I have some catching up to do!

Spring break was the week of March 10th this year, and lucky for us Josh took 3 days off that week so we could do some fun family stuff. One of the things we did was go to the Waco Zoo with our friends the Steeds and the Cummings. It was great because each of the kids had a buddy their own age and the folks even had some friends too. It was a great trip. The zoo is only a little over an hour away from our house and the perfect size. Xander thought it was too long. We were about 45 mins. up the road when Xander asked, "Are we at the zoo yet?" which was apparently a rhetorical question because he answered himself with the exuberant exclamation, "No we're not!" He definitely has not had enough trips in the car of any great distance.

Here are Xander and Jackson enjoying the giraffes!

Madison and Megan are always happy to pose for the camera.

I got to go with Madi on the 4th grade field trip to the Alamo. This is my third time to attend this field trip since I went with both Benson and Natalie when they were in the 4th grade and had the Amazing Ms. Adams for a teacher. We loaded up on the buses at 7 a.m. and headed to San Antonio. The longest part of the bus ride is getting through Austin's morning commuter traffic. We started our day at the Institute of Texas Cultures. It is a really great place that highlights all the different cultures that came and settled in Texas. Super fun place! We ate lunch there and then headed to the IMAX theater where we watched the movie "The Alamo" on that huge screen. Great show! We finished off at the Alamo itself looking at the fort, artifacts, historical documents and memorials. We hopped on the bus just before 4 and arrived back at the school around 6:30p.m. What a day! What a blast! We love those "being there experiences".

Madi and her buddy Carson. They have been in the same class several times since Kindergarten.

Xander attended Kindergarten Kickoff this week. We went to Great Oaks Elementary where the kids have been attending since the fall of '03, right after he was born. He has literally grown up there, especially since I have been doing PTA the last two years. He has roamed the halls of that school in a stroller, as he learned to walk, as he has grown to be old enough to be a student himself. His biggest fans on earth work there in the office. Miss Ruth, one of his favorite ladies, has promised she will not retire until her finishes grade 5. (She still won't be old enough to retire then.) He had a great time taking a tour of the Kinder hall which he could have guided, and meeting new friends. And he was so excited to get his new spirit shirt which is his favorite color!! Hard to believe he is old enough to go through the preparatory steps of attending Kindergarten. Harder to believe we are going through similar steps for Benson to start HIGH SCHOOL! Heaven help us!!