Mas y Mas y Mas...

I would like to refer you back to the last picture of 

this

post....

I have mentioned the boys beloved box

quite a few times...

unfortunately,

the older two 

decided to get a little rough with it

and it finally bit the dust.

After 3 months 

of using it as our 

"extra bedroom"

for nap times...

it was thrown in the trash.

So the boys had to resort to other means.

They got creative and

here are the results:

Yep - there is a kid under all that!

What ever works.

Eventually, I suggested that we open that tent up

and they could sleep in that.

That works too.

A, got to participate a little bit during our weekly PE

class.  

It was cute and worth sharing.

PE with her newly purchased jewelry from Nana.

We took Nana and Grandmother along too.

Then we did the typical Monday night soccer/baseball

practice rounds.

And sweet Nana indulged the kids in an icee.

Three were purchased and the baby got 

to take turns eating from the older ones.

Too cute!!!

Look at that mouth!!!  Go gracious...

Well, he got what he wanted...

J's mouth being that wide open helps T eat,

I guess...

Tuesday is our "down day" around here...

so we took the opportunity to do some touristy stuff.

I love love love the Riverwalk.  I absolutely enjoy just walking along the riverside.

So we hoofed it down there.

Then we stopped for lunch.

And ventured into the Alamo for a visit.

I really enjoyed walking around with the boys and talking and teaching.

We received these scavenger hunt sheets from the 

sweet lady at the "help desk"

for the boys -

now that we have found the cannons...

what's next??

The old well!

What's down there??

Oooo, ooo, ooo, lemme see, lemme see!

Oh look, mommy gets to be IN a picture!

Checking out a giant cactus...

Don't get too close boys...

We did find ONE cactus blossom.

T passed out so we decided to kill a little 

extra time...

We stopped and looked at the koi pond they had on site.

While there, a lady stopped by and 

asked us if we had ever been to the 

Sunken Gardens.

No, never heard of it!

Then after doing a little googling while we were standing

in the middle of the Alamo grounds,

I discovered that she was referring to the 

Japanese Tea Garden.

So we loaded back up 

(after we consulted my newly downloaded

app to locate where we parked the car - 

and wouldn't ya know it - IT WORKED!!!)

and headed to the 

Japanese Tea Garden.

It was amazing!!

I think everyone enjoyed this more than the Riverwalk.

The boys got to climb all over rocks 

and run around a little more.

It is an old quarry that was turned into a beautiful

garden with HUMONGOUS koi!

It was beautiful!!

Look at all those fish!  They are huge!!

Jumping on the boulders out front...

Nana helping out the baby...

nice action shot!

After this...

we headed home.

I dropped of the grandmothers and the little ones...

then me and the boys headed right back out

to a new barbershop right around the corner

that just opened up.

The boys needed haircuts,

sort of.

I have been in love with J's hair since he was born.

Hubby and I had quite a few disagreements

on whether or not to cut those amazing baby curls.

And when his hair was just too long.

(according to everyone else BUT me!)

J has never really "wanted" his hair cut.

Which was always fine with me!

This time was no different...

until genius here remembered

that the last time R got his hair cut

it was short enough to spike up in the front.

J liked it and asked me to spike his too.

But, his was too long to spike...

So the good mommy I am,

I mention this to J.

Lord, you should have seen his face light up!

"yeah, yeah, yeah!!!"

(meanwhile, inside I am quite disappointed)

I asked him a couple of times if he was sure,

cause it would be really short!!

He said yes, then eventually told me

that I didn't have to ask him anymore

cause he was really sure...

So then the time came...

the ONLY thing that kept me from crying as they 

started literally shaving his beautiful hair off

was the fact that he actually had an opinion 

about his hair...

for ONCE!

It was tough for me to watch...

so much so,

I had to take some commemorative pictures.

At this point, I can't remember if I asked the lady if we
could just leave it like that
or
glue it back if I didn't like it.

Either way - she was tickled by my silliness over a
haircut!

oh yeah, R got his done too...

Look at all that hair! 

AND

~drum roll please~

THE RESULTS!!

Ugh - all that beautiful hair...

GONE!

But look at that smile!!

(I know - meanie mommy - made them face the sun!)

I love and miss that hair already!

But my boy likes it...

Accountability Check Up

Time for an accountability check up...

What have we been up to and how are my

"projects" going?

Well the budget is going...

QUICKLY!
Between purchasing next year's school books
(more on that later)
Paying Taxes (yes, paying - FIRST time ever - don't ask!)
Easter
An out of town family reunion
(also more on that later)

April's budget was blown before the month even started.

I am keeping up with my workouts

and enjoy them most days...

I manage to do it about 4-5 days a week

for 30 minutes each time
yet I am still

chasing those first 5 pounds!!!

Meanwhile, 

my darling husband is 

QUICKLY 

approaching 30 pounds
LOST!!

I don't get it!!

I am trying to stay motivated

and it definitely helps 

that I am not breathing as hard
during my workouts

and I feel better, 

but 

the weight is just NOT

melting off of me

like it is 

my sweet hubby!

UGH!!

We have all adjusted to the 

nap time/rest time each day.

If you remember, 

the boys have enjoyed sleeping in the

box that the elliptical came in...

I separate the kids at rest time

and one "gets" to sleep in the box.

I feel SO bad saying that...

but they literally 

take turns

"getting" 

to sleep in the box!

It is quite funny.

And they insist on the top being closed 

so its dark.

Whatever works

and

makes them happy

and

gives me a few minutes of
peace
and quiet.

But I promise...
I DO NOT
MAKE THEM
SLEEP IN A BOX!

This week we finally made some decisions
on school books for next year.
I am basically following this
curriculum 
with a few adjustments
that more suit me.

We might be joining a small
co-op for the fall
where each parent leads a different class.
Art, history, science, memory work.
But it is still getting organized.

I have mentioned before that J is
done with his math book.
R got so excited after looking through
the 3rd grade math book,
he came home that afternoon
and did 11 pages out of his math book.
And is so ready for 3rd grade!
Fine by me...
I will NOT squash his drive and desire!

I am thinking about testing him in a few weeks...
gonna look into it.

So besides blowing our budget,
buying school books for next year,
getting my car registration transferred down here,
(after waiting in line with 4 kids for an HOUR)
practices,
scouts
and every day life...

We managed to fit in a couple of fun things.

The Easter Bunny was able to fit some interesting things
into the kids baskets.

The older boys each got a
"paint your own ball"
kit.
J - soccer
R - football

First you have to pump them up,
then paint them,
then let it dry,
then paint again,
then dry,
then paint,
you get the picture.
They might be finished in another month,
when I finally feel like letting them leave them out
to dry between coats.



The littlest two got
some sand for the sandbox
I insisted we ship all the way from NC.
But I wasn't allowed to bring the sand with us!
So it sat empty on the back patio
til now.

And a bubble machine
(that I *just* got around to putting batteries in)

They also each got a chocolate bunny
and I let T eat part of one.
And, for whatever reason,
he doesn't like having his picture taken lately...
so this is what you get...

We were sent another craft from one of their sweet
crafty aunts...

I didn't snap a before picture,
but she sent bunny cutouts
that said
"No bunny loves you like Jesus"
and asked the kids to create a "home"
for the bunny.

So we got out the scissors,
construction paper,
glue,
markers
and
pom-poms

And they created these
masterpieces...

Finally,
we are getting geared up for our first
"official"
visit to daddy's office.
Since he is on base, and a civilian,
he is not authorized to
escort others onto the base.
So...tomorrow is a special event
that families can come to.
In order to get on base,
I had to have an updated registration...
which I didn't...
(blame it on the move)

Hence, the NEED to stand in line for an HOUR
with FOUR kids
to get my car registered here.

While I was swapping license tags...
I *finally*
got around to a few more vehicular updates.

Before
(SOOOOOOO sad to see this go - feel free to send me a new one!)







After
(how stinking cool is this thing??? and oh so true - thank you Mimi!!!)




And I will still be rocking the NC State Wolfpack tag on the front
until I am told otherwise
by those men in blue
that might insist that I put the front tag on my car
that I got when I received the back tag.
(atleast I am assuming that is why I got 2 tags - haha)

And I am sure I will have TONS to share from my first
family reunion with this side of the family.
I am so looking forward to it!!!
(seriously!)