We Are (potato) Family

Hollister's Creative Side
He made each of us and was adamant about who each potato represented.

From left to right... Daddy, Mommy, Hollister, Hamilton, CJ, and Kendrick (as told to me by the artist himself)

Hodgepodge 2

Well, another week down...

Last weekend was father's day. We celebrated it quietly at home, which is how Daddy likes it (I think and hope) This was Hollister being silly and us having some fun with Hamilton too.
Sunday night while Trevor was grilling for the week, he and the boys played baseball while Hamilton and I watched. I have no pictures of it, but it was F-U-N! We were out there for a LONG time and it was quiet and peaceful and just good ole Father's Day fun.

This week we went to a free movie with friends and to Inflatable World in the mall. We just love that place. Hollister loves it because he can run wild and bounce like crazy. Mommy loves it because it tires little boys out! This is our friend, Chance at Inflatable World.
These inflatable things allow Hollister a lot of aggression removal I think. These poor things got beat to death by this little man!


Hamilton has started sleeping on his belly this week. Normally, he hates being on his stomach and fusses a lot. The other day he was playing and fell forward onto his belly. He didn't cry so I left him there. Within minutes, this is what he looked like. Again, I left him there! He took over an hour nap, just like this!
We also went for another visit to Grandma's. This week my sister and her 4 boys are visiting from Dallas, so we got to have some cousin time. Hollister has recently started figuring out the whole "cousin" thing. This time when I told him we were going to get to see cousins, he asked, "which ones?" He has cousins in New Mexico and my sisters kids we see at Grandma's... that's how he tells the difference.

Aunt Zora with her youngest, John and Hamilton. John was a little jealous of Hamilton. He didn't like that his older brothers played with Hamilton.

3 of the cousins and Hollister. Grant, Goofy Drake, John and Hollister.

This is what the boys did to Hamilton during lunch. My parents have had these Disney ears for 11 years and ALL their grandkids, minus Kendrick has had them on. Guess Kendrick will have to be inducted at his next visit.

Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.. plus, once again, Goofy Drake...

Needless to say he had fun. We played at the house and then to the pool which just happens to be another activity that wears little boys out!

Today was dentist day. Kendrick and Hollister had their 6 month cleaning. Both got good reports. The only bad thing was, this fabo dentist that I found less than a year ago, but truly love, love, love is leaving my insurance network, so I now I have to find a new one, that just stinks! Hollister was quite the ROCK STAR during his visit. I was a very proud momma!

Summer Hodgepodge

Since I know there"ll be a lot of random things we do this summer, I plan just to have some "hodgepodge" posts to keep up with what we are doing this summer.

The other day I was having cabin fever, so I loaded up the boys and we headed out after taking Kendrick to work. We ended up at the arboretum. They have a park and a fountain which the boys thought was cool. It's also close to a Barnes and Noble, which my boys L-O-V-E. We decided to go "look" and lo and behold it was story time! Hollister wasn't really into it, but he did like reading the books on his own. We also ended up at our local library which is where we got lots of books for the boys to take home and enjoy. Reading super hero books.

The next day we went to the sprinkler park to meet our friends. This was as much about Mommy getting to have some "girl time" as the whole "sprinkler fun". It was different this year with 2 though. So, there aren't many pictures from this day. I dressed Hamilton there and when I went to put on his suit, it didn't fit! yep, too small... and it was a 12 month... So, he just wore his swim diaper.Notice the toy, in his mouth.... He has 2 teeth now and I think more are coming in.

Today, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We also went to a sprinkler park they have near their house. It was perfect for a quick trip. We had a blast. CJ and Hollister having some fun.

Hamilton loved this sprinkler. He kept trying to "eat" the water. It was so funny.


Notice his new suit.... the trunks are 18 months!!! The shirt is a 24 month, and its not that big!!! But, he sure is adorable!!!

Hollister called this the "car wash".

This summer is Kendrick is working, working, working. He has picked up more hours and responsibilities at Little Ceasar's. He is saving for a car, so this is important.

Trevor is of course, working too. Business is good and he has even hired an employee. He is staying busy and I think for the most part, still enjoying it.

I am being a full time mom, sleeping as much as possible and officially training for a half marathon. It is 5 months away and I am a little bit late in starting, but so far, so good.... I feel like the more times I say it or write it, the less likely I am to back out of it.

The beginning of a water baby

You'd think that being off for a week and a half, I'd of had my kiddos at the pool by now, but no, that hasn't happened.

Finally last night though, at our baseball party, my kiddos got their swim on. Hollister had a great time! Hamilton like it too. He even tried to "eat" the water... not surprising since he eats everything!

CJ won't admit it, but he had a good time too.... such a teenager!

Darth Baby

Darth Baby!

Hamilton is 7 months old!

He has 2 teeth and is being treated for an ear infection (his second). Right now, he is really crabby, teething stinks!!!

But even crabby he is super cute and smiles most all the time.

His special trick this month is eating his toes. He absolutely loves them!And of course, not to be out done by his little brother. Hollister can eat his toes too!

This past weekend with all the family in town, Hollister got to play with his 3 year old cousin, Cameron. They had a blast together! here they are with their HUGE tattoos!

Getting our Grill on'

Saturday did not start off as planned. Well, let me back up... Friday night, after graduation, I made a statement that my ears and throat hurt. I could just feel myself getting sick. I just needed a few more days and then my body could give out, just a few more days...

Saturday morning: I woke up knowing my body was NOT going to make it a few more days, probably wouldn't even make it a few more hours. We had a few things that had to be done for the party though. Trevor went to get the chairs, I loaded Hamilton and CJ with me to go get the cake and some last minute things from Sams. I took CJ knowing that he could sit with Hamilton while I ran into a few places, but if I got sick, he really couldn't help because he can't drive or anything. But I was optimistic.

We went to Party City, Sams and Target. Our car was loaded. The cake was so big, CJ had to sit in the back with Hamilton. Of course, the trunk was full.... (no, I wouldn't put CJ in the trunk, just stating that it was full)

Anyway, I turned onto the back roads we take from Pflugerville to Manor to get to Elgin... I knew something was wrong and I took a deep breath thinking, "okay, I can do this. I need 15 minutes" Well, I had about 15 seconds actually... I pulled into a driveway... opened the door and lost it... what did I lose the Diet Coke I had at Sams and the crackers I had on the way to Sams. From the back seat I hear (in a shaky voice) "Uh... Mom Are you okay?" He was very concerned. Of course I felt "better"... backed up and drove the rest of the way home. Better wasn't really better in that I was well, but at least my stomach wasn't upset anymore.

Thank goodness for a lot of family being here because I was in no shape to do anything but sleep. I had one hour to nap and get myself together before guests arrived.

The party started at 3pm, I really wasn't feeling up to par, but with so much help, I wasn't really needed. The party went off without a hitch and it ended up being the biggest party we have had. (Trevor's birthday was close, but there were more people here this past weekend)

I know Kendrick had a great time and was thrilled that so many people came out. As always, Trevor got his grill on and no one was disappointed and no one left with an empty stomach.

I even got in on the festivities, once my headache went away. I guess my body just needed me to slow down and take a break. Again, no way I could have done this without help from my sister in laws! They rocked it!

Yummy cake!

We are so proud of Kendrick and so thankful for all the family and friends for celebrating with us.

THANKS SOOO MUCH!

Trevor, Kendrick and Papa Benny

Aunt Nikki, Kendrick, Uncle Josh

Papa Gary, Mimi, Kendrick

Kendrick, Aunt Mary

Kendrick and Mimi with the Grace family

Grandpa Golaboff, Kendrick, Grandma Golaboff

Aunt Kim, Papa Gary, Mimi, Kendrick, Aunt Nikki, Aunt Mandy

Eric, Kendrick, Kelly

Kendrick with the Stathatos family

Kendrick and Joel (another 2010 Elgin grad)

Trevor, Kendrick, Ms. Ethel (our neighbor)

Trevor, Benny, Kendrick, Uncle Ronnie

More 2010 Elgin Graduates (+ a future grad)


Too tired to open presents later that night. No, not really, just being silly.

Graduation 2010

Friday was a fantastic day! We had a house full of family and more to come. Graduation was set for 8pm. We ate pizza around 5:30ish, got ready and headed out in the H-E-A-T around 7ish! The graduation was at the football field, which we were all thrilled about, once the sun went down :) For us "Texans" we were fine.. the sun went down, there was few breezes once in a while and they sold water too. But, for our New Mexico family it was HOT!

Anyway... graduation... for me and some others, the coolest part was watching the whole graduating class in a precession to the field. It caused some chills and some tears. They made quite an entrance.

We were able to pick Kendrick out almost automatically. The top 10% was first, and with him being so tall, he was hard to miss. The graduates were in purple, the faculty was in gray. They were mixed in with all the students. I thought this was a very neat idea. He is in the 4th row of purple gowns.

Of course, the festivities began with all the formal stuff. Unfortunately, the sound system was awful and it just sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. He graduated 22nd and then we waited until the 246th student was called.
Hollister was very confused about the field though. We go to the football games on Friday nights here and right before the ceremony started he said, "Where's the ball?"
About halfway he almost got his wish... a beach ball appeared from the student body, but didn't last long before one of those "gray gowns" grabbed it and ended that party. Silly kids...

Afterward, we braved the crowd and headed down to the field for photo ops. The lights went down pretty quickly though. Their polite way of asking us to get off the turf. Plus, the students had Project Celebration to get to and with all the traffic, the would be cutting it close.

Elizabeth, Kendrick, Trevor Josh & Kendrick

Kelsey, Kendrick, Aunt Kim, Cameron & Kate

G-ma Mary Ellen, Papa Benny Papa Gary Aunt Mandy & Kendrick

Mimi with all my boys! I know, she'd say: Mimi and her boys, but come on.... :)

So Kendrick headed to Project Celebration and we headed home, snacked a little more on pizza and then off to bed to prepare for the next day, the big BBQ. That will be the next post.....