Lordy lordy...

My 40th birthday happened to fall on a supermoon this year.  When we discovered this last year I was dead set on camping out on my birthday. As the time neared and Jenna discovered I was serious she became a good sport and the weekend was on.  The Green's were gracious enough to join us.

We went to Petit Jean mountain.  I've been there as an adult but haven't camped there since I was a kid.  It was fun to take the kids a place I went several times when I was their age.  It hasn't changed much at all with the exception of the walkway over the lookout point. Luckily they had steps down to the old points so I could take my kids out on the rocks where Dad took me. 

We had a little rain Saturday afternoon and we got a little wet.  It was worth it though for the drop in temp and to get rid of the bugs. I woke up in a tent 2 days in a row.  The first morning I was 39.  The second morning I was 40.  As you can see from the morning picks with the kids snuggled to me; there wasn't much change at all. 

Father's Day 2013

My Father's Day was more than enjoyable.  As always, the kids picked the gifts.  According to report, Cam wanted to give me a 'big picture' and Noah wanted to give me the day off.  With some creative Mommy-spin I got the most wonderful poster of the kids dressed up like me and a day on the lake.  Here's a pic of my poster and a pic with the kids.  There's also a whole photo album of the day on the lake. The day was made because Noah's finally old enough to sustain the idea of a day for daddy beyond 30 minutes.  Campbell of course just follows his lead.  All day long out of nowhere she'd run over and give me a kiss and wish me a happy daddy day. The day ended with a Facetime call to my dad.  Campbell told him all about the day. I keep telling her that's 'my daddy' but he just looks at me like I have three heads. "No that's Papaw!"

I hope everybody had a great "Daddy Day."

Campbell the preschooler

Just once I want my kids to separate poorly from me. Just once I want them to look back and say they need me. Just once I want them to show trepidation and say "Daddy stay a little longer!"
...........forget that. My kids are awesome.

​Campbell wasn't scheduled to start pre-k until the fall but a part-time slot opened up and it would guarantee her spot.  We jumped on the chance and it is nice to have that put to rest.  It was really nice to see the exact same teachers as when Noah was there.  That speaks highly of them and Children's World I think. Of course they all remember Cam, who was a baby, but she smiled at them like they were long lost friends. 

She's a little confused since she is in the same room she attends Sunday School.  She said all night and morning, "I go to Sunday School today!"  We'd correct her and call it "preschool."  She'd say "at JB Hunt?" which is where Noah goes to school.  When we would say she was going to Children's World at the church, she'd exclaim "I go to Sunday School today!" What can you do?​

​Here's her picture.  No, she doesn't go with faceless zombie kids, I just don't know them so I removed their faces. It makes a strange picture.  Of course, Noah will think it's cool if she goes with faceless zombie kids, but maybe next year.

2013 Race for the Cure

Raceday this year was a mad sprint to the finish.  April is the toughest month at work and it made for some wild days leading up to the event but it was all worth it.  ​This year's race was more than interesting with the amount of staff and committee turnover but in the end we pulled it all together. I was chair of operations for the second straight year.  It's a position that I feel more and more comfortable with but still keeps me on my toes. 

The weather this year did not cooperate at all.  This is the craziest spring I can remember.  It rained both setup days and on raceday. Luckily we avoided lightning, tornadoes, and ​snow.  I never dreamed snow would be a possibility but since we just had 2 days of snow the week AFTER THE RACE I thought I'd mention it. 

I went through three sets of clothes on Friday but Saturday came without a hiccup. Unless you count every outlet used by sponsors being attached to wet GFI's that constantly tripped a hiccup.  In that case we had a few hiccups.  Jenna is already making her comments about me "retiring" from active race service.  I just nod and tell her she's probably right but we have plenty of time to discuss it (and for me to change her mind).

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Crystal Bridges with Magga

Magga was able to come up for the weekend at the last minute.  Her visit was short but enjoyable. I feel obligated to say the highlight was going to check out the Norman Rockwell exhibit at Crystal Bridges.  Noah liked it way more than I thought he would.  We messed up lunch though and didn't know we'd have to wait in line and be stuck so blood sugars got a little low and we had a cranky little kid cut the day short.  ​The actual highlight was Saturday night at bedtime when Noah told Magga all about the girls in his class and got himself tickled and embarrassed.  Mom and I couldn't stop laughing at him as he just kept blushing.  He wanted to tell her so bad but it was just so hard to tell on himself.

Dolphin Swim in Cozumel

When we ported in Cozumel we did a dolphin swim.  We were only able to touch the dolphins since Noah and Campbell were too young to actually swim with them.  The kids were able to make shake his fins, let him swim out of the water to their hand, give him a kiss, get a kiss back, and then pat him several times.  Our dolphins name was Daniel and he was awesome.  ​

We had a slight SNAFU booking it, by messing up time zones (Mexico doesn't observe DST) so the adults were a little stressed since we basically had to beg the people to let us go early. The kids didn't know it though so they were carefree and enjoying an awesome experience. Also, Melissa was able to take the pictures from a zoom lens but went to check on a taxi and missed the two big kids interacting with the dolphin but we still got some great shots.

Pretty pretty princess

The first morning on the boat Campbell went to the Princess meet and greet.  I'm sure it was called something more clever than that but I can't remember. We checked Noah into the Oceaneer Lab to make Flubber and off we went to join our starstruck princess.​

Galveston

Galveston has changed a lot in the 16 years since I was there.  The beach was much prettier than I remembered and the boardwalk was packed with people and resorts. When we took the shuttle to the boat the next morning we saw the Galveston I remembered with the refineries and rigs.  Nice to see these things can coexist with each other.  ​

The Disney Magic

We got back to land yesterday and we still have our sea legs. There will be plenty of time to put lots of pictures and videos up but I wanted to briefly put a picture of us all in front of the boat.  This was taken in Cozumel right after getting off the boat. I like this picture because 1. we are fresh and 2. you can see the insanely blue water.  Loved every bit of Cozumel.​

Date Night and The Giant Waffle

My girl and I had a date night last night. In case the picture confuses you, in our home Jenna is the "whoa-man!"

We had grand plans of dinner and the Lady Gymbacks gymnastics meet against Alabama. Before exiting the Interstate at the University I started asking her what she wanted to eat. I was scared when she said no to everything I asked including McDonald's. Finally she said she wanted a "Biiiiig Waffle."  So off to Waffle House we went.  When the waiter came over that's exactly how she ordered.  Her arms made a huge circle, her eyes were super wide, and she said "I want a biiiiiig Waffle."  It was classic.  I was a little nervous when a normal size waffle came to the table but she looked at me wide-eyed and proclaimed.  "It's giant!"

The gymnastics was fun.  It held her attention for 40-45 minute before she couldn't stay in her seat anymore.  You can never tell how big of an impact you have on your kids when they are with you.  That night Jenna got a blow by blow detail of what she saw, but  the real payoff for me was Sunday morning.  I went to drop her off at Sunday School and she marched right in holding my hand.  It took her 5 minutes (holding my hand the entire time) to tell her Sunday School teacher everything "me and my Daddy" did on "our date night."  

It's a good thing moments like that aren't everyday or we'd have 10 kids.​

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Hello, World!