While the dads are away...girls will play!!

My friend, Jennifer, and I both have husbands who travel a lot for work. This past week both dads were gone, again, so we decided to take advantage of some "girl time" and loaded the car with the kids (her 3 girls, and my 2 girls) and took off for San Antonio. We stayed at a great resort with an incredible pool and lazy river. I think we circled the river at least 50 times. The next day we went to Sea World where we rode rides, watched shows and played at the waterpark. We ended our trip with a morning in the little town of Gruene, and then headed home. The girls were all so good and had such a great time being together. For my girls, one of the highlights was the adjoining rooms in the hotel - they are still talking about that one. The Ray family is not one for road trips by car, but with friends to watch movies and play DS games with - there was very minimal complaining. Although, our friends got to see a new side of Lily - she has become our non-stop chatterbox. We kept telling her to take a break and stop talking, but it never really work.

Thanks Jennifer and girls for going along with us, and for all the great memories!!

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Bearkadettes 2010!!

Mia and the girls just finished another great Bearkadette camp at the high school. They had a week of dancing and cheering, and then had a final performance for all the parents. She had a ball and as you can see from the photos - the high school girls that did her make-up before the performance had a ball on her face! She looked like a clown, but she had fun and danced her heart out.

Mia and Elsa - our new buddy that just moved in down the street from SLC.

 

Mia - what a pose!!

 

The girls.

 

BEACH!!

We just returned from a great 12 day trip to FLORIDA. We spent the first part of our time there in Orlando, at my parent's house, while Jason had to travel for work. The girls loved riding on the jet ski in the lake, and swimming in meemaw and pop-pop's huge pool. Mia discovered her love of jumping and diving off of their diving board. These days you don't find diving boards in many pools due to insurance reasons, but they still have one and it is super fun!

Once Jason met up with us again, we took off for a week in the sunshine at the beach. The first few days didn't give us much sunshine, so we played games, went to the movie, and took a kayak trip down the river. But once the sun was out we were on the beach or in the pool all day!! Going over the 4th of July was so fun because some of my high school friends were there at the same time so we get to see each other, and our growing families. I saw a few friends that I hadn't seen in 18 years. Being pregnant isn't the best time to see old friends (or spend your days in a bathing suit) but I made the best of it!! :) Being there over the holiday made for some beautiful fireworks right on the beach. We just put out our chairs, and we could see fireworks exploding in every direction.

 

 

Our girls are definite beach bums. Mia could live in the ocean, and she has really gotten to be quite good on her boogie board. She can get totally knocked off by a wave, and get right up and do it again. Lily has fun until she gets the salt water in her face, then she is done for a while. It was so relaxing to sit and just watch them enjoy playing in the water and with their friends. I had to keep reminding myself that next year will not be quite as relaxing with a new baby along for the trip. I totally enjoyed my days of quiet morning walks on the beach and lounging in the sun. :)

We all had some much fun and we are already planning next year's 4th of July trip to the beach.

Florida Beach Trip

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Bring On More PINK

We just got the big news today at the doctor - baby #3 is another GIRL!! Mia and I were pulling for a boy, while Jason and Lily were betting on a girl. Dad and Lily won!! Mia had a few tears when she heard we were wrong, but she got over it pretty fast. I was shocked because I have felt to different I was so sure it was going to be a boy. But I am happy to add one more precious girl to our family. One plus for dad - I will be doing less shopping since we already have everything ever made in pink. I am sure I can find a few new items to buy for this next bundle of joy. :)

Last Swim Meet

Here are a few photos from our last swim meet! The girls did great, and the smiles in these pictures show just how much they love being part of the swim team. Tuesday night was our end of the season party and awards ceremony - and mom forgot her camera. But Mia did get a medal for the fastest freestyle time in her age group. And Lily got the most improved swimmer medal. She started with times close to 7 minutes to cross the entire pool the first week of practice, and ended with her times under 1 minute for both freestyle and backstroke at the last race. We cannot wait for next year!!

The girls waiting for their first race.

 

Mia, after her freestyle race.

 

Lily, after her backstroke race.

 

San Antonio Hill Country Getaway

Jason and I spent last Wednesday-Sunday in the hill country up near San Antonio with his work's annual conference they do for manager and spouses. We look forward to these fun events each year because we get to see so many of the friends we have made and spend time together in all different locations - with no kids!! Mia and Lily were in good hands with meemaw and pop-pop - getting spoiled and eating every meal out. The first few days are spent doing group activities and a few meetings. The highlight was on the last night we got to go to Sea World for a private dolphin/whale show, dinner, and the night ended with a private nighttime Shamu show set to rock music.

We stayed an extra few days, and took the weekend to explore the hill country with our friends Mike and Nikki from SLC. We started in Boerne, TX and went shopping and then took an adventure tour into some old caves. Then we went to Gruene, TX for more shopping and eating. These old towns were so neat. We loved finding spots in Texas that we had not see before. We drove home Sunday just in time for a great Father's Day dinner with my parents and the girls.

The Shamu show - "Shamu Rocks"

 

Jason and Mike - in Boerne, TX.

 

Jason, me and Mike - ready to go cave exploring.

 

Jason and me inside the caves.