Houston Rodeo Days

We had a great time at the rodeo this year! We wound up going 3 times; twice with the kids, and once without. The kids said they loved the horses and the fireworks the best. The kids loved the rodeo. Ever since, we've had lots of 'rodeos' in our garage, including calf roping, steer dogging, barrel racing, calf scramble, and mutton busting (kids riding sheep). We attended the Toby Keith concert, but we didn't stay very long because it was just too loud. I know I sound really old when I say that, but truly, it hurt our ears. Darren and I went back by ourselves to see Brooks-n-Dunn. The rodeo was very exciting, as it was the finals, and although the concert was loud, it was nothing like before... the music was great, and we stayed to the end.Waiting in line for the pony rideDean loved the pony rides; he talked about it for days before and days afterward!KatieLynn, too loved the pony rides!We rode the park-n-ride, and there was a girl on the bus who had the same shirt as KatieLynn; they were both quite excited!! For the next two days, KatieLynn kept asking me when she could play with her new friend from the bus. I said I didn't know where the girl lived, and she came up with "Maybe we'll see her again next year at the rodeo."Playing at Zube Park with the Gracie & ChipperThe girls are up high! Today is KatieLynn's 4th birthday; hopefully I'll post more soon! :)

Little Farming Kids

The kids new favorite spot is Daddy's hay shed. It's back behind our house, and they are ready to go there every chance they get. They climb on the round haybales, and jump from row to row. A few days when I was working on something in the house, and the kids were supposed to be playing in the yard, but instead they hiked down to the hay shed. They were just innocently playing, but I think they finally understand that they need permission to go down there.

Daddy's little helpers put the corn seed in all Daddy's little holes, after they put the fertilize out (which KatieLynn said smells just awful!). In the next few weeks, we'll add more vegtables, but Darren wanted to get the sweet corn planted a little early.

We all had a great weekend. My mom graciously came down to stay the weekend with the kids and Darren. Darren continued to work long hours, though he helped with bath and bedtime. KatieLynn and Dean had a wonderful time playing with and entertaining my mom. And lucky me -I had a girls weekend of sleep, rest, and scrapbooking in Fredricksburg. It's the first time I've been gone 2 nights, and I did miss the kids, but I came home completely recharged.

Good Weekend

Hi there. We had a busy weekend, but my camera was left at home, so I have no pictures. :( We celebrated birthdays Friday night at Darren's parents' house. I made a birthday cake for Darren's dad with a horse on it, that the kids (especially Dean) were super excited about! Then early Saturday morning, we headed to the deer lease with a bulldozer. Once we got there (about 5 hours later), the kids laid down to rest, and Darren dozed some of the roads. Around 4pm, we all drove around, looking at the deer, hogs, and rabbits. The kids had a great time, but their favorite was climbing up the tower blinds! Darren shot a couple of hogs, which KatieLynn thought was cool to put her hands over her ears. Dean wasn't so sure about covering his ears, but did say that the hogs were going night-night, after the shot. We came back Sunday afternoon, but I think next time we'll plan to stay at least 2 nights. Lots of fun!

Here's a couple of morning pictures, after breakfast, while I clean up the kitchen. Dean loves his tractors, and KatieLynn is playing with the playdoh.

The kids enjoy riding their tricycles. Dean has just started pedaling in the last couple of weeks, but starting to get pretty good.

KatieLynn loves her new trike!

Happy Birthday Darren!!

Darren turned 35 today. I think this was one of the most exciting birthdays for the kids (except their own!). They picked out his singing birthday card, helped me buy several of his gifts, and of course, they helped me bake the cake. Both of my kids personify everything from animals to characters in books, to cars, to trains. They imagine they are one of the objects, and sometimes imagine other people close to them are also objects... if that makes sense. Both the kids love trains, but especially KatieLynn, and she always says Daddy is Big, Strong, Henry, who's a green train with Thomas. So, when Darren said he didn't care what we put on his cake, KatieLynn picked big, strong, Henry. They were so excited about the cake all day long; KatieLynn just from pure birthday excitement and Dean really wanted to eat cake.

Daddy has help blowing out the candles.

Eating cake and ice cream Very intently eating!
Darren opens one of his presents (to hang in the garage).
This picture is from last week; the kids are pretending the treadmill is their bed.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a very, merry, Christmas! We certainly did, and are just now getting back in routine again. I know I haven't blogged in a very long time, and I really don't have a good excuse, except that we have been enjoying all the busy holidays. My sister took these pictures outside of Robert Lee at an old Millican family place.

The kids loved decorating the house up for Christmas. They each had their own little Christmas trees in their bedrooms, and we tried to decorate some Christmas in each room of the house.

Dean, Emma, and KatieLynn open presents at Darren's parents' house.

Every year, my dad always reads the Christmas story from Luke, a tradition which I love, though Dean isn't too appreciative of the timing in this picture. I believe he's ready to open a present!

KatieLynn & Dean love their new hay bales and fork to haul hay around the house.

Dean and Daddy are excited about his new pedal combine. Dean especially likes the auger!

cousins: Emma, Claire, & KatieLynn

My angels playing outside

Dean playing in the yard

The kids crack pecans with their feet, though unfortunately, none of the pecans taste good.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We got to see lots of family and ate great food for several days. We started the weekend before, by driving to Yoakum to visit Friedel family members. On Thanksgiving day, we ate and visited at Darren's grandpa's. Then we got up bright and early Friday morning to drive to San Angelo for lunch with the Lacy family. We spent the rest of the weekend in Robert Lee, and got to visit with the Millican family on Saturday. KatieLynn and Dean loved playing with all their cousins from all sides. Unfortunately, even though I took my camera, I didn't take any pictures. :( However, here's a few pics from this morning of the kids playing at home. As you can see, they absolutely love playing in the dirt pile! Darren also killed an 8 point buck last week; I don't know why he doesn't look happier in the picture!

Farmer & Ladybug

The kids had a large time for Halloween. We attended a fall festival at our church the weekend before, and then went trick-or-treating with Darren's brother, Greg, Courtney, and Emma. This was the first year that we've trick-or-treated, but the kids caught on immediately. Dean loved just going from house to house and didn't even collect candy at first, but it didn't take long and he made sure to say 'trick-or-treat' and wait for his treat. :)

Dean & KatieLynn are ready to go to Emma's house.

Darren baled hay around our house that afternoon, and while we were waiting for Darren to get dressed, the kids played outside, checking out Daddy's round bales.Emma, Dean, & KatieLynnDean & KatieLynn love playing in the pack-n-play! My college friend, Melanie, came to visit us with her husband and 3year old son. They slept in Dean's room, so he slept in a pack-n-play in our room, and the next morning the kids had a great time pretending to go 'night-night'.

Birthday Boy

Dean turned two today. It's hard to believe that 2 short years ago, Dean was just a little newborn (well, a 9 lb newborn isn't that little, but he was a newborn nonetheless). I still can 't believe that my 'baby' is two; I remember when KatieLynn turned two, she seemed all grown up, compared to 6 month old Dean, but now 2 years still seems pretty little.

Dean's favorite things are playing outside, playing with his tractors, hay baler, trucks, trains, and going with Daddy on a real tractor. He is a great communicator, though he has been talking in his own language for a while now, he is starting to say more words that anyone (not just family) can understand. He does a great job using the potty, and only uses a diaper to sleep. Dean and KatieLynn play well together, though Dean is still learning to take turns and share. They are great friends, and miss each other when apart.

I made a chocolate chip cookie cake for Dean's actual birthday.
KatieLynn cheered him on to blow out the candles.

Dean loads hay (blocks) onto his new flatbed and pickup.Happy Birthday to Dean!!
We had a very small birthday party on Saturday with only immediate family and friends.

Dean & KatieLynn eat cake and ice cream. Gracie & Dean have fun. KatieLynn pedals her tractor.
The kids play at the sandbox.KatieLynn & Dean watch Thomas the Train.

The kids play outside at the playhouse.