Matthew signed up at the library to record the books he reads this summer. The gaol was 100, but yesterday he turned in his sheets with 120 books listed! Here he is putting his name on the top notice board at the library. He also got a medal and a signed certificate. He kept track of his books himself and recorded them down as he read, I am so very proud of him.  

Cole kids 

Annie is a week or so away from being 6 months. She has 2 teeth on the bottom and is the best baby. Here she is in her walker thingy.  

Lily loves cats and the musical Cats. Here she is dressed up as a cat, complete with tale. She dances around the house singing the Cats songs and generally being a cat!  

Laura in costume. 

July 4th was spent with our friends. We shot off a rocket (the boys spent a long time trying to shoot it out of a really high tree with a sling shot), ate wonderful organic food, read a story about the flag 'F is for Flag', then kids made a paper flag - they worked well together to make the flag then each one got to put on a few stars while reading out the states and it's capital. Then we sang patriotic songs to Jeanne's piano playing. Good clean fun! 

working on the flag. 

Gotta have sparklers on July 4th. 

Shooting off a rocket at our friends place. 

Happy July 4th! 

My little artist! Lily has been coming out to the art studio with me lately and painting or beading while I work on my own stuff. She is at the point where she can get her own supplies ready and do her own work without my help. It is so nice having her out with me. 

Day trip to the Forbidden Gardens

Yesterday we went to the Forbidden Gardens' In Katy. It was hot, but worth it. It is a replica of the Forbidden City in China among other great things. We had a tour guide who told us a little, but left us wanting to know more. Matthew asked the tour guide some great questions.

Thousands of soldiers ready to protect their king in the after life! 

'Lily' - All things bright and beautiful. (she is wearing one of my pendants) 

Friday night awaiting a table outside the Cheescake Factory in The Woodlands. After a wonderful meal over to Barnes and Nobles to buy books for our plane trip (one month and counting). 

'Annie' - Smiling baby 

'Laura' - Perpetual Motion 

Matthew looks so like Mark here. 

Putting a new toy together with a little help! 

Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day weekend Mark arranged last minute for us to go and stay at a B&B. It was an adorable house called the Homestead House. A man moved from Houston and renovated 2 properties on a few acres in Burton, Tx which is 12 miles or so south of Round Top and SW of Brenham. It was a wonderful get away and the kids surprisingly loved it. They were into all the little Americana knicknacks. The gardens between the houses were lovely. We spend some time in the house, then went to Round Top for dinner at Royers. After dinner we played at a local park and then we went home to do some reading in the log cabin reading room! We were served a wonderful breakfast in the owners house of fruit, cheese, granola, bacon, pancakes, eggs, meats and juices. We even made it home on Monday in time to go to a GCC party at Pastor Dan's house, which was fun fun fun. The kids were understandingly a little rough on Tuesday!