Beaver's Bend 2017: Roomiani-Weinstein Camping Trip!

What has family, no cell signal, calming waters, fun boat rides, horseback riding, campfires, hikes, fishing, and so much relaxation (and bug spray)? That's right! It's camping time again! And how great it was.

After trying Robber's Cave last year, we went back to Beaver's Bend for this year's camping trip. And we had so much fun!

Canoeing, Swimming, Skipping stones, collecting rocks, reading books, riding horses, making camp fires, zip-lining, fishing, telling stories, and just hanging out. Camping is a blast.

So much has happened since we went to Beaver's Bend, that as I write this post, I'm already reminiscing and looking forward to our next trip to this haven. I recall some sweet memories: Yaya and I telling you tales of Harry Potter while swimming in the lake; Uncle Joe teaching you how to make smores; 

Aunt Sham and her bag of presents; reading comic books with you, Aidan; riding horses and playing Guess Who with you, Julia; singing songs by the campfire; Baba teaching you how to skip stones; spotting deer, bats, beavers, eagles, turtles and fish; when Baba, Yaya, Joe, and Sham "ambushed" us on the river ride with surprise squirt guns! 

So much laughter, so much fun, so much learning and growing and patience. So much family.

I love camping with you guys, and with our family. I can't wait to be back in the woods again, isolated from the troubles of the world, with only the sky above us, and the ground and or river and or lake beneath (and inside a cushy air-conditioned cabin).

Summer camp is calling....

Father's Day 2017

Father's Day 2017 was so wonderful; I am thankful and proud to be your Dad every day. I don't really need to be celebrated or pampered (too much).

The day began with swimming and snacking on grapes like a king. 

Eating our grapes poolside with you critters who made me a father. 

Then you guys gave in to my demands and we went on an adventure for lunch. Here's how I described it:

These smiling faces humored me and we ate lunch at a bahn mi place I read about online. It was super yummy, but I think we might have eaten entrails. Holly is pretty sure it was knuckle meat. The kids enjoyed mango smoothies. I hope all you dads out there are getting spoiled with knuckle meat today!

We survived and were still smiling. But our tummies were a bit upset. Julia, remind me to tell you that the meat you liked was NOT turkey meat ;)

Then we read, and wrestled, and messed around with some fun photo app.

Then the Grandpas (and grandmas) arrived!

More swimming!

Father's Day Kids* Table!

You guys had made some lovely painted rocks for the Dads, and the Mommies made yummy fish tacos!

It is always fantastic to celebrate our dads!

Baba:

Pops:

And with notes like this from you Julia, and kind words like what you said to me, Aidan ("Dad I love you...you are the specialest dad I ever met") I feel incredibly honored.

"Dad I love you...you are the specialest dad I ever met"
- Aidan, 6/17

"Happy Fathers Day
Dad
Happy Fathers Day
I love you
You are funny
I ever <?> pretties*
You have pretty kids
You have pretty Mom (aka Holly)
You have pretty Dogs
Dad - Julia"

I smiled so hard my face hurt. Totally amazed and speechless and touched. I also now have admissible evidence that I am funny.

#Treasure

*You couldn't read your own writing on line 6.  You get that from me.

Thank you for letting me be your Dad! I love you both so much.

Julia's First Hair Cut

Julia, Julia, let down your hair!

You are 4 and a half years old and have only ever had little trims for split ends and a few trims to your bangs (which you used to call 'fangs.') You LOVE your hair! You're proud of the color, the look, the feel, the different things you can do with it. But, you're also very adventurous and determined and practical...and open to change.

When you came to mommy and me and let us know that you wanted to cut your hair...and cut it short...we worked with you to make sure that this was what you wanted. 

You found pictures -with mommy's help- of what you wanted your hair to look like online. 

We double checked with you, to make sure you understood that you couldn't wear pony tails or pig tails or even a bun. 

You were calm and said "It'll grow back, Daddy!"

And so...Mommy made an appointment in a cool place in Deep Ellum with a stylist named Kennedy. Yaya came along too for moral support, and here you go!

 

You absolutely love it! And that's what is most important! 

It doesn't hurt that everyone else loves it too!

So a few snips, support from Yaya, Aidan, and Mommy during the cut, and one lollipop later, and you got yourself a brand new 'do!

Big Splash at the Ballet

Mimi and Pops were kind enough to take us to see "Alice and Wonderland" at the ballet in Downtown Dallas at the Winspear Opera house:

To say you guys had a blast would be an understatement! The Ballet was a big splash!

You were dancing before we even got to our seats!

The show- including the pit, the program, the chandelier, the live music, and -of course- the crazy ballet costumes and production were amazing!

You guys loved the show, and loved picking out which dancers were which animals.

After the show, Julia, you said you wanted to be a "Ballerina Archaeologist" when you grew up.

Aidan, you were so into the dancing that you couldn't wait to show off your new skills to some young ladies you met. In fact, you performed for them and yelled "Clap for me!"

Outside the Winspear, you found the water feature, and the real splashing dancing (splash-dance?) began!

What an important date! We wish you a very merry un-actual day reminder of this fun, artistic, splashy day.