July/Aug/Sept Misc

 Here are a few miscellaneous family activities from the past few months...

Silliness at Grandpa and Grandma's

We love having Grandpa and Grandma in Texas! Driving less than 15 minutes to reach their home is such a blessing. During one mealtime at Grandpa and Grandma's house this summer, our kids curiously analyzed the cucumbers on the table and asked why some people put cucumbers on their eyes. They decided they needed to try it! Cody looks pretty serious in the photo, but don't be fooled. This feat brought a bunch of giggles from everyone!

Daddy's Birthday

We were thrilled that Daddy took a day off work this summer so that we could spend his birthday together as a family. We enjoyed playing tennis, going swimming, and competing in some board games. Unfortunately, Jason had to spend the evening in an online SMP class, but we loved having most of the day together!

Fine Arts

Lately, Adley has been using more people in her drawings. I think they look so adorable! This picture was one she drew after jumping on a friend's trampoline. She even included the safety nets on the side of the trampoline. :)

Both Jaden and Cody (but Jaden especially) used some of their free time this summer to play piano just for fun. They got to know some of their pieces really well! Here is Jaden playing the song Viva la France with me. This duet is one of my all-time favorite duets in this piano series.

First Sleepover

In August, our neighbors invited Jaden and Cody to spend the night at their home to celebrate their son Carter's birthday. This was our boys' first overnight at a non-relative's home. Jaden and Cody weren't nervous at all, though it probably helped that these neighbors live directly behind us. We assured the boys that if they felt homesick, all they had to do was look out the window! These four boys had a great time-- especially watching TV and playing video games.

First Day of School

We were so thankful that our school decided to return to in-person classes this fall. School life isn't quite the same with the mask-wearing and social distancing requirements, but it's much preferable to the online learning option. Jaden and Cody were happy to go back to "real school" but were understandably a little nervous. It had been a 5 1/2 month break, after all!

Adley Time

With the boys back in school full time, Adley and Mommy had the chance to focus our activities a bit more on Adley again. One of our first items of business was getting a haircut for Adley. This was only her second-ever haircut, so she had mixed emotions about going. In the end, though, Adley did great! We both love that Adley's shorter hair is MUCH less tangly!

Jaden and Cody began soccer practice shortly after school started, so this got Adley talking about soccer as well. We aren't planning to put her on an organized sports team quite yet, but she sure loves practicing her kicks in the yard. It's especially fun when we set up the real net.

Andrea Moves to Texas

In mid-September, my long-time friend Andrea got a job in Texas and officially moved here. We offered to let her stay with us until she bought a new home. Our kids have adjusted really well to having an extra roommate, and Andrea has been very helpful cleaning up after dinner and watching our kids occasionally. She even gave Jason and me a Friday night date night one weekend! Before Andrea's job started, Adley and I accompanied Andrea to her downtown legal office so that she could pick up some work equipment. Her office is only a couple blocks away from the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, so we decided to stop by there too. It was a beautiful day to try out their walking trails. We saw so many beautiful plants and even encountered a snake on one trail! We agreed that we would need to return in the spring, when everything was in full bloom.