Mimi's 2 Week Summer Camp

  We arrived in Houston a day or so before Doug and Mona got back from visiting newborn baby Samuel in Washington.  We took that opportunity to wash the inside and outside of the Tahoe and the van so Doug couldn't make any comments about our vehicles being dirty:

Mimi and Papa took us to the Aquarium downtown:

 The Littles weren't feeling the carousel animals, but they were ok in this with Matt:

Petting the slippery sting rays:

After a major splash:

Swimming at Mimi's and Papa's house.  With a life jacket on Dylan could jump off the diving board and swim on his own.  Without a life jacket he could put his head under and go about 10 feet: 

Colton is absolutely fearless and thought he could jump off the diving board without a life jacket on.  His over confidence is scary and I had to go in after him a couple of times, though I was close by and he was never under for more than a second.  He did great and could paddle around by himself WITH a life jacket.  Such a little fish:  

 Aut attempted to cover his cast to swim with us, but it didn't last long before it leaked and he had to get out.  Boo:

Videos of a few of Colton's 1st times swimming by himself in his life jacket.  His actual 1st time was a result of him jumping in by himself and then him immediately coming to the surface paddling as I was on my way to save him.  Didn't know he could do that.  These don't show it, but he can move from one spot in the pool:

Dylan swimming without a life jacket to Mimi:

Dylan doing a summersault down the water slide:

Colton sliding down the little tunnel slide:

Dylan jumping off the diving board (with me fighting to get a life jacket on Mr. Confident):

Mimi letting Colton jump to her without a life jacket:

Climbing Mimi's tree.  But shhhhh, don't tell her:

Dylan's face looks like Autrey's in this one:

Playing with rolly pollies:

The boys with their adventure ropes:

We caught a teeny tiny frog:

In addition to swimming and playing indoors we went on a lot of field trips with the 10-15 summer camp kids (4 of them being our own).  We went to various parks, a bounce house, the theater 2 days to see the Lego movie and Rio 2, and the Children's Museum.  I really love the Children's Museum:

 

Little Sofia kept asking for me to take her picture.  She is a crack up, as long as you aren't trying to get her to do something in the near future:

So realistic:

We celebrated Tyler's 3rd birthday while we were in Houston:

 Mimi getting in on the fun.  And, yes, Colton is naked because he got chocolate cake all over his outfit:

Mimi's camp is the most fun a kid can have...and the best way to wear EVERYONE out!  

Colton's 2nd Birthday Party!

My baby turned 2...a month ago.  We had his Fun in the Sun BBQ party on Mother's Day weekend, but a week later I was in the hospital with a severe kidney infection, three days after I was released we drove to Houston so I could help Mona with her two week preschool summer camp, and I've been playing catch up the last week.  Anyway, Colton had a fun family birthday.  Since Matt and Allyson lived with us for 8 weeks every day seemed like a party for the kids, but that day we added some cake.  And Mimi and Papa came up, which is always fun.  Colton loves water and hamburgers, so this party was a hit:

 To get the boys to look at me Autrey was lifting up his shirt.  Monkey see, monkey do:

 Putting his head under the shallow water to search for treasure:

 The water balloon fight:

The water balloon Matt threw bounced off the house and got him soaked.  So funny:

After the big explosion, Colton vacated the splash zone for the second one.  He's smart:

The spread:

 My favorite part is the chips and fruit in the pails with shovels:

 Playing with his new pirate water table from Mimi and Papa:

 

 The vacuum from G-ma and G-pa was too cool to hold still.  Action shot:

  Now THAT'S a party!

 Mother's Day:

 Kisses while holding the fingerprint votive candle holders Mimi helped them make:

Happy birthday to my silly, chatty, cuddly, adventurous, curious, energetic, shoe loving, book enjoying, crazy dancing, always jumping, ball throwing, hamburger eating, "I do it," wants-to-be-a-big-boy Colton. Love my little buddy!