IT WAS A JUMPIN' GOOD TIME!

We finally celebrated Colson's 5th birthday today PIRATE STYLE! Much fun was had, presents obtained and the realization that we (parents) are out of shape occured. Colson's party was held at Pump It Up an indoor inflatable party place. For kids, this is an effortless (or it seems) energy releasing, exercising fun haven. They seem to run through every obstacle course and bounce up every step only to reach the top of a big slide and go flying down squealing with delight. As adults who feel like we are aging quickly, Wes and I bounded through everything with shear exhaustion and barrelled down with groans instead of squeals. Still, a good time was had.

Travis and Colson

After we finished our jumping, we headed into our party room for cake and presents. As Colson came to Landon's present, he opened it with words of excitement as he saw that it was the one present his daddy said he couldn't have....the ROCKET FISHING ROD. The rod that you can cast with the push of a button (as seen on tv). "Don't just cast-blast 10, 20, 30 feet with the push of a button" it claims. Now as a kid who likes to fish this type of gadge is quite appealing. As a dad who loves to fish, this is a joke and not considered fishing. You see, since age 3, Colson has been casting a rod and his daddy has been very proud of his skill. Wes was horrified that Colson would even want anything like this....but he did! And if Wes had only heard the thousands of times that Colson would beg and proclaim that he REALLY wanted that rod, I think he would have given in and bought it for him himself. What makes this even funnier is that when Colson opened this gift and exlaims "Oh Yea!" Wes exclaims "What?!?! (looking at Joanna who bought it) and Colson's friend Hunter yells "My dad says that doesn't work." You see Hunter's dad must have the same sentiments that Wes does and must have heard the same pleas from Hunter that I heard from Colson and decided to convince Hunter that it doesn't work. The whole ride home Colson and Hunter argued about the rod and if it worked or not. "My dad says it doesn't work and he knows" Hunter would say. It was quite cute.

Colson and Hunter

On another note that I am not sure is quite blogworthy but Calli came runing in saying I had to put this on my blog and Wes was right behind her with those same encouraging words (only his seemed a little more sarcastic like he was making fun of my blog). When we got home tonight, I went around the garage to pour something out and found a small fire in the backyard. Not compeletly able to process everything, I asked Wes if he had a fire going. "No" he snaps and he comes around the corner to see his deer target on fire. It appears that lightening struck the tree next to the target and jumped over to catch the target on fire. God protected us because had it not rained, that fire could have spread through the woods in our backyard or even worse, the lightening could have struck the house. Once again, I am thankful for the Lord's protection over us.

The lightening struck down the tree where the bark is stripped off of the tree

The remains of the target

We are done celebrating and vacationing and it's back to the grind tomorrow. We'll see what it brings :)

THERE IS A BIRTHDAY IN THE HOUSE!

Five years ago today my sweet baby boy was born and one thousand eight hundred and twenty six days later, he has turned into a big boy! Today he says we have to do whatever he says because it’s his birthday. Not sure where he got that notion but we’ll run with it for a little while I guess.

In honor of his big day, I have created my top 5 favorite things about Colson (in no particular order):

1. The way he says right daddy? (or whoever he is talking to after every sentence) If he makes 7 statements, 6 of them will have right (your name)? at the end of it.

2. The way he always wants to snuggle when he gets tired. He can be in the middle of a really fun game or activity and he’ll say “Mama, you want to go snuggle in your bed?” He’s a good snuggler!

3. The way he says “Mama?” (Yes Colson, I say) “Uhhh, I love you” at least 10 times a night before bed. He wants to make sure I haven’t left the living room, kitchen or my office and am in close range of him should the electricity go off…which is his first question as I’m putting him to bed “Mama, will the electricity go off?”

4. He always thinks of Calli when we are buying something or going someplace. He doesn’t want Calli to miss out on anything or not get the same thing he does. He’s very sweet and protective of Calli….however they fight enough to have me committed.

5. He loves to catch every living creature that won’t hurt him. Lizards, frogs, turtles, grasshoppers, butterflys…you name it. He spends a lot of time outside chasing and hunting for bugs.

Happy Birthday Colson! I can’t wait to see what this next year brings…a lot of joy and laughter I am sure!

ADVENTURE WEDNESDAY

Well a couple of weeks ago, I blogged about our first ADVENTURE WEDNESDAY of the summer and failed to follow through the next week.

So, two weeks ago, we had our first adventure Wednesday with friends! Calli invited her friend from school, Hali and Colson invited Landon and we headed out to do a little ball throwing and pin slamming (otherwise known as BOWLING). Colson's friend Landon is pretty close to an expert on the Wii bowling which transferred over to decent bowling in the real thing. Of course there was a much longer lane, heavier ball, bumper pads, disco balls and loud music... YAHOO! Landon was very focused on his game while Colson just liked to hold the ball and slip around in his slippery fine looking bowling shoes doing some kind of funky dance (I am sure he learned it from his daddy....his mama can get her groove on!)

I can't tell you much about Calli and Hali's game as my attention was really consumed with the 2 boys...okay my attention was consumed with Colson. Calli did get a strike and I think a couple of spares. I didn't bowl because I didn't think it was in good taste to smoke such kids of that age...I didn't want them scarred for life. You see I took bowling about 6 times at A&M which means I should be doing the bowling circuit right?

We then went to Chick Fil A (or as my kids like to call it Chick Olay) and ran off some more energy. Overall it was a fun day! So, that was 2 weeks ago. This past week we had VBS and much to my kids dismay we forgoe adventure Wednesday on those kinds of weeks. This coming week is our vacation! If you read my post this weekend you know that we were changing our original plans. We settled on Port Aransas. We leave tomorrow sometime and I am quite excited. It looks pretty nice and we are staying at some condos that have a gigantic pool with water slides....who knows if I'll post while I'm scorching myself at the beach.

TRADITION BROKEN

For the last 4 years our family has gone to the Frio River with our friends the Blalock's. There have been times when it was just us and others when another family joined us, even once when my in-laws tagged along. This is always a trip that we plan on the fly because we don't know everyone's summer schedule until late in the year. So, about a month ago, we found a date that worked for everyone and the search began for a place to stay....we prefer a house in Cypress Bend so you can walk down to the river.

So, we found a house, even found another family to join us and excitement was building! This is a trip that the whole family can enjoy. Very relaxing for adults and our kids love the water so they are in their element in a tube with free reign of water as far as your eye can see. And those little spurts of "rapids" are the icing on the cake. This is also a trip that my family used to take growing up with 2 other families and Wes' family used to go to Garner (a campground at the Frio) every year as well. Very fond memories in this part of the country for all!

I have digressed....all that to say, we were all looking forward to the trip. UNTIL yesterday, I get word that the Frio is basically unfloatable. They are in BAD need of rain and most of the float would be spent walking. This is ironic seeing that last year's first night of the trip was not spent in our house on the river because the river was too high from all the rain. So, late yesterday, the 3 families decided we'd forgoe our trip this year to forgoe the possible groans and bellyaching from dissappointed kids and the aches from our backs and legs that would occur from walking that long way carrying all of our kids tubes.

Now we are frantically trying to find someplace else for us to wreak havoc on! Who knows where we'll end up! Conroe, Texas would not be my first choice! For now we'll just cling to these memories from LAST YEAR!

OUR DAD ROCKS! (written by Calli & Colson Schubert)

Top 10 Things We Love About Our Daddy (in no particular order):

Calli's Top 5

1. He takes me fishing whenever I want

2. He gives me goodnight kisses

3. He takes me swimming (and I love to swim)

4. He tries to come to all of my activities

5. He's a great snuggler

Colson's Top 5

1. I love it when he gives me hugs

2. I like to pray for him when he is sick (I realize this doesn't really fit but that is what he said and I thought it was so sweet)

3. He takes me fishing at the pond and taught me how to catch fish

4. I love to rock with him in his chair

5. I like it when we watch baseball, cowboys or crabs (Deadliest Catch show) together

Thanks Wes for being an awesome Dad and such a great example to two pretty awesome kids. You are loved!

MEET MOONLIGHT

Meet Moonlight.

Born/Bought May 24th

(into the Schubert family)

Died a peaceful death, June 9th

This is Calli's fish Moonlight, a female Beta fish that shares (shared) a divided bowl with Colson's male fish with no name. Yesterday Colson decided he would clean out their bowl and put fresh water in it. A very thoughtful gesture if it wasn't coming from a 4 year old BOY! He comes into the bathroom where I am getting ready and tells me of his plans. I think 'that's harmless, those fish are really hard to kill' and ask him to walk me through what he was going to do. The 10 minute explanation that followed was very animated, thorough and sounded successful.

As I enter the kitchen a few minutes later he is sitting on the counter next to the sink and his fish is lying next to him (on the counter). I frantically question why his fish is not in the bowl and he looks at me and very non chalantly shrugs his shoulders, puts his hands up and says "He's dead". I race to pick him up telling him that he can't be dead these things are impossible to kill.

Colson reassures me again "Yea, he's dead".

So, I pick up the fish and put him in his bowl and he begins to swim. (sigh)

I then look at Calli's fish who is already in the bowl and not moving. "What's wrong with Calli's fish?" I question Colson.

"Uuuuhhhhhh....the water is kinda hot" he says.

"Hot?" I say as I stick my finger in there. While it is not scalding, it is on the warm side. I immediatly take both fish out and put in clean, room temperature water but unfortunatly it was too late for Moonlight (Calli's fish).

Now whether Moonlight was dead before Colson decided to play pet shop or whether Moonlight couldn't handle the water temperature shock and died, we'll never know. What IS known is that Moonlight lived a short life in the Schubert household where his owner had become attached (?!?!) and used the moment to grieve in typical little girl manner (DRAMA!)

Needless to say, next time Colson wants to clean the bowl out, I think I'll supervise.
Moonlight...may you rest in peace :)

ADVENTURE WEDNESDAY...ONLY IT WAS FRIDAY!

Two summers ago, I began "Adventure Wednesday" in the Schubert household. It came about because at that time, Calli would wake up every day asking where we were going that day. She was asking with the expectation that we were going to Incredible Pizza, the Aquarium and mostly places that cost money. This would have gotten expensive had I given into all of her pleas and anxious requests. So, Adventure Wednesday was founded. Every Wednesday, we would go someplace fun as an outing. I try to make it places we've never been before and they don't know until we get there or sometimes on the way if I get tired of their begging to know.

So, school is out and Adventure Wednesday has begun. Only this week we had to alter our plans because of sick kids. Colson came down with a fever that lasted 2 days on Sunday. Calli came down with it Wednesday as we were eating lunch at a cafe prior to our big event! So, Friday came, no sick kids and we celebrate Adventure Wednesday.

Where did it take us this week? The black light miniature golf place in the Woodlands called Shankz. The place was really cool, dark, glow in the dark everything and really cool scenery. They had an underwater section with sharks and fish and they also had a dinosaur age area. You could even purchase 3-D glasses for $2 which of course we did. Colson took his off after his first put....that was a waste.

Colson was not really into this...or at least not as much as I thought he would be. Calli and I were really wanting to play and he was three holes in front of us. Later he got into all of the sceneries and wanted his picture with everything...see for yourself in the pictures. I am sure this was illegal but that wasn't one of the rules stated in the beginning so I was playing the ignorant parent

KNOCK KNOCK!

Colson at the active young age of 4 keeps me in what I'll call schizophrenic mode. There are moments when you think 'Who is this child and where did he come from?!?!' Then the very next moment you are fighting back a smile because he's so durn cute! He has this charm about him and I can't help but smile or laugh at his silly antics or faces that he makes.

Yesterday as I was fixing Calli's hair he shut the door to the bathroom and kept knocking on it saying "hello, hello" like it was locked (which it wasn't) and he wanted in. "Hello" he said "it's Scott, open up". I replied with "you mean the bald headed Scott?" (that is my brother in law, Colson's uncle, that lacks growth in the head area). Colson blurts back, "NO, the Scott with NO hair". Ha Ha Ha! Calli and I laughed. I think Scott would have laughed too had he been there. He then decides to pretend he is my sister and does the whole knocking thing again asking to open up because it is Christina. Then he leaves. I'm thinking he's gone onto something else, bored with our unplayful response. Not the case! He comes back a couple of minutes later knocking on the door practically begging for us to open the door. I finally did after I got him to change his voice so he sounded more like Christina and there he stands with Calli's Hanna Montana wig on...crooked I might add (my sister has blonde hair) and this silly grin on his face. He thought he was so cute and I have to admit he thought right!