Family weekend getaway!

The last weekend of July we had planned to go to Palacios to see JD's Grandparents and for him and his Papa to play in an annual gold tournament. We have done this every year (except 08) since we've been married and JD has been doing it every year since he was small.  It's a really special time with his Grandparents. The event is called the Shrimporee and it's a celebration of the blessing of the fleet as the shrimp boats go out.

So the day we were supposed to leave, JD's Papa had to go to the emergency room for some complications. We had already packed up and because we have 2 little ones it would be stressful for us to take the kids and try to keep them quiet the whole time. So we had decided that we would go to San Antonio instead and go to Sea World them travel to Palacios after that if his Papa was up to it.

We ended up having a really great time! We called some of our dearest and best friends, Rashad and Illa (who live in Austin) and we stopped by their house on the way to San Antonio (about 11p.m.).
They have a precious little girl (my niece) Cadence Amani Ronelle, but we call her Amani. She is the CUTEST! I love her so much! The girls had such fun playing with her!


After our visit (only about 30 min), we got on the road and finished our trip to San Antonio. We stayed at a hotel about 3 miles from Sea World that also had shuttle service (hallelujah) to Sea World!  But for some reason, Jenna NEVER went to sleep!! She stayed up the whole night, WIDE awake!!

We've learned to roll with the punches and it turned out fine and we had a great time at Sea World.

San Antonio is really hot in August, but I was so proud of our girls for being such troopers...

Bella, Me, Amani, Illa

Rashad and JD

Precious little "Amani"

No sleep, but ready to get this party started!

Sleep was inevitable...sweet girl!

After our brief stay in San Antonio it was on to Palacios! We had a wonderful time...

~J~

Jenna turns 2!!!

Wow! My big girls turned 2 on July 15th! I am amazed at how big she has gotten and how grown up she is now! She can count (a little), she knows her colors (most of them), she knows her shapes (really well), and most of her alphabet (not necessarily in order). She is so proud of herself! She LOVES to paint and color and be CrEaTiVe. She is just a wonderful little girl and such a joy to us!

For her birthday, we weren't going to do anything big because we had such a busy summer and were thinking we would also be moving around the same time so we thought just a small get together with some family would do. Then JD's grandparents decided they would come into town the weekend before her birthday to celebrate. So we decided to have a small party at my sisters house (since her house is roomy and she has a playground out in back). I went to the party store down the street and got some Elmo decorations, ordered a cake from Tom Thumb, and texted a few friends to invite them over. All just a few days before the party! It turned out to be a great success! Jenna and all the kids had a blast and Jenna especially enjoyed opening her gifts! :)

Here are a few pictures of the day.....

Tom Thumb did pretty good! 

Jenna and her girl cousins, Kyrie and Natalie

Playing in the sand with Andrew and Maddox 

Sliding all by herself! 

 Dadd swinging his little girl...

~J~