The Astros Won!!!

Friday nights game was superb!  The only negative was that our seats were pretty high up, and it seems the AC doesn't quite make it that high...so we were a bit "clammy" to say the least.  Our friends coincidentally were only a few rows away, and Joel and Paul were able to sit with Ethan the entire game!  Scott's buddy Reid was also close by and joined us for the last few innings.  We got to watch Mike Trout strike out 4 times!!!!!  Unheard of!  No home runs to report, but some very exciting double plays.
I am not sure that I will have any time to update the blog before we head to New England.  Next time I do there may even be a cool breeze in the air!  I am excited to feel that.  Scott headed to the Houston airport this morning bound for a class in NYC, and we will see him again at Logan Airport this Friday night.  Can't wait!

So precious.  Holding his ticket and glove hoping for a foul ball to catch.

Joel, Ethan and Paul.

Trout, about to strike out...again!

My man Jose Altuve!

A few of us out for frozen yogurt.

Meagan and Ellie challenged us to an ugly selfie.  I think we rose to the challenge.

Cupcakes and frosting I made from scratch.  Kinda a proud moment for me.

At the game Friday night.

Fiona and I could NOT get the boys out of the frame.  Total photo bomb!

Ohhhh boy! Workbooks arrived in the mail!

I am sure you can assume the kids are over the moon that their workbooks for the new school year arrived yesterday?  Reality of it is I was the only one cheering when the Amazon box arrived, and I was the only one tearing into the delivery to explore all the fun lessons we have to look forward to.  We are looking to start "school" in ernest mid August.  We are still full swing into summer activities. This afternoon I took the kids to see "The secret Life of Pets".  So stinking cute and funny!  Tuesdays are $5.50 a ticket day!  Sweet deal right?
This past weekend we went to a BBQ down the street.  There were 16 kids in attendance!  Scott and I were talking later about how Fiona and Ethan will have these memories of going to late night pool parties with tons of kids.  Fun.
We are looking forward to the Astros game this Friday.  Scott got us all tickets!  It will be the first baseball game we all attend together!  Just so happens our friends are going too, and they have seats in the same section.  Should be a lot of fun.

After much frustration watching "how-to" videos, he managed to tie that bow, and look how amazing he is!

Fiona named this little guy "Key-lime Jellybean".

Ethan and his buddies had fun with the polaroid camera from Auntie.

Can you guess who this is?

I love these new jammies.

Saturday nights BBQ.

They have a pretty sweet saltwater pool.

Scheduling...

This week has been an exercise in scheduling.  We have plane tickets and official dates for our visit to New England, and the challenge now is to see all our friends and family in a short 11 day period.  Nearly every night we have dinner plans with different people.  I am so thankful that our journey has worked well into everyone else's busy lives. I know just how hectic summer "vacation" can be.  In the meantime I am getting kids to dentist appointments, check-ups, myself to chiropractor and all the other small scheduling that goes on daily.
We are definitely spending more time indoors due to the heat.  The trick is not allowing screen time.  Ethan is currently building a card castle with his hundreds of sports cards.  Fiona is diving deeper into origami, and created a pretty nifty alien this morning.  We have a long overdue trip to the library this afternoon to get another few books on tape.  Essential to the indoor time!  Kids and I listen during breakfast and while we get ourselves ready in the morning.
Our dinners have been primarily outdoors this week.  I love that we are able to spend late into the night outside.  As long as the fans are on the bugs stay away, and I love the night insect chorus. So, I would say we are making the most of the heat, and acclimating as well as to be expected for a family of Yankees.

We found a nice shaded spot near home.

Here's the "before".  All I asked for was a nice picture...

Here's the after.  After a few death threats that is!

Creating a world for lizards on the patio.

The quilt I made for Hallies little one (due in August).

Soft smooshy back.

Fiona's rendition of "Fabiola".  Saint of nurses and battered women.

So, Scott is growing his hair out again...and I think if his job isn't satisfying he can always become a Jesus model.

Fourth of July and the living is easy!

Oh are we ever enjoying this long weekend!  No set plans, and it feels so refreshing.  Yesterday Scott decided he was ready to pull the trigger on the BEST fire pit ever!  Our friends helped us get it home in their van, and it was put straight to use.  We could not find any firewood for sale, so we bought a bag of mesquite (for smoking meats).  OMG, it smelled so good and burned for hours.  PERFECT!  Scott also took a detour on the way home from the supermarket for some VERY affordable fireworks.    Should be a bit loud around the Jason compound the next few nights.  Right now he is cooking an entire red snapper on the pit.  It came with a handy grate for just this purpose.  Feels and smells like camping, yet with the convenience of bathrooms and a pool...  There have been some hard core games of pool volleyball.  The teams are "Parents" against the "Stupid Kids".  Scott and I named the teams. We keep winning and it feels good. I know there is a valuable lesson in there for the kids somewhere...

Fun, bought in cash from a "pretty" couple.

Right of passage.

Love this thing!  No need for T.V. anymore!

Sparkler fun.

Molasses cookie baker.

Fiona and Ethan got their first ice cream truck treat when friends were over!  All those natural ingredients did a number on their tongues.

My man.  Ironing for me while watching the Red Sox.

Our first taste of dragon fruit.

Beautiful to look at, but bland to taste.

Yup.  Everyone was right.  It gets hot here.