I'm on a boat!

This past weekend we went to Austin to visit the family and see Jeremy and Lindsay's new digs.  We had a great weekend, and Knox loved getting to spend some time with his cousins!!

On Saturday afternoon, we all hit Gigi and Papi's pool, and unfortunately I was having so much fun I didn't take any pictures of the cousins swimming.  Jeremy and Lindsay headed home for the kids to nap, and we got the itch to get in the boat.  We quickly made plans to eat dinner at the Hula Hut, and we were going to go via Lake Austin.  I was so excited for Knox...but he was a bit skeptical.  I think it's due to the crowded/rough lake, so I'm not losing hope of him finding his lake-legs.

I'm on the hunt for a more comfortable life-jacket.  He hated having something so tight around his neck.

Love this picture.  I think at precisely this moment they were checking out the drunko's being crazy on the lake, or falling all over the shore.  The people watching is always spectacular!

Gigi held him the way there, making sure his back was to the wind.

Check out that hair...and those lips!

Once we got to the restaurant, he was in much better spirits.  It was 100+, and inside was about 90 degrees.  It was balmy...but he enjoyed playing with Papi to pass the time!

Loving the hat...

and kisses and holding the pager!

When we finished our dinner, we tried to get the kids to take a ride in the boat.  As you can see, Knox and Mackenzie were less-than-thrilled, but Conner wanted to be the Captain!

He loved "driving" the boat.

Skeptical

The ride home was just as rough as going, but this time he was super tired and "over it." I loved the snuggles, I won't lie!

Once home, we enjoyed another beautiful Austin sunset before retiring to the media room to watch a movie.  We were all exhausted! 

Before we headed back to Dallas, Papi took Knox outside to "get him tired."

They started by just kicking in the water and playing with the boat...

But we all know how those things end.  Stripped down to a lil' swimmer to enjoy it to the fullest!

He loves that fountain...and this is the face he makes when he's really working hard!

See, same face but surfing now!

We had a great time, and were sad to leave as always.  It's going to be so fun having Jeremy and Lindsay there every time we visit now!

14 months?!?

Good gracious.  Yes, he's 14 months today.  I feel like time has rushed by so quickly and I'm just doing my best to hang on and enjoy every moment.  I know I've said it a million times before, but I'm OBSESSED with this age.  Full of discovery, cuddles (on occasion), recongnition, curiosity, and love. 

so.much.fun.

I thought I'd try and capture him at his best time...playing in his big boy jammers after breakfast.  Here's a few things he loves right now:

Sitting like a big boy. Actually, he rarely sits like this but he looks so big to me in this picture.

Smiling at the dogs.

His tan lines.  Ok, ok.  He doesn't even know they are there, but I do.  He has the BEST farmer's tan.  It's awesome.  You can see here, the folds of his chubby arms are white while the rest of his arms are tan.  I swear I'm OCD and apply sunscreen in ridiculous amounts, but we swim no less that 3-4 days a week outside.  It was bound to happen.

He tends to use his left hand for all fine motor skills (playing with small objects, picking up food, etc.).

This kid is obsessed with two things: balls and cars.  He loves the movie "Cars" and has a favorite already: Tow-Mater.  He cracks up laughing any time he talks...so of course he now has a few toy "maters" and other tow trucks and loves them.

He's very curious.  His favorite activity while mommy works is to put things in the (empty) trash can and then get them back out.  He'll also lay it flat and climb on top to stand like he's the king of the mountain.  This second skill is discouraged while on the hardwoods.  He also loves "hiding" toys in the drawers he's able to reach now.  He loves looking for things!

Love his ornery smirk.  He's definitely my child and pushes boundaries...but I love his determination and independence, even when he won't cuddle.

Above all else, I just love his sweet face.  I know I'm VERY biased, but I just think he's the cutest thing ever.  I am so proud to be his mommy.

Poor Gracie

His favorite spot in the house...

In-N-Out

I'm probably the last person in the DFW area to have had an In-N-Out burger since they've arrived, but it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it any less.  The day before the Kampen's moved to Austin, we hit up the now local hot spot and had a burg.  It was awesome.

We arrived at 11:00am, and the line was already out the door and down the sidewalk.  The kiddos were kept quiet with stickers.

Mackenzie

Conner

Knox wanted to eat the stickers, so we stuck with Mums

Delicious...even Belle agrees!

Father's Day

We had a very low-key Father's Day, which consisted of a LOT of golf watching and laying around.  It was perfect!

Knox is SO lucky to have a dad like Stephen.  I always wanted to marry someone like my dad, someone who would take care of me, love me and believe in my like my own father does.  I accomplished that, and then some!  Knox loves his daddy to pieces, and absolutely lights up when Stephen walks into the room.  I'm so blessed. 

My dad set a very high bar, and I'm very thankful that God blessed me with a man that exceeds all of my expectations!

Happy Father's Day to my father, my father-in-law, Stephen, my brothers and all the men that came before them.  You are all great examples of how fathers should be!

Wipe Out

My brother, Jeremy, and I got the kids together for lunch at the Willow Bend mall a few months ago while Lindsay was out of town, and as we were walking out "Adrenalina" caught our eye.  Since he and Stephen have birthdays a month apart, I thought this would be the perfect gift for the both of them to do together.  We made our reservations last week, and it did not disapppoint. 

They started their "lesson" by boogie boarding, and quickly mastered the skill.  Once they started surfing, it took a few runs to get going, but they did great!

(The following pictures were through a window, while they were surfing...so most are blurry)

They laughed the majority of the time, and the peanut gallery (below) thought it was the coolest thing ever!  

  

Lindsay and I, however, loved these moments:

Jeremy and Lindsay moved to Austin (tear!) on Thursday, so this was a fun way to send them off. 

Trucks are more fun...

I met some friends at the Allen splash park recently, and of course the crowds and high-splashing water made for a clingy baby.  He just doesn't dig it.  I can't really blame him.  He's getting splashed in the face with water from all directions...not fun.  So he clung to my leg until we sat down.  That's when Courtney brought out John-Wesley's trucks.  Then and there the party got started!

My little shark

Can you believe those curls?  Girls everywhere are sighing!

John-Wesley is always such a helper!

Boys and their trucks

I'm not going to give up on the splash park. I'm sure by the end of the summer he'll have taken a liking to them...and if not, I'm certain they will be our norm next summer.  How else will we stay cool?