Cow Appreciation & 711 Slurpee Day 2017

One of my favorite summer activities is Cow Appreciation Day. I mean who doesn't love to dress up, take lots of pictures, and get free chicken from Chick-fil-a with sweet friends?!? For the past 4 years, we have celebrated this super fun day with our Fantlet friends. We typically find white/black shirts, make some very odd shape cow spots, and pin or tape these beauties on with a pair of felt ears and usually an eye liner painted nose. Regardless of the dress, aren't my little moo moos adorable?

This morning my two and I plus our Fantlets enjoyed a morning of free food, cute cow costumes, fun play times all before our swim lessons. It was a perfect little morning play before swim school.

 {Bryson-7, Emily & Madelynn-4, Aubrey-3}

Thank you to our little moo cows and to my bestie for always being in on family/friend fun and free food! I'm already counting down the days until the next Cow Appreciation.
This year it just so happens that our free food day landed on July 11 or better known as 711 Free Slurpee Day. Mommy couldn't enjoy all the fun. Plus we had just finished a hot afternoon CG workout, so daddy enjoyed a fun little date taking the kids to 711 for a delicious sweet and FREE slurpee treat. The kids LOVED it!

 {The kids got their fill of free food and drinks today. Yay for 711 Slurpee day with Dad!}

 {Liam's first slurpee}

A Sweet Sugar Land Summer 2017: Zellner Visit

As we continued our Sweet Sugar Land Summer visit, we made our way over to our Zellner family's house. From rocking and rolling with Papa Z, 

to sweet smiles with Harper Edel,

and so much super sweet cousin love, minus a very sad love bite from Liam... I'm so sorry sweet Harper.

we surely enjoyed an exciting afternoon of family fun. Enjoy the sweet pictures of our family time together. From family fun, delicious eats, and a birthday treat, our time was precious!

 {sweet cousins- Aubrey-3, Liam-1, Harper 7 months}

 {Papa Z and Aubrey selfies}

 {Liam rocking in daddy's baby chair}

 {hugs with Harper}

 {Aunt Becky & her little lady}

 {Uncle Ray and his sweet niece}

 {My sweet ladies}

 {I loved rocking this cutie to sleep!}

 {MJ holding sweet Harper & Nana}

This visit was special in the sense that it was so relaxing. It was a great time to rekindle and catch up with my in laws. It was fun to watch the cousins love on each other. I also love that we were able to celebrate our new soon to be brother-in-law, Andrew's 30th birthday. He was celebrated with a very delicious cheesecake. Plus it was so good to celebrate my beautiful sister in law and her love's recent engagement. I love these two!!!

 Happy Birthday Andrew!

 {Ray, Rachel, Andrew, and me}

 {Owen, Rachel, Andrew, and MJ}

 {Owen & two of his grand babes}

As always our vacays home are a bit short, but oh so super sweet. It was a fun time with family and so fun to watch sweet cousins. I will say there is never a dull moment with our kids.  We did leave with a bloody nose and mouth as poor Liam took a nose dive straight into the coffee table, but sweet boy is brave and healed quickly.  I look forward to many more sweet visits in our future. 

A Sweet Sugar Land Summer 2017: Waldrup Visit

Another exciting summer activity is taking the kids to see our extended families. While Sugar Land summers are definitely HOT and our visits are very short, they were surely sweet. On Friday after the husband was finished at work, we made our way to Sugar Land

to stay with my parents and brother, or better known as Oma, Opa, and Uncle Bubba. While our arrival was pretty late, it was fun to give our welcome hugs and have a bit of hang out time with family before bed. Now as usual, our little man had an all night party that we were sadly invited to. He is definitely a much better sleeper at home these days, but was not having it on our travels. As our all nighter took us into the wee hours of the morning, when he finally did fall to sleep, that mixed with really good black out curtains and a side of exhaustion, we slept in quite a bit. Saturday when we awoke we enjoyed a super fun and super hot morning outside exploring "purple octopus flowers", playing with bubble makers, and enjoying chalky hands of sidewalk art.

{Ray, Liam, Bubba, & Aubrey}

 {Oma, Opa, and Aggie dog}

 {Bubble fun with the babes}

{Launcher fun with dad and daughter}

{Oma & Opa watching the fun}

It was then time for Bubba to show Aubrey her beloved purple octopus flowers. We would later be talking for weeks about this special flower as it was just for her. I adore watching this super special relationship.

It was surely a super hot but super sweet time of outdoor play with the fam. After some good outdoor play, it was time to refuel. For lunch we made our way to a Richmond and a family favorite, Larrys Enchiladas.

 {Two of my favorite gents, my brother, Chris, and husband, Ray}

 {Oma, Opa, & Aubrey Love}

The food was delicious and much of it ended on the floor as Liam has a really great throwing arm. But once we were full, we came back for a bit of relaxing, for building the best kids fort, a good rest time, and a great time of catching up. I even found this little treasure of my brother and I. Chris was 6.5 and I was 2. I love this sweet picture and loved our time to catch up and rekindle.

My Little Fish & Our Swim Friends

This summer we signed Aubrey up for swim school at Emler with our sweet Fantlet girls. To be honest, I may have (definitely have) accidentally signed her up for a higher level swim class. With this being Aubrey's first swim lesson (ever), our main goal was for her to be comfortable in the water and of course to enjoy it. I am so thankful she had Miss Kendall as she was so good with Aubrey and even understood her hesitation in the water.

Our lessons would take us to Emler for 30 minutes a day for two weeks. Aubrey was so excited for swim school and to swim with her two friends. Plus mommy was excited to spend some good quality time with her bestie as well as enjoy a few morning workouts right around the corner.

{Aubrey-3, Emily-4 & Madelynn-4} 

Our first week was a success! Our focus was breath control and confidence in the water. Each day she progressed more and more. We also loved sharing the pool with our sweet friends who were amazing little fish. Plus we had the two best brothers join for encouragement. 

{Fantlet ladies-4, Aubrey- 3, Bryson-7, Liam-1}

 {Madelynn Hugs}

{Aubrey loved splashing/kicking in the water with her swim pal, Norah}

 {Liam loved wearing Aubrey's towel as a cape and enjoyed watching the swimmers, walk around the viewing area, and eat yummy snacks.}

On our second to last day, the girls participated in a jump, turn, swim activity. Once completed, each child earns a ribbon. Aubrey was so excited to earn her special ribbon. This face says it all.

On our last day of swim school, Kristin had the great idea of taking all the kiddos out for a special last day of swim school ice cream treat.

 Congrats to our little fish and to completing swim lessons for the summer!