Port Aransas

...a vacation within a vacation!

My dad arranged for us to stay at his cousins condo over the 4th of July holiday.  It was an almost perfect (it couldn't be perfect without Donnie) family vacation.  We spent a week of doing nothing but splashing in the water, boogie boarding, building sand castles, swimming in the pool, and playing games!  The kids were exhausted at the end of everyday, and ready to do it all again the next day!

Katie looking for who
knows what in the water!

Luke working hard to carry a bucket of water!

Building something really cool!

Enjoying the waves!  The bigger the better!

Boogie boarding didn't ever seem to get old!

Luke spent hours on his board!

On of my favorite pictures!
1, 2, 3 close your eyes!
The sun was so bright they
couldn't keep them open for a picture!

Me and my beach babies!

No trip to the beach was complete without a swim
in the pool before heading back home for the evening!

If we weren't swimming the kids were gaming!
Who knew 5 kids could all link up on a DS game?



Hedbanz anyone?

Happy 4th of July!

We spend the 4th at my cousin Lindsay's house with my Aunt Linda & Uncle Bill.  I love being able to spend time with family that I don't get to see often enough. 
It is so fun to watch all the kids play together.

The boys had to get shark souvenirs!
Katie decided on a bottle filled with sea shells.

The Jokers being jokers on
our last night in Port A!

Looking forward to doing it again when Donnie can go with us!

Celebrate...

the important things in life!

We have made it through 2 months of this deployment! And while 2 months really feels like foreeevvvverrrr!  It is still a milestone worth celebrating! 

While in Texas we celebrated my nephew Carter's 10th birthday!  I love that the kids were able to celebrate his actual birthday as well as enjoy an awesome birthday party together!  Of course with these jokers everyday is a celebration! I love that they love each other so much.  They truly adore each other and could spend every minute of each day playing together!  I hope this never changes!

The Jokers!
A nickname this group earned a long time ago!

Carter had a laser tag birthday party!  It was super fun and all of the kids loved it! 

Party Crew ready to play!

Katie was the only girl playing as usual,
but she outlasted most of the boys in the game!

Luke taking cover!

Watch out or John will get you!

Katie and Parker teaming up on John!
Time for John to call in Carter and Luke for back-up!

Don't forget to celebrate all of the milestone in your life!

We're back...

from an amazing three week vacation in Texas! 

I am going to do my very best to recap the highlights of our trip.  This post is all about fishing!  The kids love to go fishing with Poppy.  In fact, it was one of the things that John couldn't wait to do when we got to Texas. 

John fishing with Poppy

Katie caught 3 catfish
on our first fishing trip!

John caught a bass
and a crappie on this evening!

My and my fishers!

Katie and one of her catfish!

You can't go fishing without a ride on the mule!

We spent more than one evening fishing on our vacation.  The kids wanted to catch enough fish so that we could have a fish fry before we had to go home.  Fishing with my dad always reminds me of when I was a kid and he used to take us fishing.  I love that my kids get to enjoy something with my dad that I did as a child. 

Such beautiful memories...

John caught a big catfish on this trip!

Too bad his fish tangled up all of the other lines
 before he could get him reeled in...
that was the end of fishing on this evening.

Luke's catfish!

Several fish got away when they were fishing (most of them were Luke's) but the kids did catch enough fish that we were able to have a fish fry on our last night in Texas! They were so excited!!  Thanks for all the trips to the dock for fishing, Poppy! 

I know they are looking forward to their next fishing trip!

Posted with Blogsy

Ferry Rides

Cape Vincent to Wolfe Island to Kingston, Ontario

We had a day full of ferry rides (4 total).  I must say, it is pretty cool!  The kids thought it was really fun!  I was a little nervous driving onto the small ferry and backing into the spot they decided my vehicle would fit best, but I did it!  The ferry to Wolfe Island is very small and only hold about 8 cars. 

The kids ready for their first ferry ride.

Luke loved watching the water!

Since this ferry was pretty small we stayed
in the car for most of the 10 minute ride.

Wolfe Island
This little Canadian island is mostly wind mills.
They also had a delicious little bakery.

The bigger ferry to Kingston.
 It holds about 50 cars.

Checking out the Canadian waters.

Real pirate ships!
John says that you know they are
real if they are shooting cannons at each other!
Boom!

Exploring the streets of Kingston.

Gelato after a nice lunch in Kingston.

Two ferry rides later we were back in the U.S. 

Cape Vincent is home to one of the oldest
working lighthouses and has the only
working Fresnel lens on Lake Ontario. 

It was a long day of sightseeing, but it was a fun little adventure that I am glad we had together!

Where's the Party?

Katie's Dance Recital

All of the dancers made a poster about themselves to decorate the lobby.  Katie took Miss Amy's Hip Hop dance class this year! 

Katie with her dance poster!

Katie received her first dance trophy and was a New Dancer Excellence Winner.  This was her first year to dance at Amy Earle School of Dance.  She was so excited!  Way to go, Katie!

Still no music, but at least you can see the dance now.

Hip Hop Dancer Katie

Katie was very exited that Auntie M 
was able to see her dance recital!

I can't get the video to load, so this is it for now!