Summer Break Activities and Fun

Hey Mamas!!
 I hope you are having a fantastic week! I can't believe that the school year is over and summer break is here!  WOWZA!!
Because this is our first year of public school, this is all our first summer break from public school. Although, have had a little anticipations from all the stories I have heard of bored kids, that argue, complain, and sit around watching TV all summer; while I'm sure we will have plenty of that to go around, I really want to spend this summer focusing on two things, the word of God and growing the bond of brotherhood and family.

I am so excited to share with all of you some fun activities, lessons, and crafts that I have up my sleeve. Make sure you grab the Cup of Daisies Button and subscribe so you don't miss a thing this summer! 


There will be plenty going on around here, but here are a few that will be on our weekly schedule!  I'll share my ideas and make sure you link up with your too!  This will help us all stay intentional, and busy this summer.  

Memory Madness Mondays:

I will be posting a list of the weekly verses the boys and I will be memorizing, (who knows maybe Dad will get in on the fun too.) There will be prizes involved!

Work (Together) Wednesdays:

Team Work is the key here. The boys will have a  project or a game to complete each week. Some of them will be fun... some will not. It will however, be an activity that each brother will have to do his part and depend on each other to complete the project. Our first project will be making a summer work chart, and a seperate summer activity chart. This will help keep the whole family accountable for our time and responsibilities.

Fun Mom Fridays:

Friday's around our house this summer will be deemed to be Fun Mom Fridays!  Make sure you visit each Friday for your Fun Mom Friday Craft/Activity to take and share with your family! Nobody wants to be that mom who is overwhelmed and grumps around (I am that way sometimes), so this summer I will be proactive and intentional about being fun, but more importantly present with my kids. 

First EVER Caldwell Family Camping Trip

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Spring is in full swing down here in South Texas and us Caldwell's have decided to take full advantage of the gorgeous weather.  Santa brought us a tent Christmas morning and we put it to use this weekend with our first ever camping trip.

Choke Canyon State Park, proved to be a perfect choice for our outing. So after school Friday, we loaded up and made the quick trip to our weekend destination.

 Our tent! It was perfect!

 We did a lot of tree climbing,

 Saw an alligator!

 Splashed in the water,

 Did some fishing,

 Played with icky worms,

 More fishing,

 Slept in  tent,

Boys Battled,

 Relaxed,

 Cooked up deliciousness,

Did a little painting and creating,

 Played baseball,

 Found a huge ant colony,

More relaxing,

More fishing,

 We were silly,

 and Happy,

 It was all quite a balancing act.

This is the only fish caught all weekend... a red rubber fish to practice casting.  Each time Brennan reeled it in (must have been 200 times) He would say, "Mommy, I think I caught something! Look it's a fish!!" He was so proud!

 Of course, we took time for smores!

 Dad got the fire, just right!

 The smores made us really Happy!

 William told us some spooky stories before bed.  The other boys chimed in as well.

Perfect creation + Perfect weather + Family = A Perfect Family Camping Trip!

Christmas Morning 2011

Each year we spend most of our Christmas Holiday Traveling to see Grandparents, Grandparents, and more Grandparents!  And we LOVE it!  I love the memories and bonds that are made by spending time with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and sweet cousins! Because of our excessive traveling, we always have Christmas the weekend before we leave, which usually also means the weekend before Calendar Christmas. We get to have a small intimate Christmas with our boys and we don't have to worry about hiding presents or hauling presents all over Texas. 

  This year December 18th was the big day.  We set out cookies, for Santa and headed to bed. (Yes, this works...by the time they begin to question our Christmas timing they will probably also begin to question Santa in general)

 Good morning!! William tried to get up at 3:00 am, but was sent back to bed.... at 6:24, He revisited the idea of getting up... and we obliged. Santa brought the boys a new tent, and sleeping bags! We can't wait to try them out in a few months.

 The boys dumping their stockings.

 Cade got a new Star Wars Leapster Explorer Game... and everyone loved it! They sat in this huddle for at least 10 minutes.

 William was so happy to get this shirt!  We are a little Star Wars obsessed around here!

We had a wonderful day!  Now we are gearing up for a week long trip around Texas!  Waco, Dallas, Muleshoe... Ready or Not here we come!!

Fun Fall Adventures in South Texas

Did someone say it was fall?  Oh yeah, that was me like everyday since the first day of fall... I forget this is what fall looks like in South Texas...  Here are a few pics from our first week of autumn.

@Texas State Aquarium

Happy Fall Y'all!!