Summer vacation: Week 9

Monday
We spent the morning swimming with Douniazed, Zayne, and Soraya at their house.  In the afternoon, we were supposed to have Lindsey and the kids over to swim, but they were trying to get over an illness so we had to skip it this time, unfortunately.  Instead, the kids got to come with me while I searched for some organizational containers and shelves at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the Dollar Tree.

Tuesday
We went to the HEB story time in the morning and then to another Dollar Tree in search of more items for my pantry organizational task.  In the afternoon, I had an art activity planned for the kids that they really loved.  They made splatter painting canvases for their bedrooms.  I got the idea from my friend Naomi, and tried out spray bottles to see how they'd work.  Had I not used dollar store spray bottles, it may have worked much better!  We pretty quickly ditched them and they kids just used brushes to splatter instead.  It was so fun to watch.  They really loved it and would have spent hours more out there if we had more canvases and it was maybe 20 degrees cooler!  They also got more on themselves that the canvases at times!  They each did their whole canvas all by themselves.  I expected we'd swim after (it was SO hot), but the kids came up with the idea to shower in our bathroom, so that's what they did instead!

Wednesday
We had a fun and busy Wednesday.  In the morning, we met up with a friend to play at the Galleria play area, and then the kids had lunch in the car as we drove to the Stella Link library for Tune Time.

From the library we went straight to play with Savannah, Coco, and Lila for the afternoon.

Thursday
The kids and I spent the morning relaxing at home, and then Roy came to get us to go for lunch.  The kids had their coupons for a free meal at Berryhill from one of their summer reading programs, and we had wanted to try it out, so off we went.  The set up was extremely family friendly and the food was good.  I didn't LOVE the chips and salsa, unfortunately, but their creamy green sauce was spicy and delicious.  And, really, any chips and salsa make me happy!  We will definitely return.  And I'd love to return to our next destination one day, too - we went ring shopping for a 10th anniversary ring for me at a little antique/estate jewelry store.  They had such lovely things and I found exactly what I had wanted (at double the price I was thinking we'd spend .... oops! ... but Roy said we should get it and who am I to argue?!?!).  It is still being sized and every time the phone rings I hope it's them calling to say it is ready!

Friday
It was our 10th anniversary.  Amazing how the time can go by so quickly!  It doesn't feel like 10 years has passed.

We spent the day at the beach in Galveston.  It was such a fun day!  We got their early, played in the water and in the sand, and had a picnic lunch.  I didn't get many photos because I was busy playing, too!  The only not so fun part of the day was when Leighton got stung by something in the water.  He said it looked like a tall/long, floating, white feather.  Roy was right beside him, but didn't see it.  Immediately he said it was stinging and there were red marks.  I just checked tonight and a week later there are still little scratch marks there.  We saw two tweens/teens come out of the water complaining about something big getting them, too.  We are assuming jelly fish, but we aren't sure.  Leighton was a bit nervous to go back in the water, but we convinced him to stay in the shallow water near the shore.