I'm back from my self-imposed blogging hiatus because I just have to share the most amazing trip we just had. Last week, my youngest brother married his sweetheart in the San Diego Temple (more on that later!) and we took the opportunity to have a wonderful little family vacation!
We got into San Diego Wednesday night, but my dad had plans for us Thursday morning! We met up with my aunt (his sister Lisa) and her family to go paddle boarding on Mission Bay. I've never been paddle boarding before, but really enjoyed it! I definitely want to do it again. It was a good work out and a lot of fun.
When my dad first told me about his plan, I was pretty skeptical about letting my toddler ride on a board with him. But with her beloved puddle jumper, this kid had no fear and it would have been nearly impossible to keep her off. She made herself queen of every single person's board.
At first, she wasn't having it. She didn't like the sand touching her haha
But she got used to it! Doesn't she look like she belongs on the beach??
I had a couple minutes tonight so I thought I'd do a photo dump of our wonderful Fourth of July weekend! We had such a great time. It's my godbrother's favorite holiday and I think I am starting to see why.
Friday night we went to watch a special holiday performance of the Houston Symphony at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. This was such a special thing to go to for me. My parents used to take my brothers and I to it every year growing up. I think the first time I went was probably 20 years ago. It's one of my favorite childhood memories and it was so fun to be able to share that with my own sweet girl.
She was really in to it! She absolutely loved the music.
She was getting down the whole night.
Cute little friends enjoying the show.
It ends with the 1812 Overture during which they shoot off old canons in time with the music. Emma looked really scared but when I looked down I noticed she was signing for "more" in her lap. I guess she liked it!
The next morning we headed over to my godparents' new community pool. It's absolutely amazing! A little mini schlitterbahn. Em was in heaven and we spent three hours there. I thought we'd never get her out.
Always on her stomach. I don't know why!
What is it about these little flags? She absolutely loved playing with it!
Of course, we had to have a little backyard dance party. Ryan's got moves like you wouldn't believe.
Aw, they love each other.
Why is it so hard to get two kids to smile at once?
Just a little throwback fun here... their first fourth of July two years ago. My goodness how they have changed.
And off to ice cream! This kid is addicted (Emma is, too)
The Woodlands moved their fireworks this year and I didn't love it. We couldn't figure out where to go to watch them and ended up in a church parking lot. Even after the sun went down, the pavement was radiating heat and Emma couldn't really run around and play because of all the cars. Still, it was an amazing show and we really loved it.
At first she seemed a little scared, but then she got really into it and every time one went off she'd say "Oh my goodness!" She said it so many times everyone around us was cracking it.
She got super cuddly (because of the noise I think) - but hey! I'll take it.
Happy Birthday, America! Thanks for the great celebration.
It seems like a person's relationship with summer goes up and down with age. As a kid, summer meant no school and nothing but fun. In high school, it was still a revered time, but it also meant summer jobs, practices, and college prep. It decreased a little more in college when it was often just another semester to take classes. Then entering the work force, I couldn't tell you what month it was, much less what season. Summer only meant less traffic on the way to work.
But now summer is becoming an exciting time again! The older Em gets, the more fun it is. I have so many things I want to do to with her now that the sun is shining and it's warm! I was starting to put together a little list of things I wanted to do. I planned to just jot it down and stick it to the corkboard by the door leading out to the garage. Then I thought to myself "Hey, if I'm gonna do that, I may as well make it cute!"
If you're doing a summer list, what's on it? Feel free to use this little printable to help put it all down! And feel free to add to ours.
Lately, I can't shake this feeling that I'm stretched a bit too thin. They are all good things - more projects for work, summer fun with Punkito, trying to keep my house clean (why do dishes and laundry never cease?), planning an upcoming trip, and a million and one other things that keep cropping up.
I'm trying to prioritize. And let go of things that don't really matter (I really CAN do the dishes tomorrow, but today we have sunshine for the first time in weeks, so we MUST go to the park).
One of the things that I decided wasn't a huge priority right now is this blog. I love it and it's a great outlet for me, but it was also becoming a source of stress trying to keep up with a self-imposed schedule. And for what? It's not like I have a huge following or am sharing vitally important information. So it's going in the backseat. And if there happens to be a day like today where I feel totally not up for anything but sitting on the couch puttering on my computer (and letting that MOUND of clothes on my bed wait another day), then I'll blog. But no stress.
Here's a little catch up in pictures. Em and I went to Houston for a week a while back because our HVAC unit kicked the bucket in a bad way. There was water all over our upstairs and leaking through the floor into the garage. It had to be completely replaced which was (expensive) and time consuming. The carpet had to be pulled up and industrial fans run under it to prevent mold. All of this in the hall right outside Em's bedroom. It just seemed like a better idea to take her away for a while until it could be brought under control.
Despite the inauspicious circumstances, we ended up having a pretty great time. Thanks to my sweet family for the last-minute hosting us!
This fun little splash pad is right next to the elementary school where i started kindergarten. Weird.
It was a cute splash pad, but wish it had more shade!
He loves sharks. She does not. She kept handing them to me and saying "don't like it." Turns out there is something my fearless girl is afraid of.
Don't you love it when Aaron takes video without your knowledge?
Uncle Aaron does a great job with the bedtime story... he does all the voices!
All that playing and being away from home really wore her out. I love watching her sleep.
After she woke up, she just wanted to take selfies. It scares me how she's already the selfie queen.
Dancing is probably their favorite thing to do together.
Ry just got his big boy bed set up and they climbed in together. She surprised me with how much she liked it.
She kinda took over and made herself right at home.
She also took over his dinner. He's not gonna eat it? She will. All at once.
It rained a lot but we still managed to get in a little park visit!
Why does she always want to play with the big kid toys?
Oh, the hats!
This is summer! Fun in the beautiful backyard.
My sweet godmother created a "grandchildren bedroom" at her house. It has two sets of bunk beds with matching bedding and pillows with their names on it. It was too cute to handle.
It turned out so dark, but it was the sweetest picture of them reading together. We love mimi!
