Summer Vibes

With less than two weeks to go before we start school, it's safe to say that summer vacation has been one for the books!  We've soaked up every second, with fun activities mixed in with just hanging out. Ahhh, summer, you know?!

All magic tricks, all the time, for Henry.

Henry has also had a major obsession with Hot Wheels (and Camaros) lately.  It's been pretty fun, because he has always been a Legos boy.  

Two peas in a pod :-)

He's my favorite.

Chocolate camp for Havah! And, major YUM.

You guys.  There was a big snake stuck in our garage. 

In May we started playing pickleball three days a week.  This is an answer to prayer for me, because ya'll know how much I love tennis (and this is kinda sorta like tennis). The kids will start a tennis class in the fall but we'll hopefully keep up with pickle ball as well.

We call these little toads Chocolate Frogs.  They are everywhere this time of year.

Are you officially a Texan when your husband starts slow BBQing pork and it takes all-the-live-long-day? #Worthit.

Summer t-shirt tie dye 

Jon bought Mexican Cokes for the kids to enjoy after they mow the lawn every week.  Henry mows the front yard and Havah mows the back.

Opening night for Finding Dory in 3-D!

Pretty cut Mangoes at the Mexican fruit market

Coffee date 

 Love this darling girl...

...and her photo bomber brother is pretty sweet too :)

We celebrated 20 years from when Jon proposed to me on Decatur Island in the San Juans. He set up these shells just like he did on the beach so many years ago. I love him!

Trying our hands at mini apple pies. We made a bunch of these and shared them with the neighbors.  Have I mentioned how blessed we are with good neighbors?  Southern hospitality is alive and well.

This summer we continued our tradition of having what we call "an outing day" once a week.  The kids and I explored all over the place every Tuesday afternoon.  Unfortunately I wasn't always the best about pulling out my camera, but here are a few shots from Galveston.

Tiger's Blood for her... (she chose wisely)

...and Sour Patch Kids for him.  Ha!

I can't remember if I blogged about this already, but at the beginning of summer Havah and I went on a trail ride as part of her birthday gifts. We was in the hill country, about 45 minutes out of San Antonio. It was both fun and terrifying, since they basically put us on the horses, slapped their rear ends and said, "giddy up." Insert scared face.  However, a couple of hours later we felt like seasoned riders...more or less.  Ha!  ;)

Back at the barn, safe and sound.

 Just because San Antonio is just so darn pretty.

Havah and I attended a vintage fair at the fairgrounds a few weeks ago.  It was a SWELTERING day. We managed to track down the Mama's Sweet Tea truck, which probably saved us from heat stroke.  It was a lot of fun to browse all the booths and bring home a few treasures. (and then hop into the air conditioned car and turn it on full blast!!)  Wrought iron owl bookends for her and an old ship in a bottle for me (Henry). :)

Feed trays from chicken coops turned into lighting.  All the heart eyes from me!

 A park day with some friends. Our good buddies just moved up to New Brunswick, Canada, so we had a send off picnic for them.  They'll be gone for two years. Sniff. We are already looking forward to when they'll be back.

 I don't know if you can see it or not, but the kids were chasing a water snake.  Ugh.  I felt so sorry for the poor thing, and that's saying A LOT.

For most of the summer we had 8 or 9 friends come over once a week to make handiwork projects.  We had both boys and girls, and it was a ton of fun.

So, there you have it!  A peek at our summer days.  There was plenty of mosquito scratching, card playing, kitten wrangling, pool splashing, staying up waaaay too late watching movies, and eating too much ice cream. So thankful all of it and for a few months to relax, recharge and get ready for a new school year.  The school room is almost ready, the supplies are purchased and we've already started orientation with our homeschool group, so the ball is definitely rolling.  We are looking forward to a visit from my sis, Mary Beth, and her family next week, then we'll jump in and start school.  

"Within me there lies an invincible summer."  -Albert Camus