Monday, February 21, 2011

Our two four-legged boys

I finally got a good picture of the two labs in our life. They were taking some time to snuggle last night. I love that their personalities are so similar.
Shiner is 15 weeks (and at least 30 lbs!), and Tucker is 12 years.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Random happenings...Puppy, Honor Choir, Vday School Party, & Marriage Retreat



I decided I'd better hurry up and update you on the pup. he is now 15 wks and 30 lbs. Well, he was 30 lbs Monday, so he's probably more than that! He is growing SO quickly. I knew he would, so I steal every snuggle I canget. He is extremely intelligent, and just today began whistle training with Matt. He'll be aseasoned retriever before we know it. He is also hysterical and has a funny little sense of humor. He is staying very laid back and fits in just perfectly around here.

Bethany took her very firstchoir trip to San Antonio on the 10th. She loved performing in the Katy ISD Honor Choir at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. It's the largest of its kind in this country~hosting 25,000 music teachers that day alone. The all-state Choirs, Bands, and Orchestras all perform at this convention each year. It was fun for Matt and I, as we both reminisced about the years we attended this convention in college. I sure wished I could've stayed. Bethany rode the bus, while Mom drove the rest of us (including Shiner) pretty literally all day long. Dad, Sherry and Ron met us at the concert, and then we all headed to Mi Tierra for an early dinner. Thank goodness Bethany decided to ride home with us :). I am so thankful that myfamily loves my girl so well!
The next day, Bethany had her school Valentine's party. They had a craft, handed out Valentines, and then made theirown sundaes. Too fun!
That afternoon-thanks to mom again!-Matt and I headed out for our 1st Crossings Marriage Retreat. What a complete blessing. Chad Karger and his wife Meeka truly challenged us to really seek the Lord first. They had us spend A L O N E time searching the scriptures. Oh my word! We spent a glorious 24 hours at Pine Cove's Crier Creek with some of our closest friends. Bliss.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Cazadora Ranch

We have some friends that have quickly become family to us. Their actual family has a ranch wwwaaaayyyyy down in South Texas. Seriously. You can spit into Mexico. The Willinghams invited us on down to Cazadora Ranch, so we let Bethany skip school and we headed south. I am blessed because we did. There were smores, campfires, horseback riding, golf cart driving, playground playing, a goat rodeo, fishing, arrowhead hunting...I could go on! We were blessed beyond measure. Like our friend Daniel said...it was what you call sitting around and doing nothing. Perfect :). And just what we needed.

Scarlett, Taylor, and Cole ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kinley, Scarlett, Cole, and Taylor

Taylor enjoying dirt~~~~~~~~~~~~~Avery and one of the new kittens


Kinley and Cole~The girl loves to pose ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~See Danna on the left? Kinley, Bethany and Honey, and Avery

Cole was SO gentle ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bethany and the kitten

Shiner sunnin'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shiner and Bailey Willingham

Avery, Cole, and Bethany fishin' for nothin'~~~~~~~~~~~Bethany is in love with Scarlett, Kinley huggin' her

Me and Kimberly ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Campfire smores with dad

Avery hangin' out ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Avery's first driving lesson

Avery in a tree-who woulda thought?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A goat rodeo

Sweet Shiner boy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Cole and Taylor "fixin" the fence

Everyone got a ride ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bethany and Willie
Sweet boys ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~These girls love each other!
We found some paint!~~~~~~~~~~~Shiner jumped out of a boat and had his first swim!



So many arrowheads! Even a badge. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~These boys had a mini-reunion every time they woke up :)