Hill Country getaway

Last weekend Sean and I got to get away for a weekend to celebrate our seventh anniversary. Thanks so much, Mom and Dad, for keeping our babies!!

We stayed at a cute little B&B in Fredericksburg. It felt just like a cabin on a farm somewhere, but it was actually all new construction!
I really didn't take a lot of pictures because the break from working/"phoning"/ etc. etc. was nice, but here's a quaint little house I spotted just down the street from where we stayed. So calm...

The windmill and sistern at our B&B

Sean and I at one of our relaxing, no taking anyone to the bathroom, no wrangling a toddler dinners.

The best part of our trip was taking a little day trip on Saturday about two hours south down near Uvalde to (unexpectedly) float the Frio. (We had planned on going to beautiful Garner state park down there, but it was closed. Turns out we had a much better excursion!)

The Frio was gOrGeOuS!!!! Crystal clear water, not crowded, beautiful pebbles under you as you floated slowly along. Really---so so pretty and a well kept secret different than the well known Guadalupe and Comal. We will definitely be back!

We had a great time relaxing and recharging to be back in action with our two munchkins that of course we talked about and missed the whole time! :) Cheers to year eight!

PRE-K has begun

...and I feel like somebody just set a timer! I have exactly one year before my baby goes to Kindergarten. aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! How is that possible? Soak it in. Soak this year in.

My all grown up, ready for preK big girl Gotta document the backpack
Gotta document baby brother (catch him if you can!)
Walking (a little) nervously in with a good buddy (Alayna) from last year

Yay! Mrs. Brown! We could NOT be happier with AM's sWeEt sweet teacher. She is warm, friendly, funny, welcoming, and a mother hen to all these babies. Makes a mama feel good to drop her off THREE days a week!

Mommy's view of sister ready to be picked up after the first day...Her quote was, "Mrs. Brown is even better than Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Conner!) (last year's teachers) Whoa! That's a tall order, Missy! We loooooved them!

And the best way to end the day---lunch with a great new friend! Amanda! Two big preK girls!!

Being a teacher never leaves you, and I guess I'll always pay extra attention to who's teaching my peanuts, but honestly, the Lord has blessed us AGAIN this year. I really had a peace about it. Didn't feel the need to request anyone, didn't feel the need to worry about it. And now I know why---because He had it all worked out!

Can't WAIT to experience this year with you, AnnMarie!

Allison and Emily visit

Last week we had some fun visitors at our house. Aunt Allison (Sean's sister) and cousin Emily came! I must say, it was a treat for me in many ways, but mostly because they are big time entertainment for my two peanuts! :)
Sadly, AnnMarie's mommy is not a pro (yet) at french braiding, so Emily gave me a little tutorial.

Great job, Em!
Poor Allison had to do a lot of Clark "wrangling". Here she is keeping him out of the street---it ain't easy!

On Tuesday we took a little trip to the zoo. (which by the way, Waco's is top notch!) We got there as soon as they opened so we could TRY to avoid the heat. The indoor aquariums were a lifesaver! Clark really liked these...

We loved seeing you girls! Texas misses you, Allison! :) Come back soon!

Wallis Weekend and a Happy Birthday

A couple weekends ago we headed down south to Wallis for Sean's cousin Becky's wedding. Wallis is a little czech town near the Katy area of Houston. His grandmother lives on a bEaUtIfUl farm!!

Of course the babes woke up bright and early in the six o'clock hour so we were off for an early morning gator ride!

Uncle Gene took Clark for a ride on the tractor.
Each morning Grandma fixed us breakfast.
These are her famous crepes. They are the thinnest, lightest, tastiest pancakes you've ever had! She gave me the recipe, but I am afraid to attempt Grandma's specialty! yummy!

The day of the wedding we had to wake the kids up from a long nap. Clark was a little shell shocked. :)

Becky got married in Guardian Angel catholic church which is incredibly beautiful. These pics do NOT do it justice. The church is very special to the Svobodas because his grandparents were married here, his dad was baptized here, as well as many other momentous family occasions held between these walls.

Pepaw chuckling at Bubba

Our crew!

Becky and Allison

Sean and the kids with Grandma at the reception

Aunt Judy always finds time to try and brainwash AM to say gig 'em! Don't look, Daddy!

Our little dancer kicked up her heels!

The next morning we ventured out to see the cows again. Clark growled at them all. We're trying to teach him that just because it's a big animal, it doesn't mean it growls. :)

Later we went fishing. Here are AM and I reeling in a big one!

Daddy with his catch

Hold on, Clark! Sister's at the wheel!

I caught a few catfish! What a great start to my 32nd birthday! So much fun! I had forgotten how much fun fishing is!

We caught a good many mudcats. I hated that we had to miss the fish fry because we had to come home! I heard it was good!

A couple days later I went to Ninfa's with some very treasured friends to celebrate.

I am SOOOOO thankful for these ladies!

My too cute friend, Sally, who organized the whole shebang. I love you, Sally girl!

What a fun night! I can't get enough of laughing and chatting with my buds.

Thank you ALL for making my birthday so special. I feel very loved, blessed, happy, and thankful. I am so proud of my (count em) 32 years! woo hoo! Here's to 33!

SS WLACK

All aboard?

That's us---Shannon, Katy, Shannon, Lauren, Ann, Wendi, Caryn
sidenote: either I have shrunk or everyone else has continued to grow taller
And here are some of us workin it:
We took Lake LBJ by storm this summa, baby. Girls' trip 2010. Rockin the coverups

We had a nice dinner out at local winery. Beautiful!

I love this picture. Beautiful shot of my beautiful friends!

Wendi, Shannon, and I decided to take the plunge down the neighbor's retro water slide. How could we resist????

It's so great how the weekend gets funnier and funnier, and we all revert back to our teen years. I'm telling you, these girls can make you belly laugh. It's good for the sOuL!

So much laughter, so many smiles. Such comfort with old friends. relaxation!

Ann brought along "Bringing Up Girls" to read on the trip, and the rest of us were super curious to see what was inside this hot off the press book. All that curiousty quickly got us into trouble as the tears were flowing! Wow. Have your tissues ready when you crack that one open!

Hugs sent across the miles to you girls. You are one of the top top tippety top things on my list of things that I'm thankful for.

One year and counting...

...to 13 months.

This summer has been sooo busy, and blogging has kind of taken a backseat.

Let's catch up on what Clark's been doin these past two months...

Took pictures with sissy before church

I got my first haircut! Boy, did I need it! haha :) I was starting to look like Kate Gosselin.
Mommy felt sorry for the haircut lady. I would not sit still! Walla---much better!

I'm part of a special group of kiddos---our mommies have been friends since jr. high (or older!)

I tasted dirt.

I cut up with Mommy at the beach. She's smitten.

I realized that I look alot like my uncle Mike's baby pictures.

I was a beach bum.

I love riding on Daddy's shoulders.

I proved yet again to be too cute for words.

I love to explore!

I played the "bongos" with sister.

I got all dressed up and went for a drive in my new ride from Gigi and Papa.

I played in the pool with Uncle Lukey on the 4th.

I turned forwards in my carseat! Don't be fooled by the look on my face===I love it!

I took a short trip up to Anna to visit the Martins. Mommy didn't want to leave! :(

I watched AnnMarie and Jack run in the sprinkler.

And, finally, I went with some friends to the World Hunger farm and got to see goats, chickens, and lots of yummy vegetables!

Year two has started and is going strong. A snapshot of me now:

-cruises everywhere and takes 5 or so steps at a time---not far off from walking!

-saying da da, ma, and "muh" for more. :) still waiting for those words!

-all done with bottles---trying really hard to like milk...

-waking at 6:30 a.m.

-dropping the morning nap

-looooooves music---claps and dances to it all the time!

-"personality" is starting to show (aka sCrEaMs to get what he wants)

-nods his head to make us laugh

-looooves his big sister

-looooves daddy

-cries when Mommy leaves the room

---12 month stats:

*27 lbs

*32 inches

*wearing size 24 months clothes, size 4/5 shoe, size 4 diapers

-eczema is still pretty bad on his legs and feet, but we're hoping it will clear up when he starts walking

-loooves being outside

-loves animals