Spring Break 2016 Part 1

We had big plans for Spring Break this year.  We planned two trips on the weekends of spring break.  The first weekend we went to Sea World and the second weekend we traveled to Oklahoma.

We had planned this sea world trip with the Parles back in January, so our kids had been looking forward to this trip for a while.  We both got the annual pass to Sea World and Aquatica so we felt it would be great to vacation together.  We left early Saturday morning (March 12) and arrived at Sea World a little after 10:00. 

The Parles were already inside but they waited for us at the fountain.  We spent the entire day at Sea World and saw the lumberjack show, Azul, and ate at the Smokehouse.

We left around 4:00 to check into the hotel and eat dinner together before heading back inside for the Shamu Celebration show at 8:00.

Eating dinner at Chuy's

 The kids had "sleepovers" with each other so Joe came and slept in our hotel room and R/E stayed with Faith. 

We exchanged kids Sunday morning and met at McDonald's for breakfast before heading back into Sea World.  Our first show was Sea Lion High followed by time at the Sesame Street Bay of Play before eating lunch.  We watched an Alligator Interaction but were a bit disappointed because we thought it was going to be a feeding.  B and I left around 4:00 with the kids and didn't make it to AWANA but we had a great time while we were there.  Since it was spring break, the kids didn't have school so we were able to take it easy and get to bed later than normal, but poor B had to get up and go to work at 7:00 am.

We always park by Dolly #13

Miles on Storm

We drove A LOT in the month of March.  We drove to San Antonio for Sea World the first weekend of Spring Break, then to Oklahoma the second weekend of spring break.  The very next weekend was Easter, so we drove to Hammond, LA followed by a second trip to LA to get W/E back from my mom and Chuck.  4 straight weekends in a row putting miles on Storm.  She's a good van and she needs a deep cleaning.  Here are the stats:

Sea World 204 miles there and 204 miles back
Edmond, OK 483 there and 484 back
Hammond, LA 344 miles and 344 back
Lafayette, LA 255 miles there and 255 back

4 straight weekends on the road and 2,573 miles later....We are tired but I can't imagine how Storm's insides are feeling.  Here's what happened to me this past week (April 6th) on a Wednesday:

 We got a new tire and we hope that she won't rebel for her treatment anymore. 

Our Special Marine

Our favorite Marine came to visit us for the weekend.  Josh flew in Saturday March 5th at noon into Hobby Airport.  We all went to pick him up after a YMCA workout.  After picking him up, we were all very hungry so we took him to Spring Creek for lunch.  Lunch was yummy and I think it's been over a year since we've eaten at Spring Creek.  Josh said it was good, but wasn't enthusiastic about the thick tomato based bbq that is here in Texas.  He said he would rather have the NC vinegar based bbq like at Holden's BBQ.  After getting home, the kids rested and B had a conference call.  Josh came with me to the grocery store.  After shopping and getting home, the kids played with the train set and we tried to find the UNC/Duke game on TV but we could not.  It wasn't on a network channel and our ESPN app wasn't playing it either.  Since we couldn't get the game, we decided to go outside and play for a while.  We threw the football and the kids played jackpot with Josh.  We've made our kids call him Mr. Josh, and he's gotten used to it.  He's only 23, so I doubt he hears Mr. Josh very often.  I think the kids were the only ones who ate dinner because us adults were still full from lunch, but Josh was tired so he went to bed earlier than the rest of us.  We watched a little of Pirates of the Caribbean before putting the kids to bed.  

lunch after church

Sunday we left the house at 7:50 for church and we were at church ALL morning.  We usually go to the 8:15 service and then 9:30 ABF which gets us out of church around 11:20.  Well we had an Emmaus ABF Leadership meeting after class that lasted until 12:20.  I think we picked up our last kid at 12:32 and E was the last one in her class.  I felt so bad about them being at church that long but it usually doesn't happen this way.  Pastor Mark preached on character and how to train ourselves to display integrity and good character.  Houston Rodeo.

playing uno attack after lunch

It was a great sermon for all of us to hear and I'm glad Josh was with us.  B grilled out for lunch and we scarfed down hamburgers and hotdogs.  I had some fruit and chips as well.  Shortly after lunch, B and Josh left to pick up Julian and head to the

The Concert at the rodeo

I know they had a great time, but I don't even know what they did or what they saw.  I took the kids to Awana and walked with Jo at HBU.  The guys got home around 9 and looked tired. 
B and Josh went to McDonald's for breakfast at 6:00 am Monday morning to spend some time together before B had to head into work.  I know that it's important for them to have some guy time and usually Josh helps B fix things or work on household things.  Since we haven't seen him in a LONG time, we just wanted to have good quality time with Josh.  B had his time with Josh and next was my turn.  Josh came with me to bring the kids to school and then I brought him with me to the YMCA for my HIIT class.  Before class we ran a couple of miles together and then went to Jennifer's HIIT class at 8:30.  It was a killer as usual and Josh did great because he's in great shape.  It was fun working out together.  I never thought in a million years that I would be working out with a former student....a former student that used to be so bad in class but has turned out to be a respectable young man.....a former student that took time to fly down and visit us when he only had 2 weeks of post deployment leave.....a former student that we love and consider part of our family.  Sadly, after the YMCA, I had to say goodbye.  We met Josh's brother Daniel at the Buc-ee's in Waller because Daniel lives in Fort Hood.  Josh was going to spend a few days with Daniel before flying back to NC.  Even W almost cried when I told him that Josh was leaving us.  We had a good time but it was too short.  We are so proud of the man Josh is today and give God the glory.

I'll miss him!

2015 Part 2

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MOPs Playdate

I'm not sure I've documented my MOPs group that I've joined at SCBC.  If I have, then I'll just repeat myself.  Last year I joined the MOPs group at Grace Presbyterian and I met Erica from that group.  Since we moved to Richmond, I wanted to find a closer group so I signed up for the MOPs group at Sugar Creek.  Last summer, Miriam called me to ask if I would be a table host this year even though I haven't done MOPs before at SCBC.  I told her I would do it because I know how to facilitate a discussion.  This MOPs group was so much bigger than the one I did last year so I was a bit overwhelmed at the beginning.  I attended a Steering Meeting before things started where I was quickly trained in how to be a table hostess.  I met a few of the women and tried my best to be social.  Our meeting started in September and I usually have 2 a month.  My table has had some changes throughout the school year, but I have definitely enjoyed it.  I've met more moms and maybe even some friends.  The mentor mom at my table is wonderful and I'm so glad our paths have crossed.  In addition to our meetings, we have Mom's Night Out and Mommy & Me playdates.  I've attended most of the playdates but not all of the MNO.  I went to Bunco in the fall but the cookie exchange was on our anniversary.  I can't make it to the Easter Egg Hunt because we will be in LA.  Our most recent Mommy & Me playdate was last week at the Fire station.

 Our kids haven't had any interest in firemen but I felt like this would be a fun day for E and W.  It was a lot of fun and W learned a lot from listening to the fire-fighters talk about what to do in an emergency.  I felt terrible when he asked what number to call in an emergency and W didn't know the answer.  Now he knows what to do if I get hurt and can't talk.  The firemen were patient and kind with the kids and let them crawl through the truck and hold the hose in the back.  All in all it was a great playdate and I would visit the fire station again.

From the Halloween playdate at the nursing home

 My MOPs group is great and we will have a MNO in April with just the ladies from my table.  We all get a long great and I never have to worry about discussions because the conversation flows very smoothly.  I was asked to continue to be on the leadership team next school year and I said I would, that is, unless I go back to work full-time.  I will just pray for guidance and direction and follow where the Lord leads me.  I'm doing my part to open doors and we are praying that God keeps them open or shuts them quickly. 

Our first meeting September 2015

A craft day in October 2015

Cristina's last meeting-she moved to Russia Nov 2015

yummy MOPs breakfast-this is a cake

Our March 2016 meeting I learned how to make yoyo's for Dress a Girl