Texas Summer of Swimming

June-July 2014

Ever since we left Texas in 2010 for Singapore and now in Peru, we have looked forward to spending our summer vacation with friends and family in Texas.  When we left Peru the winter season was just beginning so the warmth of Texas weather was welcome.  We spent ALOT of time swimming.

Swimming with the Doffing cousins.

Swimming with our old neighbors, the Watsons.

 We also had a small reunion with some of my teacher friends from Haun.  It was so fun to catch up and see everyone and all the babies that have now grown into kids and almost pre-teens.

Faith and Graham~ They were inseparable friends until we moved away.  It was so neat seeing them as 10 year olds!

Bryce and Layne with their friends Jeanne and Emily.

Tailgate time with the Taylor girls.

Swimming with our Haun friends!

Ending a fun day of swimming with friends.  Graham, Bryce, Jeanne, Jillian, Layne, Will, Emily, and Faith

Our trip to Dallas would not be complete without at few days at the Crawford household!  The kids played as if they were never apart.

Ella with Bryce and Layne

Graham and Jacob

Bryce, Ella, Layne, Jacob, Graham and Bennett

Jump!

Friends forever

Layne about to jump into the pool.

School Year. Over and Out.

Another school year is in the book!  We say good bye to 2nd and 4th grade.  All the kids had a great year but I am looking forward having all 3 kids at the same school in August.

We just get the month of July off and we are looking forward to visiting family and friends in Texas.  

Cheers to a great finish to the 2013-2014 school year.

Layne with Miss D.

Bryce with Miss D.

They had such a great year being in the same class!

The girls with Ms. C.

Field Day fun on the last day of school.

Field Day friends.

Graham with his 4th grade teacher Ms. E.

10 Girls and A Boy

Bryce and Layne finished off their birthday celebrations with a party at a Larco Mar bowling party.  The girls only wanted girls but of course we insisted that they include their brother in the festivities.  I would presume the girls thought it was a blast because at one point all the girls were chasing Graham and hitting him with balloons.

I thought getting a group shot of girls would be a piece of cake.  They proved me wrong.  I did the best I could and these girls enjoyed being silly.  In the end I think theses pictures capture them beautifully.

10 girls

and a boy

Singing Happy Birthday and Feliz Cumpleanos

Graham blending in the background.

Cake time

Layne was super excited to eat cake.  She said its been 2 years since she had a  cake with flour!  She is so good about monitoring herself.  She only ate 1/4 of it.  She was happy  for a few bites and gobbled up the ice cream.

 The girls were very thankful for all the presents their friends gave them.  They could not wait to tear open the presents and play.  Happy Birthday, Bryce and Layne!

Ocho Anos

Eight.  Years.  Old.

Sometimes I still cannot believe I am the mom of the 2 most amazing little girls.  They bring me so much happiness, joy, and love.  I am so proud to call them mine.

This morning they woke up a little older.  8 years old.  They have seen and done more in their 8 years of life that took me forty to accomplish.  They are living on their third continent, learning a third language, but ask them where they want their birthday dinner to be... they pick Chili's.  Just like their brother, they want a little taste of Americana no matter where they reside.  So this morning Bryce and Layne enjoyed their birthday muffins for breakfast and opening presents.  This evening we head to Chili's to dine on fine American food.  On Sunday afternoon, the girls will have a small birthday bowling party with their girlfriends from school.

Happy 8th Birthday, Bryce and Layne!

The candles were just a bit out of control.  It made for an interesting morning.

Ready to conquer the world as 8 year olds.