Ella's first guitar recital

Ella's first guitar recital

May 13, 2017

In Fall of 2016, Ella started guitar lessons with the same instructor as her cousin Payton.  She's really enjoyed it and in May she got to show off all that she has learned in a super cool outdoor recital in Boerne.  After she played, we stayed til 9pm watching an electric guitar concert performed by other students and her instructor and had a blast.

It was also a fun way to start celebrating Ella's birthday and Mother's Day a day early!

As we were there, I realized we had celebrated Mother's Day at her first dance recital 5 years prior!

I almost deleted this picture below, but then realized her "daddy's girl" charm was displayed right on her arm, with her daddy in the background....love it.  ;)

The boys were wild and crazy throughout the recital, but that was the beauty of the outdoor auditorium and all the space they had to play.

 Such a fun night!!!

So excited to slow down for Summer!

May 10, 2017

This season has felt so busy and overloaded with school and extra activities!!  So much more than I ever thought I would allow, but then somehow it just happens.  It has been wearing me down a bit but in the end, I think its been a good thing because it really got me thinking and re-evaluating how we want to move forward.  When the kids are little, it's natural to want to give them every opportunity  and let them try everything possible so that they can narrow it down to those 1-2 things that they absolutely love and have a passion for.  I still believe that whole heartedly, I just don't want to limit my options in how they are exposed to all of those wonderful things.  With 3 kids, it's imperative that we be very intentional with how we spend our time when it comes to extra activities! This has actually been consuming my mind lately....manifesting itself with the books I've chosen to read, podcasts I'm listening to, and even my quiet thoughts.   Sort of a side note to this actual blog post, but just wanted to dump that here in this space with this season of our life.

Anyway...on this particular Wednesday afternoon, we were celebrating Ella's completion of her first STAAR test as well as the end of some of those extra activities!  In other words, we were celebrating   a clearing of the afternoon calendar!  Woo hoo!  We had a free evening, and the 5 of us spend it at the JW enjoying some pool time together.  Ultimately, that is my goal....how do we spend more time together, without an agenda or a to do list, but just simply playing and enjoying the outdoors and those people we love the most.  

On the way to the pool, Easton said, "Mom...I told Daddy that 'next time' we came to the JW, I would do the big slide for the first time.  But I don't know if this counts as 'next time'."  I could hear the nerves in his voice as he was working up the bravery to attempt the big slide.  

After playing for a bit, they headed to the slide, and he did it!  When he came down I couldn't tell what he was thinking...the look on his face wasn't clear.  But when asked if he wanted to go again, he said yes and ran back up the stairs!  :)

brothers...

^^ going to jail ^^

Tournament Champs!

Tournament Champs

May 7, 2017

Ella's soccer team walked away with the Champion Trophy from their tournament this weekend!

Go Everton!

International Festival

Asher's class represented Greece at the International Festival.  They performed a dance and a song and some wonderful food afterwards!

Asher danced hard and sang loud!  So proud!

^^ So handsome and happy!!!  ^^

My birthday

My birthday was on Thursday and it was a typical busy day!  This week was especially busy because we are still wrapping up the kids' usual after school activities (soccer, golf, guitar), but on top of it all, swim team started and that is everyday practice!!  Luckily, tax season is over and Michael was around to help!

 In the morning, we had cinnamon rolls and they sang happy birthday to me.  Mom sent these sweet pictures of me when I was little...

Most of the day was spent with my nextTalk team at our monthly planning meeting and this day was special because it was San Antonio's Big Give so we got to wrap up our meeting with making a donation to our organization as well as watch other donations coming in.  

After getting the kids all home from school, I wasn't feeling great so Michael took over with the kids taking them to all their after school activities and Asher and I had time to ourselves and time for lots of birthday selfies.  :)

^^ 37 ^^

Asher and I were in bed early but when the kids came home from soccer practice with this amazing ice cream cake, we had to get out of bed, of course.

The next day, I MADE myself rest and it was so great....I even got a nap which never happens.

The Brown's came over for a swim and all the sweet kids sang Happy Birthday to me again.  

Happy Happy Birthday to me!!