didn't last long enough

Spring break has come to an end and it didn't last long enough. It never does. This time last year we were at Walt Disney World. This time around we decided to stay closer to home and just hang out. We still kept busy and the week was gone before we knew it.

On Monday, Braeden and Joshua made quite a bit of money by helping a family in our ward clean out their garage. They worked all day long and actually had fun. The weather was beautiful that day so Cary, Kate, and I worked in the yard.

On Tuesday, Braeden had some friends over to play games and watch movies...and eat. Man, can teenagers eat. I wish I could eat like that.

On Wednesday we just ran errands to get Braeden ready for his camp out. The kids and I also enjoyed a nice lunch out, courtesy of Sams pizza counter. :)

On Thursday we got Braeden off to camp and Joshua, Kate, and I went to see the Lorax. The kids loved it and I love Dr. Seuss. I found a new favorite quote from the movie: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss

On Friday and the pinnacle of the week for the kids, we met up with Braeden's scout troop and camped over night. The weather was so perfect. We hiked during the day, played some Frisbee, had chicken fajitas for dinner, and enjoyed being outdoors.

My family loves to camp...minus me. This was the first time other than girls camp that I have been camping. I actually enjoyed myself. My favorite things: hiking and the smores. My least favorite things: sleeping on the ground and the bathroom situation. I would actually do it again though. :)

Now we are counting down until school is out for summer. We can make it!!

the kids

we are alive and well

hmmm...where to begin. So, I would like to say that I just took a bit of a blogging break but that's not really true. I just haven't been interested in blogging lately and honestly there really isn't anything interesting going on..nothing really blog worthy to report anyway. We tend to be pretty boring, but that's the way we like it.  But this is how I keep our family history so I feel obligated to write something. So, here is the lowdown:

Braeden: He is on the track team at school right now jumping hurdles. He finished his best at the last track meet placing 4th overall. This is great for him since he really isn't a runner. He is also doing really well in school...A's all year so far..minus one B. It was an 89 in English. So frustrating for him. He just earned his Life badge in Boy Scouts. He is at the point where he can start on his Eagle if he will just get motivated. He is also a referee for the Little Elm soccer association making pretty good money.

Joshua: He is a character. He makes us laugh ALL the time.  He is also a straight A student this year. He is loving school more this year than he ever has.  He has really good teachers that keep him interested and let him help with teaching occasionally. He is still crazy in-love with legos. In particular the mini-figures. He has way too many to count. He is getting ready for 6th grade by just recently picking classes. He is excited about taking pre-AP classes and getting into band. His hope is that he gets to play drums of some sort.

Kate: She wears me out, but I love her to death. She is very particular about her clothes and insists often she has nothing to wear even though she has a closet full of clothes...reminds me of myself just a bit. She is playing soccer and her team name has changed once again. She is very happy about this as she was on the Glamour Girls and is now a Pink Panther. She got glasses just after Christmas and looks super cute in them. She picked them out all by herself.  She isn't loving school this year but is doing well. Science is her favorite subject.

As for Cary and I, we are just busy with life.  He loves his job but hates his commute.  He is also working on his Masters at SMU.  The kids and the house keep me busy most of the time.  I am going to girls camp again this summer as one of the "programs" people.  This has kept me busier than I had expected, but I am excited about it.

I feel like I just wrote one of those really long Christmas letters, which I NEVER do....but this is us in a nutshell.

hours of fun

We got a package the other day from my mom and it was filled to the brim with foam peanuts. Kate and Joshua have had hours of fun playing in them. Who knew foam peanuts could be so much fun?

Who needs snow when you can make a peanut angel?

love this face

ice skating

Kate's 3rd grade field trip was to the Dallas Stars center in Frisco. She was a little hesitant at first but warmed up pretty quickly and really wants to go ice skating again soon.

**When I was a teenager I always wanted a cute boy to take me ice skating. Romantic, right? When I was 18 that wish came true when Cary took me on a date to do exactly that. I had these visions in my head of what it would be like...you know, like it is in the movies. It was nothing like that. I hated it and clung to the railing the entire time. I vowed to never ice skate again....until Kate wanted me to not only go on her field trip with her but she really wanted me to ice skate. For her, I thought I would give it a try again. I put my skates on and stepped on to the ice. After a few minutes of slipping and sliding and trying to keep my balance I again realized that ice skating is NOT for me. I still hate it, but for Kate I would do almost anything. So, while she had fun with her friends gliding across the ice, I had just as much fun sitting in the stands watching her. And again, I promise to never go ice skating EVER again.

playin' hookey

Kate wasn't feeling well and had a stomachache on Thursday, so I let her stay home from school. By 9am she was feeling better. By 12pm I found her looking out the window at all her friends at recess. I think she was wishing she was at school.

Road Trip

Before our trek up to Missouri for the Thanksgiving holiday we decided to take a little road trip. Our first stop was to visit Cary's parents in Gilmer. It was a short visit, but the kids always love to see their grandparents.

The next morning we were on our way to Eureka Springs Arkansas. We stopped along the way to take a few pictures of the beautiful scenery.

I can't remember what this sculpture is, but it looked interesting and the kids wanted a picture by it.  To me it looks like churros.

Funny name for a trail.... don't' ya think?

This was the view from our balcony at the hotel we were staying at.  It was beautiful....and the hotel was super clean and comfortable.  I hate staying in hotels...I would rather sleep in the car.  But I would totally go back to his place.  Believe it or not it was just a Best Western.

One of my favorite pics of the trip.  We found Humpty Dumpty.  Kate put him back up on his wall. :)

There are lots of neat little shops all up down the main road of Eureka Springs.  

Just a cool, old bench made out of cast iron.

Another of my favorite pictures.  Joshua is so funny to me.  He found this walking stick in a shop and had to have it.  It was only 9 bucks so it was a great souvenir for him.  This chair was in a "haunted" hotel and of course he had to do a silly pose.  Fits him so well.

We didn't see any ghosts until we stepped outside the hotel.  Braeden never even noticed them peeping out the window.  He was to busy inspecting the architecture.

We found one of those "what to do while your in town" books and told the kids to pick something out of their that they would like to do.  They all decided on the Onyx Cave.  It stays a cool 52 degrees all year long.

oh...and this is how Joshua likes to travel.  Under his blanket with his DS or a DVD player.  Funny kid. :)

we're all here

These pictures aren't that great. It's hard to get 20 people and a dog all looking the same way...not to mention the wind was blowing and we didn't realize we were standing in the shadow of a tree. But hey, we got the picture that Mom wanted to remember Thanksgiving of 2011....and the whole Martin clan was there.