Viva Fiesta

Fiesta!  It's one of the many reasons to know and love San Antonio.  It's an all out celebration and people here take it very seriously.  Don't get me wrong I am definitely not complaining.  Especially about the fact that all the hard working, school going members of my household got the day off on Friday for the Battle of the Flowers.  We took it easy...

Then decided (spur of the moment) to join in the fun and head to the parade.  Hmmmm...what to do when you've got two kids and just one stroller?  Improvise...

This was Emerson's very first parade going experience...

She began to warm up to the idea of waving to total strangers...

And pretty soon she was pointing, clapping and shouting along with the best of them...

Her sister (the goofball) is a very good teacher...

It was spur of the moment memory making at its finest...

We managed to squeeze a few other fun fillers into our weekend.  A trip to the movies with my best girl (I highly recommend Chimpanzee)...

A Saturday afternoon at the ballpark (paired nicely with a sno-cone from the "confession" stand as Carter likes to call it)...

Several "I think that's Kim from Survivor" moments...followed by the realization that it IS Kim from Survivor which always brings a smile to her adoring fans faces (The sales girls from Anthropologie are TEAM KIM all the way)...

Top it all off with some stolen kisses from this little cutie and you have the makings a one successful weekend...

Hope yours was full of reasons to smile.  And speaking of smiles here's a little sneak peak from our favorite Survivor's photos shoot today.  There was a lot of smiling going on...

Happy Monday!

Wednesday! (Episode 11)

TGIW (thank GOODNESS it's Wednesday!!)

TEAM KIM FOR THE WIN!!

Lately...

Lately I feel like I'm just trying to keep up with life!  I'm not gonna' lie it has me daydreaming about a slower pace which I'm hoping may be right around the corner.  Summer is calling my name.  


Every week seems to be a little fuller than the last but we're making the most of all the activity!  Last Tuesday Carter boarded a yellow dog with her class and headed to Sea World (to say they were excited would be the understatement of the year)...

Thanks to Nate, who spent the day with our favorite 2 year old (think Zoo and Whataburger)...

I was able to tag along on the field trip.  I had a few of the sweetest little girls to keep my eyes on for the day...

We took in all Sea World had to offer...

But I feel confident the highlight was feeding and getting up close and personal with the dolphins.  Amazing...

I absolutely love the getting to "stay home".  It affords me the opportunity to spend days like this making memories...

We've also had a few other memory making opportunities.  Sunday I attended my very first PGA Golf tournament, the Texas Open...

I was impressed.  We had the opportunity to watch a guy make a putt that put him that much closer to a million dollars (imagine the pressure).  I also had a little pressure to deal with.  I caved in not once but THREE times for a $5 iced tea.  What the heck...

We got to hang with some of our favorite people...

And Kim and I got a firsthand look at what we spent most of our Sunday afternoons watching napping to growing up.  I'm not gonna' lie just being there made me feel a little sleepy...

Speaking of sleepy I'm not the only one who seems to be a little tired lately...

I think my girls are ready for a little Summer chillaxin' too...

So we practiced last night with a picnic at the park...

It reminded me that sometimes just sticking some tuna, crackers and cantaloupe in bag and making your way to the park can be delightful...

It suddenly makes a pretty boring dinner something to look forward to (my new favorite picture of Carter)...

I could have eaten Emerson for dinner (just to clarify that's my way of saying she's the cutest thing on the planet)...

What?  You don't believe me?  Well I've got proof.  Thanks so a little thing we'll call "whip cream shots" that her "Grandma" taught her.  She literally stands at the fridge and begs.  The cuteness is irresistible. Ready?  Here we go....

Told ya'.  Cutest thing on the planet...

We may be crazy busy around here but we're definitely not too busy to get excited for a little Survivor action!  Don't forget tomorrow is Wednesday so tune in and cheer for TEAM KIM (Kim looking very Bad A*%!)...

Happy Tuesday!

My Little Writer

Alright, proud mama alert.  Today is one I want to file away in the "unforgettable" category.  I'll never forget the look of shock on Carter's face or the emotion Nate and I both tried to hide really well (until we both simultaneously admitted to each other that we felt teary).  It was unexpected and sweet and I'm smiling just thinking about it...but let me start at the beginning.


A couple of months ago Carter's sweet teacher (who we just love) sent home a little information encouraging her to enter the Local PBS Kid's Young Writer's Contest.  The instructions were lengthy and I knew it would be a lot of work for Carter.  I explained the process to her and she didn't need any encouragement from me to decide to give it a go.  


We went through the entire story writing process.  Brainstorming, character development, plot analysis etc. following the guidelines she had been given.  It was time consuming and something that we worked on over the course of several weeks.  I was impressed with her perseverance.  Once the story was written she then created five original illustrations to go along with it.  It was a lot for a 6 year old but she stuck with it and finally we had a finished product!  We hand delivered it to the PBS news station about a month ago (Whew!!)...

I breathed a big sigh of relief and didn't think much more of it.  Fast forward a few weeks and we decided to stop by "Kid's Day" where we could pick up her story (after all that hard work I was a little partial to having the original copy).  We found out they were announcing the winners and hung around to hear the results.  They announced third place...then second...and then I heard the guy's voice say, "And first place goes to a story called The Helping Hands by Carter".  We were completely caught off guard and all stared at each other and smiled with these dumbfounded looks on our faces.  I then shoved Nate toward the stage with Carter and fumbled for my phone to grab a quick pic...

You couldn't have wiped the smile off her face if you tried (did I mention first prize was a laptop?!)...

My 6 year old totally won a laptop today!  I was one proud Mama...

You know what I'm even more proud of?  The fact that she really did it on her own.  As the story came together I have to admit I might have tried to input a little suggestion here or there (mom's are good at that you know).  But Carter was adamant about every little detail.  She was not swayed by my opinions and every last bit of that story was her's and her's alone.  I'm so thankful that her awesome teacher put together this little video of her reading it (I will treasure having this recording of her sweet voice always)...





It was a day to remember.  After the shock wore off the girls enjoyed some of the festivities the park had to offer...

And later Carter got to play "ball girl" for one of the people she looks up to most in the world...

It was a good day (and that's putting it mildly).  I sure do love that kid.  She told me when we got home, "Mom I'm just like a teenager!  I have my own laptop!!...

Dear Carter, Today I was so proud of you that tears filled my eyes!  It takes a lot to make someone feel that proud.  You are one of the most amazing little people I have ever met.  I am so impressed by your determination and hard work.  Keep it up sweet girl and you will go far!  I love you with all my heart.  XOXO, Mom