Wave Rider Camp 2012

Dilan starts preschool this fall and I signed her up for a preschool summer camp to warm her up to the school itself. It was three days and she was excited to go. It's interesting because as a second child, she's been waiting to go to school just like her older brother, Drew. Now she is finally getting her chance. The best part was the conversation between Drew and Dilan on the way there the first day. Drew was telling Dilan that he liked preschool and that they have snack time there. He was preparing her on what to expect. When Dilan walked in, she was a bit shy to meet her counselor, Ms. Tessa. But after I signed her in to the dolphin group, she went to sit down at the grey table and once she took a seat, she turned to me and waved saying, "Bye, Mommy!" That was my cue. I gave her a hug and kiss and Drew gave her a hug and kiss and we told her we'd be back to pick her up later. As we walked out, Drew mentioned, "I'm going to miss Dilan." It was very sweet. 

Dilan loved preschool and was very happy to go back each day. She did arts and crafts and a service project. The last day was "water day" where they wore their camp t-shirts and swim suits and had water slides to play on. What a great introduction to preschool and I can't wait for her first day this fall!

At the end of each day, the kids sang songs and here is Dilan with pure joy on her face dancing away!

 And swinging her arms around and around while I was secretly hoping she wouldn't hit anyone.

 Her picture with Ms. Tessa

Drew finding out...

Drew came home from being at "grandma camp" for a week to enjoy his special reveal cupcake we saved for him. He thought the idea was great and was excited to take a bite. Once he did, he was not surprised at all because he has wanted a little sister all along and was pretty confident I was having a girl. Drew is very into patterns and just felt boy, girl, boy, girl would be perfect. He was right and will be a happy big brother once again. :)

about to take his first bite

 Bite taken and total confirmation of what he thought. I love the grin on his face.

 showing me the pink in his cupcake :)

It's a GIRL!

We are thrilled that we are having another girl! I really didn't know if I wanted to find out the gender on this last baby or not. I thought it could be a fun surprise to wait but as time got closer to our big ultrasound, I kept having this feeling that it was a girl. Even as I walked into the doctor's office, I didn't know what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, David had a presentation at work he couldn't get out of and I went alone. But he was very supportive and told me to do whatever I wanted and felt good about in the moment. So, as I am sitting there looking at my baby on the screen, I am noticing that I am thinking quite matter-of-factly, 'this is a girl.' And in that moment, it was clear that I need to find out because I already knew. Sure enough, all the measurements were taken, and it was time to find out the gender. I told the technician that I thought it was a girl. Once she found the view that was needed, she stopped on the picture (2nd below). She then said, "What do you see?" I said, "I'm pretty sure it's a girl." She replied, "Yes, it is!" I was very happy to know that we will have two of each and that everyone will have a brother and a sister! As I went back to the waiting room to wait and see the doctor, I sat there with picture in hand and it was a very sweet moment to realize only she and I knew. 

I didn't want to tell David over the phone so I told him he'd have to wait until he got home from work. I called a local bakery and had them make "reveal" cupcakes with pink frosting on the inside for David and the kids to enjoy. It was a fun way for them to find out!

Dilan enjoyed seeing pink in her cupcake. She doesn't really understand it now, but one day she'll know how special it is that she's getting a sister!!!

 Drake was pretty excited too but it's probably from the icing he just had! I also had a sweet moment with Drake when I came home. I embraced him and when I went to kiss his cheek, I realized he is my last little boy and that makes him even more special to me. :)

Fourth of July and vacation to Houston

Our annual trip home for the fourth of July was filled with a lot of family time. 

Here is our tradition of boiled crabs on fourth of July weekend (me and my sister-in-law)

And we go swimming a lot...

my brother throwing Drew up in the air 

 Dilan playing in the pool

 Cousin time...

 ... Drake celebrating his fearless attitude of jumping in the pool to anyone that would catch him.

 Drew and David swimming like fish.

 Red, White and Blue clothing on the fourth of July.

 Eating watermelon.

At the splash pad 

 We visited David's grandmother and had lunch with her.

 ...and it was the 5th anniversary of David's dad's death so we visited him as well.

Kinsey and Keely's 36th Birthday

For our 36th birthday, my sister and I kept with our tradition and spent it together at the spa. We went to the Houstonian and we were completely pampered. Facials, plush robes and slippers, time in the indoor pool and spa (both of us being pregnant did not allow for complete submersion), and Keely surprised me with a reservation to eat lunch on the patio. My mom and David watched the kids all day so I could be with my sister. After lunch, we headed to do some maternity clothes shopping and back to her house to get ready for dinner. Imagine being able to get ready uninterrupted by my kids - it was definitely my birthday. Then, we headed to our family dinner which we chose a hibachi grill for. We even were seated in a private room with two hibachi grills facing one another. With an entertaining cooking show in front of us, it really was the perfect place. My mom brought a cake for us that had a baby theme to represent both of us being pregnant at the same time this year. It was a lot of fun and the best part was that all of our family was there!

Keely and Kinsey at the spa 

Kinsey and Keely eating lunch

Me toasting to our over 35 status. :) 

 Drew and Dilan with cousins at the hibachi grill

 David and me with Drake at dinner

 Dilan's expression when the volcano fire was lit

 Drew eating his rice with chop sticks

 Keely and me with our birthday cake

 Me trying to get a picture with my kids on my birthday - I guess we don't get everything we wish for!

Drew's 7th Birthday

Drew's 7th birthday started off with red and light blue balloons all over his room when he woke up. 

 Then, a morning finishing a week of soccer camp. This kid worked and played hard learning a lot in the two weeks we signed him up for camp. GO DREW!

 Drew chose to have his birthday at Going Bonkers. It's a fun place with climbing play structures everywhere. He also wanted to have pizza at his party and a cookie cake. He chose an angry birds theme (after us steering him away from Thomas the train for the fifth time) but still stuck with a train on his cookie cake because he really loves trains more. We had 10 friends come and join us and it really was so much fun!

Birthday boy in his angry birds t-shirt 

 Drew with some of his friends and David

 Drew and more of his friends

 Dilan had a great time at the party too

 Drew and his friend playing

Our family photo once we were in our private party room

 Dilan loving the pizza and me

 Me and the birthday boy

 Drew's cookie cake 

 Drew had one of the best presents ever - my mom and Sam came in town that day for his party and stayed through the weekend.

 Drew loved his angry bird balloons set up throughout the room

 Presents from friends

 Drew with his lit-up cake as we sang "happy birthday"

 blowing out the candles..

 ... and eating the cookie cake.

 Me serving the cake

 Drew with all of his friends after the pizza and cake and right before arcade time! Each guest received a card with money on it to play in the arcade as part of the party and the party favor included an angry birds cup with a 1/2 off pass for the next time they come to Going Bonkers and m&ms (Drew's favorite candy).

 Dilan, Drake, and Drew playing in the arcade.

 Drew with his opened gifts from the party. He loved everything he got and did very good at hand-writing every one of his thank-you notes the next week. :)