Roughin' It...for me at least!

This weekend we went to east Texas to our friends', the Roberts, cabin once again.  We love going to their cabin and so appreciate their generosity in sharing it with so many people!  This time we headed out there with our friends, the Satterfields and the Thomases.  All of the kids had a blast!

 

We stopped for lunch at East Texas Burger Co in Mineola.  We eat there every time we go out to the cabin.  They were out of high chairs, so Grey had to sit in a booster in between Charlotte and I.  he wasn't a fan...

The Roberts had added a zip line since the last time we had been out there.  The kids were in heaven!!

It went faaaarrr down there...

The only down side of the zip line was that we had to walk all the way down to get the kids after their ride and then pull them back to the top of the hill....

My legs were KILLING ME by the next morning.  So sore, y'all.

As much as they  loved the zip line, I think the kids loved the swing even more...

And us adults loved, it too!

They had also added this fun playground slide right to the side of the cabin...

This is on the zip line almost to the end.  The kids would slide all the way down, hit the end and bounce about to this part.  That tree directly behind Hunter is where it stops.  We had to cross this little "bridge" (that board under Hunter) to get to them...

The swing and zip line definitely made me nervous because we didn't have a harness or anything.  The kids just had to hold on tight.  And I told them that every single time!

James and I took turns looking after Grey all weekend.  It was usually more relaxing than pushing the kids up the zip line hill or helping them sled down the hill next to it (didn't get any pics of that).  The hammock is always fun, but Grey didn't think so at first.  He would grab on tight and cry if we rocked too much...

The kids ate Popsicles on the deck after most meals.  One night Carrie pointed out the window to Ethan and Charlotte having a sweet conversation.  I grabbed the camera quickly so we would have a picture to use in their rehearsal dinner video one day (Hunter Satterfield's words, but I love the idea, too!)...

 

We headed down to the lake a couple of times so the kids could swim and fish.  Caleb and Grey rode the stroller down...

I've fished one time in my life when I was around 8 years old, so I didn't really know how to operate the fishing pole (I know that's ridiculous).  Glad Carrie helped my kids...

They were both over it in about 0.5 seconds.  They are so my kids.

Ben and Hunter helped the kids shoot bee bee guns (How do you spell that?  Have you clued into the fact that I'm not really the outdoorsy type??).  I was inside with Grey, and Carrie came in to tell me, so I didn't get a picture of Hunter...

We also went on a little hike down a trail that we'd never noticed before.  It was probably about a mile, but Ronnie and Amelia were RUNNING so fast that we didn't really explore much.  We ended up breaking into several groups.  Ben kept up with Ronnie, Ethan, Amelia, and Char in the first group and Kim and I were with Caleb and Hunter in the middle group.  Carrie and Hunter (big Hunter) were in the back with Luke.  Hunter (little Hunter) was really frustrated that they went so fast and kept thinking we were lost since the first group was so far ahead of us.  Since he was so concerned, we just kept moving quickly to try and get back to the cabin.  Next time I think I'll make sure we can actually go at a comfortable pace.  Ben said that first group was probably going at a 10 minute mile!

Hunter let me take his picture before we started...

Char and Amelia weren't in the mood for photos...

Hiking...

This fun bridge was in the middle of our path...

Before we left on Monday, Kim set her camera timer so we could all get a picture together.  I'm so glad she did because I love it!

 

It was a great weekend with friends! 

Charlotte's Preschool Graduation

We've had a sick couple of days in the Brooks' house.  After my crazy allergy attack on Saturday night, Hunter was up all night throwing up.  We both felt pretty crummy Sunday morning, and James was exhausted from being up with Hunter most of the night, so we stayed home from church.  Then Sunday afternoon Charlotte was acting funny, so I took her temp and it was 102.2.  Monday morning, she told me her mouth hurt while we were out running errands, so I looked in her throat and it was red.  I made a doctor's appointment for later that morning, and when we got there her temp was 103.  Her strep test was negative, so the nurse practitioner just said to give Motrin and Tylenol for that.  I was thankful that she didn't have strep, but was really hoping she'd feel better by this morning so she wouldn't have to miss her graduation today.

 

James got sick last night with the stomach bug, but Char was better this morning, so we went ahead and let her go to the graduation.  As usual we had a big crew there for the graduation.  The woman behind us even commented on how impressed she was with our row of fans!  Nanny, Grandad, Nana, Grandpa, Jennifer, James, me and Grey all came to watch our big girl graduate...

We are so proud of our Charlotte!!

Charlotte got to stand right by her good friend, Porter...

Those girls are so cute!

Grey really liked listening and watching during all of the songs...

We love Graham Cracker Express!  I will definitely miss Charlotte getting Biblical teaching while at school next year when she's in Kindergarten, but I'm thankful we have a church that has such strong teaching to supplement our teaching at home.  GCE has been such a great school for Hunter and Charlotte.  Next year will be the first time in four years that we haven't had a student there.  I'm so thankful for the teachers that have loved and taught Charlotte so well.  And for all of the sweet friends she's made along the way!!

I can't believe I will have 2 kiddos in big school next year...

 

Time really flies, sweet Kindergartener, so soak up every second of your precious childhood!

 

Tap Recital

We had so much fun watching Charlotte dance last night.  She loves to perform, and we love to watch her! It gives me so much joy.

 

Once again, she posed like this when I pulled out the camera...

So! CUTE!

I was one of the backstage moms, so we had to get there a little early.  I took some pictures by the stage during our short meeting...

Char's class was second from the last during the recital, so we had a loooong time to hang out in the choir room.  The girls did really well while we waited.  Charlotte and Jocelyn had a blast laughing and playing together...

Most of the girls colored for a while...

I took lots of pictures to help pass the time...

Madison and Charlotte became friends last year during ballet.  Sweet friends...

There was a class of older girls in our room, and they were so great!  They made our job much easier because they entertained the little girls all on their own.  We didn't even ask them to do anything to help!  First they played duck duck goose, then London bridges...

Then they grouped the girls up to play another little game...

(I was too busy chatting with the other moms at this point to figure out what the game was;).)

Of course they also spent a lot of time dancing...

Finally it was time!!  The girls lined up in the hallway...

 

They were so cute on stage!  I didn't get to watch from the audience, but saw from backstage and Charlotte did awesome.  She has a natural talent for flashing that stage smile;)

 

I had to wait for all of the parents to pick up the girls in my room, so we met the rest of the family (Nana, Rich, Nanny, Grandad, Aunt Katie, Vanesa, Zack, James, Hunter, and Grey) at Siciliano's.  Unfortunately, I had an allergy attack pretty soon after we got there.  James brought flowers to Charlotte and gave them to her at the restaurant.  She was so happy and wanted everyone to smell them.  I think when she excitedly shoved them in my face, it must've set off my allergies.  I was miserable, so I didn't think about taking any other pictures.  Good thing I got so many earlier in the night;)

 

I'm already excited for next year's recital!!