Catch-up!

Well, summer is officially here and in full swing! We celebrated last Thursday with an after-school-party at the park with about 15 friends. The kids made banana splits and played like crazy! That night, Jackson and I built a HUGE train track that took up most of the floor in his room. Our friend Caleb recently passed down to Jackson a big box of train tracks and trains. Jackson is thrilled, to say the least.

On Friday, I took Hope to the doctor for her 2 month check-up. I still can't believe she's already 2 months old! She had 4 shots and is doing great. (By the way, as awful as it was for her to get shots, it's MUCH easier than giving shots to a 3, 4, or 5 year old!!!) She is now 10 lbs. 5 oz. Amazing! Friday night we went out to Highland Village to The Richardsons and had a blast! The kids played in the water hose and just loved every minute of it! Stephanie and Jeffrey are wonderful friends and it was just so good to spend time with them. We also got to eat our favorite pizza from Palio's (a Katy favorite that has a Flower Mound location!).

On Saturday, Stephen's mom came into town, and we were so happy to see her. The kids were super excited. We went to Stephen's favorite restaurant, The Italian Cafe, to eat.

Sunday was a big day at church with our first annual Bluegrass and Blue Bell event. We had between 400-450 people! All generations. . lots of community people. . .it was a huge success!! The Shady Grove Ramblers played good music, we had ice cream, bounce houses, face painting, pony rides, and classic cars. . something for everyone! Jackson especially loved the inflatable obstacle course and fire truck, and Madison had a ball because she actually got to paint faces!!!! She worked at the station and also "went to the people" with a paper plate of paint colors and a paint brush! She felt so grown-up; it was just adorable.

Monday was a good day of hanging around the house with Marsha (Maw Maw). We all just really enjoy having her here to play and relax. We also had our first "Mission Monday" of the summer. Every Monday that we're home we are going to be purposeful in doinging something for someone else, so this week we made cookies and cards and delivered them next door to our sweet neighbor who is a widow. I think she really liked them, the kids and I really loved getting to cook and then share our goodies. In the afternoon we had 4 strange visitors in our backyard. They stayed for about 10 minutes!

Tuesday we went to lunch and Pei Wei before Maw Maw headed home. It's always hard to say good-bye when family leaves. . .we treasure our time together!!! Tonight the "big kids" and I went swimming with the Durhams at the INDOOR pool in the neighborhood. . not too cold, you see.

So. . that's the "catch-up" edition of the Smith blog. The kids are in bed. . .peace reigns!

Here are pics from the week. . . .

Engineer Jackson with our huge train track. We used EVERY piece of track

we had AND it call connected--pretty good, huh?

Jackson driving the fire truck. Notice the "baseball" that Madison painted on his cheek!!

Precious baby Hope was a favorite attraction. :) Notice the adorable green

gingham dress that my friend Cathy and her mom, Jan, gave to Hope.

Madison in action! She has a unicorn on one cheek and a butterfly

on the other (painted by Ms. Holly).

Our Monday afternoon visitors. . 4 armadillos!!! Crazy things happen here in Irving!