Cheap Family Fun

We treated the kids to a little Chuck E Cheese this past weekend. We finally realized that it's cheaper for us to take the kids to CEC with coupons (Large pizza, 4 drinks, 40 tokens plus another 100 tokens) and get dinner and fun for 30 bucks and actually save money than going to a sit down restaurant.

No worries of kids misbehaving at CEC either. Really, it's a win win situation for this family of 5.

Caden pumping the dogs mouth full of balls.

Gavin is on his tippy toes and can still barely see over the game console, but that didn't stop him from blasting Aliens. He played that game most of our stay.

Reese was obsessed with the roller coaster ride. Caden was often seen going along for the ride.

Here's a short video clip of all the excitement.

Daddy/Daughter Date

Yesterday Christopher took his baby girl Reese to see the movie Ice Age 3 in 3D.

There's no denying this girls love for her daddy and visa versa. Reese's got her daddy tightly wrapped around her finger. They had a good time and enjoyed the movie. She can't wait for their date to see The Princess and the Frog later this year.

...and the floods came up!

Caden has done this on more than one occasion. This time however, I have a small documentation of it. He likes to wash his hand, and then leave the water running. We don't have a normal sink, you know, the ones that have an overflow hole. Yeah, we're gonna have to get one of those. There was water about 3 inches deep on the ground! Leaked inside of the drawers and cabinets...yeah....

Low Ridin'

Now that's what I call low ridin'! We saw this up at the Grapevine Mall this past weekend!

Zuma Prize

I've gotten a little attached to playing Zuma on the xBox 360. Gavin has been very supportive. The other day while playing he brought this out to me from the kitchen. A bowl of popcorn with a note that read:

"Good Job Playing Zoooma"

I'm lucky to have kids that foster my gaming addictions. Of course, after Zuma it was his turn to play Lego Batman on the Wii. To which I brought him a smoothie from the kitchen for being my best bud!

The Pompadours

The boys were LONG over due for a hair cut! They are sooo handsome!

Independence Day!

We spent the 3rd and 4th down at the Barn, just like last year. Only this year, we brought our little buddy Hunter with us! The kids were more than thrilled to be buying fireworks.

Gavin and Hunter showing off the smoke bombs. Always a favorite with the young boys.

The kids ended up with a box full of things that go "bang" at night. This was just the first trip!!

Reese in the midst of a delightfully smelling smoke bomb...

All the kids going in on a dying smoke bomb. Are those bare feet...yes.

Caden was a fierce proponent of the fireworks this year. He had no fear, however, respected the fire power.

And when the smoke cleared, there was Bear in the midst.

Gavin with a monster truck.

Christopher out with the boys launching and then catching the parachute from a firework.

Hunter getting his smoke bomb action on! Sadly, this is all the firework action I got on film. My camera battery was dying and I failed to bring my charger. Mucho bummer, but you get the idea.

Caden found his true love...sand pits!

Bear would hit up the water toys promptly out of the sand, or even while still in it! Nothing like a muddy fun time! The Barn does not disappoint in making a child dirty.

The only shot I got of the kids in the pool. Love the swimmers drool coming off his chin. He's becoming quite the little fish.

Later that night we hit up a small hometown good ol American firework show at the local high school. We arrived just as the show started. The kids climbed up through the Suburban sunroof and sat up top to watch the show. Glow sticks courtesy of Pa Haslam back in WA. I'm not sure which was more fun for the kids that night, the sticks or the firework show.

The next day, the actual 4th, the boys spent a good portion of the morning blasting fire ant hills, if not in the pool.

He would drop a mighty might firecracker down inside and light it up. The result shown above. In fact, I think I have a video.

I do! Gavin provides us with a step by step fire ant annihilation!

I love this photo b.c it brings back memories of back in the day when I would put Gavin (at 2) and Reese (4 months) on my lap and ride around the property on the lawn mower for a little "getaway". Now Reese is 4 (almost 5) and Caden 2 (almost 3)!! My how time flies.

Back inside the Barn Pa was making himself a "Gavin Sandwich" whilst Gavin was looking on!

Pa has successfully completed making said sandwich.

And now time for the devouring.

Food was good. Nothing beats a 4th of July BBQ. The night before however we had pizza and Gavin made the mistake of leaving his dinner on the porch while he played. Noticed the ant infestation.

The Barn wouldn't be the Barn without popsicles.

Or popsicles and plenty of soda to choose from.

I enlisted the help of my kitchen aid, Bear, for a little 4th of July pastry making.

Such an excellent helper!

Our finished product. We attempted to create these from Our Best Bites only we had star shaped molds that we also used. They turned out scrumptious!

Cristi (Granna) used some of our left over stars and made this 5 layer 4th cake! YUMMY!

Christopher swam with the kids on the lake. Reese enjoyed riding around with daddy and Aunt Amanda.

Caden showing me the awesome Texas mud from the bottom of the lake.

Gavin and Caden floating around the lake. You wont dare see me inside a Texas lake! Too muddy, full of fish and SNAKES!!! No siree.

Reese floating atop of Amanda's float with Tyler on the other and daddy in the water.

Even Bently (Tyler and Amanda's dog) got in on the lake action. She had the best seat on the lake!

The kids had a lot of fun and slept hard! Reese was particularly cute rolled up on Bradleys bed. Until next year!!

What's that saying?

Great minds think alike? I had a doctor appointment and Reese came along for the ride. We got dressed separately and found each other dress alike. We just had to get a picture.

How very patriotic of us too! After all, it was the day before the 4th. More on the 4th to come. I've been busy with making my annual blog books.

An Evening Read

One night I was reading online and Caden came up beside me with a book. I kept reading and noticed that he was really into this book. I didn't recognize it and took a quick look...

Bear must be channeling his inner genius! No need for picture books or Dr. Seuss...bring on a good 'ol thesaurus! What a nut!

Any Given Morning or Afternoon

You will find Bear in the sandbox.

Oh, and stripped to his undies!