100 Finger Trees

I got an idea from a piece of art that a local camp did and a school game that Tony played on the computer.  So I combined them and the kids did an art project.  They were to create a tree using their hands/fingers for the leaves while only counting to 100 by 10's (hence the use of hands).

They turned out cute!

Colorado Craft Project

One of the projects that the kids were to do (we didn't get a chance to) was to make a bird house with nature. My mom started the project for us and then mailed the rest to us to finish.  So this is our finishing product.  It turned out cute.  We'll have to see if birds will actually use it, although we won't be putting it out in the yard.  I'm to afraid it would get  ruined by the elements.

We were hanging out yesterday evening letting the kids swim and I noticed that the thermometer read 105' in the shade...gees, we're so ready for a break from this heat.  We have passed up the record of 69 consecutive days of triple digit temperatures. 

How to fight the devil!

Click on the link for a great minute message by Rick Warren.

Museum of Art

Tracy and I took our kids to the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) for the morning.  We were glad that they had a child's center and a shop with sales.  We walked out with a couple of things for school time.

We were learning about John the Baptist and King Herod.

Exploring in the children's center.

The boys loved these toys. 

They are called Eames House of Cards.  They are going on our Christmas list along with Zolo a Go Go toys.

Imaginative and Creative play is the best.  I love it when the kids can pretend and use their brains as a posed to video games, computer, TV or movies/shows.

A cute Saturday

When Saturday mornings come we love to get our coffee and go outside on the patio before breakfast.  This day the kids wanted some too, that is sugar free hot chocolate- but they call it coffee.  Mark and I went inside to start breakfast and left the kids outside.  As I peeked on them I could hear their discussions and it was absolutely precious.  The boys were holding their "coffee" and Alex was tell Tony about his dream that he had that night.  Tony was standing there with his hand on his hip and the other hand holding his coffee with his head titled listening so intently to Alex while giving adult responses.  Then they went to sit down all together and discuss further a subject about bears.  Their communication is so awesome that they have between each other and Aliana just follows and they accept her as one of them not their little 2 year old sister.  I love the respect that they have for one another.

Then Mark and I gave each of the boys personal time for that morning.  It was so nice. 

Tony went on all my errands with me and was my big helper.  Then came home to make cookies (Aunt Stacy style with a little low fat flare). I haven't tasted them yet, but they look good.

A pool to finish off summer

Since we are waiting for the patio extension (this w/e!) and we are in mandatory water restrictions, we have decided to not put our pool back up and to wait until next April.  I got the kids this little pool to have fun in and that's just what they did.  It was the best $7 spent for the summer.

Very quickly they all got comfortable and went underwater.

Boy's Pictures

The boys wanted to take pictures with me after a morning in the water.

Alex is such my big boy.

Tony is such a sweetie.

Another Frog

Since Alex's frog is getting bigger (it's in between a tadpole & a frog) and is at the stage of needing a bigger home, I decided to go ahead and have that new habitat ready.  But to our surprise we got a free frog with it.  So Tony has one now too.

It's cute and needs to eat 3 times a day. 

I really hope it doesn't die!  This is a nice pet to have but it's hard to get the frog established to your treated water.  I would recommend going to Petco to get a water pet and talk with the experts.  We might have to do just that down here.

Another Splash Park

I absolutely LOVE these.  I can't get enough of them and I am pretty sure the kids can agree.  Water, kids, exercise & free fun .... you can't pass that up.  We tried the movies this summer once but would rather be outside in the water.  We will take up the movies in the winter.

This day we went to the Quarry Splash Park (again) but went with our friends.

We had Danny, David, Marlie, Jack and Wyatt along with Alex, Tony & Aliana.... 7 kiddos and they stuck by each other playing.

The boys play awesome together.  We couldn't have asked for better friends and they live right next door!

There were so many children this day, but look how nice everyone is taking turns and waiting patiently.

David, Tony and Aliana going down the slide together.

From the big rock on the left all the way over to the right are all our kids.

Lunch time.

The moms have such an excellent view of their children playing just from the picnic tables.

Aliana by herself under the waterfall. 

Not for sale

I was taking pictures to post items on Craigslist when Aliana steped in an wanted me to take her picture....this is her pose. 

Acobats

Cold Water Fight

Notice above on the deck,  Adam is getting ready to introduce Dad with an unsuspecting surprise but Tara ends up getting most of it.

Fun Times!!

Dance Party

There were a couple awesome rainy afternoons (TX is not use to this so it was a treat for us).

I introduced this great CD to the kids.  We rocked out to God!!. 

My kids and I absolutely love this music and we've made dances to almost all the songs.

Great job Noah!!

Fishing at the Pond

After taking the ATV's for a ride we continued the venture all the way to the family pond to teach the kids how to fish, walk around nature and hike some more, show them the little cabin beside the pond & look for pine cones for a craft project.

Uncle Adam helping Tony.

Another little cabin on the property. 

Aliana posing in deep thought ;-)