Summer Fun and Memories

Why does time seem to go by so fast when we're having fun? I can't believe we're to the middle of JULY!! Can you? It's been nice having the guys back with us  but the last two weeks I've had some kind of throat problem where now it's really knocking me down :( So if mom's sick, we can't really do much. So the guys have had to hang around the house and play video games all day. Gee, what torture. But really, I don't want them playing videos everyday. This is why they each went away for 2-3 weeks. The little guy is bored. I can tell. The first few days after coming back from  Camp Huawni   he actually said that he was bored because I didn't have a list of daily activities for him. I thought that was funny. I can tell he had a lot  of growing experiences while at camp. For instance, he did not like to take his swimming lessons last winter. He was afraid of being in the water. Well, lo and behold when I saw these pics...

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Ridin' Around In My Automobile (South Texas Trip)

Well hey, hey, everybody! We've arrived at the end of another hot, scorchin' summer week and whew! have we been busy. Let me recap our last week for you: Last Saturday we made the 12 hour round trip to pick up the little guy from  Camp Huawni (where he had a BLAST!) and the big guy from Texas A&M. Both were VERY glad to be back in the comforts of home. It's nice to hear they missed their video games us. But before that loooong trip, we took another one down to South Texas. You wanna talk about hot? That there place is H-O-T !! And though we love visiting family, WE were glad to be back home!! But while we were there, we love to shop the downtown district. We woke up extra early (cough..9 o'clock) and moseyed on downtown to take a few pics of some historic sites before the shops opened at 10. Here are a few highlights: The old Plaza movie theater They now have a chain link fence around the front.  It's fun to go and take a lo...

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Summer Fun at Camp

Well we did it! We dropped off the little guy at Camp Huawni We got to see some pics of him thru their secure website. I am sure he is having lots of fun. Here are a few pics of him at Camp Huawni. I sure do miss him :( But I know he is in good hands and getting to be a kid. He can run around all day playing with friends without me  worrying that he will be run over by a car or taken by some  stranger. I want my children to have those carefree days and just be kids. At Camp Huawni, my little guy will get to make some great memories. And as for me, well I finally finished my consulting work and hopefully won't have to be doing that anymore. I took the leap of faith and now I have to work hard at moving my photography business forward. I also have a lot of projects to finish here at home and lots of traveling to do.  I thought I'd have lots of time to do said projects since the boys aren't here-WRONG!! I find myself sidetr...

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T Minus Four Days to Camp

Here we are mid week and I am still getting the little guy ready for his first time ever going away to Camp Huawni!   I am anxiously awaiting a name stamper so I can stamp all his clothes and things with his name! It was supposed to arrive today but it wasn't here yet when I last checked.  Agghh! I hope it will be here tomorrow.  We have had a super busy last few days. First off, we dropped off the big guy at A&M for his robotics course. I was very apprehensive about dropping him off to be alone for three weeks so far away from me!! (ok, it's not THAT far but I'd rather have all my kids under the same roof. You moms know what I'm talkin' bout) So, Monday night I call him to see how he's doing and he didn't have time to talk to me!  Can you believe that! :*( I guess he's growing up and liking it. They will be keeping them pretty busy every day not only with academics but with fun activities in the evenings. The reaso...

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Make A Laundry Bag (Stencil and Dropcloth)

How to Make A Laundry Bag Out of Dropcloths Well it's T minus 10 days 'till the little guy goes off to  Camp Huawni and I am busy getting all his gear ready. The big guy goes off to his camp this Sunday so I am getting his gear ready first. One of the things on both their lists were laundry bags. Now, I know I could just go buy one but what fun would that be? So here is how to make your very own cheap laundry bag: You will need- Dropcloth some type of strong cording such as clothes line acrylic paint letter stencils stippling brush a sewing machine For my lettering I used my Cricut and Gypsy with the Storybook fonts I wanted to make the laundry bags look kinda vintage-y What do you think? The big guy's bag has his monogram on it and the little guy's has his name stenciled on the back The number 13 was used to signify the first letter of our last name ;) My mom, who is a professional seamstress and cou...

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Bittersweet Week {Hello and Goodbye}

Yep I finally did it. I took the leap of faith I needed to take and I retired early from my government accounting job. Today was my last day :( And just as I was doubting myself for my decision, I got an email wanting to book a wedding with me in the fall :)   {copyright Patricia Martinez Photograph y} Isn't it something when we start to doubt ourselves only to have little reminders that we are not alone? That maybe there IS someone out there watching us and making sure we live up to our potential. And that makes me feel a whole LOT better. So this week the kids finally got out of school and summer is officially here! It was bittersweet for our little guy as he bid farewell to his elementary school. We will begin homeschooling him in the fall and I will blog about this entirely new adventure. Our big guy, well he bid adieu to to middle school and is now a REALLY big guy going to high school. We are also getting ready to send the little guy to  Ca...

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Make Pretty Flower Cabochon Earrings

Well hello there my sweet peeps! It has been a CRAZY week here in our household. Why are the last few weeks of the school year this way? It seems like the teachers are trying to cram in as much as possible before the kids get out for the summer. Last minute projects, outdoor concerts, band competitions, end of year parties. Whew! It makes me tired just writing about it. It's gotten to the point that my craftin' has taken a back seat to every day life. And that just isn't ok with me. Know what I mean? :) So, here we are on a weeknight and I have been perusing the latest fashion magazines for ideas on how to pose my  clients for my photography business. You can see my portfolio at Patricia Martinez Photography and my blog at McKinney Children's Photographer . I love looking at all the new fashions especially the jewelry. I saw a very pretty pair of earrings that are all the rage but the price tag would drive my husband into a rage if I w...

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Getting Closer to Camp Time!!!

On Saturday the little guy got something in the mail!! His Camp Huawni list of things to pack! YAY! We are so excited! Did I say we? Yes, I did! Remember way back at the beginning of the year when  I was all afraid of sending my little guy away to camp? Well now I am absolutely convinced he will thrive at this camp. I have heard nothing but good things about it and the people that run the camp are super awesome and have put me very well at ease. Did you know that the counselor to camper ratio there is 1 to 3.  Yikes! and Wow! One counselor to three campers. That's impressive. Our little guy will be going there next month. We are happily and excitedly going over some last minute things like: Scheduling his physical and filling out medical forms Going over the packing list and getting things in order Making my Thirty One order for some cool camo totes he can take with him. Ordering some name labels to put on all his clothes :) He is goi...

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Getting Ready for Camp - Camp Huawni

I love summer trips. Yesterday I talked a bit about our trip to Austin and the simple and fun things we got to do. And last night I got to thinking that the most fun I've had is  when I am just doing simple things.  Not having to spend lots of money on outings, just kinda hanging out with friends. Either at a cookout, neighborhood block party,  or watching the kids run around. That last one is a bit hard to do, running around. What with living in a suburb and all the crazies out there, parents are usually paranoid (and rightfully so) to let their kids run around outside playing like we used to do.  This is why, when the opportunity to send my child away to camp for the summer, I considered it.  I have to admit that I was a bit nervous at first to send my soon to be 10 y.o. son away for two weeks! I've never sent him away before. EVER!!! But the more I talked about it with other parents and people in general that had gone to summer cam...

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