Fabens with Friends

Eighteen years ago, I became friends with a girl named April.  My family had met her family in Qatar.  I had just graduated from BYU and was traveling across the US with my family.  We stopped in Fabens to spend a little time with her family.  I got to know her & we hit it off immediately.  A few weeks later, I moved to Qatar to live with my family.  Almost a year later, she came to Qatar to spend a few months with her dad and siblings.  We ended up spending lots of time together and became good friends.  When she left, I didn't think I would ever see her again.  Thanks to Facebook, we were able to reconnect a few years ago.  While planning our big summer road trip, I thought it would be nice to see her again.  Fabens (near El Paso) just happened to be on our route.  I sent her a message and the plan took shape.

Eighteen year later, I am staying with her mom in Fabens again.  This time I have my kids with me of course.  Her mom's house is bigger so she arranged for us all to stay here.  Her daughters, Abeni (5 years old) and Mia (3 years old) have quickly become friends with my kids.  Today, we walked over to the railroad tracks to smash pennies.  My kids had never experienced that before.

April's cat

Indian Cliffs Ranch 

Me with April

Jordan, Mia, Lexi and Abeni

White Sands National Monument

We made it to El Paso today.  We're going to be here with friends for several days.  They invited us to go to White Sands National Monument tonight. The park stayed open late because of the full moon.  With the orbit of the moon bringing the moon closer than usual, it was quite a bright night.  The kids loved playing in the powered white sand with their new friends.  It looked a lot like snow.  There was a stage with a mariachi band.  We had a good time.  

Road Trip

We started our road trip today.  It is going to be one LONG vacation. We are going to El Paso first.  We'll be staying with friends there for a few days.  Then, we'll head to Gallup, NM for one night.  Our next stop is Zions National Park, where we have a family reunion for my mom's side of the family.  We'll then head up to Spanish Fork, Utah.  We'll stay with my friend, Annette, for a week.  We are looking forward to spending the 24th of July there.  It is a state holiday called Pioneer Day.  It is always fun.  Once that week is over, we'll go to Montana to stay with my mom & Malcolm.  We'll be seeing my brothers and their families there too.  We will be gone about a month and it should be fantastic.  

Our first stop was Buc-ee's.  Only people in Texas get excited about stopping at a gas station, but it is really popular here.  They even sell t-shirts that everyone buys.  The kids each got one.  They also have amazing bathrooms that are always clean.  Plus, they have great food.  We went to the one in Luling.  The picture above is of Lexi and Jordan with Buc-ee the Beaver.  

We stopped for lunch at Dairy Queen somewhere near Kerville.  It wasn't great, but there isn't much out there to choose from.     

4th of July

We had a fun 4th of July.  I pulled out the kids' patriotic clothes.  We decided it would be fun to kick it up a notch, so we headed to Sally's to get red hair spray.  They looked awesome.  We started off the day at a park in our community where they had a little festival.  It was a bit too hot, so we didn't stay that long.

In the evening, we went to celebrate with some of our close friends.  We had a bbq and played with sparklers.  It was an extra great experience since Uncle Stephen had just got out of the hospital.  He had been in for a whole month and was diagnosed with a rare form of Lupus.  He has really been suffering and will continue to battle this, but for today he was there having a good time.  He helped light the sparklers.  The kids LOVE being with him, but had to stay back a bit.  His immune system is very weak.

Babysitting Experience

I have a friend from church that has 5 kids.  She had free tickets to a water park and asked if we'd watch her toddler so they could go.  I said sure and then told Lexi this would be a good opportunity for her to practice babysitting for the future.  She did a great job watching Daniel and keeping him entertained.  Of course, I was here the whole time.  I just held back and let her take the lead.    

Swimming with Friends

A family from church that we're friends with invited us over to swim in their pool.  They have 3 kids and the 2 oldest are the same ages as Lexi and Jordan.  We had a fun afternoon with them. 

Biking to the School

The kids asked if we could go to their school playground.  I thought it would be a good trip for Jordan's first bike ride without training wheels.  

Piano Lessons

One of my friends has a teenage daughter that is an excellent piano player.  She also loves kids and babysits often.  She decided that she would like to try teaching piano lessons.  Since she is new to this, she is charging $10 a lesson.  For that price, I decided it was worth signing Lexi up.  She only has this little keyboard to practice on.  The lessons are going very well.  She is loving it and practicing without being reminded (at least so far).  She also adores her teacher.

Library with Friends

This afternoon, I picked up 2 of the kids' friends to go to the library program with us.  Their older sister had some teeth removed and was recovering.  They had a puppet program for elementary age kids.  I sent them all in and had a quiet hour.  

Summer Swimming

What would summer be without lots of swimming?  We're actually planning a long road trip that will probably not have a lot of swimming, so we're trying to get as much of it now as we can.

Silly Face

Vacation Bible School

This is Vacation Bible School (VBS) week.  Lexi and Jordan are attending one at a local Baptist church.  One of my good friends helps.  This year they have a secret agent theme - Agency D3.  The three Ds stand for Discover, Decide, Defend.  They are also learning about John the Baptist.

Reading Trophy 2014

Lexi finished reading the required 20 books for the library summer program.  We went to pick up her awards for 15 books (pencil) and 20 books (trophy).  My kids now have more trophies than I received in my entire childhood.  It is funny how motivated they are by trophies.  I actually wondered if I should come up with some kind of chores program that is rewarded with a trophy at the end of the summer.

Sunday Afternoon

This year, our congregation (aka ward) meets from 1 - 4 pm.  When we get home, we usually just take it easy.  The kids often change into pjs.  

Beach Club

A few friends from church asked if we could meet at the beach club today.  I knew the kids would love it, so we did.  They had fun swimming and playing in the sand.  Elizabeth and Sarah are picture above with Lexi.  Below, Benjamin and Jordan joined the girls to play in the sand.  

Summer Reading Program

The summer reading contest at the local library started last week.  I signed Lexi and Jordan up.  We went to the library today so they could pick up their awards.  They get something for every set of 5 books they read.  Jordan completed the whole contest.  Lexi has read 10 books (half the requirement for the summer) so far.  It isn't fair to compare them though.  Jordan is reading rather simple books and Lexi's book are longer and more advanced.  She'll have her trophy soon.  

Last Day of 2nd Grade

It is finally the last day of school.  Lexi is really excited about finishing 2nd grade.  Since it is only a half day, her teacher told the kids not to bring their back packs.  

I picked the kids up about 12:30.  The parents of the walkers bring squirt guns, water balloons, and spray string.

I made a quick sign to kick-off the summer.