Camp Lonestar

The girls did Camp Lonestar, Alpha 1, Week 1 in LaGrange, TX

a week full of archery, swimming, kayaking, 9-square, morning and night devos, campfires, songs, skits, games, sleeping outside, meals, trading posts, FOB (flat on bunk), and a little sweat ;)

Lydia had a really good time and especially liked the challenge course

Abby also had a great time and especially liked the giant slip-n-slide!

so proud of them for experiencing overnight camp for the first time (ever or a in long time)!

Closing program with songs, and a stop at Blue Bell on the way home.

Meanwhile, Mom & Dad worked and snuck in a stay in Fredericksburg, TX.

(German heritage and charming wine country)

coming up on 15 years!

Guadalupe River State Park

It's summer and we kicked it off with a 3 night camping trip at Guadalupe River State Park!

We saw a few armadillos mulling about for worms and insects.

The all hands-on Discover Center had the armadillo armor (only mammal with such), skins, skulls, butterfly & moth boxes, etc. Oh... and A/C ;)

The heat was exhausting, but camping out down on the river bank was much better.

The water was perfectly refreshing.

We brought the dogs  sometimes, and then left them in our air conditioned tent others. 

Oh yes, Ben & Bruce figured out a way to air condition our tent, and it's what made this trip possible.

Lydia found a jumping rock which ended up being the gathering spot for all the tweens/teens in the area.

We all wore water shoes but the river rocks were smooth and pretty.

This trio of ducks made a couple of fun appearances.

The most enjoyable thing was our float down the river, guided by Lydia as we hung on to each other's ropes and took in the beach scenes and summer vibe. At the very end, we discovered the "rapids:"

It's funny because the water was a little low and we had to keep our bums up or stand up and walk at times.

For what took us 1 hour to float down, took just 10 minutes to walk up.

All in all a good camping trip-no rain! We've now tubed down 2 out of the 4 major TX tubing rivers (Comal and Guadalupe, remaining: Frio and San Marcos)

Recital & Visit

Grandma & Grandpa came to visit! On Saturday we went to the pool in the morning.

See that blue twisty hard-to-enter slide with no stairs?... Grandma & Grandpa both went down it!!

 

Grandpa was a lot of fun.

Lydia performed "When Will My Life Begin" from "Tangled"

The Talent House Recital, May 21, 2022

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rZsEzqMR77Vh2hMh7

<<click the link to watch video>>

What a beautiful ending! Grandma was a great support. We're so proud of Lydia for experiencing her first time up on stage solo!

church and Sunday backyard pool time

Grandpa surprised us-he jumped on the trampoline purely because he thought it'd be fun-no prodding!

Easter & Mom’s Day 🌻

April 16 was Ruby's 1st Birthday!

We dyed both boiled and raw eggs this year.

Savannah and Zaina joined us for neighborhood Easter activities and pool afterwards.

The big kid egg hunt had the searching for a long time to get a blackout card!

Easter morning finding eggs and baskets and having fun with bunny pancakes.

For my birthday, I wanted to go flower picking. We went to Neal's Berry Farm:

$1 per cut no matter how many flowers are on it!

Lydia picked the perfect sunflower.

I treasure my annual Mother's Day breakfast in bed!

Malina, Heaven, Brooklyn, Molly, Haylee, Abby

The next Sunday was the last soccer game of the season.

Choir

Choir has, by far, been Lydia’s favorite class in 6th grade. I am so proud of her for knowing she wanted to do choir and picking it for her 1 elective. 

October 2021-Fall Concert

Papaya-Fall Concert

Winter concert at the high school 

Since she loves choir, after Christmas we decided to do more with it and start voice lessons at The Talent House. She has been working with Joe on Fridays.

Spillane Middle School 6th Grade Choir Pop Show

May 14, 2022

She's made a ton of friends in choir, there is a massive choir group chat, and often her best part of her day was a moment in choir.

They are singing together, having fun, and now working towards the Choir Festival May 16th and looking forward to the last spring party trip May 24th!