Back into the Routine!

We are starting to get into a “normal” school/work routine. Beau is also adjusting to life in the Houston household! He enjoys his crate when we are away for the day and then  gets excited about his family returning in the evenings! He is quite the climber and loves to dig into plastic bags… two habits we are trying to break. He continues to have a positive attitude and allows us to get uninterrupted sleep through the night!

Emerson and Maddox are having fun in the mornings before school in my office and Maddox sometimes helps me with car rider duty in the afternoons.

Maddox kept me company while giving blood this past week! I continue to be surprised at how calm he is without his brother, cousins or friends around! Haha 

We were able to have our annual pool day with Zack’s college friends! 

Zander is back on the field for soccer! He made two of the five goals in his first game this weekend …. Helping his team win 5-3! He has two more games, at least, for this tournament weekend. 

Zander is learning how to play the violin in orchestra and has rocked the first two weeks of middle school! He came home from school on Friday and got the grass mowed before his soccer tournament weekend! I’m loving having this sweet middle schooler in our home!

First Day of School 2024

We officially have a middle schooler and a third grader! They are having a great first week of school.  Zander is learning a new campus and Maddox has moved to the two-story new building!  It has been a busy week but each night we are finding a few minutes to chat about our day, take Beau for a walk and finish out the evening reading together.  We have a new morning routine with Zack taking Zander to the middle school (with a 6:50 a.m. drop off time) and ensuring Beau gets many small walks outside before the school day starts.  I am still taking Maddox and Emerson each day and am enjoying our morning car rides and conversations along with some adventures around the elementary school before the bell rings (ex: popping bubble wrap and riding in the elevator).  

Mommy is starting Year #20 in education!

Walking into middle school for his first day.... Mommy got to ride along for the first day drop off!

Seeing M and Em in the cafeteria at lunch the first day!  Missing our Z on campus!

First Day of School since 2013 .... first year as a mommy until this year with my big boys!  I think I might be shrinking each year! ;)

Beau wanting attention after the boys go to bed!

Third Day of Third Grade..... Custard for Dessert!

Twinning with Carmen....twice in one week!

Meet Beau

After 10 months of grieving the loss of our "first born" pup, Burke, we felt like we were ready to bring a new four-legged companion into our home.  We decided to adopt a little bit older beagle this time instead of starting at the puppy stage.  Our newest family member had a rough start: found in a drainage ditch covered with fleas, parasites and heartworms.  When we met him, we just knew he was meant to be ours.  He even tried to leave with us when we did the "meet and greet".  His tail constantly wags with an optimism and resilience that is so much fun to watch.  Daddy was able to pick him up on Saturday (since he was about 2 hours away from us and the boys had already gone with us to make the 4 hour drive the previous weekend to meet him) after he finished his overnight heartworm treatment at the vet.  We need to keep him pretty sedentary for the next couple months until he is completely better but we are looking forward to many walks and outdoor adventures in his future.  Without further ado..... meet Beau Gill Houston.  While we don't know the exact date he entered this world two years ago, we will always celebrate the day Beau entered ours... 8-3-24. :)

The boys had one more week with Grammy and Grandpa before school started back.  They enjoyed disc golf, the driving range, some Olympics watching, a morning without power (due to Hurricane Debby) and had some time with their cousins at the end of the week!

We officially have a middle schooler!  Orientation was this past week and I think Zander is ready to start his new adventure on Monday!

Maddox was able to meet his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Servello!  I think both boys are going to have an incredible year with amazing teachers!

Carmen and I matched for Open House! (and we didn't even plan it!)

We finished out summer break with a trip to the Wyndham with Grammy and Grandpa!  While daddy was driving to get Beau, we were able to watch many golfers on the course and enjoy putt-putt and ping pong as entertainment between watching the players.

Grannie Camp AND Grammy Camp!

I went back to work as soon as we returned from our beach trip!  It is a short summer as our school calendar has been adjusted to finish the year by Memorial Day in 2025!  I know I will love this new schedule but the short summer made it hard to get back into the work routine.  Thanks to Grannie and Grammy, the boys have been having a blast while I have been back at work the last two weeks!  They spent the first week with Grannie:  doing chores, playing at the lake, going to VBS each night and catching squirrels to relocate.  I got to see my best friend, Ginny, and celebrate her 40th birthday when I got to town to pick up the boys after their adventures with Grannie.  Grammy has been entertaining the boys this past week and has one more week with the Houston boys until school starts back on August 12th.  Their favorite things this week were watching the Olympics and pretending like they were Olympians at the YMCA pool with swimming races.  They also fit in some sweet treats thanks to Grammy and Grandpa's spoiling!

Zander officially moved up to our church youth group this past week! He said goodbye to KidStreet and did an object lesson using headphones in his last children's service.  The 5th graders were able to lead the worship music and the parents enjoyed cheering them on from our seats.  So long children's ministry, hello youth group!

While the boys were being entertained by their grandparents, we enjoyed a movie date to see "Twisters", dinner at J Peppers and celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary at Fratellis!  The lobster appetizer was amazing.  My salmon on a pasta cake was one of the best meals I've ever eaten.  The company was by far my favorite! We loved getting to catch up over dinner and are hoping to have more date nights in the near future!  Cheers to 16 years of marriage! ;)  We have been so blessed this past year and look forward to what the next year has in store for our family!