Flippin' Fearless!

Molly and Paul have been having a blast in the pool this summer! Last year I taught Molly how to do "Big T" while standing on my hands and this year, Paul has taught her to do all kinds of crazy-looking flips and jumps while he throws her in the air. Sometimes I just can't watch. She's done so many back and belly-busters that it makes me cringe, but she always comes up laughing and screaming for more. Revenge for all the belly-busters?

4th of July

This year we enjoyed a "simple" 4th of July fireworks display in the parking lot of the Tomball HEB. There were plenty of fun celebrations to enjoy around Houston, but it's been so hot that we were in no mood to partake of crowded festivities this year. The HEB parking lot was perfect - Burger King was open and within walking distance in case I needed to tinkle, we had plenty of room to set up camp for the kiddos and there was a snow cone vendor open for business near by!

We planned to meet Molly's friend, Davis, and his family in Tomball and as crazy as it was, we just happened to run into Kiera's family at the snow cone stand, so we ended up having a pretty fun-sized group!Davis and his new ride... he LOVES Mommy's new car...which is why he's not in this family picture - he insisted on getting in the car the moment the fireworks were over!

Brent's Graduation Party

Our good friend, Brent, is graduating this summer with his MBA from a school we'd rather not name... his loving wife, Lindsay, threw him an AMAZING party a few weeks ago to celebrate. Despite the heat, we all had a wonderful time!

Brent and his dad. I have never seen a father and son who are so exactly alike - they not only look alike, but have the exact same mannerisms! It always amazes me!!! Talking to Brent's dad is like looking in a crystal ball... you can tell exactly how Brent will be in 20 years!The Owen boys with a friendScott and EmilyThe kids had a BLAST on the blow-up water slide and obstacle course!
Molly and Jackson B.Brent set up a projector in the backyard so that the adults could play Rock Band outside... the kids ended up having a BLAST making shadow puppets, dancing and watching their shadows on the wall!Since the kids weren't allowed to play any instruments, Molly set up 'Kiddie Rock Band' at the table with cups and spoons.

Father's Day

We had a wonderful Father's Day with Paul's dad and mine this year.

Molly gave her Daddy a decoupage box we made, it's decorated with pictures of all the fun stuff that the two of them have done together since last Father's Day. Now he has somewhere to store all of Molly's cards and pictures! Paul also got some golf-related goodies since he swears he's going to start playing this fall...Paul's dad with a picture of the son he always wanted... a fly fisherman!Cyndal and Jill at lunch with PawPawGroup shot, minus Cyndal behind the camera, after lunch.

End of 2009 Swim Team

Molly is third from the right on the first row.

Wednesday evening we went to the "End of Season" party for Molly's swim team. We're both sad and ELATED that swim team is over for the year. It's been so stinking hot at all of the meets that I wasn't even able to go to more than an hour of the last one. It was even too hot to hang out at the pool Wednesday night... it was still 98 at 7pm, we came home to swim in our pool, but the water was so warm it wasn't even refreshing!

Molly was so excited to get her trophy from her coaches, they told her she was the "Most Fearless" kid on the team. They also passed out the team pictures and ribbons for the season. We didn't know it, but Molly won 2nd place in two different races!! They were both for the freestyle race, one in her first meet and one at her second! We're so proud!! We had no idea she actually scored points for the team.
YAY, MOLLY!

It was time...

This afternoon I did what I have been dreading for several months. I took Molly for her first haircut. It was long over-due and I knew the time had come, but I still wasn't ready. My advice to other moms: Do not wait 4.5 years to get your daughter's first haircut. It's just too traumatic!

I tried not to cry as Molly got her blond baby curls cut off. She was so excited and could not stop smiling the entire time. The only time she got nervous was when I gasped at the first snip, but I quickly regained my composure and told her how beautiful her hair was going to look.

Bye-bye baby curlsThis is how much we decided to cut off:The first snip!All done!
Molly with her bag of baby curlsShowing off her new short and sassy pony tail!
Judging by the amount of hair we saw in Baby Quin's May ultra sound, I might be taking him for his first haircut in a matter of months!