Fourth Grade

Bode started the 4th grade last Thursday.  His teacher is Mister Glisson, and he is a very likeable guy.  Bode said he's not as strict as his 3rd grade teacher, so hopefully Bode will thrive in an environment where his creativity isn't stymied (which is code for a less lenient teacher who will tolerate Bode's incessant yapping to his friends :-)  Here's Bode on the first day--such a handsome young man.

Bode's buddy, Tylen, is in the same class, so Bode is excited.  Eli, sadly (but likely for the best, as Bode said), is not, but they do get to play together at recess.  Bode said he wants to join the orchestra this year, so we went and picked him out a violin.  We will see how this goes.

Barkley is getting bigger and bigger, but she still loves to sleep on her back next to the door.

She's getting quite big--not quite bigger than Joey, but getting there.

The summer is quickly coming to an end.  I started classes yesterday (bah), and am already looking forward to the winter break.  I did a lot of work on the yard, putting in over 300 square feet of sod (yes, I cheated--growing from seed was not an option with the two beasts).  We think the yard looks pretty good.

With fall quickly approaching, Ashley is anxiously awaiting the start of the Auburn football season.  The mighty Tigers are ranked 12th in the AP preseason poll--that has to be a typo :-)  Pleasant week to all.

Houston II

We had a couple of outings while in Houston--nothing major, and that is how we wanted it--why would we ever want to leave a private pool and slushy machine?  Milton was kind enough to get us tickets to the Astros-Bluejays baseball game.  Milton and Penny could not attend because Callie (their senior-to-be daughter) had a volleyball function.  Thus, the three of us and Cricket (their 19-year old college sophomore) made the trip.  First, here are Bode and Cricket outside of Minute Maid stadium.

Next, here are the three of them in the stadium.

The ball park is a very nice venue, and our seats were down the third-baseline.

It was an offensive showdown, with the Astros scoring nine runs in the bottom of the fourth.  There were an inordinate amount of home runs--if all baseball games were like this one, I'd be a bigger fan :-)  We also got some Jeff Bagwell jerseys because the team was celebrating Jeff's Hall-of-Fame induction.

On Sunday, we went to the lake and spent some time tubing.  Before leaving, Bode wanted a picture next to one of Milton's deer-heads.  I don't think Bode knew that Milton killed the deer--he just thought it was a stuffed toy :-)

The lake was loads of fun.  Here's Ashley relaxing...

and Bode, Cricket, and Callie prepping for some tubing.

Cricket made a big jump into the water...

and Bode followed shortly thereafter, albeit not with a big jump.

Bode and Cricket went first on the tube.  The movie isn't the best of quality, but I'll include it because it's all I've got.

Afterwards, Cricket and I tubed, and then Ashley and I tubed, and then Cricket and I went again, and finally it was Callie and Cricket.  We had a great time on the lake, and topped of the evening with trip to some country kitchen serving catfish (and a side of alliteration).

Sadly, we returned home (back to reality) today, and Ashley has to work tomorrow.  While in Houston, we also went to Top Golf, and saw Uncle Dwight and Aunt Patti, but I don't have any pictures.  I'm hoping I can get Ashley to download her phone's pictures to the computer, so when she does, I'll post one more Houston adventure.  Bode starts school on 17 Aug, and UCCS starts up on 21 Aug.  Is summer really almost over?  Bah.

Houston I

We spent the last five days down in Houston, Texas.  Yes, we just had a nice vacation to Georgia in July, but we felt the need to get back down to the heat and humidity.  Last year, Bode and Ashley made the trip (I had to stay home to take care of Harley...)  This year, all three made the quick flight down to Houston.  We woke up Wednesday morning in (relatively) cold Colorado, and by mid-afternoon, we were soaking it up in the pool.

Bode and I (and Ashley too--she's more than willing to swim when the temperature is 90+) spent some quality time in Penny and Milton's pool.

But swimming in the hot sun is exhausting, as Ashley can attest.

Our first night, Josh, Sarah, and Owen came over for dinner.  I did a poor job getting pictures, but I did try to get one towards the end of the evening.  Josh is at the end of the table, Penny is across from Ashley, and Milton and Sarah are on the far right.

Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the slushy machine, but it was running strong with lemonade slushies the entire time we were there.  I am convinced we need one of the these machines, and have charged my executive assistant with getting us one :-)