Ranching On Mother's Day

This year for Mother's Day weekend we were privileged to be invited to our friends' hill country ranch near Junction, Texas.  I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate being a mom than by having fun and enjoying nature with my family and our friends.  More than once, Penny exclaimed, "There are TWO Mamas here!" After driving five hours through rain and hail on Friday, we arrived to quickly put kids to bed so we would be fresh for the next day's adventure.  We got two ATV powered ranch tours, played everywhere we could, and saw lots of wildlife.  Of course, the weekend just wasn't long enough!  

Mom and Coop sit atop the pila (big water tank) while Daddy climbs the windmill.

Boys in a tree!

Penny preferred to keep her two feet on the ground.

She chose instead to inspect the local flora.

Cooper had trouble falling asleep for his nap...
So I got to be "fun Mom" and let him get up for a piece of cake.

Brewster enjoyed his nature walk with Mom while kids napped.

Some of the local fauna we saw included birds, deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, a fox, a mouse, and a porcupine.  I had never seen a porcupine outside a zoo before, so that made my day.

The kids were fascinated by the baby mouse we accidentally uncovered.

This rabbit just went right on with his business and let me take a picture!  

Ancient fauna.  Mom got to feed her inner rock-nerd by doing a  little fossil hunting in the caliche pit.  She found many imprints and a big oyster shell.

Cooper LOVED the old truck on the property.  So much so that he had to be reminded a few times to let the other kids "drive."

Back at school on Monday, Cooper told his teacher that he went to a ranch.  She asked him what he saw and he said, "A dirty truck."  FUNNY what they place importance on!

Crawfish Weekend

Over the weekend we went to Houston to visit some friends we hadn't seen in awhile.  The adults had a great time catching up while getting ready for our friends' annual crawfish boil. Cooper and Penny had kids just their ages to play with and lots of  the other kids' toys to enjoy.  Naturally, Cooper spent a lot of time playing with trains.  He got to experience his first "sleepover", as in, we let the two boys sleep in the same room on the first night.  We were surprised that we didn't hear even one peep out of them after we put them to bed.  

Poor Penny started running fever on Friday night and was sick all weekend!  I wish she had felt better, so she could have enjoyed the bounce house and the party on Sunday a little more.  Despite how she felt, she really seemed to try and rally for the party.  We got home late on Sunday night totally exhausted but it was worth it!  

Cooper, at the top of the bounce house ready to do his death-defying jump.

Cooper wasn't really sure what to think of the "crawling fish" at first.

A little braver...

He did it!

Penny contemplates the boil.

Other kids' toys are so enthralling!

Penny tries to have a good time, despite being under the weather.

Thanks again Paul and Marcia!  It was great to see you guys!

Remembering the Quiet Moments

Every now and then we like to slow down the pace and hang out at home, just us four.  Thanks to great weather, we spent a big chunk of our last weekend at home outside. Daddy put in a flower bed (with Mama's brick and dirt hauling help), and the kids played and played.  The only reason they didn't get sunburned is because they were under the deck digging in the dirt, out of the sun.  Mama finished painting the master bedroom, caught up on housework and laundry, cooked, and read a book.  After naps we went to the park and took the kids to get ice cream. We were never in a hurry or worried about the time. It was glorious to get some projects behind us, be outdoors in the sunshine, and just relax. Summer is coming, and with that will be plans, plans, and more plans.  Trips out of town will be abundant and there will be lots to do. We will enjoy every moment of the busyness, but we need to remember to plan for and enjoy our quiet moments too.  

Penny, Cooper, and Brewster explore the "tunnel" at the park near our house.

Cooper helps Daddy load up gardening supplies.

Cooper stops to smell the tomatoes.  

Penny worked hard in the sandbox.

Trike-A-Thon At School

 Every spring the preschool the kids attend has participated in the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Trike-A-Thon.  Cooper loves this because he gets to bring his tricycle to school. (How cool is that??)  This was Penny's first year to participate; as in, this is the first year she was old enough!  I don't think she was very sure of what to make of the whole thing, but she seemed very proud to have her trike and new pink helmet at school.  A cold front blew in yesterday, so it was unseasonably chilly for the event.  Luckily Penny's class did their ride inside and Mama only had to stand outside shivering to watch one kid ride instead of two.

Penny rounds the circle during the Trike-A-Thon.

After her class's turn was over, Penny takes a rest with her classmates.  She was NOT happy when I left.  She thought since I came back to school it was to take her home.  

After the little kids' race, the bigger kids lined up for their ride around the school parking lot.

Go Cooper Go!  Cooper made 21 laps around...the second most in his class.  More importantly, he had a blast and it was for a good cause!

If Only Every Day Could Be a...

Train Day!

Cooper and Penny wait for the train at Brackenridge Park.

Cooper is excited to ride the train with Pa-Pa, Ma-Mas, and Uncle Clint.
Penny was a little under the weather and sat with Mama and Daddy.

Zoo Day!

Coop and Uncle Clint scope out the animals.

Cooper contemplates the giant hippo.

Penny relaxes with popcorn in the overpriced (yet worth every cent) stroller rental.

Family Day!

We had a fun weekend staying at the lake, going to the zoo with family, and seeing our cousins at a family party.  Uncle Clint stayed with us at the lake on Saturday night, and Ma-mas and Pa-Pa came by for a visit on Sunday morning.  It was hard to end the weekend and go home!

Ma-mas and the kids look for good skippin' rocks the next morning at the lake. 

Time Freeze Please...Cooper is Growing Up!

We spent the past weekend with friends at the lake.  We were around little babies and from that and the few pictures I took all I could take away was that our kiddos have grown so much!  Cooper in particular has left behind any semblance of a baby or toddler.  It is almost shocking when we go back and look at old pictures of him from even a year ago.  The way he is today seems like the way he has always been.

Out and about with friends near the lake.  

We found a tractor to ride!  Tractors are second only to trains.

I was struck how BIG he looks next to these cute babies!

Happy Easter!

Ready to hunt for eggs.

On the hunt.

Cooper is concerned about ants on the eggs.

Dad and Coop continue the search.

Penny spots a purple egg.

It had a necklace inside!

Look what was in my egg Daddy!

Happy Easter from the family...

Potty Training by the Numbers

We love Penny's spunk, though it can be a challenge!

20

Pairs of "Big Girl" underwear, laundered countless times.

18

Squares on a potty progress chart.

12

Days of training, three of which we didn't leave the house, even to go outside.

3

Bags of candy to be used as rewards (or incentives, or bribes, or whatever you want to call them) including Mini-marshmallows, M&M's, and Gummy Bears.

2

Sets of sheets and waterproof pads, laundered countless times

1

Pink princess potty that Penny picked out herself.

0

Chance of going back to diapers...we did it!

A Look Back on St. Patrick's Day

 I just wanted to say we are still just as lucky as ever...since we have these two!

St. Patrick's Day 2013

St. Patrick's Day 2011

Spring Break at the Lake

Even preschool has a spring break.  We had two goals for the week.  One, spend a relaxing weekend together as a family, and two, potty train Penny.  First goal, no problem. (The second goal may be pie in the sky, but, moving on...)  We took the kids to the  lake for an extended weekend of slow-paced family time.  We got to visit with Uncle Clint and some friends, shop, go for walks, feed the deer and throw rocks in the lake.  With only a few hiccups, namely, Ralph getting sprayed by a skunk on the FIRST night, we were able to do exactly what we set out to do: Relax and decompress.  Nobody wanted to go home when it was time!

Brass Pro Shops is one of our favorite stops when we are nearby...
The kids love the fish tank and Daddy and Mama can always find something to buy.

Ice cream break!  Penny said, "Look at my face!  I mess!"

Throwing rocks into the lake is Coop's favorite lake activity.

Ralph and Brewster had fun too...
(Poor Dooley didn't get to go.  We couldn't fit three dogs in the car so she had to stay with Ma-Mas)...

Old hat Ralph shows rookie Brewster a thing or two.

On our "dam" walk.

This shot wasn't as dangerous as it looks...

Happy Mama!

Backyard view.

More rock throwing... OK so we ALL like to throw rocks...

But Cooper shows the most joy in it...

We are back, ready and refreshed.  Now on to that pesky second goal for the week...