Safari!!!!

Over Memorial weekend we decided to take the boys on a safari. Don't be shocked friends and family while I would love to say we went to South Africa for such an adventure, we actually drove down I-35 for some miles and ended up just outside of San Antonio for a days worth of animal encounters....

The boys loved it! They thought it was really neat that we got to feed the animals out of our car! 

They thought it was even neater though that they were IN the car without their seat belts on. Jack and I felt like the best/worse parents in the world having them crawl around ALLLL over the car while it was moving. It just felt wrong, but they were loving it, and what's more it was allowed and encouraged so we just went with it.

I shutter just looking at this picture...

It really was pretty neat. I must admit, I was skeptical, but it ended up being pretty fun and we felt like we were in another country when we were really just outside of San Antonio.

There was even an EXTREMELY aggressive ostrich that went a little too far with the food...

I think we all enjoyed our time there... 

Mirror Mirror

 

Dada's Birthday

Jack just celebrated his 33rd (he's ancient huh? :)) birthday yesterday and we had a good time ringing it in. 

For his birthday Jack told me he wanted to do something outside with his friends (which is usually his request) and he didn't want to think or make any decisions because he has to do that every other second of his life. 

Makes sense. Jack works hard, like really, really, really hard and while I wish he would kick back and take it easy a little more often, it's just not in his nature. In this respect he reminds me a lot of my dad. I don't think either one of them will EVER retire...but back to birthdays....

I planned for an evening dinner at an Indian restaurant followed by drinks downtown with his nearest and dearest. He didn't know where we were going, who was coming or what we were going to do so Jack just came along for the ride. 

Clearly everyone had a good time and what's more?! Jack's brother, Stephen came into town! It would have been a complete surprise but Jackson, the best secret keeper in the world (read; NOT at all--he's SUCH a snitch) let the cat out of the bag. 

No matters though, Jack was just as happy. For dessert I ordered some tiny pies and brought them along with us to hand out to our guests. Jack isn't a fan of sweets, cakes or cookies but LOVES pies so he was pleasantly surprised. 

 We had a great time and I'm thankful to our friends and Stephen for making it out...

 For his actual birthday we had a small celebration at home. Jackson and James are HUGE fans of birthdays around here so they were SOOOO excited to sing to Dad with another birthday pie!

SOOOOO excited in fact our poor James wore himself out early and missed the party entirely :(

Poor bear cub, he really tried to push through but just wasn't having it so we thought it best to put him down so he could get the rest he was so longing for. 

The rest of us enjoyed a yummy steak dinner (prepared by yours truly...I know, I'm such an amazing wife :)) champagne, and of course....pie! 

I even got Jackson on video telling Jack he loves him. It was such an amazing birthday gift for Jack because Jackson usually only ever tells me he loves me and in fact told Jack the other day that "no one loves you dada, we just love mama". It was sad, but hilarious. Needless to say, I'm so thrilled I got it on video ;) 

Jack said he loved every second. I truly hope you did sweetheart, you SO deserve it. Happy Birthday Doll :) 

Magnificent Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year started early. Like mid-week early. Ok by me though, any day that celebrates me is fab in my book ;).

Jackson's first present to me was a bundle of sticks he picked up on a night-walk with dada. It was really sweet. He was SOOOO proud of them and insisted I put them in a "vidrio con agua" so they would look just as pretty as the ones dada always buys me. I of course  did as he asked and put them in my favorite vase: 

They remained there for a few days until he insisted dada should just buy me some new ones :) 

Next celebration was at school. Tarrytown invited all of the moms in for "Muffins with Mom" Friday morning and Jackson's class had not only prepared muffins and lemonade, they also put on a cute recital complete with music and dancing! James and I were thrilled to pieces to see our Jackson put on a show! 

Here he is playing with his BFF for life, James Fox. By the way, James Fox and Jackson are OBSESSED with each other. His teachers tell me they talk to one another non stop, play together and ask about each other ALL the time. 

The other day when I went in to pick up Jackson, James Fox told me (me, not Jackson) that he was "Really upset I was taking his friend away and I made him real sad". I insisted Jackson would be back again but James Fox said, "It doesn't make me feel any better, you are still taking him now". That kid is hilarious, him and Jackson are sooooo dramatic and just made for each other.  

Back to the recital though. Jackson did a GREAT job with singing and dancing. It was sooooo sweet to watch him and his friends, and James (our James) had a lovely time bobbing his head to the music. Afterwards, the lion cub gave me a beautiful card and (real) flowers in a hand painted pot. 

It was James' nap time though so he was beginning to lose it a bit....

We left Jackson so that he could enjoy the rest of his day at school (with James Fox) and James Davis and I headed home. He wants y'all to know that he isn't always a pill. Just when he's sleepy. See, here he is being his sweet self. Also, he is a BIG fan of James/Momma time...

Once Jackson got out of school we went home and had a leisurely afternoon with Tio Bibi. Tio Bibi came to visit us for the whole week and we LOVED having him. ESPECIALLY Jackson. The cub asked over and over and over again what Tio Bibi was doing, whether he was home or not, if he'd put him to bed, if he could go with him, etc. etc. etc. 

Jackson wanted to be Kings/Queens/Princes/Princesses the entire afternoon/night so Tio Bibi, James and I went with it...

 Since it was practically Mother's Day I just pretended to be a Queen all weekend long. Jack loved it let me tell ya...

On actual Mother's Day all the boys went out and bought me Starbucks and gave me some rad new sunglasses. We played in our PJ's and had a dance party alllllll morning long because that's what I wanted to do and once James went down for his nap we all got ready for brunch, which was in a word, spectacular....

 

Josephine's House is one of my favorite Austin restaurants and their brunch does not disappoint. They sat us at the perfect table and the boys were dolls during the meal. Perfection. 

What's more? On the way to the car Jackson picked (read; ripped) a lovely piece of nopal cactus for me as a going away present. Once home, the cub insisted on planting it right.that.minute. So we did. Not sure what all is going to come of our new plant, but overall a lovely Mother's Day. 

 I'm truly blessed to be the mother of these two amazing little boys. They are my everything and I thank God daily that they made me THEIR mom. Happy Mother's Day all!