Because Sometimes My Kids Make Me Feel All Gooshy Inside

Roughin' It

 In March, we got together with a few other families to do some camping.  Now, I just love getting in touch with nature--sleeping on the ground under the stars, waking up to crisp mornings, bathing in lakes, doing your "business" on the ground and wiping with leaves.  It's how Mother Nature intended it.
Just kidding.
Our idea of "Roughin' It" means we don't have a TV.
So, I guess, this post here means that once we "Roughed It" for nine days. (Boy was it fun to just relive that memory)
Anywho.  Back to camping.
We drove out to Canyon Lake to a campsite (complete with bathrooms and electricity for all you fair weather campers like myself!!).  After setting up, the kids were ready to go swimming in the chilly lake.

 (Kenna, Ailee, Tyler, Maryn and Emma)

Cora LOVED the tents.  This was her favorite "Just Chillaxin'" position.

What a nut.

Ailee saw me with my camera and had to strike her usual pose

The cutest picture, EVER, of Ailee and Kenna

Me an Allyson

So, Allyson's last name is Romney.  Sounds a lot like Roundy, huh?  And, her oldest daughter, Emma, is about the same age as Maryn, and has red hair like Maryn.  I couldn't choose a better person for people to always confuse me with!

Ailee, Maryn, Madelyn, and Emma striking a diva pose

And just to be silly

A quiet, serene view as I walked from the bathroom. Thankful I had a bathroom.  Though, we did run out of toilet paper in the morning...that was kinda rough.

Tyler, Brian, Kyle, and Marcus...The boys + Cora

The Menfolk: Mike, Kade, and Brent

A picture of the whole gang!!

Tyler and Ailee playing a little frisbee.

Most of Texas is under a fire ban, due to the drought.  As night set in, we became increasingly aware of how important it is to have a fire when camping.  Fires provide 1.) Warmth  2.) Light  3.) Something to congregate around.  Without a fire, we felt a little...lost.  We did manage to roast a few 'mallows over the camp stove, but my best trick was to download a Fireplace App onto my iPad.  It even made crackling noises.  I wish I had taken a picture of how pathetic we looked congregating around it.

It was quite a nice weekend to go camping.  The weather, though cloudy, was not too hot, and not too cold.  I slept well, considering it was on the ground.

Morning came with the sunrise, and though I didn't get very many pictures, I did capture this moment where Cora was riding in style on Kade's shoulders.

Oh, that kid.

And, what would camping be without iPad time with friends??

It was a fun little diversion from the ordinarities of life.  Thanks to Bushmans for coming up with the idea, and Romneys for joining in on the fun.  I think in the future we can look forward to some possible beach camping!!

Over the RIver and Through the Woods

Back at the beginning of March (yes, March), the girls had Spring Break.  Kade took a Friday off work to spend some time together, so we decided to spend a day at Guadalupe State Park.  I wasn't sure what this park was all about, so I packed to much hiking gear, and too few swimming suits. It was fun, anyway.

Three little girls all ready to hike the trail along the river:

 While we were walking, we came upon a very, very long line of very, very busy ants.  It stretched quite a long way along the trail...I was impressed.   Well, impressed, at least, enough to take a picture.

I thought this section of very tangled tree roots on the trail was pretty cool, too.  

Cora, realizing that her short little legs were not up to the challenge, was smart enough to ask to be carried.

This hollowed out tree stump made the perfect resting place for a two year old, and had a great view.

Just a cute picture of Ailee

Maryn resting after her trek over the tangly tree roots.

 After our quick hike, we went back to a shallow part of the river to play in the cool water.  The girls, of course, were drawn to the rock out in the middle.  Maryn was striking a pose for us.  Now, where have I seen this picture before???

Oh.

That's it.

At first, I told the girls that we could play, but due to our lack of extra clothing, to try to not get their clothes wet.

It worked for about 10 minutes, then Cora (of course) fell into the water.

After a few more minutes of playing, she just sat down in the water.

And then I gave up.

Kade had control of the camera for a few minutes, so I got to be in this photo session

Just a sweet one of Maryn

Ailee out on the Mermaid Rock

 Kade said he could skip a rock all the way to the rock wall on the other side of the river.  I told him I would give him a kiss if he could.

 I still owe him that kiss.

A very soggy Cora

Maryn, looking for cool rocks to collect

Little Ailee enjoying the sunshine and water

It was a fun day together.  Next time, I know to bring swimming suits and water shoes.  

Horses Horses Horses

So, I love the scene in "Sleepless in Seattle" of Meg Ryan driving in her car to a Christmas party.  She's singing along to a Christmas carol and doesn't know all the words, so she just sings, "horses, horses, horses, horses..."  I think I like that scene just because I do the same thing when I don't know all the words to songs on the radio, but I still want to sing along.

Meg and I would have great road trips together.

The rodeo was in San Antonio over the last few weeks.  Since we missed out on it last year (life was a little crazy with the whole office opening thingy) I was determined to go to it this year.  So, off we went on a Friday evening.  It was dollar day, so it was crowded, kinda chilly, but way less expensive.  (Comeon people!!  Should we really pay $15 to ride the ferris wheel??  $3 was way better!)  We cruised the fair, rode a few rides, ate some grody food, then decided to splurge and go watch the rodeo. Cora spent the two hours searching through my purse for more food, Ailee only kinda watched, but mostly squirmed, but Maryn seemed to love it.  Especially the Barrel Racing.  Perhaps some day I will decide to be a "nice mom" and get her riding lessons.

A view of the rodeo from our nosebleed seats:

My little cowgirl:

I was pretty excited to have a socially acceptable place to wear my cowgirl hat:

Ailee fell asleep in Kade's lap about half way through:

We (and by we, I mean Kade and I) really wanted to stay for the One Republic concert afterwards, but the kids were pretty tired, so we watched the first song (Secrets--Yay!!) on our way out.  It was fun, and I think I see the rodeo in our future next February.

Today was the Cowboy Breakfast at Ailee's preschool.  She got to make all sorts of fun crafts, see some fun animals and...

Seriously, she is such a lucky girl!!

So here it is, February.  Yes, nearly two months after Christmas.  I thought about just skipping the whole blogging about Christmas thing, but then realized that nothing terribly exciting has happened between now and then, so here I am blogging about our Christmas.  In February.

Read on.

First, for our Christmas cards, I had to get a few more pictures.  Since I hardly ever post pictures of myself, I thought I would post these.  I have to give Maryn the credit here.  The mistletoe--her idea.  She even took the picture. (I did the editing)

Just two good lookin' people sittin' out in their front yard.  Yep, this is our front yard.  I was pretty glad I had mowed the lawn.

And I had to post this one of Maryn, because she hardly ever lets me curl her pretty hair anymore.  :(

Ailee had a little Christmas production with her preschool.  It was cute, and all the preschoolers wore halos.  Ailee is smack dab in the middle there...not the little boy with the super creep eyes, but the little girl with the kinda creepy eyes.  (sorry...forgot to edit that.)

 Ailee and one of her fellow preschoolers/favorite friend, Eden.  And if you zoom in, that little beaded pin on Ailee's shirt says "Happy Birthday, Jesus."  For reals.

 I worked my guts out to finish the girls' Christmas presents: Doll beds.  They turned out so cute.  My mother in law was good to sew the quilts on the beds.  I admit, I had Ailee in mind when I decided to make these.  She is the one who has used hers (the crib) the most...my little domestic one.

CHRISTMAS DAY:

My mom made the girls pjs and slippers.  Seriously, every time I put Cora's tiny slippers on, I want to eat her feet.  They are so itty bitty and cute!

Just random pictures of present opening:

The post present opening carnage:

Cora tore in to her candy (that kid is like a candy vampire), then decided to come snuggle with her sleepy mom.

That was our Christmas.  Fun presents, happy, spoiled children, too much junk food.  The usual. 

MERRY FEBRUARY, EVERYONE!!