Our New Pool!

While my parents were here over Spring Break, we had a glorious sunny Saturday with a high of 87 degrees! Our new pool was begging to be broken in, so we did just that! We were all so excited to have our very first swim in our new pool!

We've only used the pool a handful of other times since the very first swim with my parents, but the ten day forecast is looking very promising! Hopefully we'll have lots more pool days in our near future!

As you could probably see from the background of some of the pictures, there's still a lot of work to be done in our backyard! But the three biggest things have been checked off our list--pool, fence, and sprinkler system repaired..so that is SUPER exciting! The next big project is sod for the backyard & then hopefully one day adding another set of stairs off of our deck, but for now we are so, so happy! Our backyard has come a looooong way since moved in this past summer! Here is a little collage of the progression over the months. It has been an adventure to say the least! We started calling pool companies at the end of July & met with a few different companies in August and mulled over their quotes, and then signed on the dotted line with Blue Haven Pools at the end of August. September & October was pretty much a waiting game--waiting for HOA approval, waiting on our permit from the city, and then waiting on the weather to cooperate. Finally, on October 25th the excavation officially began! The very first picture on the top left is when they spray painted the outline of the pool in our grass prior to excavation. We filled up our pool with water in mid-January, and there was really only little last-minute stuff done after that. The main thing was we had to wait at least a month after the pool was plastered to let it cure before turning on the pool heater, and then our pool was officially open for swimming! So all in all, about eight-ish months from beginning to end!

And a few of my favorite pictures from the construction phase...the first one is Derek "swimming" through our "pool," and the second one pretty much sums up the pool building experience from Brady's perspective. The two of us spent a lot of time watching equipment & workers from our kitchen window!

This pool was a big undertaking to say the least, but we are so excited & grateful to have it in our backyard! We are looking forward to lots of memories being made out here over the years! Summer, we're ready for you!!!

Spring Break 2019 {Visits from Grandparents}

For the past couple of years since Shelby has been in elementary school, we have taken little trips over her Spring Break. We went to San Diego two years ago for Spring Break, and then last year we went to Sequoia National Park & Yosemite. Derek & I were kind of bummed this year that we couldn't go anywhere for Spring Break b/c he was on call, but we ended up having a super fun break after all thanks to grandparents visiting!!! :) My parents got here a couple days before the girls' Spring Break kicked off. It was my dad's first visit to this house and my mom's second, but she hadn't been here since the girls started school. Shelby & Hadley had the best time showing them their new school and getting to eat lunch with Grammy & Grampy in the cafeteria!

We took Grammy & Grampy to the Doseum one day while they were here & had lots of fun!

We also had our inaugural swim in our new pool with Grammy & Grampy (a separate post on that to come!), but mostly we just had fun doing our "regular life" with them while they were in town! Since living away from family for the past 12 years or so, I have found that we typically see family for "special occasions" or a holiday {which we're so thankful for!}, but it's also really nice to just share a little slice of our regular life with one another! It was fun to get to show them the girls' school, go to Soccer Shots & the library, & play at home. Grammy took Hadley to Claire's to pick out a birthday necklace one day & Grammy was the best sport over and let the girls play "salon" on her. We're so thankful to be able to share ordinary moments like these with grandparents!

 A few days after Grammy & Grampy left, we welcomed Grandma & Granddad for their first visit to San Antonio! All three kids couldn't get enough of Grandma's baton when we visited them over Christmas, so she brought her baton along with her on this trip + a new baton for Shelby, Hadley, & Brady! They were ecstatic! And Granddad loves collecting coins & got the girls going on their first collection. I was blown away by how into it they were!! It's so special to have grandparents share their interests, passions, and talents with their grandkids!

We had so much fun with our visitors, but Daylight Savings + two sets of visitors + two kids with a little cough/congestion + a birthday + Brady starting swim lessons = whew! We are ready for a weekend with no plans!!! 

Hadley is SIX!

Our Hadley Mae turned SIX yesterday! She had the best day celebrating, but I think one of the most special parts about this birthday was that she had not one but TWO sets of grandparents come visit her in the days leading up to her birthday over Spring Break! We had so much fun with Grammy, Grampy, Grandma, & Granddad visiting--I'll do a full Spring Break post soon, but for now here's a few snapshots of her actual birthday!

Hadley woke up to streamers & balloons and decked out in her tutu & birthday headband! She was READY! The birthday girl requested Eggo waffles for breakfast & Shipley's donuts for her birthday treat at school with her classmates. :)

After school, we took our daily stroll to the mailbox..but it was more exciting with the anticipation of birthday mail!

And for dinner, Hadley got a big bowl of her favorite food--Kraft Mac & Cheese! :)  After dinner, we sang to the Birthday Girl and cut into the birthday cake that Hadley made with Granddad & Grandma the day before.

And last but not least, presents before bedtime! Shelby spent her own money at the Book Fair a few weeks ago to get Hadley a Creepella book for her birthday, and she also spent her own money to get her the Barbie hair styling kit. Shelby is such a saver when it comes to her money, but she spent it freely on her sister. I can't get over the thoughtfulness!

It was such a fun day celebrating Miss H {what she likes to be called}! She is super smart, kind, & funny! She rocks Kindergarten & absolutely loves all things jewelry and makeup. She still says she wants to be a hair stylist when she grows up. :)  She plays the role of little sister & big sister SO well! We're so thankful she's ours! We loves you so much, Hadley!!!!