Days out on the town with Collin and Maya

We've had a fun summer with the kids, and I've thoroughly enjoyed my days off with them.  I can't believe this time next year, we'll be getting Collin ready for kindergarten.  So thankful for the play dates and outings we've had so far, and I hope to fully take advantage of this time in the year to come!

I took the kids to wonderwild, an indoor play area where both kids can play in the same open space, a perfect spot where all of us are happy when I'm two-on-one.  Maya loved the big air bounce bubble though she was repetitively bounced and rolled off!

Crawling through the playscape, with Collin following closely behind -

I didn't pay attention to how he dressed himself until we were there and noticed his shorts were on backwards.  How did he even do this?!?

 Fun in the ball pit -

We returned to wonderwild a few weeks later, meeting my friend Michelle and her two girls, but the only picture I got was of Maya intensely drumming - 

On another day off, we hit a nearby splash park. Maya was too busy squealing and running through the water to mind wearing her brother's rash guard sun shirt -

We met my friend Rebekah and her three boys along with my mom and Grandma Betty at the Children's Museum one Monday.  Rebekah and I took our two-and-under children upstairs, and my mom and grandma stayed downstairs with the four-year-old boys.  Collin driving with Shannon and hanging out with baby Alex -

 

 Scooting up for the slide -

 We met the big kids downstairs, and my kids were all smiles and hugs when reunited

I talked Cas into waking up early on a Saturday and taking advantage of the Children's Museum monthly member early hour - we made it at 9:15am, which is probably the earliest our family of four has ever made it out of the house!

Maya driving the big car -

Selfie in our matching pink on the elevator up to the tot spot -

Thrilled to be mommy to these super-kids and enjoying our summer adventures -

Too much brotherly love

This boy does not like to fix his hair.  If I ask him to put gel in it, he slicks it straight down.  Trying to give him some style is met with a whiny "oh man!"  But telling him we couldn't go see his cousins until he fixed his hair got quick compliance, and we snapped some pics of our kiddos before we headed to brunch.

Maya in another adorable outfit - almost everything she wears are hand-me-downs or gifts.  We could eat her up we love her so -

 And speaking of so loved, a typical sibling picture (ie too much brotherly love) -

 Our girly girl daily grabs lunch kits or purses and says, "bye bye" -

Happier sibling picture, with a stick in hand, of course.  Maya has already learned to imitate action figure fighting sounds, but thankfully is not as enamored by sticks as Collin.

 Happy girl taking flowers from sweet Collin in the front yard -

 Loves her daddy -

We finally put the camera down and got in the car to meet at Cathy and Victoria's home for brunch.  Maya had a blast on their stairs, and wore herself out - and us - climbing to the top over and over again.

 Kirk tried to distract her from the steps but she saw right through his small talk -

Collin was delighted to read dragonology and monsterology books - and even more excited that Cathy let him take them home.

We were either too relaxed sipping mimosas, eating quiche, and talking to the family or too busy chasing Maya up and down the stairs to take many pictures, but we had a great last meal with our cousins before Trish, Kirk and Kyle returned to Florida.  

Lorenzo's Turtle Power First Birthday

Our nephew and cousin, Lorenzo, had his first birthday on Saturday, and we were excited to celebrate with family.  Collin was even more excited when he learned it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party, and pumped to wear his new shirt from Grammy.  Posing like Michelangelo - 

 Hanging out in the bounce house -

My kids had the bounce house to themselves most of the party.  Maya threw a tantrum when it was time to come out for dinner -

Selfie with my girl -

 In the playroom with the birthday boy -

Thrilled to put on Leonardo's mask -

He made a crack in the turtle's shell -

 The boy cousins and Elida -

Seconds after I told Collin no swords in the house, I turn the corner to this scene -

Maya, less than three months older, with the birthday boy.  We're excited they'll get to grow up with cousins close to their age -  

Happy first birthday to the cutest ninja toddler!

 Lorenzo, taking a break from his army crawl to pose for a picture with Maya -

The lean mean cousin team, Collin and Lorenzo -

We had an awesome afternoon celebrating this little cutie!

High Flying Fun with Florida Cousins

We were so excited to have our cousins in from Florida, to introduce them to Maya, and to hang out with them throughout the weekend.  On Friday, we had the gang over for a pizza and pool party.  

Kyle and Leo immediately headed to the grotto for big leaps into the pool.  Though he's flashing the Aggie "gig 'em" sign, Kyle will be cheering for - and marching in the band of - the Florida Gators this fall!

 Cousin Cathy, Great Grandma B (their aunt), and cousin Trish -

 My uncle Dick and cousin Kirk -

My mom took all the pictures since I was in the pool with my kids (and poor Cas was working late)-

The first time we took Maya down the slide a few weeks ago, she was squealing, giggling, and immediately requesting more.  I told my mom that Maya had gone down the slide, and she mentioned it to my dad.  The next day my dad called and asked if I'd walk him through how Maya went down the slide. Concerned grandpa was worried we shot my one-year-old down unattended!

Big brother Kirk will be sharing a condo and showing Kyle around campus this year.  Kirk and Kyle were so sweet with our kids, and Collin loved all their attention and patience with his four year old games, jokes and requests -

Maya happy splashing on the top step. We had friends over to swim Friday morning, so her hair was caked in sunscreen all day  -

 The siblings with their aunt -

 Beautiful cousins - who humored Collin, going along with his "lost my goggles" routine - Stella, Nika and Annie -

 The high-flying brothers -

Cousin hangout in the grotto cave -

Collin showing Brownie his swimming distress signal, the number one.  His swimming is the opposite of graceful, but he can get around.  Since it looks like he needs help, he had to explain to only grab him if he held up his index finger.

Collin wanted to follow in his big cousins' Kyle and Leo's footsteps, but was not confident enough to leap from the top of the grotto.  So Kyle helped him to a lower spot for his big jump -

Before dinner, Collin had to wear his Superman shirt with the cape, and Kirk flew him around, up and down the hallway, over and over again -

Maya was getting plenty of attention, reading books before bed with Annie and Victoria, and receiving cheers from the rest of the family any time she made the correct animal sound - 

We had such a fun afternoon and evening with our family.  We loved catching up with our cousins, and my kids ate up all the love and attention they received.  

First time swimming with a great grandma

All our great grandmothers have seen the pool, sat near the pool, waved to us while we're in the pool, but last week Lita became the first great grandma to join us in the pool!

The crew - great grandma Lita, Grandma Libia, Collin and Maya enjoying an evening swim with Cas while I was checking out pipeline construction for my job in Pennsylvania.

 Posing for pics -

 Maya getting too much love in the pool from Collin -

Collin enjoyed showing off his swimming skills to the grandmas, and Maya was content floating around - 

My kids are well-loved by Grandma Libia and Lita, looking forward all week to their Wednesday visits!