On July 4th, you guys participated in our neighborhood's Independence day parade. Daddy went with you guys while I stayed home because I sprained my ankle the night before. I'm glad he snapped these pics because I would've totally missed out on all this cuteness! I mean, coolness (because Hailey, you have made it very clear that you do not like to be called "cute."
And tradition did not fail, Kona ice after the parade!
The night before, we hiked out to watch the fireworks from the golf course next to our neighborhood. It was the first time you guys could remember watching real fireworks. Since most fireworks were cancelled during COVID and before that, Hailey, you were definitely too young to remember the fireworks, let alone stay up late enough to watch them.
We also stopped by the fireworks store a few days prior and picked up some sparklers. It's been awhile since it has rained, so things are pretty dry. We kept things safe by just lighting up some sparklers on the drive way....also a first for Hailey. You big kids don't remember this from a few years ago as well.
Some Fridays we visit dad at work. We usually bring lunch and then go downstairs to play in the lounge. Skee ball is very popular with you guys.
Another morning we went bowling. It was cute how you big kids would help Hailey line up the ramp.
Hailey ended up getting the high score!!!
After bowling, we walked really slowly to the snowcone place because we finished right before they opened. They were just enough to hold us over to go to "the caterpillar sushi place" also known as Kura sushi.
You guys love going there because they deliver the sushi on conveyor belts. This time they also had a little robot that brought you food. Super fancy. Hailey, you were able to order your all time favorite, crispy shrimp, AKA shrimp tempura.
One Friday, while Hailey was at gymnastics camp, I took you 2 big kids to San Marcos to float the river. Hannah, you loved the whole experience, the cold water, the nature, the rapids, basically everything. Nathan, you complained about the cold, complained about drifting away and didn't enjoy it too much. After we worked up a big appetite from floating, we got a chance to try out a new Taiwanese restaurant that opened up this past year. It was good and super authentic. I'm kind of glad that this place wasn't open when I lived there, because I would've probably eaten there all the time.
Then the owner suggested that we go across the street to pick up some mochinut. Most of them were dairy free so we bought half a dozen home so that Hailey could have some too.
Before we went home, we stopped by another new place, a rolled ice cream parlor. They chop up ingredients into a ice cream base and then scrape the frozen surface to roll the ice cream up.
You guys got to pick out your toppings and the end result was delicious!
Hailey, you attended your first ever friend birthday party. You've been to Hannah and Nathan's friends' parties, but never your own friend. It was a pool party and as a bonus, the cake was dairy-free so you could eat it too!
Hailey, you are also doing pretty good at swim lessons. You still are not a big fan of getting your face wet, but when asked to do so by your teacher, you will do it. When I ask you to practice, you basically try to delay and will do anything to avoid sticking your head in the water.
Last week Auntie Momo came with her boyfriend. We did all the things that you would do in hot weather, including visiting a cavern. Hailey, you thought it was so cool to be in an underground cave. You walked the whole way all by yourself. I picked you up for a few minutes just so we wouldn't lag behind the group, but you loved the whole experience.
We even saw a cute tri-colored bat hanging out on the ceiling.
Another thing we did with our out-of-town visitors was to check out the Austin aquarium. We have pretty much boycotted the whole establishment since it opened, but I hear they are treating their animals a bit better these days, so we decided to give them a shot. It was an extremely interactive aquarium with touch tanks everywhere.
The big kids (especially Nathan), you all were super excited to see a real axolotl and begged me to take a picture of you guys next to one.
Here's a close up view...
The sting ray touch tank was also pretty cool.
Most mornings have been slow, which has been a good change of pace. When I sleep in, this is what I wake up to. Crazy hair Hailey, Nathan reading and Hannah working on some sort of craft or reading.
This week the big kids have martial arts camp. Hailey it is just you and me and so I asked you what you would like to do. Here are the things that you told me: 1)make something yummy 2) play at a playground 3)watch a movie 4)go to costco.
Day 1: We made pecan macarons. Since you are allergic to almond, I happened to pick up a bag of pecan flour just the other day to make macarons that you could eat. They turned out delicious!
You helped measure out the ingredients, mix the batter and then you added the sprinkles to the finished macarons.
Day 2: We started our day at the playground, where we ended up seeing one of your friends from school. Afterwards we went to get my oil changed and after figuring out that I have been driving with unlubricated axles, we had to do some car shuffling so that we could get home and then pick up the big kids from camp. You were very easy going through the whole process. Thank you!
Day 3: Today Daddy worked from home and we took the car to the movie theater. We watched the minions movie and it turned out to be the perfect movie for you. That movie included so many of your favorite things: hide and seek, rolling on the floor, seals, and big belly laughs.
Since the car with problems was the minivan, we had to figure out how to transport all 3 of you guys, along with our sometimes 4th child home from martial arts. I looked up to see how old you have to be to ride in the front seat and it turns out that Nathan you have been qualified to sit shot gun for almost a year! So yesterday, you sat in the front and have been sitting in the front ever since.
Considering tomorrow's big Hailey bucket list adventure item is Costco, I will spare everyone the details there. But I'm pretty sure Hailey wants to go to Costco for the S-A-M-P-L-E-S.
We have 2 more full weeks before school starts back up again. So let the days of summer begin!
Hailey update: We finally got a call from the surgical team about Hailey's surgery consult. This will happen in 2 weeks. We will find out more details then. Please pray that we ask all the right questions and for peace during this anxious time.
Until next time,
Love,
Mommy
