Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo!

We went to the Fort Worth Stock Show on the opening weekend this year and we were not disappointed!  Goats, pigs, baby lambs, baby calves, every kind of cow you can think of, beautiful horses, little chicks (hatching!), chickens and roosters crowing, big ginormo rabbits, and more..

But most importantly.. super huge corn dogs and funnel cakes!! YUMMMMMM!! 

The kids were very excited to see most of the animals, but Lilly was kind of freaked out at how massive some of the cows were, and she DID NOT trust them, so she stayed very close to me when we were walking through the cows, and kept her eyes ON them!  The horses were neighing so loudly when we were in the stalls, that both Nate and Lilly started crying and holding their ears.  Brian and I couldn't help but laugh.. Nate kept saying "horsey screaming at me!!"  It was hilarious.  No other melt downs, though! 

Tons of goats when we first walked in.. this pretty one was chomping away!

 Nate had a staring contest with this goat..

 funny looking goats with no ears.. I've never seen these before but there were tons of them!

 little ducklings swimming around in their pool..

 Cutie pies!

 I loved this cow for some reason.. She reminds me of ice cream!

 They had fun playing in the hay!

 Nate got brave and decided to pet the calf.. Lilly wasn't so sure!

 There's our Texas Longhorn!

 Lilly getting the best view in the house..

GOOD DAY! :)

Those darn skirts..

So I mentioned Lilly has been wearing a lot of skirts..

She came out from going potty all by herself the other night, like this, and I couldn't resist taking a picture of her skirt tucked into her tights.

Come on ladies, we've all been there! :)  

Nate and Lilly's first retirement lunch!

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago at a retirement lunch for a coworker whom I worked very closely with for seven years.  I didn't really want to bring them because it was at a pretty upscale restaurant, but I didn't want to miss it either, so I did what I do these days- and I brought them along!  The rest of the party kind of looked at me like I was a leper when we walked in, but I was relieved the kids ended up doing great!  They looked so cute and they behaved themselves shockingly well, considering how long we had to wait for the food!  It's a good thing my mom, who also works at the same place, was there to help me!! Thanks mom!! 

Here they were running around an empty back room after everyone had eaten.. Lookin' sharp, huh?  Lilly would wear this every day if I let her!  This Tutu skirt and the one grandma got her for Christmas are her new faves!  Nate made sure he didn't forget his leftover chicken strips!

Me and Archie.. HAPPY RETIREMENT ARCHIE!  I miss seeing you every day, but I'm glad I left before you did!!!  I love you!!!

It just hit me..

One night we went outside to blow bubbles, and as usual, Lilly's stringy hair was in her face.  Despite her protests, I threw it up quickly to get it out of her eyes and avoid getting her hair in the sticky bubbles..

I was just watching them.. and I could not take my eyes off my pretty little girl..

What a little Ragamuffin she is, and look at my sweet little boy!!

I had to go get my camera.. it just hit me how beautiful my baby girl is becoming!  Something about her eyes and her smile just stood out to me this night.. so sweet, and bright and excited!

An 8X10 of this photo is on my mantle in a matted frame!  It just makes me smile, it's so HER!

MY SWEET BABIES!!

Little angel faces..

Always biting his lips like his mommy!

I waited way too long to post these- I took them at the end of December!  As disheveled as the kids look, they are some of my favorite pictures of them!  I think it is just the sweet innocent excitement in their faces.. love it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!

The kids woke up about 7:30 Christmas morning, and I don't have any pictures of them seeing what Santa brought them, because I was video taping it.   Their reaction was.. less than thrilled!  They didn't even notice their bikes (which Santa thought would really be a crowd pleaser!), and they just stood their kind of stunned.  The initial reaction was pretty lame, but then they opened presents and started getting excited about playing with everything. :)  Right after presents, we went to spend the day with everyone at my Mom's.  Both my sisters were here with their families, so all the cousins were able to play together.

It was a great day!

I didn't get any pics of the kids opening their presents over at Grandma's house, but I did get one of the boys in their new TX Rangers duds from Grandma!

Sweet girls..

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve was COOOOLD here in Texas!  After we made sugar cookies for Santa, we got all dressed up and went to the candle light service at church with my mom, and my sister's family.   Then we went over to Grandma's house to hang out and let the cousins play! 

Me and my girl

 My sweet nephews decorating their own gingerbread houses..

 Grandma and Lilly!

 New Christmas jammies for Christmas Eve!!

 Lil showing Daddy a photo album..one of their favorite things at Grandma's house!!

 SANTA came to our house!

 

 Santa really loved the sugar cookies and milk we left out for him!