Labor Day Weekend @ Lost Pines Resort

Hope everyone had a wonderful three day weekend! We spend our holiday weekend down in Bastrop, TX at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort with some friends and we had such a great time!

We left our house at about 12:15pm on Friday and didn't arrive to the resort until after 5pm. Boy was everyone ready to get out of the car!!! (Typically that drive should only take about 3ish hours but we had a few stops to make and there was traffic so that is why it took so long!)

After checking in and getting to our room the kids were ready to go explore. We met up with the Birds and Richmond's for dinner at the Firewheel Cafe. You can order off the menu or do the buffet - I say the buffet is the way to go! Lots of fresh yummy food and kids 5 & under are free. It's delicious AND the chocolate fountain makes it worth it for desert. lol!

 

We didn't last long at dinner - there was too much excitement. These kids wanted to roll down hills and eat s'mores. 

They ran up and down this hill over and over again. I love how much energy kids have! (I mean, sometimes. lol)

It wasn't too long before we realized that Grayson was allergic to grass. His skin was irritated and itchy and he was NOT happy...so I took him back to the room for a bath. It was getting late so we got all the kids to bed then mommy met Nat, Shannon and Tiffany for some girl time :)

 The next day was Grayson's 4th birthday! 

This little monkey slept in and cuddled with mommy. Love him! We spent the morning at the pool and celebrated with some cake before dinner. 

While at dinner we noticed there were some donkey's outside so of course we had to go and say hi. This was as close as Grayson wanted to get to them. 

When we were outside I noticed that someone dropped chocolate fountain sauce all over her hair bow. oops! Good thing her bow is so big - kept the sauce out of her hair! lol

We headed over to the bike corral and the kids rode some bikes before moving on to the next thing...

Hayden played on the little playground forEVER. She loved it. 

The boys did a little fishing in the pond

Little toot did not want to take a pic but I was able to trick her!

That evening they were showing Inside Out on the lawn so we hung out and watched a little bit before heading in for a late bedtime. 

He looks pretty tired!

On Sunday we started off with the ponies!

As close as G would get to the ponies

Ryan was excited to ride a pony!

Just some longhorns walking around. nbd

We walked through the butterfly meadow, played in the bounce house, then made our way to the pool. 

Nat sizzle! Crazy we have been friends for over 10 years!

 

Pool shennanigans

Lounging in the lazy river with my crew!

That evening we decided to eat at the pool. We got the kiddos pizza and the adults ate tacos. 

 

And there were s'mores!

Hayden is slightly terrifying walking around with that marshmallow stick. She hates to have help, but she really needed it. 

Happy kiddos!

8 out of 12 kids pictured - not bad! Love the adorable shirts that Nat had made for the occasion. 

My three little nuggets!

We loved our weekend at Lost Pines! Can't wait to go back!

Grayson - Four Years

Happy 4th birthday to this crazy cool kid!

Grayson is our little labor day baby so he is going to experience the holiday weekend birthday for most of his life. It was no different this year since his birthday fell on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend - while we were at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines with friends. I'd say that's #winning

Here's how we spent the BIG day:

The little man actually wanted to snuggle with me in the morning so I happily jumped in his bed - he can be so darn sweet sometimes :)

When he decided to get up Kevin had some breakfast tacos waiting for him in the living room. That's a big boy breakfast!

After he ate he came back into the room where I was and stood high on his tippy toes and asked "Mom, am I already bigger?" 

We opened up some gifts before heading out to the pool

Grayson is OBSESSED with Paw Patrol and was so very excited for his new Paw Patrol toys. 

During nap time Kevin took the boys off to explore. Ryan managed to sneak away into the gift shop to ask the clerk how much one of the candy bars cost. When he returned, he asked Kevin for $2 to buy Grayson a birthday treat. Kevin wasn't really sure what he was going to buy, but he let the two of them go into the little shop alone so Ryan could treat his brother. After five minutes Kevin poked his head in there and saw the lady giving them both scoops of ice cream - apparently when Ryan told them he was buying his brother a birthday treat they thought it was so sweet and decided to give them BOTH a free ice cream cone. So sweet :)

Enjoying their ice cream!

Later that afternoon we invited all of our friends to join us for some cake!

I love Mrs. Fields cookie cakes but as you can see their decor can be hit or miss. I'm not sure that Paw Patrol logo would pass QC.

I did actually decorate the room - all Paw Patrol. He loved it. 

Hayden was ready for cake. 

We ate cake then headed off to dinner. Yeah, kinda backwards with desert first. But it's his birthday. And vacation. 

After dinner we had a great time playing outside. We hit up the bikes, playground, fishing pond, game truck and then settled down in the lawn for outdoor movie night. This place has it all! 

Grayson had a great day and he loves being FOUR. Because he is SO big now. lol. 

Some little bits about Grayson:
- Kevin likes to refer to him as our "cool" kid. (Not that the others aren't cool, it's just that Grayson has a way about him.)  He's confident and everything he does is with such certainty. Even when he makes up words. He just makes it sound cool.
- Everything is banana. And banana is hilarious. Sometimes you add "hot" in front of it and it is even funnier. Yes, we realize this doesn't make ANY sense whatsoever....but after a while it starts to become funny. maybe? lol
- Is it as big as a hot banana? - G. Seriously, WTF. I know it sounds like we have a crazy kid but you know, kids say the weirdest things.
more bananas:
G: Hey mom - Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Me: Hmmm I'm not sure, what are you thinking about?
G: BANANA!! What were you thinking about?
Me: ummmmm....(trying to come up with something weird).....A HOT POTATO
G: hahahahahha

Ok, enough with the bananas. Moving on. Grayson tends to be on fire or totally burnt out. There isn't much in between with him. When he has decided he is done with something he is "too tired"

I'm too tired:
- to buckle his car seat
- to pick up his trash
- to be nice
- to share (In Montana he said he was too tired to share his fishing pole. I'm not sure on his logic these days)
- to remember something
-He has even been known to tell me he is "too tired" when he is sitting on the couch watching a show. Seriously? Who is this guy?

- Specifically requests for cold milk/cold water. He likes his water ice cold.
- Loves to run around
- Still bounces up and down and shrugs his shoulders when he gets really excited

**going to have to come back and update this**

Four Year Interview:
1. What is your favorite color? Light Blue
2. What is your favorite toy? G: banana pants is. M: no really, your favorite toy. G: PAW PATROL!!!!
3. What is your favorite fruit? bananas!
4. What is your favorite tv show? Paw Patrol & Octonauts
5. What is you favorite thing to eat for lunch?
6. What is your favorite outfit? My beautiful shirt. Remember my shirt that has dark blue, and pink and light blue? 
7. What is your favorite game? hide and go seek
8. What is your favorite snack? string cheese
9. What is your favorite animal? cheetah and giraffe
10. What is your favorite song? Paw Patrol theme song - he just started singing it when I asked the ?
11. What is your favorite book? Don't wake the Bear
12. Who is your best friend? Perry & Hayes
13. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
15. What is your favorite drink? cold milk
16. What is your favorite holiday?
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Hop & Everest
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Salmon
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Zookeeper

Love you little dude! Four is going to be GREAT!

What's up Wednesday - August 31

1. What we are eating this week

Monday: Mix & Match Mama's Spinach and Swiss Meatballs over quinoa

Tuesday: Grilled Steak & Chicken kabobs (recipe from simply scratch)

Wednesday: Leftovers (soccer practice!)
Thursday: Must-go (leftovers...again....gasp!) We are headed out of town Friday so everything Must Go! This is what my Yiayia always called leftovers and it kinda stuck.  
Friday: Out of town

2. What I'm Reminiscing about

The kiddos first day's of pre-school!

I guess I didn't take a picture of him standing next to his 

2012

Pre-K 3

Grayson's first day 2013

2014

Ryan last year

Grayson last year

3. What I'm loving

This is so random but I am so happy with my food service foil sheets that I got at Costco. Ha! I am a huge dork but it really makes grabbing foil so much easier! It's like a box of kleenex, but it's 12x12 foil sheets. I always line my baking sheets and or wrap things to go quickly...and it just makes it that much more quick. Plus I hate those serrated edges on the regular foil boxes!

And on a much more 'cool mom' note, I am loving my new Lululemon short sleeve top - it's the perfect cover up for the hot weather. Since I typically work out 4-5 times a week I do end up in my workout clothes more often than I would like during the day. I always feel kind of naked when I just have my workout top on so I love that I can throw this on over. It's quick, cute and breezy. lol!

Dash to Class Short Sleeve

4. What we've been up to

The first half of August I was consumed by party prep for the Pirates and Mermaids party. The second half has been focusing on going back to school - being in school - and squeezing in more summer fun with the littles before they go back!

5. What I'm dreading

Soccer practice. I'm such a bad soccer mom but I am so not a fan of soccer practice. It's always right smack in the middle of dinner time, it's always hot, and I am always chasing Hayden around because she doesn't like to sit still. This season the boys both have practice on the same night, at the same time....and not so much at the same field. As far as our area goes, they are complete opposite sides of the neighborhood so it is not possible to go to both - darn. lol. Carpool :)

On the other hand...look how excited Grayson (and Hayden) are for soccer practice!

6. What I'm working on

House stuff (Purging, organizing, simplifying)

Speakeasy Party (Stonewall Party I am co-hosting with some fun ladies!)

7. What I'm excited about

We have a lot of fun stuff planned for September - excited for a fun month!

8. What I'm watching/reading

Bachelor in Paradise. of course.

Stranger Things 

We are probably half-way through the season and my feelings on it are pretty neutral. I enjoy watching it, but I am not obsessed. lol. 

I have hear The Night Of is pretty great so I am excited to start that HBO mini series next. 

And onto reading....

I just ordered two new books:

And

I'll let ya know what I think!

9. What I'm listening to

I downloaded the Audible app from amazon and am excited to try some books on tape! I have heard from a handful of mom's that their kids love listening to stories on tape so we are going to try one on our way down to Austin. 

 I downloaded Roald Dahls Big Friendly Giant so I am hoping it holds the kids interest!

10. What I'm wearing

Well, just like everyone else here in Dallas I am ready for some fall weather. I realize that probably won't get here for another month or so, so I guess not much will change. 

11. What I'm doing this weekend

Grayson's 4th birthday! We will be down in Austin at Lost Pines with friends so it will be a great way to celebrate!

12. What I'm looking forward to next month

- Football season starting. Not that I am a huge football fan but I love having the games on and hanging with friends.

- Little's starting school. This year Grayson will have Ms Karen and Ms Liz, the same teachers that Ryan had! We loved them so I am thrilled that Grayson is in their class.

- Speakeasy Party. I am hosting a Speakeasy party with a bunch of Stonewall mommies.

- Carrie Underwood concert!

That's all I got! Happy Wednesday!