We are FAMILY!

We just got back from a long vacation in New Mexico. This trip was one of the best we've been on in such a long time. We didn't have to go to any exotic, far off, tropical place for it to be amazing. Being with family was what made it so wonderful, and getting to be with them all at one time too.

After flying in to Albuquerque, we drove up to Angel Fire where my family has some land that is used for the reunion every two years. The weather was beautiful and even a little chilly on some days too. Such a lovely break from this nasty humidity that is making the pregnancy all the more lovely. ;)

My sister and I did face painting for all the kiddos.  Here is Quinn as a butterfly and Andrew with a beard!

Quinn had a great time riding on 'Bud' the horse!

Preparing a little fruit salad for dinner one night.

Cousins Quinn and Kennedy

About to play a little boci (sp?) ball

Cousins Olivia and Quinn

More cousins!  From left to right Haley, Quinn, Olivia, Kennedy

All the kids before the pinata was busted open

Look how cute these little ones are waiting in line for another hit at the pinata!

Quinn and her score from the pinata- of course a lollipop with Daddy and Uncle Eric

I just wanted to take a picture of how fashionable Jaime looked with his capris!  Ha, ha!  He just didn't want to get his jeans muddy.

Mommy at 7 months pregnant with Quinny and Daddy

Beauty

Gabe and Olivia waiting patiently to catch a fish

First catch of the day!  Way to go Andrew!

Uncle Eric and Aubrie showing Quinn their catch

Gross.  My girl loved holding the worms!  Yucky!

Quinn and Uncle Gabe have a fish on the line!

Examining her catch- two babies.

Loving life.

My Dad was able to join us for part of the trip after his sister headed up to Nashville to be with my Papa.  My Papa is still in Nashville recovering from his surgery that he had a couple weeks ago.  Unfortunately, after having his first surgery, his doctors found that he also has cancer in his kidney and lungs.  Since he is 85 years old, they've decided not to remove his kidney as it would be too hard on him.  Now my family is focusing on how to get him home so he can be comfortable.  Please keep him in your prayers, and my Dad too who is having a rough time dealing with this all.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July!!

Swimming Lessons

Quinn took a two week long swimming lesson a little over a week ago.  It was the parent/child class so we swam together and had such a blast!  There were about 8 other moms and toddlers in the class as well.  Quinn loved the songs, water toys, and swimming on her belly kicking her legs.  By the end of the class, she was wanting to swim on her own saying "Mommy, I do it all by myself!  Don't hold me.".  Wow!  I'm so grateful for her water confidence and can't wait to see what she will do next in the pool.

On her last day of class, Jaime went in place of me as it was the same day we were headed to New Mexico and I had a ton of last minute errands to run.  Here they are in action:

Jaime gets another "Dad of the year award" for being the only guy in the class full of Mommies!  And, also for singing songs during 'circle time'. :)

She says "Look, I'm a motorboat!"

Love them too much for words.

Cousins

Jaime's sister's boys will be visiting Austin for two weeks! They came over yesterday to play for a while and had such a blast together. Quinn thought it was really funny to chase them around our backyard, although she was never fast enough to actually catch them! Here are a couple pictures of the evening:

Look at the two little ones looking up at Bo!  From left to right Troy (2), Bo (5), Quinn (2).

These are their "silly" faces

This was so cute!  Every time Bo sat down, the other two did as well!

Great Wolf Lodge

Every year, Jaime's company has a weekend long summer regional meeting/vacation for all of its employees and their families.  I love going on these mini-getaways but this year was the best yet because we decided to take Quinn with us.  This year it was at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX.  This place was amazing!  It is a huge indoor and outdoor waterpark with lots of other fun activities for kids.

Although we didn't travel too far for this vacation, I have to say it was one of my favorite that we've been on and I think it was because Quinn had such a great time.  From the very beginning of our trip she was beyond excited- maybe because we were finally taking her on a trip with us and not going without her!  She was literally running around the day we left and throwing almost everything she could find in our suitcase.  Then when we drove up to the Great Wolf Lodge she was screaming and squealing with excitement.  This attitude lasted throughout our trip and we couldn't have been happier or more proud of her behavior.  She was such a little delight and we look forward to having many more family trips like this one!

In her pajamas waiting for story time to start in the lodge.

This was an animated story time stage. 

Lots of people waiting for story time!

It's story time!

Part of the outdoor pool

Taking a break under the shade

This girl has the life!

Daddy was in a meeting so this was my attempt at a Mommy-Daughter photo. 

Arts and crafts at the "Cub Club"

Computer games at the "Cub Club"

Quinn thought this little reading raccoon was the funniest!

Looking at insects in the microscope

Playing arcade games- or thinking she is.  I never put a coin in any of the games but she thought she was playing them all just by pressing the buttons and pulling the knobs!

Lunch at the Rainforest Cafe

Checking out the fish at the Rainforest Cafe

This will definitely be one for the memory books!  Now one more week of swimming lessons left and our next vacation to New Mexico!  This little girl is going to be a regular fish by the end of this summer!

Doggy Dad

Jaime is a phenomenal Dad.  Not only does he take care of his ladies so well but he is always in a great mood and spends any free moment he has playing and entertaining Quinn.  Her newest thing is pulling him around on a leash like he is her dog.  "Sit, and stay" are a few of her favorite things to tell her Doggy Dad. 

If this doesn't get Dad of the Year, I don't know what does?

Speaking of amazing Dads, I just so happen to have one myself!  And as life takes its turns, he is currently taking care of his Dad (my Papa) who has a cancerous tumor on his spine.  My Dad and Papa headed to Nashville, TN on Monday for several weeks to undergo a couple surgeries to remove the tumor.  After having radiation and chemotherapy, my Papa's doctors felt that the tumor was not shrinking enough and would need to be removed.  So, our much planned and anticipated trip to New Mexico for our family reunion will be very different this year without my Dad and Papa.  Don't worry--Jaime has already made it clear he is going to fill in for my Dad as the "Man" on the trip.  :)  Any prayers sent for a safe removal and hopefully cancer free return to New Mexico for my Papa will be greatly appreciated!

Close one

We had a very close call today!  There was a 60 acre brush fire in our neighborhood!  We are so fortunate that the fire did not reach our house but there for a while we were not sure what the outcome would be.  Here is a local newscast from our neighborhood elementary school: 

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/grass-fire-flares-up-in-leander