LCRA Family picnic

LCRA hosts a family picnic for their employees every summer.  This year our crew joined in on the fun at T Bar M resort in New Braunfels.  The place is packed with activities for the kids and of course our kiddos loved anything that allowed them to be in the water.

Splashing!

 The Blob!!! 

 Jump in and bounce off the person sitting on the Blob!

 Get bounced off... or slide off.

 A little putt putt action!

In other LCRA news, Wes joined a bbq team that finished 1st place overall which means they will represent LCRA in the Austin Star of Texas Rodeo. BBQing 4 straight days.... could be interesting.

Photo ops

We attended a family wedding this past Friday at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs and the beautiful surroundings provided for some great photo ops.  The whole Kemper clan was in attendance and it was great spending a little time with the whole fam.

 A&A&C... picture perfect

 Me & Jack... this guy was such a trooper the entire evening.  Love him!

 Love this expression!

 Our best attempt at a cousin photo.  

 Uncle Steve, Jack & Wes... lookin' good.

 Toppe and the people she loves to spoil.

 Sibling love.

 Aunt Candice and Uncle Steve... pretty cute!

 Love them!

Uncle Steve & Toppe... see the resemblance??

Austin's ready to hunt

Austin got his first "big" gun for his birthday.  He got a 410 shot gun and he and dad are hoping he shoots big horns for his first deer this deer season.  After reinforcing a little gun safety they practiced a few shots.

8-15-12

This is how 6 looks on A&A!!!  Think they are pulling it off pretty well!  

Happy Birthday Wes!

Yesterday we celebrated another very special birthday in our party of 5.  We saved the potential smoke alarm by not putting the full 34 candles on the cake.  Happy Brithday, we love you!

S.I.X.

It's just minutes away from midnight and here I sit thinking about being the mom of 6 year olds.  It's a little tough to swallow and crazy to think of how fast the time has flown but it is something we are going to celebrate all day long!
Avery is six going on sixteen.  Just tonight she requested to play dress up out of my closet.  She wishes there were strapless dresses in her size, loves big earrings and thinks heels are the best thing ever.  Then there is the athletic side of her.  Girl can tumble with the best of them and doesn't mind breaking a sweat to have a little fun.  Tonight, she, Caleb and I went for a short walk after dinner and she kept insisting we make our turn around point farther and farther away.  She's usually up for any challenge.  Reading came easy to her this year and she doesn't mind sticking her nose in a book to read through a few chapters.  Can't wait to see what is in store for her this year!
Austin has a heart of gold.  He knows right from wrong and doesn't push buttons to see how much wrong he can get away with.  Fishing and hunting with his daddy are at the top on his priority list and playing baseball isn't far behind.  He's our artist, can draw scenes and details the people in them.  Sleep isn't too important to him as he is usually the first to wake in the morning and always the last to go to bed.  I know this is going to be a great year for him!
Well, I've made it past midnight so I will be the first to say "Happy Birthday Austin & Avery!!!  We love you more than you will ever know!!"

Celebrating 6!

6 years... really?  I can't have 6 year olds!!  They should just be learning how to eat with a fork, but I guess time moves on whether you are ready for it to or not and therefore we celebrated A&A's 6th birthday Friday night with a swimming party at Gun & Rod.

 Diving board time!

 Really, mom?

 Austin and his buddy William.

 Sassy girls:  Waylon, Avery, Sienna, & Emma Kate

 Kade Rau & Austin

This year we opted to focus on the inside of the cake. Oreo & Reeses ice cream cakes... delish and demolished

 Blowing out the candles.  

 See, Caleb thought the cake was pretty good.

 As in years past,  Wes made a video for A&A that put tons of pics from the past year to music.  They love to watch it and we brought out a the flat screen from the garage so that the kids could watch it with their friends at the party.  Could have won an Oscar!

 Avery & Emma Kate.

 Jack was the party VIP.  He got a little love from everyone.

Presents!!!

Swimming pool, hot dogs and burgers, ice cream cake, family, good friends, and a hot summer night... a 6th birthday pool party perfect menu.  We had one unwelcome guest as a rain storm graced the area just minutes before the start of the party.  Fortunately we only had a short shower compared to the buckets of water that were dumped just a few miles away.  It led for a few stressful moments and decorating nightmare, but in the end we were able to enjoy what it was all about... A&A celebrating 6 years on this earth!!!  Their real bday is on Wednesday so we'll make sure to celebrate again!!!