The Lonestar State - Part 4

{Caleb - Michael - Jacob - Benjamin - Alayna}

Awesome Aunt Ashley made all the kids these DARLING Texas shirts. So what is more darling than a red quilt, a wooden fence and cute Texas shirts...well pretty much our kids posing for a picture. So cute!! We are so happy to have a complete up to date Suker cousin photo. This one for sure will be framed and added to our family wall of photos. 

Since we are so far away from our only cousin Mikey I told Ash that I thought it was important for us to "pretend" and celebrate his 1 year old birthday with us here.  Birthday parties and cakes for our family are very important. My kids love parties and so the thought of not being here for Mikey was actually really sad to me. So thankfully Ash was on board! Thanks for pleasing me!

So we did just that. We thought of something Mikey loves and that is his darling crab sandbox. We looked and found this adorable idea for a cake trifle in a sand bucket. 

Happy early birthday buddy...

Oh...we had a good rainstorm! I think we got one lightening and maybe one thunder...it had such potential to be good...but then it went away! We have WANTED a really good storm again, and nothing has happened!! Such a bummer. 

Back to the party, Mikey dug in. It was so delicious. 

We made mini kid sand boxes for each kid...YUM. We did chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, mint grasshopper cookies and crushed up vanilla wafers. Pretty much delicious. 

He really starting loving it!

The happy little family!

This kid is adorable. Honestly, he is so sweet, well behaved and just so handsome from top to bottom!

And really, his eyes...are AMAZING!

By the end he was really starting to enjoy his early birthday celebration. We love you baby Mikey! We are going to be SUPER SAD to say goodbye to you tomorrow. What a sweet little baby. Happy Birthday! 

The Lonestar State - Part 3

Ticket to Ride...it's a tradition. We always play. I'm always competitive. Jared is always on the hunt for the longest train ever. And Brian always wants to win. Ashley doesn't like to compete but loves the game. It's a must each time we get together. 

Yeah, so I totally WON!

The kids loved playing with us too. 

The men working hard smoking some ribs on the bbq. They were heavenly! YUM.

Caleb had a little too much energy this Sunday afternoon...he thought it was funny to run back and forth in the house...Oh, where does his energy come from. Some how we all still totally adore him though.

Alayna has learned that playing with her baby brother is actually really fun. She is realizing that he can laugh back at her and she really likes that. It was cute to see her playing with him and enjoying it!

Uncle Brian pretty much is the greatest. From a delicious dinner to a great dessert, the kids have been in heaven every day. We roasted smores on the bbq tonight and the kids LOVED it!

The great family hosting this very texan vacation...I think they look like the Texas flag too. 

 

Yummy.

Three happy sugar filled kids.

The beginning of the Suker family grandkid collection. It's wonderful to see this side of the family growing. What a super special group of kids Grandpa Randy has to be proud of. 

Then it was Benny's turn for Smores...He was in HEAVEN...

 

I couldn't peel him off of them...

And then when I did...he cried and cried. He wasn't a happy camper!

A cute family picture to show we are all here together and having a great time. What a great vacation it has been. Totally relaxing for us and totally stressful for Ashley and Mikey!! We sure love you guys though.

The Lonestar State - Part 2

Suker family cousins...so cute. Mikey is being so patient with all these four crazy kids invading his toys, house and parents. 

A really great fun part here by their house. 

Mr. Monkey bar champ. He completed the three monkey bars with out stopping here at this park. He thought it was pretty cool. And so did I.

Oh, Caleb. Where does all your energy come from???

Benny is trying to hide in the shade. 

The dads returned home from golfing which meant it was time for swimming to begin again!

The mr. chubber has figured not only how to sit up on his own on this trip but also how to hold his own bottle. He's lovin life right now!

Oh, just smile Alayna. But she was wondering why she couldn't keep playing instead of posing in a picture with me. Good times by the pool side.

 

Chubby cheeks and chubby toes. Love this kid.

Ahhh....a girl after my own heart. A sun worshiper. 

 

 

They are enjoying having each other to play with on this vacation. 

These kids adore Aunt Ashley. I couldn't agree more with them, we are having so much fun being with them!

"Your a grand old flag, your a high flying flag..." We have heard all three kids belt out and sing this song oh so many times...

Out to eat again, at a good ole local Texas bbq joint.

Jared really liked the name...Big Daddy's!