Make Your Own Pizza

The kids love it when we do a make your own pizza night for dinner. We even make the dough from scratch so it tends to get a bit messy but oh so much fun.

Tyler rolls out his dough

Daphne likes to make her pizza heart-shaped

Michael even cut Daphne some heart-shaped pepperonis.

Before Baking- Tyler added Cool Ranch Doritos on his pizza

After Baking- not as pretty but delicious. Tyler decided the
edges of the Doritos got a little too burnt.

Fancy Drink

The kids attended a luau-themed party in the school's library for completing their summer reading. Daphne was quite excited by the drink umbrellas in the goody bags they brought home. I doctored up a few lemonades for her to enjoy the umbrella.

Family Portrait

All the kids in Daphne's kindergarten class drew family portraits that were sitting out when the parents attended Back to School night. We love that (a) she drew Tyler with his summer mohawk, and (b) the heights of our family members are in reverse order of actual heights!

Left to Right: Daddy, Mommy, Tyler, Daphne

School Bus

Daphne is very excited that she gets to ride the school bus this year. Last year she only got to ride the bus a few times for field trips because pre-K got out of school almost an hour earlier than everyone else. Today was her first day on the bus home since Abuelito and Abuelita picked the kids up yesterday.

First Day of School

The kids went back to school today. The summer flew by way too fast. The kids are so independent now they didn't even want me to park and walk them into the cafeteria this morning. Tyler agreed to help Daphne find the line for her class. How independent they are!

Tyler started 3rd grade.

Daphne started kindergarten
(with a style all her own!).

Back to School Shopping

Daphne and I went out to lunch (restaurant of her choice) and did some shopping for back to school this past weekend.

Daphne was amused by the
headless mannequins.

Decompressing after all the shopping

Austin Nature & Science Camp

Last week the kids went to a day camp at the Austin Nature and Science Center and they absolutely loved it. Despite high temperatures in the triple digits every day, they already want to know if they can do that camp again next summer. They swam at Deep Eddy most days, explored the Nature & Science Center (including the creek), went on field trips (Tyler to a cave and Daphne to a farm), and learned a ton. Two of Tyler's friends, both named Ryan, also went to camp last week and that made it even more fun.

Ready for the first day of camp

Carpooling with Ryan

Daphne was super excited that she got to make fake
animal scat her first day at camp. She cackled wildly!

Daphne hams it up

It was a nice change dropping off or picking
the kids up each day in such a serene setting.

Exhausted at the end of a super fun week

Brad and Megan- House Purchase Celebration

After successfully purchasing a house on Day 3 of the hunt, Brad and Megan hung out with us on their last day in town. We took the kids to Main Event for bowling and arcades and swung by the new house later in the day after Penny's nap.

Horsing around with Uncle Brad is always fun.

Penny loved bowling

Tyler was bummed by the score inequity but we had to
remind him he was the only kid not using the ball positioner

The new house is still under construction but
should be ready for move-in this fall.

Penny climbed into Daphne's sleeping bag
and acted as if it were meant for her.

Brad & Megan- House Hunting Day 3

On Day 3 of the house hunt Michael and I took the kids to a splash pad for some summertime fun. Apparently Tyler is too old for splash pads and so he sat and watched. There were tons of little kids! And while we had fun with the kids Brad and Megan bought a house.

Penny bonded with Uncle Michael.

Daphne & Hazel explored all the water features.

Penny experienced the water on her own
terms- a hand and a leg in the water
from time to time

Snack time

Tickling gets the best smiles!

Unwinding with a movie and popcorn