anniversary - part 1

Paul planned and executed the best anniversary gift/trip ever. It was still a few days before our actual anniversary, so I wasn't thinking anything of it. We went over to the Newell's house for dinner with the kids, and then Paul walked in and said, "It's time to go!" I was very confused and thinking we couldn't just leave our kids there without having it set up with Mindy and Brian first, but he had already figured that all out. Everyone knew what was happening except me. :)  We drove for a while and Paul made secret phone calls and met with strange men in parking lots who gave him folders and keys and it was very exciting!

We first went to a restaurant, that was quite fancy, but still fun to be silly at. We ate TONS of good seafood and left very full and satisfied.

Then we got to our beach house and had so much fun, picking our bedroom, and trying out the telescope, and having the best time. Ten years has been good to us. The kids slept over with the Newells and we stayed the night.

Before we went to bed, I realized we hadn't brought the milk inside from the car yet (we bought breakfast stuff for the morning after our fancy dinner). I quick ran outside and down the stairs to the car to get the milk, and then Paul came out onto the balcony and shouted that he had found it on the patio. So I went back upstairs, to find Paul asking for the keys. He wanted the house keys, but all I had were the car keys. After trying to break in through several windows and having Paul scale up the side of the house to the 3rd story and try that patio door... We realized we were locked out. The door handles turn on the inside even when they are locked, so if they are shut at all they will be locked.  We had no phones, no house keys, no shoes, and very little clothing. Paul was only in his underwear, and I was wearing his basketball shorts and a tank top... Too much information? I just wanted to paint the picture. We decided we had to drive to a phone and call the rental company to see if they had an extra key. Paul took the basketball shorts, and found a sweatshirt in his car. I covered up as much as I could, and we drove to a gas station. Also, our car was on empty. Of course it was. He called the guy and met us back at the beach house (which we couldn't initially find - GPS on our phones helped us get there the first time). It was crazy. I sat in the car while Paul announced to the key guy that I couldn't come out because I was naked... Great. :) After that we each kept a set of keys with us at all times. And put on more clothes.

Part 2 coming soon...

friends

Matix loves his friends like most people wished that someone loved them. When Stella got sick he asked me to write a get well message, and then he decorated it. Seriously sweet.

sleepy

Paul can literally fall asleep anywhere. ANYWHERE. Even talking. This happened mid-sentence. No joke.

park day

Spending an afternoon at the park is always fun. They kids tire themselves out, and when Daddy comes, that happens even faster. He is so good to run and play with them even when I know he's tired after coming off a 26 hour shift, with only a nap...

Sometimes you NEED to bring your blank to the playground.

Solace worked very hard to get across this area of the playground alone. It took him several tries, but I think he did great! Hawken of course is already a pro and had to be slowed down so Sully could do it.

Hawken writes

Hawken learned about different fonts this year and it's been fun to see what he comes up with to try out on his homework. Check out that 'g'!

And of course, he also loves to write love notes. Usually I am the recipient of these notes, but Ms. Oncken got several too. She was such an amazing teacher, and the perfect person to teach Hawken.

Mis. Oncken i loev you with ol my hart (Ms. Oncken, I love you with all my heart)

Matix's student led conference

Matix's student led conference at the end of the year was awesome. He has made some HUGE steps this year toward his goals. He is a good reader, and likes all his classes, with science being his favorite, although art was a close second.   We set up the little kids at a table to eat their dinner (Chick-fil-A per Matix's request), while Matix led us through his conference. 

We were all very proud of Matix for all his hard work. He did a great job in 1st grade!  We love you!

He also got to show us some of the things hanging in the hallway of his. I especially loved this poem about fire ants. 

Ants can bite

Ants are mean

They are fire ants

The tiniest things I've ever seen

And on our way out, we had to try out the swing near the sidewalk. Matix's school is located in the best neighborhood in Houston. So much to see!

best friends

Hawken's best friend from kindergarten (one of his best friends) was Erik. He is about a foot taller than Hawken, and different in many other ways, but they are both VERY good boys and VERY smart boys. Hawken and Erik had lots of playdates together after school, and one of the days we brought Erik with us to the Children's Museum. Erik hadn't been there before and LOVED it. They were all smiles the whole time. 

day at the beach

The long drive down to Galveston to spend the day at the beach was always worth it. The kids really loved it, every time, even when it was cold.

The stormtrooper had to come with us. Had to. And thanks to Paul super reflective sunglasses, I actually got in a picture. Imagine that!

It was rather cold, so we spent most of the time hunting for treasures to bring to the swap shop. We made a boat out of a coconut, like Roosie used to do in Dominica, and tried floating it.

I had to include this picture of Paul. He thought that stick looked like a person. So here is a picture of a person, imitating a stick, that is imitating a person...

By the end of the day, the kids were exhausted. Solace lay down while he ate his dinner. 

hair cuts

At the end of April (I know, I am VERY behind!) the kiddies got hair cuts. Matix was first. His hair grows so fast, it's already long again. :)

Paul jokingly said he was done after just the top middle was cut... Matix wasn't amused. :)  Afterward, it looked very nice, and he was pleased.

Hawken was next and only wanted a trim. Handsome as ever.

Then Sully kept begging for his turn. We have never given him a haircut, and at 2 and 1/2 years old, he certainly needed a trim. We weren't planning on it, but when does your 2 year old BEG for the trimmers? We did;t want to miss the opportunity. Paul used the clippers and didn't change the setting from Matix short hair cut, so as he started, I filmed it... After watching, I won't be posting. All you hear is my whining voice. :) It was very emotional to me. Paul cut off the baby hair from my BABY, which instantly made him older. It was so sad. But Solace does look very handsome with it short.