TWENTY-SIX

V is really leaning into her cute teenage era and we seem to be at the skating rink constantly. 

2026 week twenty-six

Happy Halfway through 2026! 

Theo left on Monday for scout camp at Lake Texoma. 

He went canoeing. 

He shot projectiles. 

He got seconds at every meal. 

He held reptiles. 

He came home smelly and happy. 

While he was gone, V went to day camp at St. Ann's all week. I scoured through the 100+ photos from the week and found two of her. 

In the background during the color war. She had a great time even though she knew no one really. She's so good at enjoying herself in new situations. 

There's a story behind this photo of Theo feeling embarrassed in a lobby. When he was really little, the town of Flower Mound was building a new Town Hall. We would pass the construction site almost every day and from his car seat, Theo would tell us what the crew was doing working on the "New Town Hall." It must always be called the "New Town Hall." He would wistfully tell me about how fun it will be to visit once the "New Town Hall" was finished. For months (maybe even over a year) he would ask how long before we could visit the "New Town Hall." Covid hit and our visit was delayed indefinitely. We realized about a year ago that we never did take him to visit the New Town Hall. So after a doctor's appointment (he came home from Scout camp with an ear infection) I drove him straight to the New Town Hall. He was groaning about how this was the cheesiest thing we've ever done and he couldn't possibly go in. I cheerfully forced him to go in anyway. The lady at the welcome desk wanted to know if we needed any help and so much to Theo's despair, I told her the story. She, naturally, thought it was delightful and told us all about the building and to make sure we checked out the duck pond in the back. We had a great time even though Theo was thoroughly embarrassed. He'll never forget the time we finally got to visit the New Town Hall. 

On Saturday, a big group of us went to Repticon in Grapevine to look at all the unique reptile pets. 

Grandpa, Veronica, and Ollie each got themselves a tortoise. 

Grandpa and Veronica's Marginated Tortoises. Meet Machiavelli and Demetrius. 

The temporary tortoise terrarium. 

Matt helped his dad and brother-in-law build tortoise covers to take home. 

We tried a new Venezuelan restaurant close to our house. Everything was delicious. I would recommend Super Sandy's if you want to try some tasty and interesting Venezuelan food. 

 

TWENTY-FIVE

 

At The Sounds of Lewisville Concert series. V's friend was in the opening act, so a bunch of her classmates showed up to support her. It was so fun for all of them to be running around together. 

2026 week twenty-five 

Midsummer snowball fight after a potluck with friends. This neighborhood was magical. As soon as the snowcone machine came out about twenty kids were suddenly on the lawn. It was a delightful summer evening. 

We may be having our worst-ever tomato summer, but the eggplants keep rolling in. Our first okra also appeared as well as a couple luffa. The cucumbers are slow but steady and taste pretty good as long as we pick them very small. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the cucamelon, tomatoes, and tomatillos start fruiting with a vengeance.  We will always be flush with chard and kale, but my family doesn't really thank me for that. The surprise hit this year was the corn. I learned that each stalk produces 1 ear of corn. And while they were beautiful little jewels of red, black, and purple corn, they were also only about as big as the palm of a toddler's hand. And they were so starchy. I've never experienced corn that felt like chewing a tiny crumb of sticky bread. Rather fascinating. 

The blackberries have been a surprise as well. We aren't getting buckets full, but the ones we're getting are huge and quite sweet. Also, this little volunteer pumpkin is just taking over and for some reason the squash vine borers are leaving it be... 

We took Matt's parents out for Father's Day and Matt's mom's birthday to Quickie Crab for an epic seafood boil. Everything was better than the last. 

Then we went downtown to get ice cream. 

Quotes

Me- "How's your ear feeling?'
Theo- "It feels like a raccoon crapped inside of my brain."
Me- "I imagine that's a terrible feeling..."

TWENTY-FOUR

V and Kip enjoying the summer sunshine. 

2026 week twenty-four

V finished an amazing puzzle that she received for her birthday this week. It was quite an undertaking. 

The June rain always makes the garden look really spectacular. 

Sounds of Lewisville concert El Chanclazo with Veronica and ice cream. 

Theo had a fun time playing with some friends all day on Wednesday. They were delightfully wild. 

Theo got a new arsenal of lego weapons. He apparently did a little Lego Santa photo shoot... Enjoy. 

These remind me of The Santa Clause. "Santa in a Panzer!" 

He also caught the first cicadas of the season and I just *had* to take a photo every time. 

I had lunch at a patisserie with my good friend Ashley. The treats were fine, but the company was much better. 

We discovered an incredible artist who does Byzantine-style Lord of the Rings Art. We received the Gandalf print this week and we were so impressed. 

 

Quotes:

T- "I like candy that makes effects on your mouth."
V- "Like cavities?"

Theo- "Ok, this is my life plan so far. I am going to play Founder's baseball. I am going to get my Eagle Scout. I will then join the military so they can pay for my college. I will get a degree in Accounting and Agriculture. Then I will work as a military accountant for a while. Then I'll move out into the country so I can be an accountant from home but also grow acres of cantaloupes. When I get married I want three kids: two boys and one girl." 

TWENTY-THREE

 

Last day of the fourth grade team. We went out to Dumpling Queen for lunch. It. was. incredible. They were nice enough to put up with my hooligans. 

2026 week twenty-three

I've spent the week cleaning out and setting up my new 7th grade classroom. I needed to update my "Mrs.  Cole in 4th grade" to "Mrs. Cole in 7th grade." Matt said I look like an adult doing a bad cosplay of a Middle Schooler. I can't believe V and I had the same bangs in 7th grade. Haha. 

With the trampoline, swings, and blow up pool, the kids are fully ready for summer. Now if it could stop raining for a day or two they could go outside and enjoy it. 

Theo's spent all his rainy days building lego creations. Here is a river canyon with a cute little cloud. 

Here are all the guns he bought from Little Brick. He just cleans out their stash whenever we bring him in. 

Aztec temple. 

Matt is on a trip this weekend with his friends. We try to make each other jealous with our good breakfasts. Here's his ham and pesto crepe. 

Here's my focaccia with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil and some beautiful apricots. 

He tried to make me even more jealous with this pothos. Sometimes I feel so good about my plants and then I see expert level plants and I feel just pathetic. 

On Friday the kids and I went to First Fridays in Old Town Lewisville. The local business owners set up booths to engage with the community and give out samples. V bought some bracelet-style hair ties and Theo inexplicably bought this ring watch. He promptly broke it the next morning... He was devastated and ordered a new one. 

We had a really nice Mexican dinner at a small restaurant and to finish out the "Stars Hollow" feeling of the evening, we stopped at Gilmore's Scoops for ice cream. We were delighted to discover this place because they serve Beth Marie's ice cream -a locally made treat. 

Matt and his friends went to several museums it seems. He fell in love with this hand painted wallpaper map and I wont be surprised if he tries to recreate it in our front room. 

Matt and Travis being weird. 

A year or so ago we were listening to "It's De-lovely" by Cole Porter and Matt said, "It would be a real shame if Andrew doesn't sing this song to Delancey. It's delightful, it's delicious, it's Delancey." Since then "Delancey" has been a synonym for delicious to Theo. When he discovered the "Delicious and Delightful" on the Chick-fil-A sauce, he new he just HAD to complete the phrase. 

On Sunday we woke up to 70 degrees and a serious thunderstorm. It had rained 2.5 inches overnight. It stopped just in time for us to ride our bikes to the local Maronite parish for Mass. When we were leaving, Theo discovered he had brought a little friend along for the ride in his bell. 

And DELIGHT OF DELIGHTS my gladiolus has finally bloomed. Now only one of my 15 bulbs did anything, but I'll take it because they are some of my favorite flowers of all time.

Quotes:

V- "Oh my god, that's so good."
Me- "Don't say 'oh my god.'"
V- "But it was heavenly!"

Salem jumped on my bed and Theo said, "Here comes drizzilicious." 
Me- "Fo' shizzle, ma drizzle."
Theo absolutely lost his mind laughing hysterically.

Three new Veronica nicknames:

"Verancy sansy"
"Veronchy haunchy"
"Leonardo DaVrincci"
Poor Veronica hates them oh so much.