Picture Time!

OK I know I have been telling you all about our fun outings this summer but I just uploaded all my pictures from the camera (all 89 of them) and thought I would catch you up with pictures too!  So to start I am going to share with you our Canyon Lake trip.  You heard all about it and now you will get to see the fun!

 Adalee had lots of fun with her cousin Brannick.  Driving the pontoon boat was pretty safe (especially with the engine off)  She thought she was big stuff!

 The little boys likes hanging their feet off the back while we were just hanging out in the water. 

 I am not a big fan of large bodies of water but once I got out on the tube I had a blast!  I even managed to stay on so I didn't have to get in the water!!! 

 Tolson didn't want to go but decided that if his dad was with him it would be ok.  We went really slow and he thought it was very fun! 

 Tolson and his two cousins Evan and Rory.  We sure do miss them!

Adalee driving again!  We all had such a great time and managed to not get too Sunburned.  I am so glad we got to be close to the Ewings for a few months. 

Our fun visitor

I hope you all arn't getting bored with these journaling type posts but this is how I keep track of what we are doing and the fun adventures we are having here in Laredo.  I will try to do better at my picture updates too!  I hope you had as much fun as we did this week....

Ok so we started off this week (well actually ended last week) with driving to San Antonio on Friday to pick up Rory. Ida and I made it to the Temple for a quick initiatory session and had a good time trying to help get things ready for her Garage sale on Sat. Sat morning Tolson Rory Adalee and I headed out. Rory said in the car "this is going to be the best car ride ever" (I am not sure that the car ride lived up to his expectations but we made it home) We got home in time to have dinner gets baths done and head for bed. Sunday the kids enjoyed church and we had a quiet relaxing afternoon playing with legos and watching our kids favorite Sunday movie The Happiest Millionaire. Monday it was cloudy and not too hot so we headed out to the big playground in our apartments. The kids had fun pretending it was their fort and sending the monster trucks down the 3story slides. tuesday we went to the pool for Playgroup and Rory thought that it was the best pool ever. They splashed a swam for several hours enjoying a break from the heat. The afternoon was spent relaxing and playing Wii. Wednesday we went to the mall to see the kids summer movie Dolphin Tale and play at the play place inside the mall. The kids loved the movie and Rory gave his mom and dad a play by play on the phone after so I think he liked it too. It was cute! After the kids played at the play place for a while we rode the double decker merry-go-round and then headed home. After lunch and a nap for Adalee we went to Chick-fil-a for dinner and play time. While we were there it started to blow and rain but the kids thought it was great. When we left it was still raining and the boys started running and dancing in the rain. We went the the store and when we got out it had stopped. They were sad it stopped but still got to jump in some puddles. Thursday we went to the pool again enjoying it as much as we could and then in the afternoon the boys went with uncle Jason to Lowes to buy a saw. They had to have their "Manly Time" and had fun doing it. Friday we went to our friends the Browns so I could work on a project for Primary while the kids played. Then friday night we had a little pizza party. They each made their own pizza and we watched a movie and had a living room picinic complete with popcorn and cookies. Saturday we went to the church for our District Pioneer day celebration. They had breakfast, a parade for the kids and then games outside. It was very hot but at the end some of us had a water fight so it cooled us down a bit. I think that was the boys favorite part. Then we played wii had dinner and did hair cuts. The boys like having pretty much the same hair cut but Rory wasn't so sure he wanted it as short as Tolsons. They have had a great time and I hope they remember it for a long time. I am so glad that we lived close for these past few months and that these two little boys could get to know each other better. I am also so glad for the time I have been able to spend with Ida! She is an amazing woman and such an example to me! I am going to miss her but I am so glad I have been able to spend so much time with her over the last 5 months.

This next week is going to seem kind of boring without Rory here! I don't think I can compete with having a cousin stay with us! I hope you guys are having a good week too! I would love to hear whats going on with you all! (hint hint)

I love you all! - Wendy (and family)

Ramblings of a Hot Mama!

Ok so really you all can blame Ida for this being bi-monthly because I keep going to her house and when I do it throws me off for a few days. So...

Week before last we went to the Ewings for a few days to help them sort through rooms and get things ready to pack. Ida also helped me sew my first quilt. She had left over fabric from Rory's quilt so we made a matching one for Tolson. It was so much fun and we got a lot done too. We did our normal things monday (recover from Sunday, clean up a bit and grocery shopping) then tuesday we had playgroup at the pool again where I discovered that my beings asked to help with girls camp means that I am the District Camp director (more on that later) and Wed Tolson had preschool. Adalee and I packed us up and we left straight from preschool to head to San Antonio. The drive really is not too bad and we can get to Ida's house in about 2 1/2 hours. The kids do great and we are there in no time. We had a great time!

We came home on Saturday afternoon in just enough time to get the kids bathed and into bed. Sunday morning was church where this month I am teaching the song Nephi's courage to the kids. They are having fun with it and I have been trying to work on the piano music for it so that I can play with them (we don't have anyone in our branch that plays, well we do have one senior sister that plays during sacrament meeting but is not available for primary) anyway its fun trying to teach them while using a CD but we get by. Anyway after Church the primary presidency went to go deliver some paperwork for our kids parents to fill out and to give them some information on changes we are making to our primary. We got to go to some interesting parts of town and we were glad that one of us speaks fluent spanish. What an adventure! at one of the houses I could have tripped and fallen into mexico if I wasn't careful.  It was a bit scary being three white, nicely dressed sisters driving a big SUV down to some of these areas but we survived and got most of the families visited.

This week we again recovered from our trip as well as trying to get ready for our trip this next week (be prepared you probably wont hear from me) nothing too exciting. Pool again for playgroup. We probably have about 10 families coming and the kids have such a great time! We also had a branch fathers day potluck thing on friday at the ranch of a member. It is fun to get to know more of the people in our branch. Saturday Jason had a daddy day with Tolson (which is becoming a tradition here) and Adalee and I went out together too! We had a fun day ending at the pool and daddy going to bed early (he started midnights again for the next week). Besides having blond hair and blue eyes people would think my kids are natives because they are soooo dark skinned.  One of these days I will take a picture of them and post it on here so you can see just how dark they really are!!!

Today I got to conduct the primary kids singing in sacrament meeting "My Dad"! I have not been the one teaching them this song and have not even been in the room much while they practice ( I am out begging for subs to help us) so it was a little scary trying to conduct the 10 kids that showed up to sing. They did great although I am not sure you could hear anything but me singing. Oh well it is done and now I can say I have done that!

So on the camp note, a month or two ago when we were speaking in church I mentioned something about camp in my talk and afterwards the district YW president came up to me in the hall and asked if I would be willing to help out with camp. She said it was not an official calling but was wondering it I would be willing. I of course said sure and we left it at that. Well, this week at playgroup we were talking again and she said we need to start thinking about themes for camp. Our camp is in March over spring break since we can't go past the checkpoint and its too hot to do it down here in the summer. Anyway she told me that she is so excited to have me as the District Camp Director!!! I guess after helping with a stake camp of over 200 people, 50 should be no big deal right? Well at least I have 9 months to work on this!!!! Wish me luck though!

We do love it here and are glad for the experiences we are having. I am exited to be going "home" next week to Az and to be with my sisters! What a nice cool break that will be. I hope you all are doing well and that you are having a great summer!

Until next time (whenever that may be),

Love, Wendy

Another weekend Trip!

This week(s) at the Kemptons....

Soo I guess I should just call this a semi regular posting as I have not been great about getting it done every week. Last weekend we went to Ida's and had a wonderful time so that thru me off for my sunday afternoon of compiling this letter. Two weeks ago Jason worked midnight shift for almost 11 days in a row and then he got three days off and went back to day shift. During the three days off we headed up to Ida's house to add to her chaos and hopefully distract her from it for a while too. We got there thursday night, put the kids to bed and went our for pie. Friday we got up and headed to the zoo. Rory stayed home from school to go with us and we had a great time. We had to take a break in the middle to go deliver meals on wheels with Ida (which was fun) and then went back to the zoo for a few more hours. What a great zoo. I posted a bunch of pictures from our trip on facebook and will probably put them on here too if you want to see them. We sort of skipped lunch so on the way home we stopped a Freddy's. It was GOOD! We had frozen custard sundaes and french fries. We will have to go there again for sure! Friday night we made a quick dinner and then went to the temple. Geoffrey couldn't find his recommend so unfortunately he didn't get to come but we went and had a great time anyway! With Jason being gone for 5 months and then moving and everything we hadn't been in a while so it was nice to go (and to have free babysitters). Saturday we got up and headed to Canyon Lake. It was a great cloudy day for the most part and we rented two boats. A little speed boat and a pontoon boat. We didn't ski but got a big tube to ride on behind the boat and we all had a good time. After returning the boats we let the little ones play on the beach for a bit and the moms sitting on the sand got a bit too much sun. We all had a great time and the kids slept very well that night. Ida, Jason and I of course made a trip to our favorite FroYo place and enjoyed some yummy frozen treats. Sunday we went to church and then after lunch headed out to the Japanese Sunken Gardens. They were built in an old query and had some huge koi fish. We walked around for a bit and then road the train around Brakenridge park. It was a great Sunday afternoon and a wonderful weekend.

After having a weekend like that its hard to remember then little fun things we do during the week. We have started having play group here at our awesome splash pool every week and this week since school got out we started a potluck lunch there too! What fun. I am really loving meeting so many nice people here and having friends for my kids. I still miss seeing Michelle almost everyday and having my close girlfriends back in Tucson (you know who you are) but I am still enjoying our new home. I went to a girls night out on Friday which was very fun but still not the same!  I am sure it will eventually feel like home here but for now I am missing Tucson.

In other news our TV died this week. We bought an old Wii from a friend and had just bought wii sports when it died. Not having a TV is not that big of a deal but when its 105 outside every afternoon its harder without one. So we went TV hunting this weekend but decided we will just take Ida's extra one she offered us and wait to buy a new one until later. We also got some MORE fish. We didn't get gold fish this time and have been treating our tank for the ick that the other fish had. We got some cool zebra dannios and hope they will live longer this time. We are not naming them (since we can't tell them apart and they are too fast to see well) so we wont get too attached in case they die too. (we don't have a great track record). But they are fun and I hope we can get some more cool fish soon.

We love you all and miss you! I am so glad we are close to the Ewing's for a short time and am secretly glad their assignment is only 2 years so they can come back soon. I am VERY excited to see my sisters soon and those I will get to visit while stopping in Tucson. I hope you are all doing well and not melting like we are!~ Thank heavens for the pools here!

Until next time (whenever that may be) - Wendy

Midnights

Ok so I know it had been a few weeks since my weekly update so sorry about that. I went to my sister Ida's one weekend and then last weekend was mothers day so I enjoyed being spoiled, but I am back!

Last week we got Tolson registered for school. He will be in the dual language program at the school which I am very excited about. They teach half the day in English and half in Spanish and they have it set up so that the ESL kids can learn English better and the SSL kids can learn Spanish better. I am really hoping tat the few years we have down here will help Tolson really pick up the language. He was very excited about getting registered for school until he learned he needs a TB test (they kept calling it a shot) and now he says he doesn't want to go. Hopefully he will live!

Here is the fun we had this week. (well as much as I can remember)

I don't really remember what days we did what so I am going to just tell you all the fun we had. Tolson started preschool this week. I met this super nice gal here that does a preschool in her home. She just moved here in Jan so she doesn't really know anyone and only has one other student other than her own daughter. She really want to get more for next year but doesn't really know very many people. (she is not BP or LDS) She offered to have Tolson come for May and June for half the cost if i would please share with my friends about her school. So tolson went and had a wonderful time. Its only one day a week right now and he wants to go everyday!

We went to the pool probably 3 times this week (once inviting his teacher and her kids) We LOVE our pool. Its a splash pool with lots of kid friendly features. Two different parks and the library once. We also went to story time at Chick-fil-a. Jason started working the midnight shift so he gets home about 9am and goes to bed. I try to get the kids out of the house for the morning so he can have it quiet, so we venture to lots of random places. We drove through downtown this week and it is like we are in puerto pinasco. But it looks like there could be some fun shopping down there. I am not sure I would go until I learn a bit more Spanish but maybe when mom and dad come we can go. (maybe)

Anyway our life has been different with this shift change but not as hard as I thought. Jason is up about 3 or 4pm and plays with the kids and helps with dinner. We put them to bed and then he takes a nap until he has to get up and get ready for work. I like it! I get to see him for several hours during the day and get the evenings to myself!

So nothing really exciting to report. I am full swing into my calling in Primary. We have several positions that aren't filled so mostly I am running around asking people I have never met to come help with nursery or teach a class, but its good! I actually feel very adequate here. Most of the members are young in the church and don't have a lot of confidence in themselves but its fun to help where I can and try to take them by the hand and help them along.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life. I am sad I will miss my nephews arrival home from his mission but I will hopefully see him next month when I come. 

Until next week!

Picture time!

A cool dude in Hummer jammies and some red sun glasses!

The library had a story time "graduation" for the kids which I admit is weird but still a fun party.  they had little hats, goodies bag with a new book in them and a certificate for each kid.  They fed them lunch and read a story and did some songs.  The kids had fun and got a free book so no complaints from me!!! 

Seriously so cute!  She is such a fun a goofy girl!  We love the little girly girl she is becoming with her obsession with shoes and all!

We have been searching for a Laredo TX post card to send to friends and family but cannot find any so we decided to make our own.  We found this cool landmark thing at a travel center outside of town.  So some of you may be seeing this in the mail soon!

Tolson also wanted to take a picture next to the water fountain so here it is!  Love these crazy kids of mine!!!

While visiting the Ewings this past weekend, Adalee got into Delaney's room and found her makeup.  I must say at least she put it on her face in sort of the right places.  If she was going for the clown look she was spot on!!! 

We had a good week!  got new carpet put in the apartment.  has story time graduation and then took a fun weekend trip to San Antonio to hang out with Ida's family!  We love living close to them and will be very sad when they leave us in a few months!  Oh well!  See you all next week! 

Oh Happy days!

Monday- Went to story time and Chick-fil-a and the kids had a great time.  Adalee did not like meeting the cow though at the end but Tolson was in there doing the hocky-pocky with it.  We had fun and then went grocery shopping.  I forgot how good the chicken nuggets are there!  I might have to go every week to story time!

Tuesday - So today we were supposed to get the house papers signed and notarized so we could Fed-ex them to AZ so the buyers could sign and close on Friday.  I was a stress case today!  Not really sure why but I really was!  We went to the Library for story time and Tolson got his OWN LIBRARY CARD!  He is very excited about this!  Anyway, then after stressing all day we went to Jason's FTO's (Field Training Officer) house and his wife did the Notary on our stuff.  They were super nice and told us about some other fun local places to eat. 

Wed- I went first thing and dropped off the papers to Fed-ex and was done with it.  Then about 15 min later I realized I had forgot to include the checks I needed to.  Not to worry our awesome realtor (and friend) saved the day for me.  Then we went to Playgroup at our park and then we all went to the pool when the kids (and moms) got too hot.  What a fun time we all had!  It was hot but a nice breeze cooled us off.  I am really starting to love these awesome ladies here!  We are all here away from our families and they are so welcoming and loving and real!  I love that about them! Its great! 

Thursday - There wasn't much to do today so we went to the store and got some new fish!  5 this time.  They are smaller goldfish and are all different so we named them.  BFF (for black fin fish), Paleface (he has a white face and tummy) Black spot/blackfin, White tale and  Holey Poley fish (he has a little hole in his tale).  They are doing great so far so we will hope we can keep this bunch alive!   

Friday - THE HOUSE CLOSED!!!! we no longer own our home and it is a happy and sad day!  I am so glad to be done with all of this and sad at the same time that we don't own our cute little house anymore!  We loved that house and all that happened in it!  All three of our kids were born while living there.  We had several different jobs there and so many memories with friends and family!  We will miss our little house on Emberwood but will always have the memories. 

Saturday - What a day!  Jason went on a bike ride on a new trail ( I guess they are all new here)  and met some other riders he might go ride with again.  Then we went to a park close by for a friend's sons birthday party!  It was great  they had a jumping castle with a slide that Tolson loved! and we got to mingle and Jason got to meet some of the awesome ladies I have been able to become friends with.  Then we left there and came home to put Adalee to bed and Tolson and I headed to the pool for another birthday party!  This one was a bit more low key and fun just hanging out with a few friends.  It was a fun exhausting day.

Sunday - We got to speak in church today and I got a new calling.  I haven't been sustained or set apart yet so I can't spill the beans but I am excited!  I think our talks went well.  When we got there I was laughing because it said on the program "youth speaker by invitation"  and I thought great we might have 1/2 hour each.  Turns out we got about 15 min total between the two of us.  It worked out fine and was good for me to have a reason to really study one of the general Conference talks.  We took naps and had a great easy quiet Sunday.  We invited out downstairs neighbors to dinner and had a great time visiting while the kids played!  A great way to end a fun week. 

 p.s. 3 out of 5 of the fish are dead already!  I guess we are not very good fish people!