bluebonnets

There are so many people that aren't happy in San Antonio. I agree it is hot and humid but really what can you do about that? Yes, I grew up here and I've always known what to expect while living here, but I believe that you can find the good and the bad anywhere. Keeper has always told me that I judge a place by the people not the weather or landscape. I think that is probably true. I love San Antonio because of the people. They are truly unique and, although some wouldn't agree with me, genuinely nice. Sure I have been looked down upon for having 3, almost 4 kids 5 and under. I've been glared at and made plenty of people exasperated. That comes with having kids. But there are always those who smile and give a helping hand or a smile that lets me know that it's okay and they know that I am doing my best! Yesterday at the zoo there was a lady who was in her 40's and she was watching my kids pretty close and laughing at everything they did. I heard her later repeat something Camy said to her son and laugh and then say that she couldn't wait to be a grandma. That made me feel so good! Also, the other day we were at Sea World and it was WAY past naps and I pushed them and me too far so I was heading out of the park as fast as I could. On the way out I ran into a display of Shamu stuffed animals and knocked a few off. As I bent over to pick them up a guy did the same and reassured me that he got it and I didn't need to worry about it. I thanked him and noticed he was wearing a BYU hat. That made me smile and helped me lug my 3 tired kids through the parking lot. I love the culture and the crazy parties that they have. I love that my kids expect pinatas and know what confetti eggs are. Parker has grown up on beans and pretty much anywhere we go to eat there are always some for him. I love it here!
Anyway, now I will step off my soapbox and just say that this spring has been beautiful. My favorite season here is Spring and I love that where ever we are driving we are surrounded by gorgeous flowers. The kids have really enjoyed it too. They are constantly staring out the window telling me what different colors of flowers they see.
We took bluebonnet pictures on Sunday and even though the family one didn't turn out because it was on a timer and the kids were pretty much done, the other are really fun! I love my kids! Enjoy!

Easter

This year was so much fun! The boys really got into Easter and Parker really seemed to understand why we celebrated it. When asked Carson and Camy would say Jesus but Parker would talk about the resurection. It's so fun seeing him grow up and make us proud.
Parker was also really into Conference this year. (Well as into it as a 5 year old can be.) He loved to listen to the music and listened to the speakers more than I thought he would. He even tried to keep Carson and Camy entertained so that I could enjoy it. My big helper!
Here are some Easter morning pictures.








After Easter morning and conference we went over to my Aunt's house where we ate lots of yummy food and celebrated together. We had an Easter egg hunt for the little ones and played a little baseball which Parker and Carson both loved! Camy enjoyed searching everyone else's baskets and playing with roley poly's.

Girls!

I absolutely love having a little girl! Camy is my little helper and she wants to do everything like me. She's always unloading the dishwasher for me, picking out bows to put in her hair, trying on shoes, etc... She is such a girl! I am so excited that we are having another one to join the mix. It will be a lot of fun for these two little girls to learn from each other and play together.

Everyday happenings...

With the weather so nice lately, we have spent quite a bit of time outside. We have even gotten out the slip-n-slide and the hose and played in the water a bit. It's still a little cold but the kids don't seem to mind. Here are some random pictures of the last couple of weeks.

As close as Camy got to the slip-n-slide. She loved watching the boys though.


Parker was a whimp too but Carson loved it!


Snow cones! Parker got a snow cone maker for his birthday and the kids love it! It is so fun to get out and make a special treat.


Some of our best friends moved to the North side of town so it's pretty rare to see them now. The other day I was asked to watch their boys for a little while and the kids were ecstatic! It was so fun to see them play together. It's really sad that we don't see each other as much but at least they are still in San Antonio. (This is only one of the boys. The other didn't want to get in pictures.)


What could be more fun than using a sling shot to shoot water baloons over the back fence. They thought this was SO COOL!!!



A water baloon+a popcicle face=pure bliss (look at that face)

Carson loved squirting water out of the baloons before I tied them. He thought it was so funny!

Parker's 5! Wow!

A few weeks ago Parker turned 5. He is getting so big! He just started T-ball and loves it! Tomorrow we go to kindergarten registration and sign my big boy up. Man! What am I going to do without my big helper in the house, especially with a new little one too?!
We had a little party with family this year. He said that there were a few friends that he wanted to invite but when it came down to it he really just wanted his cousins (and aunt and uncles), and grandma and grandpa. We had a lot of fun and it was pretty laid back so that is always nice for me.
Parker wanted a dinosaur party and the closest I came to a dinosaur was an alligator so that's the cake we did and I think it turned out pretty good. He got to help some and he was so proud of the cake.
Parker's 5 favorite foods:
1. Chocolate
2. Potatos (mashed with no gravy)
3. mac and cheese
4. poptarts
5. steak
Parker's 5 favorite things to play:
1. with the barn and farm animals
2. build big train tracks
3. playdough or anything messy
4. jump on the trampoline
5. anything with water (water balloons, sprinklers, messing around in the sink, etc...)
Parker's 5 favorite places to go:
1. CiCi's pizza
2. the zoo
3. Sea World
4. the library
5. preschool

I love my big 5 year old and I am so grateful for his sweet helping hands, his constant curiousity, and his fun sense of humor. He keeps me on my toes and I am so grateful for it! I love you Park!

Camping

Keeper has had one free weekend in the past few months and for the next few months also. We decided that although we should be social in the ward and invite friends over, we didn't. We went camping instead. It was so worth it too! Our lives get so busy and it seems like there are always more things to do than we actually have time for. We were able to step back and focus on the thing that really matters: our little family.
It was pretty cool out so there was no swimming this time, although Camy tried her hardest to dive in on a few occations. The weather was perfect and the quality time with the kids, no TV, no computer, just us and them, was well worth the time.
Sorry there are a lot of pictures.




Probably the furthest any of Camy's rocks went!








The only picture I was in. Not the best but oh well.

Gotta love the dirty face! She's still cute though.


Showing the muscles it takes to set up the tent. They LOVED the tent!



Mouth full, dirty face, but having a blast! She loves her daddy!

Camy was excited for the smores. I love her face!

We forgot a few things but made do with what we had. We forgot a spatula for the pancakes we were having for breakfast. We did remember some shovels for the kids so after washing it off that was our solution and it worked...very well!