Everything Is Awesome

Grant did tennis camp this past week.  He was worn out after each day but told me he enjoyed it.  His coach said he was getting better on his forehand.  I took tennis lessons when I was younger and actually enjoyed it.  I didn't enjoy it so much when I was older and was at the bottom of the ladder in school.  

 Thursday, we headed to LegoLand Discovery Center and SeaLife Aquarium in Grapevine with our friends.

Grant and Corbin are the same age and were so happy to spend time with each other.  I thought this picture was sweet  Not much longer will they think it is okay for boys to hold hands.

 This was Reagan's first time at an aquarium.  This was her favorite part, probably because it was right at her level.

 Corbin's brother, Tate, came along as well.  He and Reagan are a year apart.

 Silly boys.

 Baby brother had to get in on the action.

 Reagan was confused by the see through floor.

 Its hard to get all four kids looking in on direction!

This was our time killer between the aquarium and LegoLand.  Stomp on the ants!

 We had been to LegoLand before, but it has been several years.  Grant was so excited to see the Star Wars exhibit since he is all into Star Wars now.

 He got to conduct the pod racing.

 

 Dallas skyline.

 Behind him is a replica of Great Wolf Lodge.  I told him this is as close as he'll get to it this summer, since he's been begging to go.

 "Everything is awesome!"

Later in the week, we finally got our car we paid for a week ago.  They had to replace a recall part since it was used.  Grant already called a seat way in the back and learned how to use the sunroof.  

Cannonballs and Caterpillars

This week we wrapped up our third year of swimming lessons. This is the third year Corbin and Grant have been together for the week!

Grant got to move to 'big kid' group this year and spend more time in the deep end.  He was supposed to be diving, but would cannonball when the teacher wasn't looking.  

I thought it was funny, but he got a talking to about not following directions!

Reagan is thoroughly enjoying all the delicious watermelon the summer has to offer.  I just pretty much feed her in just her diaper now because its less clean up.

My sister got a new job in a different district so she has been busy cleaning out her old classroom.  So Vivian has been spending some quality time with us.

All of us stuffed in the truck.  We were headed to the ENT for Grant and Reagan.  Grant was so happy to get the report that he only has one tube left in his ears.  That means only one ear plug while he swims!

Afterwards, we headed to Chick-Fil-A for some playground fun and ice cream.  Reagan got a free Peppa Pig book and was holding onto it for dear life.  She must have been excited about it.

After having all those kids in one car, we realized we need a bigger vehicle than our truck and our sedan.  Not that we are expecting more children, but we would like the extra room for family members and 'stuff'.  So we bid goodbye to my 4th car in my lifetime....

and said hello to my first 'family' vehicle. 

This was a cute picture I took this week outside a local BBQ joint.  He was excited to ride the mechanical bull.

My scientist was asked by our public library to put on a science show for the kids in the summer reading program.  Unfortunately this was the only picture I took while trying to keep Reagan still.  He made fire change colors, and made elephant toothpaste.  The poor ventriloquist had to follow his act (haha).

The last few weeks we have been growing our own pink lady butterflies from Insect Lore. We did this a few years ago and I still had the net.  I just had to order a new set of caterpillars.  Once they developed into butterflies, one became deformed.  He was small and had 4 wings instead of two. The red color on the paper towel is discharge from the formation in the pupae. 

We let all five of them go.  Our poor deformed one didn't fly away.  I told Grant we needed to let nature do its thing.  Poor little guy.

Green Bean Bundles

My friend Mindy brought me these green bean bundles after I came home from the hospital with Reagan.  This isn't her recipe, but it is one I found on Pinterest and have cooked on several occasions. They are something different from your traditional green beans.

When I make these I have never used dry mustard because frankly, I never have any on hand.  I've used fresh green beans and frozen.  Of course the fresh is better, but the frozen was also acceptable.  Canned is not.  Also, rarely have I let them  soak in the butter mixture for longer than an hour.  I never really plan that far ahead!  They are great either way!

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 lbs green beans, trimmed
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar, packed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 ounces bacon

Directions: 

1. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
2. Wash and trim the beans.
3. Add the beans to the boiling water and blanch for 3 to 4 minutes, until the beans are pliable but still crunchy.
4. Drain the beans and run them under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel and place them in a shallow ovenproof casserole.
5. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
6. Stir in the dry mustard, brown sugar, garlic and salt.
7. Pour the butter mixture over the green beans, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
8. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
9. Make a bundle of 8 or 9 beans, wrap half a bacon slice around each bundle, securing with a toothpick, and arrange in a single layer in the same casserole used for marinating.
10. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and the beans look wrinkled.  Serves 6-8.

On to OK

Reagan has now turned 18 months old.  We have gotten rid of the bottle and am working on saying adios to the pacifier.  She graduated to the big kids front facing seat which we were so excited to do.  I was tired of carrying that huge car seat around.  She looks like such a big girl and she LOVED it.

 Our first week of summer, we started it by beginning swim lessons.  One day we went to Aunt Debbie's for a swim and Reagan devoured the watermelon.  She loves any kind of fruit.  

 There was no way to clean her but throw her in the pool.

 Near the end of the week we headed North to Oklahoma for a family reunion.  

First stop was my new school, Texas Woman's University.  This week I started back to school to become a librarian.  My program is all online, but we had to make a stop by the actual school to take care of some business.  I wish I could have looked around longer, it was a pretty campus.

From there we crossed into Oklahoma. 

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It seemed like a very long trip.  We watched several movies and did plenty of Facetime with Elmo (look her smile when he talks to her!)

We stayed in a town named Shawnee.  I had never been to this part of Oklahoma so I did the touristy thing and looked up all the interesting stops on the way.  The only thing was 2 fried pie shops.  Everything else was land, land, and horse ranches included some more land!

Shawnee had these horses all around town at different locations, each with a different painting.  If I would have had time, I would have done the dorky touristy thing and taken pictures with them all.  I thought they were interesting.

The reunion was located on a local lake.  The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the company.

Anyone want to help invest in this little model??

 Much time was spent playing in the sand.

I even got in on the action with the kids.

We took a couple of boat rides around the lake.

 Grant even got to drive one time.

Daniel thought this was a good time to wear his t-shirt he got for free.  For FREE!  How is this possible??  I kept asking about his new online degree he is about to finish and he wouldn't talk to me about it.  So sad!

 Daniel and his grandmother, GiGi, played a good game of cornhole.

 Reagan helped with the game, but it still didn't help her Daddy win.

Grant got together with group of boys and played cops and robbers for the longest time.

 Here was the 'jail' which we found out was a dancer cage...yikes! 

 Daniel used his awful auctioneering skills to auction off items at the reunion.

 Reagan was worn out to the point of just plain moody, until we happened to turn on the TV and Peppa Pig was on.  She got her second wind after that.

 After a good nights rest, she was in a much better mood on Sunday.

 Before heading back, it was time for a family picture.

Today, also happened to be Father's Day.  Happy Father's Day to my brown eyed boy!  You are such a good Daddy to our babies.  Blessed!