We're so JAD!: JUNE

Okay. Time for more catch up. :) June June June. Let the summertime fun begin!

{Daddy's Last Day of School} June 6th
Jim's school lasted a week longer than Dixie's, so we were totally excited and ready for his last day of school so we could start our family fun! :)

We greeted him when he came home with a nice, big candy card.

And then celebrated the start of our summer fun by going out to dinner. Nothing says "fun" to me like not having to cook. :)

We dined at Madres Mexican Restaurant, and while eating a MAJOR thunderstorm moved in! We left in the middle of a torrential downpour! It was crazy!! I love a good thunderstorm, but definitely prefer to be inside and not out driving in it. But thankfully we made it home safe and sound. :)

{Jim's Overnight Adventure} June 7th
And then the next day Jim took off with his good buddy, Dan, for an overnight adventure in the National Forrest. They had decided they wanted to test their survival skills and had planned this trip to do it. The goal was to canoe down a river, eating only what they could catch (Jim was confident there would be plenty of wildlife and/or fish to kill and eat), and sleeping in/on makeshift bedding. They took some guns with them, blankets, water, and a few other minor provisions, and then set off down the San Jacinto River.

Unfortunately for them, that big rain from the night before had totally raised the level of the water and put a damper on any fishing. Nothing bit.

This bridge has some historical meaning... can't think of it at the moment though. :)

They got to their planned destination way ahead of schedule, so they had plenty of time to setup camp.

They made beds up off the ground (so bugs wouldn't be crawling all over them) by wrapping blankets over themselves between two sticks and lashed them onto trees. Good in concept...

... but I think Jim's wasn't quite as big as he thought it would be?

Looks cozy, honey. :)

So uh... they didn't find a single thing to kill and eat (well, apparently they saw a turtle or two in the river, but didn't get to them in time). Thankfully Dan had brought a few protein bars, so that was their lunch, snack, and dinner. And in the middle of a fairly sleepless night, Jim also saw a frog in the firelight. So he snuck up on it, killed it, and then roasted it on the fire for a frog legs breakfast.

Yum.

Jim's dad picked them up nice and early at a bridge near their location, and then they went fishing that morning at Brother Thrift's place (a buddy of Jim's dad) who lives right on Lake Livingston. They had much better luck there. :)

So at least they ate a hearty lunch. :)

All in all, I'd say this was Jim's ideal way to start his summer vacation. But... needless to say, he came home and bought himself a camping hammock. :)

Love ya, Hun!

{Swimming Lessons 2013}

And then we promptly started swimming lessons the following week. With a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house coming up, I wanted to make sure the girls were water safe.

There were some last minute issues with Dixie's class being cancelled (due to lack of enrollment) and whatnot, but they managed to get her in to another class at the same time as Summer's, although it meant she was probably at the lower end of the ability scale. But that's alright for Dixie. She's always up for a challenge.

First Day

Austin was a good cheerleader

Last Day

And sadly, Dixie had to sit out her last day. :( She woke up that morning and threw up twice. They were small amounts, and I wasn't entirely sure it was a bug, so I gave her the option to participate that day (ONLY because it was the last day... if it had been a regular day I would have just said no way)-- reminding her that if she really WAS sick, her body would need all the energy it could get in order to get better for our trip the next week. :) In such big girl fashion, she bravely chose to sit out.

And thankfully so! When it was time for popsicles at the end of class (last day treat) she went with the class, and then started throwing up again. Oh ugh. I quickly grabbed her and put her over the bushes. Sorry bushes. But she was still such a happy trooper. What a sport.

Summer with her teacher, Claire

Dixie with her teacher, John

(and yes, there were a few moms wanting to set him up with daughters, nieces... anyone they could think of. lol.)

{High Adventure Trip}

Anyway, during the final week of swim lessons, Jim was gone on the YM's High Adventure Trip. They went to Alabama to canoe down the Colorado River. And they had a BLAST. Clear, gorgeous water, beautiful weather... it was a trip Jim thoroughly enjoyed.

The Guys:

Nathan, Sterling, Tighe, Addison, Ryan (leader), Marcus, Braxton, Jason, and Cole

Load 'em up n' Move 'em out

A much better bed this time around :)

Jim made this camp stove out of a soda can. It uses alcohol fuel, which incidentally is more expensive than propane... but hey, at least it's a small stove, right?

(here's a better shot of it at home)