Awards Day

Yesterday was Third Grade Awards Day in the afternoon. I was getting ready and talking to Lola and she decided she wanted to take Shannon and Shane to it, too. Mason looked SO happy when he saw such a big crowd supporting him. See -- we have family in Texas!

Anyway, he won a ton of awards (honor roll, math fact mastery, behavior, etc) which we are very proud of, but he also won the Leadership award. One boy and girl from every classroom gets selected. We are so pleased that Mason has had an amazing third grade year!

Mason smiling when he sees his group of adoring fans. ;-)

Getting another award.

Shane goofing off for me during the award ceremony.
Shannon being all smiles at Award Day.

When he got home from school, we went swimming with the Monaghans for awhile.

We came home for dinner and returned to the pool. Later last night, Eric and Katie came over to try out Wii Fit. After they left and Mason went to bed, Lola and Jesse came down for a workout. I wish I could use it! Anyway, I am banned from taking ANY Wii Fit pictures. No matter HOW ridiculous my husband looks spinning an imaginary hula hoop around his hips or doing yoga positions, I cannot share that with you people. Sorry.

Tonight, we are going out to dinner to celebrate Mason's awesome year. Mark has to be in San Antonio tomorrow and Mason has a party after school (he gets out at 11:00), so we decided tonight was the best night to celebrate. When we return home, I think it's all night Lego Indiana Jones on the Xbox. ;-) (And yes, I realize we have way too many video game consoles. But we do limit Mason's use to once a weekday and weekends only! Except for Wii Fit, which he can do everyday.)

Oh! I found some more hockey pictures I forgot to post!

I am so proud of how well Mason has adjusted to life in Texas. While he still misses his friends and family in Ohio, he *gets* that Texas is home. He's had an amazing year here. Congratulations, kiddo!!!

Still more!

So, I decided to get the heck out of dodge (or... Lola's) and took the kids with me. No snakes at our house... or????

Shane showing off his muscles.
Mark and Shannon on our way to our house.
The mess that became Mason's room when Shannon and Shane invaded. First priority was to find Shannon all of the girl GI Joes and Super Heroes to play with. Check out my son giving up the "SuFi!"
Strange, strange kids.

While I hung out inside with the kids, Mark mowed our lawn and... ran over another snake. This one was little -- like 6 inches long, but after our eventful snake experience, it was enough to do me in. I called my Mom and told her I was packing my bags and moving back to Ohio. ;-)

STILL MORE!!!

Not for the Faint at Heart

... Continued...

So, we go to the Monaghan's and Lola is cleaning the garage while Jesse mowes. She moves a table leaf that is leaning up beside her garage divider when I see something. I thought it was a mouse, but I didn't say anything because all of the kids were there and I didn't want them to freak out. And then, it moved. And I screamed, "SNAKE! SNAKE! SNAKE!!!!" Our first snake experience in Texas.

Lola's snake. The asterisk shows where is was before it came out of hiding.
It was pretty big. I guess it's called a "Rat Snake?"
Upclose. Zoom is my friend.

Then, it quickly slivered into their neighbor's yard. Thus beginning the Great Olmos Snake Hunt of 2008.

Left to right -- Mark, Jesse, neighbor (no clue what his name is), Rob, and Lola.

They didn't find the snake. Ack!!!!

I had too many close encounters with yucky Texas stuff this week -- a snake at Lola's and a tarantula at Katie's. I either need to move or find some new friends! ;-)

Mason at hockey...

Mason has loved hockey for so long. We were hesitant about playing hockey in Texas because it's not as big down here and you have to travel a lot. With Texas being such a big state, some meets are like traveling from Ohio to Illinois or New York. But, it's the one sport he really loves. And he's good at it! We're glad he's been able to get on the ice again.

I promise he does have more than an OSU jersey -- he just likes to wear this because his coach wears a Michigan one.
Kind of blurry -- sorry.

At the pool...

I took Mason and Hayley to the pool after school today. They swam while I chatted with neighbors. Mason made the comment the other day that he likes Texas better than Ohio because we have a pool down the street and he can swim whenever he feels like. He's finally getting over the Buckeye state... I hope going home this summer won't set that back.

My fish.
Mason, Hayley, Shannon, Chance and some neighbor girl I don't know.
I had this on my camera, too. This was at Nate's birthday party last Saturday at Austin Park and Pizza.
Shane and Mason, goofing around.

Off to bed. I'll add some pics from hockey tomorrow!