Hanging with Baby Tom

I was NOT on my a-game with my camera skills, but here are a few photos from our quick visit with Baby Tom. He's a precious little one.

Ben still has it. He can quiet a baby. Tom seems skeptical, however. :)

goober

getting a teensy bit fussy ;)

Here's tiny Walker at Tom's (current) age...around 4 weeks old. They have some similarities, for sure! Mostly the hair (or lack thereof!). :) 

WOW. Back to school is crazy.

I am so super behind on life. These last couple of weeks of summer and this first week of school have me a little crazy. So, here I go...catching up! :)

Lainey, after company auditions for the 2016-2017 year

Lainey and Morgan :)

after auditions, searching for roly-polies 

(very therapeutic)

a little Obstacle Warrior Kids with friends (Lainey and Bryleigh; Walker and Angelo)

Walker also started football...he's the little #82. Granted, the two boys behind him are 4th graders (not on his team but there for practice), but he's tiny.

This is Walker's teacher. Ms. Matthews. She's AMAZING and has impressed me as a parent. She's really sweet and I love that Walker likes her. And there's Walker's buddy Nicco in the background! :) 

Lainey with her teacher, Mrs. Miklosko (she's wonderful!)

More football. Aunt Tisha has aptly named him "Chicken Little." 

Chicken Little... a.k.a. Walker. :) 

'

We took our annual trip to Mama's Pizza the night before the first day of school. We actually added Henry's Ice Cream into the mix this year; Ben took this photo of them at Henry's. :)

FIRST day of 4th and 2nd Grade! Ironically, I taught both grades. I liked second grade better. :) They have sweet, loving teachers and each child has at least one friend in his/her class. :) Makes my job so much easier. They both were a little teary :( but they recovered quickly and went into their classrooms happily. Thank you, God! :)

Day Five: Balmorhea, Texas

Lainey loves the smell of books as much as I do. :) She's definitely my kid!

in the springs at Balmorhea State Park

I couldn't get in the water. The algae on the floor grossed me out. And I can do things. But not that. I think I prefer my rivers, lakes, oceans, and swimming pool experiences to remain separate experiences. This place was a giant "pool" (built around natural springs) covered with algae and fish. I couldn't do it.

 Walker, being brave...he was really nervous about it being too cold.

Lainey - way up in the air! Look up at the trees. :)

I have to include this picture. Lainey and Ben are on the far right. But this dude on the left...holding onto the colorful noodle contraption...we saw him and his brother and parents SIX times during our little vacation. In Marfa, we saw them at the Dairy Queen (I would have pegged them for locals at that point) and at the Marfa Lights; in Ft. Davis, we saw them at the Rattlesnake Exhibit, a local hotel for lunch, and McDonald Observatory's Twilight Program and Star Party; in Balmorhea, we saw them at the springs! SIX times! It was awkward and uncomfortable. But I had to document them! 

Ben, going off the high-dive

pictures of the kids, side-by-side

upon leaving the park

view from the pretty house that we rented

We called our rented house the "Walker Harris" ranch. :) 

This is a photo of Lainey's sweet note to the owners of our rented house! :) We DID love the screened-in porch! We played a couple serious games of Scrabble and enjoyed one another's company. It was fun!

****

And that's it! :) We had a wonderful vacation in West Texas. If anyone needs any advice or help in planning a trip, come find us! :) 

Day Four: Ft. Davis, Texas

We visited the famous Prada store outside of Marfa (it's actually closer to Valentine, Texas...just something to note).

Lainey had to stop to use the restroom at this little post office.

We visited the actual fort in Ft. Davis once we arrived in town. It was really interesting hearing about the history of the fort; I'm really glad we went, and I'm glad that the kids learned a thing or two, as well. :)

We weren't allowed to walk on the actual ruins.

the hospital

The kids were sworn in as Junior Rangers. :) 

our view on the way up to McDonald Observatory

at McDonald Observatory

While our Star Party was canceled due to cloudy conditions, we had a fun time exploring the museum   at McDonald Observatory.

I can confidently say that the kids had more fun playing on the slide than exploring the museum. :)