kicking off summer

I have a feeling that the majority of my posts this summer will look like this:

7 million pictures...

lots of water...

And fun with my boys.

It may be obnoxious, but I want to document it all.

Graduation was Wednesday and I had to work Thursday morning in the office for some computer training.
Mom came over and watched the kids for me...
And she also finished cleaning my house too!!
We had a showing at 6:00, and Maddox's football ceremony at 6:30.
I missed the majority of the ceremony because little Mr B decided he was terrified of clowns.
But I did catch a picture of the boys doing the Gangnam style dance when they made it to the stage!

Friday we met our friends at the pool.
My boys and the Booten girls were the only kids there most of the day.
We didn't get a lot of sunshine, but we did get a lot of fun.

We went to a birthday in Keller for our friend Kaden that evening.

We spent Saturday at mom's.
Cooking out, playing with cousins, splashing in the water....
Chatting, sharing fun drinks,
and the boys {as in 'men'} shot guns.
(Originally I pulled stats to prove you the dangers of riding in a motor vehicle, drowning, falling, or choking, lap the risk of owning guns by a mile...  because each time I post pics of my gun-loving family I get a few comments... but I will spare you.  However, I have them-- if you are interested in commenting seeing them.)

Monday I had to work.
But I didn't mind.
I worked with my favorite doctor...
a few fun friends...
and I made triple time!

Back to mom's to pick the boys up....
Find a cow who had found a ditch to end her life...
help with a welding project...
and escape the wrath of a snake!

My kids were wore out after their weekend in the country.
B slept until 10:30 Tuesday morning.
I got the house back to my standards...
We played...
Danced...
And I got a surprise gift on my porch from my sweet friend Nicolle.

Today we went to the Fort Worth zoo.
The weather was so perfect and we spent our time there with some of our favorite people.
We knew we were chancing it with half-price day and a chance of rain, but it really wasn't too crowded at all-- and it only sprinkled a minute.

Candace and I laughed so hard on the way home....
And the boys slept.

We had another showing this evening, so we escaped to half price appetizers at On The Border and then made a Sam's trip.

Tomorrow my sister is keeping the boys for us so that Lance and I can have a date...
a day date.
Without kids.

Whoa.

I'm pretty excited!

graduation

Wednesday Maddox had his pre-school graduation.
It was a little weird for us, since he isn't graduating into anything-- so we tried not to make a big deal out of it and confuse him.

It is funny how many people know that I cry easily, as 3 separate moms came and asked me if I was going to be emotional!
But to my surprise (and everyone else's, apparently) I was fine.

It was too cute.

And I can not believe how fast this year flew by.                    
I hear time only increases in speed from here.
I hate that.

I am truly, truly, truly going to miss his teachers... and his little school... and the friends we made there.

I would have lived in a cardboard box when Maddox was little before I would have trusted him to a stranger because I feared someone hurting him in some way...
So giving him to them--
even as a four year old--
was huge.

And God blessed us with the best.
His teachers were certainly a blessing.  And amazing.

We still do not know where we will be next year, so I have no plans for next year yet as far as school goes.

I have already gotten a little sad that we will not move forward with this same group of kids-- but in the same breath, I am already over people trying to convince me that Maddox needs to start too.
And side note::  I'm super- duper- whooper over the parents of other summer birthdays who are starting their kids "because they are beyond ready" as if Maddox is not.
Of course they are.
Maddox would do great too...

But our decision wasn't based on 5 year old Maddox...
we are looking out for "too small to play Maddox", "no date to Prom Maddox", "not gone through puberty yet Maddox", and "moving to college at 17 Maddox".

And,
it is our decision.
And we believe this is best for us.

We

We were treated to Babes by my parents after the ceremony...
And the boys just had to show Gigi the new candy store too.

                                                  
Finally, I am not sure if the video will work...
but when most of the boys quickly stated their name and then "police man" and a few kids refused to talk at all--
Maddox pulled a few laughs with his response!  (He said Mario last, but it is hard to hear!)
...I was afraid we were going to have to cut the mic!

 I will treasure this little gem forever!