Six Flags Fun

Last Saturday, Valero reserved the entire Fiesta Texas park for its employees. It was very cool. No lines, free snacks at every snack stand, and free game tickets for the carnival-type games. We took only Blake and Sydney. The little guys stayed home with Gran and Grandad (thank you guys!). The four of us had so much fun. Andy and Syd are a great match because they're both into the fast rides...all coasters all the time. Blake and I like the slower, closer to the ground kind of rides. I think all four "big kids" really enjoyed the baby free day.

Snaggle tooth

Okay, I know I've been VERY delinquent in keeping up posts. I'm going to try to get back on track. Please be patient with me.

Yesterday, Blake lost his first tooth. Yea! Finally. He noticed it was loose a few days ago. But yesterday, when he came home from school, it was really loose and bleeding. He and Sydney strategized for a few minutes about how to get it out most efficiently. And 45 minutes later, he was grinning ear to ear, holding his tooth out for us to see.

Conversations between Max and Brady

Amidst all the craziness of packing and moving, my children continue to keep me laughing and on my toes. I'll blog more later about the move, complete with pics of the new house, but I want to remember some of the funny things they're doing and saying. If I don't get it down now, I never will.

Max and Brady are becoming buddies more and more. They play together some, and have begun having the same conversation over and over. It goes something like this:

Max: Nononononononononono
Brady: Yes, Max, yes.
Max: Nononononononononono
Brady: Yes, Max, yes.

Repeat, repeat, repeat. It really is pretty funny in person.

Max makes a mean muscle, now. If you ask to see his muscle, he goes red in the face and his whole body stiffens. I have yet to get him to do it for the video camera!

After the kids had been at Gran and Grandad's for the weekend, Max greeted me with a huge grin and lots of giggling. I loved that he was so giddy.

Brady asks every day when we're going to "antonio wif daddy". Sweet boy. Every time I say it's time to go home, he asks if we're going to the "old house" or the "new house". His little two year old mind must be so confused!

Blake has spent a lot of the summer working on baseball skills. He's really become a very good pitcher. He also catches and hits well. He's so proud of himself, and I can't wait to see him play on a team. I've enjoyed watching him begin to really delight in his younger brothers. They are a constant source of entertainment for him, and I get regular play-by-plays of silly little things that Blake finds hilarious.

Sydney has always been a nurturer, but this summer she's been a trooper. She's helped out with the little guys with very little complaint. Without her help and companionship, this summer might well have been miserable. I'm so proud of the little lady she's becoming.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of things...oh, well. More later...

Wink, wink

Max is big into copycatting lately. He particularly loves to wink. I could spend all day winking back and forth with him. He's too cute.

Cousin Camp

Blake and Sydney had a ball at ACU's KidQuest this week. We had the privilege of taking Hollyn (Matt and Sara's oldest) with us. The three of them were so well-behaved. I think they genuinely had a great time. My Nonnie and Poppie hosted us in their home. Big thanks to them. I'm sure their quiet retired life was completely turned upside down by a crazy woman and five kids! But the little ones had a great time watering the flowers and playing in the wonderland of a backyard. It was an exhausting week, but a fun one. I'm missing my "H" (my new nickname for Hollyn) already.:)

My kids love the stage

I know, imagine that... Both Sydney and Blake went to drama camp at our church last week. At the end of camp, they put on a show, a very shortened version of Jungle Book Jr. Blake was the daddy wolf and Sydney was the baby elephant. It was pretty cute. They both delivered their lines beautifully. Sydney, in particular, shows a passion for the stage. I'm not sure whether to be excited about that or to fear it.

We're moving...again

Well, it's official. We are moving to San Antonio by the end of the summer. Andy has accepted a position with Valero, and we're in a full sprint to get the house on the market and get moved before school starts.

The kids have taken it pretty well. Blake is just excited Andy will be working for a company he recognizes (you know that kid's crazy obsession with gas stations). Sydney is a harder sell, but she's beginning to get excited. Obviously, the younger two are completely oblivious.

I am excited about living in San Antonio, although I will be sad to leave our church family and neighbors here. The hardest part is just getting from here to there.

I would appreciate all the prayer I can get at this point. The perfectionist in me wants this house HGTV ready before it goes on the market (in less than a week), but it just isn't possible. We have to pick and choose the things that are most important and leave some things undone...which drives me INSANE. So please pray that the Lord gives me clarity and peace and patience. A little perspective would be nice too.