We had passes (with two other families) to Hawaiian Falls this summer and boy, was that a good idea!! Moms relaxed and chatted while the kids ran around the park having the time of their life! Here are some pictures from one of our last trips to HF. We’ll be back next year!!!
me and my Ella Bella
Me and my busta’ man!
Hawaiian Falls had “Dive In” movies during the summer nights-SO COOL! We watched Soul Surfer!
Asher went to Pine Cove Camp in the City, and the girls went to their 2nd year of week long overnight camp at Pine Cove in Columbus, Texas. Ella went to Silverado again, but Rilyn went to Outback, her first year at Junior High camp! They had a blast as usual, and came away with new friends and closer to Jesus!
Waiting in line to enter camp!
Her cabin
Her counselor!
Rilyn waiting to get into camp!
Her cabin
Her counselor!
This fourth of July we spent at the Octaranch with a few of our friend! There was about 30 of us in all, and we had a blast (literally shooting firerworks off at dusk!)
Our family!
This July 4th we had the Richardsons, Moss’, Beans, Paquettes, and the Ericksons all gather at the Octaranch for a big party!
yummy
Grandma!
We had water gun wars!
Swinging!
Shooting BB guns!
Playing Nerf Lazer tag! James loved it so much as you can tell!
Grandpa drove the tractor around!
Water balloon fight!
Rilyn and Ella meant business…
Target: Asher
Something tells me Asher will get payback one day…
Water balloon toss!
The cows and bull came close to join the party!
At dusk, we started lighting fireworks!
First up-smoke bombs!
Rilyn lit a bumblebee. Can you see it?
A little sparkler fun!
After we lit our own fireworks, we went to George Bush Library to watch the big show!
Ladies man! Jakers and the girls!
It was a perfect day!
We spent Father’s Day weekend at Lake Livingston with some of our best friends, the Moss’! They let us crash their RV campsite and their boat! We had such a great time!
Tubing at sunset and getting a little crazy!
Me and my honey
That night we made s’mores!
We also went with the Richardsons and I told the 8 kids to “look tough” before getting on the boat!
Eating lunch after the morning boat ride!
A little b-ball!
Ella!
Chicken fighting in the pool-Cole vs. Rilyn!
Jake vs. Ella!
Asher vs. Anna!
Our cabin that we stayed in on the property.
The three families! We’ve known each other since 2008!
The kids were free to ride their bikes around the camp! Look at the beautiful trees!
Father’s Day gift! (Nerf Lazer tag!)
All the dads opening their gifts
Sunday afternoon boat ride and I’m doing what I do-take pictures!
Ella be chillin’
and jumpin’
Rilyn got up on the wakeboard for the first time! Look at that determination!! So proud of her!
Daddy giving Rilyn a proud kiss after she wakeboarded!
This was Ella’s 2nd time wakeboarding and she did awesome at it!
I water-skied too!
James is a pro!
Time for a Father’s Day dinner-steaks and corn on the cob!
relaxing
Sunday night, Eddie and James decided to go crazy tubing!
First, Third, and Fifth grade were good to us, but we are ready for summer!!
What was waiting for the kids on the porch when they got home from their last day of school!
didn’t get a picture of them running through this this year! 😦
When the kids got off the bus, I had some neighborhood kids waiting for them with water balloons! Asher was overjoyed! Ella got off the bus crying because she misses third grade already and her teacher! Rilyn ducked and covered at first, but then got into it!
it was pj day at school…
full out water balloon war!
Asher got soaked!
June 3rd marks me officially being a mommy for 11 years! Rilyn is a first born in every sense being a leader and responsible. She thinks she is an adult, always wanting to hang out with adults over younger kids. She loves a party, and always wants to be around people. She loves watching TV, and her favorite channel is HGTV! She has been leading Girls Club at our house every Friday for the past 2 1/2 years. We are excited to see where the Lord leads her in her life!
Traditional birthday song wake up with a donut! (Last year she was at Pine Cove on her birthday, and she didn’t want to miss her birthday traditions this year!) Pine Cove will be in July this summer!
Taylor Swift perfume from Ella!
This girl LOVES makeup! We went to Sephora the night before and she got foundation, blush, and lip gloss (from Asher). 🙂
At school, there was a 5th grade track day!
She made the 50m finals and got in 4th place!
Rilyn running the second leg of the relay race!
When she got home from school, Rilyn opened up a “new to her” laptop! Woohoo!
That evening, we had her birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory (daddy surprised her by showing up from his work trip). She opened up Taylor Swift concert tickets!!! Rilyn and I will be going in October! Happy Birthday sweet girl!
End of the school year is always a fun time because you get to celebrate your children’s accomplishments. My three worked so hard this past school year, and we are super proud of them!!
Asher got “A Honor Roll” for the whole year!
He also won a 4th place medal for Accelerated Reader points in all of first grade!
Ella won a 1st place medal for Accelerated Reader points in all of 3rd grade!
Ella also won the math and reading award in her class for getting a perfect score on STAAR reading and she missed one on STAAR math!!
Ella also got A Honor Roll all year and won the Presidents Award for Educational Excellence in her class
Ella’s teacher, Mrs. Griffin-Hamlin won best teacher in the district last year and this year won best teacher in Austin! Ella has a special bond with her and we love her too!
Rilyn won a 6th place medal for Accelerated Reader points in all of 5th grade, all A Honor Roll all year, the Presidents Award for Educational Excellence in her class, the reading and science award for her class for having commended scores in STAAR on math, reading, and science!
Rilyn also was presented a gavel for serving at Student Council president this past year! Praying big things for this girl! She is a true leader!
So proud of this girl! She was at Manor Elementary since preschool! Here she is on graduation day-7 years later!
A few days later, Rilyn was in the school talent show! She sang a duet with Eveany-A Thousand Years by Christina Perri and sang Style by Taylor Swift with a group of girls. 🙂
Rilyn had a sleepover to celebrate her 11th birthday! She invited 5 girls over.
First up was karaoke!
Then a little jumping on the trampoline!
Craft time! Rilyn picked out little lock boxes to paint.
In true tween style, there were makeovers!
Makeovers complete!
Movie time! They watched Kiki’s Delivery Service. 🙂
The next morning we took the girls to Hawaiian Falls Water and Adventure park!
Look at Rilyn go!
Careful Ella!
Look at Asher!
I was so proud of the girls! Rilyn and Ella both went to the top of the five story tower and ziplined down! Here is Rilyn on the third story making her way up to the top! Look at that stretch!
Rilyn and Shaliya at the top of the tower!!
ziplining!
Time for cheesecake!
Rilyn had her hip hop recital the next day! She did awesome!!
This is Ella’s last ballet recital. She has decided she wants to pursue theater! She looked beautiful!
Ella and Anna -BFFS!
Grandpa and Grandma came to watch!
Ella’s guys!
After the recital we celebrated my mom’s birthday with a dinner at Cheesecake Factory! The WHOLE family came! Yay!
the paquettes 