Taekwondo

If we were not busy enough before now we have all 4 kids in TaeKwonDo. They love it!! Cole has been to one competition and all 4 have been tested. They are now yellow belts. We go 3-4 times a week. Nate says I'm the safest mom around! I guess so!

Carson's 7th Birthday

September 9 2009 Carson turned 7. I made him a cheesecake for during the day and at night we had a birthday party and chocolate cake. He received many gifts. He said his favorite part was when we put streamers on the bedroom door and he had to run throught it in the middle of the night! Cole and Carson went boating the day before in honor of his birthday with some of our friends from the campground! He also learned how to swim. It was a great birthday for him.

Cole's 10 birthday

Cole turned 10 on July 20th! We went to see the USS Alabama in honor of his birthday with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Crystal. It was fun and educational! On his actual birthday we had cake and he opened all of his wonderful presents. From Dad and Mom he got his own cell phone. We had to already put restrictions on that!!

Twins 4th Birthday

July 3rd we celebrated Tristin and Tori's 4th Birthday! It started out by Traci driving down last minute to also celebrate her birthday (same day). On the 3rd we opened a few presents and went shopping. On the 4th we had a birthday party with Grandpa and Grandma Straub. We had two cakes, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, and had a water balloon fight. It was probably high 90's. Very hot!! That night we watched nascar on a big screen and watched fireworks. Nate had a wonderful display! Tori kept clapping and yelling. I would say she loved it! The next day we had po-boys to eat and went swimming. Traci then started back on her adventure to South Dakota. Now we are going to take a couple of weeks of no sweets until the next birthday arrives July 20th!

Summer Fun

Robin and Jordynn came to visit us for a couple of days. Nate drove us to Destin FL. We went to the beach there. It was beautiful! The beaches had white sand that looked like snow. I told Nate that is the best kind of snow to have!! The water was just as beautiful! One day we went to the French Quarter. We found many things for the kids rooms.

I just finished painting both of the kids rooms. Tristin and Tori are sharing a room. Their walls are lime green with blue trim. They have cleaned their room everyday since it has been painted. I told Nate too bad I didn't know that was the trick to get them cleaning their own room! Cole and Carson room is green with blue trim. They aren't as great on keeping their room clean. I keep telling them its not good when 3 year olds can do it but 6 and 9 year olds can't keep a room clean! I don't think that bothers them. Carson said it is because the twins are faster.

School is done for the year but we are all busy reading books everyday. Nate said we will take a couple of tours this summer like at Mobile AL to visit the USS Alabama. Should be a good history lesson. I am going to start preparing for school. I have many ideas of what I want to do and how to teach so should be a little more exciting than last year. We looked at putting the kids in school this year but the crime is in ages 13-16 ( the ones with guns) so I decided I rather teach them then try anything else.

We are still busy on the campground. Not so bad with guest but this is our season to build. So phase 2 should be starting soon. Nate, Bill, and Tom are working hard on the bar they are building. Other than that not too much new . Its hot and humid and hurricane season already so who knows what this summer will bring for excitement!!

Visitors

Well we have been busy with Mardi Gras and visitors! Traci came down to visit in February for a week during Mardi Gras. We went to many parades and I have decided that next year one adult parade and one kid parade is all that I need. We bought a king cake and Carson got the baby. In case you don't know what a king cake is, it's a round cinnamon coffee cake covered in frosting and green,yellow, and purple sprinkles. There is a little plastic baby hidden in the middle of the cake. Whoever gets the baby buys the next cake. Carson still talks about how next year he has to buy the next cake. I think I only need one of those next year also!!! Mom and Ted came to visit in April. We went to the zoo, sat by the pool while the kids swam, and ate some of Nate's wonderful cooking. After they went home we had Jazz Fest two weekends in a row. Sugarland and Bon Jovi are a couple of bands that I knew that were playing. Jazz Fest is two full weekends of bands of all kind of music playing all day long. So you could go and see over 10 concerts a day.
We are now slowing down a little and school is almost done. May 13th we are done with school. Carson and do simple math and read. Cole is still plugging away on all the subjects. Nate's newest project is building a bar that looks like a lighthouse. They got the liquor license and should have the bar done in less than 10days. This summer they are going to start on the houseboats and condos which will be a timeshare thing. Always something to do around here! I am busy in the office and trying to keep everybody organized on what each day brings. I am waiting for a day that I can sleep in......not happening for many years at this rate!! For Mothers Day the plan is to go to the beach of the Gulf of Mexico.

One last addition I need to mention is our new little Princess Molly. She is a cocker spaniel. Cream colored and adorable when she isn't chewing my stuff!! So now our family is complete!

Mardi Gras

Well we are having our first Mardi Gras experience. Nate and I have gone to two parades so far. One was an adult only parade in the french quarter. The other one was a kids parade. We brought home bags of beads and cups. Along with all the fun came sun burns. I think I got it the worst. We have two more weeks to go. The kids have figured out to say "Mister throw me some beads!" Tristin dances everytime the band or music goes by. It is definitely a fun event.