My girls....

I LOVE this gift that I received from one of my BFF's: Miss Laurie Turk ( www.tipjunkie.blogspot.com) When I found out I was having a girl, she went out and ordered one of these awesome little diaper covers with an R embroidered on it. I LOVE IT. Laurie is an amazing friend and we were planning on seeing each other this last weekend. She lives in Dallas and we were all psyched for that girl's weekend. (the triple play "S" weekend: Shopping, Spa and a Show) Anyway, Mark's grandfather passed away, and so of course he left for Portland which puts off our weekend getaway for another time :( I was also looking forward to seeing her sister Lisa, whom I affectionately call my Vacation Friend.) Dang girls...I hope we can see each other soon!

Spencer's First Pinewood Derby

I am posting this picture twice because it is soooo Spencer.

Almost winning a race!

Anxiously awaiting his name to come up on the "race" board.

Check out the guy with the headset.

A couple of weeks ago, Spencer did his FIRST EVER Pine Wood Derby. I was very impressed by how technical it gets. It looked like a mini Daytona: men with headsets, a race track with blinged out gizzmos and computer programs that I have never even heard of. Anyway, after the 3 races that Spencer did, we were very proud of how the "Hornet" performed. Daddy and Spencer spent several hours perfecting the car, and even though the car didn't win, Spencer's car is still proudly displayed in his room as a trophy to the time he got to spend with daddy. Good job Spence!

Happy Birthday Mark!!!!

Dear Mark,

Well another year has passed by and I think I love you more than ever. Because you are 37, I am going to write 37 things that I love about you. Here it goes:

1-your sense of humor

2-your integrity

3-your new birthday haircut

4-your sensitive spirit

5-watching you with your daughter

6-your'e super smart at math!(good thing or we would not have hooked up!- he was my math tutor)

7-loving your job and working so hard for our family

8-always wanting to do a little better and challenging yourself

9-that you will take the boys camping

10-that you like camping (someone in our family needs to :)

11-you have a passion for really good mexican food

12-your love of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

13-I LOVE traveling with you anywhere

14-you can fix ANYTHING

15-you love BYU-GO COUGARS!

16-you know a lot about the scriptures

17-you love to read and have book discussions with me

18-we had SO MUCH FUN in Hawaii!!!

19-Jack Bauer (need I say more?)

20-you spent so much time with Spencer on his Pine Wood Derby car and he loves you for it

21-you always know how much money is in your wallet

22-your wallet is the most organized wallet I have ever seen

23-how you love your boys and how they love you

24-you look so handsome each Sunday in your suit

25-how when we go to Disneyland and you start acting like a kid (in a good way)

26-how I look forward every night to hearing that garage door open knowing you are home

27-how everytime you come through that door, Rachael RUNS for you saying Da da, Da da!!

28-your quirks (like when you think the water is too cold in the morning to drink so you warm it up in the microwave for 10 seconds)

29-Taste of Texas!!! (our favorite restaurant...and how you have now converted me to ordering my steak "medium")

30-that you're not afraid of any wierd bugs or creepy crawlies (which is especially important now that we live in Texas)

31-you are amazing with Excel spreadsheets

32-You always want to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be

33-you have a big family that I really do love and enjoy

34-I have always loved your blue eyes

35-you are not afraid to cry

36-we have been been sealed in the temple

37-that you love me and I know it!!!

Happy Birthday Mark. I love you.

Melissa

Out of the mouth of babes...

Dear Austin,

Well today has been one of those days, huh? We certainly love your energy, independent spirit, and love for life. I had to make an entry today summarizing some of the highlights of the day, in your own words.

*Today in church, you were pretty wiggly...more than usual. In fact, you were so wiggly that daddy said,"Austin, if you cannot get it together, we are going to have to go out and have a spank." "OK, Dad," you said, "but can I at least get a drink of water while we are out there?"

*Also at church, Daddy got up to go change the baby's diaper. As soon has he left, you came and snuggled right up to me (which I loved.) Then, you leaned over, and without whispering asked me, "Mom..are you wearing any underwear?"

*"Mommy," you asked later tonight, "if I were to swallow a house, would I be shaped like a house?" (and then did your best and biggest swallowing example)

"I am so glad it's Spring Break Mom, because now I get to see you ALL DAY!"

Ditto Austin. I love you.

My Wonderful Neighbors

Last week my neighbors, Lynne and Amber, invited Rachael and I to go out to lunch. It was wonderful! We drove 20 minutes to the town of Brookshire and ate at The Cafe at Brookwood. This restaurant is located inside a residential facility that houses adults with special needs. They all work in the restaurant, seat you, take your order, and cook all under the direction of their "instructors." The food was SO GOOD and the desserts were even better.

This is a picture of Rachael out in the garden.

This is a picture of Lynne and the triple chocolate something mouse cake that was so delish! It is a "reservations recommended" type of restaurant and I could quickly see why. By the time we were done with our food, the place was completely packed.

This facility is self-supported and so we took in the gift shop as well the nursery. Mark my words, when anyone comes to visit, I would love to take you there to enjoy the food, gardens, and gift shop. It is worth the drive...and did I mention the food is good? Thanks to Amber and Lynn for inviting Rachael and I. We are hopefully going to make it a tradition to go out to lunch once a month.

Just when I thought another Rodeo Post wasn't possible....

Mark and I had a BLAST at the Houston Rodeo last weekend. Thanks to Catherine and I finding some pretty good tickets on Craigslist, we were on our way! We went with Matt and Catherine and ate until we were sick. (at least Mark and I did) By the way, has any one noticed that without fail, my posts usually mention some kind of food? Anyway, it was quite the process to park our car, but thanks to Matt and his expert handling of his snazzy car, we safely arrived at the Reliant Stadium in downtown Houston. Over time, we found ourselves in Texas heaven: bbq pickles, fried alligator, belt buckles the size of my head, and let's not forget the turkey legs (the kind that are so big that the people eating them look like cavemen devouring their food), Anywho, we had a hard time choosing what food to eat because it was ENDLESS. We finally settled on roasted corn (Catherine and I), baked potatoe with yummy bbq beef (Catherine, me and Matt), tamales (Mark), and cobbler and Ice cream for dessert.

Then, it was time to get our seats for the main attraction: THE RODEO. This rodeo is amazing. The Houston Texans football arena is transformed into one of the largest rodeo this side of the Rio Grand. The stakes are high as literally MILLIONS of dollars are won and the cowboys are tough cookies. There was Bull Riding, bronco bucking, you name it, it was there. It was awesome. We were starving from our walk to the stadium (sarcastic) and so we also got popcorn and funnel cakes to watch the events.

After the rodeo, they transport a portable stage out into the middle of the arena for a big headliner to perform. We saw Trace Adkins, who, I must confess, didn't know who he was. He was really good on that rotating stage and we had a GREAT TIME! I was so glad to have this date with Mark. We really do enjoy getting away and remembering how important it is to spend time together in this crazy world of ours. By the way...next year is our 15Th wedding anniversary, and we want to plan a FABULOUS trip to celebrate. Any suggestions???

In Keeping Up with the Cowboy theme...

This is Austin on his "Hoe-down" day at school. My favorite thing about this picture are the gloves he is wearing. One is a plain brown one, and the other is a blue sponge bob one. He went and dug these out himself and put them on "...because EVERY cowboy wears gloves." I agreed and let him wear them to school. What I didn't expect was him to wear them ALL DAY. When I came to pick him up later that day for a dentist appt., he was still wearing them.

Yee Haw! Rodeo Time

Last week, we headed out to the local Katy Rodeo. We had heard what a great rodeo it was for the price and decided to put on our boots and hats (well, not really...I don't think we own any) and head on out. After some parking dillemas (Mark), and babysitters were aligned (thanks to Matt and Cat) we were on our way sans babies to the event. The first thing I noticed was the smell of the TEXAS BBQ! Yum!!! It was so fun to have Mark and Amy's kids there too. I love living near my brother. Here is a picture of he and I hamming it up. (notice his "casual" wear. No wonder he was voted "best dressed" in his Boston Ward)

Here I am with my boys. I don't think they stopped eating the entire time we were there. Tamales, tacos, popcorn, candy, etc. YUM!!

Mark and I are friends again after some parking problems.

This picture says 1000 words. I was trying to keep them "entertained" and "busy" by looking at the prize winning cows instead of going over to the nasty carnival. This is them when I said, "Look excited!"

Catherine and Amy were able to take their cute girls out and participate in the stick horse race. The kids loved the rodeo and it was a really fun family outing. (sorry Rachael...maybe next time)- That was the first picture on this post. I'm still figuring this blog thing out!

Thanks everyone for coming! It was a yee-haw time.

AARGGGHHHHHH!!!

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and left an ENTIRE cart full of groceries because your child is OUT OF CONTROL?????