Louisiana Getaway

Usually in July we go to Baton Rouge for nearly 2 weeks.  This year, our vacations were jammed packed and because of that, we only stayed one week.  That didn't mean we didn't make the most of it.  

Mainly, it's just a time to relax and let the cousins play (and stay up all night talking with your parents and sisters).

The kids spent TONS of time in the swimming pool.  Who wouldn't when it is a bazillion degrees outside?  I love watching them make up their own pool games like we did growing up.

And of course there's plenty of time playing around inside too.  The boys found a big bag of leftover Mardi Gras beads my mom has and for whatever reason specifically these boys found them pretty entertaining.

Our annual Family Olympics was postponed a few days instead of having it on the fourth.  

That's okay, the kids didn't mind as long as it happened.  

 The boys DOMINATED this year in the three legged race.  I wonder if they had been practicing after being dominated last year by the girls?

And they were also a tad more successful at the balloon toss.

Until it turned into a water fight....which ended in some tears.

But they recovered when we ALL attacked Chad with the leftover chocolate pies.  

Best.moment.

 Who doesn't love to bowl?  After our original plan failed to pan out this day, bowling became our backup and these kids didn't mind ONE BIT.  Bowling never gets old.

 There's always plenty of evenings spent driving the red car around the lot (I was SUPER surprised how nice the Louisiana weather was while we were there).

Mimi and Papa also have the PERFECT climbing trees.

We also got to see Despicable Me 2.  It was pretty entertaining (Hudson didn't care to cooperate for the picture).

And we finished our last night off with a new tradition of the Pajama Jump.  The kids ate this up---swimming in your PJ's?  What could be better?

And even better when Mimi joins (Hudson refused his PJ's so swimsuit it was for him).

Another successful trip to Louisiana with lots of memories made.

The 4th

I know it's September but I'm WAY behind!  Time to catch up!

Am I the only one who thinks this blog thing is dying?  I'm determined to keep mine going.

I flew in from NYC around 1 am early Tuesday morning and came home, slept for bit then woke up to pack and hit the road again to our annual 4th of July in Baton Rouge.  The boys and I were on the road just after 11 that morning.  We were THRILLED to be heading to see our family.

 The 4th is one of my top 3 favorite holidays of the  year. 

 I LOVE THE FOURTH! 

 In my perfect world, I would LOVE for the kids to love America like I do and to actually know the history of our country (something I'm still working on...no I didn't pay attention in school).  So this year on the 4th, we tried to instill the reason we actually celebrate in the kids.  Hopefully they retain some of the information....and hopefully we can raise some strong REPUBLICANS!;)

 Kent ended up coming over last minute to join us.  I'm always happy to have him around and I know the boys are too...even if it's just for a day.

 These boys are the best of friends and I just love them and their little friendship.  I hope it lasts forever.

 

 The kids were TOTALLY NOT cooperating for a picture with my parents this year...so it was just a girl shot. 

 Kari and Kelli sadly weren't able to come this year which I think may have been the first year all of us weren't together on the 4th.  I hope it doesn't happen again.

 We spent the afternoon swimming.

 And practicing our tricks off the diving board

 We only had 1 v 1 on basketball this year

 But we still ate PLENTY of food (something the Bluth's know how to do)

 Sweet Rylee even serenaded us with the National Anthem.  When I say she did AWESOME, she really did.  There's not a lot of people who can pull that song off and stay on pitch.  I think that needs to be a new tradition.

 Then it was firework time.  We invited some family friends over to come join.  

The kids could do sparklers for hours.

 Then when the poppers and sparklers were gone, it was time for the big show.

 

Another successful (and more educational) fourth.  

I love our country.

Graduation Time

In June, my cousin Madison graduated from high school.  They live here in Houston about 25 minutes from us and so we were SUPER thrilled when we found out that not only were my parents going to be coming over but my grandparents were also flying in from St. George.  So, we spent the weekend with family.  The boys always LOVE going over to swim in their pool and jump at the chance they get to go.  

That night, we got a sitter and went to Madison's graduation (NO WAY am I attending a graduation with 900+ students with two little boys).  I can not believe how big these high schools are here in Texas.  Thankfully, Madison BLUTH is at the beginning of the graduating class so we didn't have to sit forever to see her graduate.  She's attending Utah State in the fall on a voice scholarship.  That girl can sing.  

We finished the night off at Steamboat House post graduation.  I have never eaten there before but those steaks are DELICIOUS and the atmosphere of the restaurant is so fun! The man who owns the place collects all kinds of Texas/American history things.  I made my cousins give my grandparents and I a run down of all this Texas history....I'm sure in a few years I'll be needing to know it when Boston is learning all about this great state of Texas.

It was so good to see my grandparents.  They are the cutest little couple who truly love and respect each other.  Wish we lived closer to see them more often but we will take what we can get!