2016 Summer Bucket List

I've been busy at work and home and have been neglecting this little blog of mine a little.

I'm still trying to play catch up, but I wanted to link up today with Andrea and Erika.

 

 

Last week Leslie said Noah had requested another

Summer Bucket List like I had made them last year.

 

This is the 2016 List: 

 

For fun - this was their list last year.

Camping

In May we all headed to Benbrook Lake for a camp out.

Unfortuately we were only able to go for one night and we hadn't camped in so

long it took Cecil awhile to get the supplies together and loaded up.

I wish we had had more time at the camp site - maybe next year.

 

Saturday late afternoon we all got to the campsite and saw that the park was VERY flooded.

Our original campsite was closed because of flooding.

We Cecil set up a tent for Leslie/Noah/Zay and one for Cecil/Connor/me.

Leslie and I prefer to sleep on air mattresses.

Cecil usually sleeps on a cot, but chose to sleep on the ground with a sleeping bag this time.

Leslie used our (now hers) smaller tent and her new giant air mattress took up almost all the space.

Noah and Leslie slept on her air mattress and Zay slept on their bags. hahaha

Austin and Pops slept in a tent and Tammi, Zach, Granny and their two dogs slept inside her camper.

 

When we first arrived, the boys immediately hopped up on this cool tree in our campsite.  

 

 

 

We brought along this PNP that Nana had given us. She found it at a garage

 sale and even though it is really really old it is in perfect condition.

Connor actually loved being in it.

We really need to utilize PNPs more often.

 

 

We spent most of our time over at Tammi's campsite.

She is a PRO-CAMPER!! They had a tablecloth, stove and tables all set up for us.

Here are my sweet boys walking across the path from our site.

 

 

Cecil brought Connor's swing and hung it from a tree. 

 

 Pops, Austin and Noah went on the lake for a canoe ride.

 

You can tell by the light in the pictures - they were out there for awhile.

I'm certain Noah was in heaven being with Austin (his favorite person in the world).

 

 

While on their journey they stopped at one of the campsites that was flooded.

And it was seriously flooded. You can't even see the benches next to the table.

Pops dropped them off and then paddled back for a picture.

 

Sweet boys.

 

While those three were canoeing, Cecil and Zay went fishing but

I didn't get any pictures of that adventure.

 

They all got back to the campsite and did boy things.....LOL so weird.

 

Zach cooked us hamburgers for dinner and they were super super good!

During the campfire, Austin shared his headphones with Noah.

 

I love this picture of Austin and Rocket.

Connor was BAD towards the dogs. He did NOT understand GENTLE and it made me super nervous. They growled at him twice and it was scary.

I think it was because the dogs were tied up and couldn't escape him.

He would "pet" them by hitting them really hard all over.

What a mess!

 

 

My favorite part about camping is the camp fire and the s'mores.

 

Connor and Cecil being cute. :)

 

 

Sunday was Mother's Day. I had told the guys they needed to cook for us Moms.

Cecil was obedient (ha!) and they cooked eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits. Yum.

 

The night before Pops and Austin decided they were going to get up super early and

go on a canoe ride. They woke Noah and Zay up, but only Zay wanted to go. 

 

 

Here they are out on the lake. They were gone FOREVER.

I think it ended up being a little too much for Zay. 

 

The weather was starting to get worse and everyone was working to get packed away

before the rain started. I think we left there around 11.

 

Connor slept on the air mattress with me and did pretty well until I tried to move us to the middle around 4am and he woke up and would cry unless I was sitting up holding him.

If I tried to lay down he cried. Ughhhh.

I was up for two hours.

I was actually able to sleep in after Cecil got up with him around 7 which was so nice.

We kept the cover off our tent and slept under the stars.

It was a beautiful night and super peaceful.  

  

Sunday morning, everyone was up before me and Connor had been playing around

and getting super messy.

Sweet cousins.

 

Connor decided he really liked stepping in and playing with the dogs' water bowl.

Whataya going to do?

 

After they got back from the canoe trip Connor played with Pops a little bit.

It was nice because we don't see Pops too often.

 

 

 

Then when it started sprinkling and I thought we were leaving, Connor and I hung out in the truck. He LOVES sitting in the front and thinks he is so cool!

I let him have a sip of my soda and he spilt it all down his shirt.

After playing outside for hours (and in the dog bowl) I was thinking to myself,

"he has never been this dirty in his life" #campinglife

 

This is the face he makes when he is fake laughing. It is hilarious and adorable.

 

 

We went home right as the rain was starting to pour and this was Connor at about 3pm.

Buddy was exhausted! 

 

Then 10 minutes later.... 

 

I asked Noah his favorite thing about the camping trip...

1) Horseshoes with Austin

2) Listening to music with Austin

I said "OK, not about Austin."

3) Playing catch with Zach.

hahahaha

He likes the outdoors, but he LOVES people.

Noah is such a Luttrell. ;)

 

Zay's favorite part was fishing.

 

It was a fun camping trip and we were lucky to have such nice weather.

Hopefully next time we camp, we will be able to stay a couple nights.

All in all, Connor did pretty well and I was pleased.

I hope Connor grows up camping and fishing with his Daddy. :)

 

Friday Favorites - May 20th

 

 

JoJo

The Bachelorette premieres on Monday and I'm PUMPED.

I posted an Ode to JoJo Wednesday  where I listed 15 reasons we love her.

I think you need to take a peek.

 

 

 

 

Girls Trips

I recently took two girls trips.

One to Magnolia and one to Mexico

 

I loved them both and plan on recapping them next week.

I really needed my girl time to recharge. It feeds my soul.

 

 

 

 

 

Free Weekend

We don't have any plans this weekend and I think it will be great.

I mean we have to get the car inspected and give Connor a haircut.

But NOTHING ELSE.

Hallelujah

 

 

 

Meme of the Week

This made me laugh. because it is true.

 

 

Ode to JoJo

It doesn't seem like it has been very long since we saw Ben & Lauren

find love on The Bachelor.

 

My favorite girl, JoJo, was chosen to be the Bachelorette in the upcoming season

which premieres next Monday.

 

I'm here to name a few of the reasons we should all be SUPER excited with a little

ODE TO JOJO

 

 

1. She was the house therapist.

During The Bachelor, she talked Jubilee and Caila of the edge
 

 

 

2. She brings the fashion

I really enjoy reading All the Pretty Pandas Blog by Sharleen, who was actually
on Juan Pablo's season. She shares some seriously interesting insight into the production
of the show and gives a Best Dressed award in her blog each week.
JoJo was oftentimes highlighted for her great clothes!
I can't wait to see what she wears as The Bachelorette

 

 

 

3. She is funny

 

She was heavily highlighted in the bloopers and I think it is because she is genuinely funny.

 

 

4. She's hot

 

After her somewhat disastrous Hometown Date, Shaeffer Told Me To shared this image.

Well played JoJo, well played.

And, va va voom. Hello!
I'm guessing we can expect some steamy scenes this season.



5. She is relatable

Ben told his parents that he is more himself around JoJo than anyone else and
I think that is because she is down to earth and relatable.


I mean, this is what I would be thinking too. haha

 

6. She is the voice of reason.

There were a few times during The Bachelor when we could count on her to perfectly
narrate the situation. In Jamaica she explained the reason the group date was
so awkward better than anyone else could articulate. She reasonably understood
that she put herself in the unique setting and described the particular challenges that
came with multiple beautiful women dating one guy.
 


7. She is not boring

For some reason she seemed to get most of the pigs' aggression.
And it was hilarious to watch.


This.


And this.

 

8. She is a girl's girl

 It was clear that she was one of the most well liked girls in the house.
I loved seeing the behind the scenes moments and bloopers they showed.
These were two of my favorites.

 

9. Texas Girl

I'm a little biased, but it totally is a plus to me that she is a Texas Girl.
I loved seeing her date in DFW and look forward to seeing how much of
her season was filmed in Dallas.

 

10. Her mom

I think most people loved JoJo's mom after they saw her chugging from a bottle of champagne.
Her older sons were suspicious of Ben and the scene was clearly tense and uncomfortable.
After such a formal dinner in a fancy home, I don't think anyone expected her Mom
to grab a bottle and go to town.
But she did.
And America loved it.

11. Her crazy brothers

The second JoJo walked through the door, her two older brothers attacked her
 with hugs and kisses.
They were clear that they loved their sister and did not trust Ben.
I'm looking forward to their take on meeting multiple men.



12. Her mom

During her hometown date, JoJo told her Mom that she was falling in love and her sweet mother seemed a little confused. JoJo said she was scared and her Mother responded with “You are not going to get hurt, you’re beautiful”
huh???
What? 
JoJo told her Mom that there were still three other girl involved
and her mom responded with the saddest “oh.”
This was my number one favorite part of the season.
Did her Mom not know that there were multiple girls?
Is she just finding this out?
I laugh out loud every time I see this conversation.



13. Her mom

After JoJo was announced The Bachelorette I saw this picture online and I loved it.
Cheers to more Champagne bottle chugging!

 

14. Her jumping skills

Sheaffer likes to score the girls on The Bachelor on their running and jumping skills.
I think we can all agree JoJo gets a 10!!

 

  

15. She is GD Magical Unicorn