist picking his nose!

a bunch of posers

after the Rainforest Cafe and some shopping, we swam at the motel pool before calling it a night!

First Day of School - B

Breckyn's first day of preschool was August 26th, and she could not wait for the day to arrive!! Every day when the kids got on the bus, she'd ask if it was her turn to go to school, and every day I would give her the countdown. Finally the day came, the kids got on the bus, and she was ready to go about 5 seconds later. You should have seen the look on her face when I broke it to her that she'd have to wait almost 5 more hours since she is in afternoon preschool! By the time she finally got to her classroom, she was so excited that she said "bye Mom" and basically shoved me out the door while I was trying to take pictures. Needless to say, she is loving being a big schoolgirl!!

Breckyn is in Pre-K!
showing off the new backpack!

Mommy's last baby is a schoolgirl! (yes, I did shed a tear or two!)

hanging up her backpack

she settled right in and started playing with her new friends

First Day of School - P&K

Preston and Kellyn's first day of school was August 20th, and they were more than ready when the day rolled around. Kellyn was a little nervous about making the transition to going all day, as well as eating in the cafeteria, but she's done great with both changes! They both have several friends from last year in their classes this year, and their bus driver is the same, so they're pretty happy about things!

Preston is a 3rd grader!
Kellyn is a 1st grader!

wow, they're growing up fast!

waiting for the bus

next stop: Wheatland Elementary!

Good Daddy. . .

. . . no words necessary!

Riverside Park

In late July, my neighbor organized a trip to Riverside Park for a picnic and fun in the sprinklers. It was a perfect day for it, nice in the shade for the moms, and plenty warm in the sun for the wet kiddos!

Nature Center

In mid-July, the kids and I took a morning trip to the nature center to hike the trails, check out the cool stuff in the building, and admire God's beautiful creation!

posing on one of the neat bridges
checking out a duck family with some new baby ducklings!

strolling the boardwalk

a pretty monarch we spotted taking a break in the wildflowers

the turtles catch some rays

checking out the interactive activities

Preston is getting into taking pictures and we girls got to be his "subjects"!

working together on a deer puzzle

Backyard Family Fun

After our visit to Sterling, we stopped in Nickerson for a visit with Paul's family. We had a great meal of burgers and dogs, the adults spent time visiting, and the kids had fun playing with their cousins. It was a beautiful day to hang out in the backyard!

enjoying the day in the backyard
4 generations of handsome Hamby men!

Breckyn gets a squeeze from Papa

Paul and his brother David play a little ladderball

the kids turned the fence into a volleyball net