Weekend Fun

This past weekend we headed to Santo/Weatherford to celebrate my Nana's birthday. I don't think I can truly imagine all that these eyes have seen in her 90 years here on earth. And it was a good opportunity to reflect on how lucky I have been to have her in my life. Love you Nana!

It was also a good chance to see family that I haven't seen since Christmas. Andrew usually evades the camera, but I told him I NEEDED one of him with Blair.

And have I ever gotten together with the sisters and not gotten a picture???

Tara & B with the cake

And Uncle Fun with Blakers

Meanwhile back at the farm,

we enjoyed gator rides,

playing on the tractor,

 

playing mother to Chris the cat,

feeding Nicholas the calf,

(Bailey got to name this orphaned calf and Nicholas is what she chose)

Supposedly, Gigi sits on him every once in awhile so that the grandkids can ride him someday

and Blue found a friend.

One of the highlights for Blake was a trip down to the train tracks on the edge of my parent's place where we watched the trains go by up close and personal. We got lucky as 3 trains went by slowly back-to-back-to-back.

They were just pretending to touch the train. Even though it looks like they could have touched it, they were a couple of feet away.

 

But mostly, we just enjoyed seeing Pa & Gigi.

Gigi's first picture will all three "bees"

This morning while cleaning out the car Bailey & Blake were even playing "going to Gigi's house" and want to visit again soon! Thanks for letting us come and play!

A Worthy Opponent

I will probably always remember a very specific basketball game my freshman year. We were playing state ranked South Lake Carroll in a tournament championship and they were basically a one man team. Our coach had us play a box and one defense. Basically, there were two guards at the top of the key and two posts at the bottom playing a loose zone and the other player faced off their one good player. I got to be one of the people on defense facing off the good girl and it was really fun, partly because we held them to their lowest scoring game of the year and partly because of how frustrated she got. Why do I tell you this story??? Because... of all the oppenents I use to face in basketball, my Blakers is proving to be a very worthy opponent. I feel like most of my days at home are spent playing a face off defense against him and when I am not able to, then I pay for it big time. He is the quiet, sneaky mess maker and you name it and he has probably been into it lately. Just yesterday I mistakenly thought he was playing sweetly in our kitchen sink, before I realize that he pulled out the vegetable sprayer and had given our kitchen a soak down. AHHH!

This is when he got ahold of our camera and thankfully took some self-portraits without breaking it.

Well, I don't think there is any coincidence in that all this has started since Blair has been born or that he just recently turned 2 or that he is just a little boy, but today marks the day of offensive. Sleep or no sleep, this mama is getting this situation under control. I love you Blakers even if your aren't going to like these next few days or weeks.

Camping at Enchanted Rock & Blake's 2nd Birthday

We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Blake's 2nd birthday than 2 nights camping at Enchanted Rock, and a huge thank you to Kyle & Ali for planning this Hill Country Camping Society (HCCS) campout, which just so happened to coincide with Blake's birthday. I will let the pictures mostly speak for themselves as we did the usual, but ever campout is a little unique and this trip was no different.

I will start off with what a 2 day family camping trip looks like from our minivan's point of view-

Granted that Blue's crate and two bikes took up a lot of room, in addition to one of the three coolers for the 60 something people who came.

On our way out, Blair perfectly time a feeding with exactly where the Burnet eagle's nest is. Luke got educated and this was the male eaglet who was 76 days old. He was left at the nest as his sister had already learned to fly and was with his parents. We thought it was pretty neat.

Maggie & Blair having cousin time as we unloaded and set up "the mansion" aka our tent.

I have to admit that Blair and I didn't sleep with the camping crew. It was a bit too cold for Blair (I think it got down to mid thirties), plus I was sure she would wake up everyone in our tent at her usual 6:30 wake up. So Ali & I headed to a friend of their's cabin, which was about 20 minutes away. This was the hole we had to locate in the dark and stick a hand down to turn on the water. It was also where I saw a snake when I tried to do it. Thankfully after throwing rocks at the grass and assuring Ali that the snake wasn't there anymore, she did it.

By sleeping in a cabin that means that Rebecca still holds the record for youngest HCCS camper. Sorry Blair, but you will have to actually sleep in the tent to be an official member.

Playground Fun

Hanging out in the tent

Headed out to hike

Joel, Boone, & Bear headed up

Luke & Blake and Robert & Merrick taking a break midway up

Part of the picnic crew. Not pictured are the Murrays to the left and the other Mezgers who came up a bit later.

 

Blake & I.

Right below us is a cave opening that Joel & Robert took 5 toddlers through. It was confirmed later that Bailey did not stay with her guides, but blazed a trail ahead of them and exited the cave 5-10 minutes before the rest of the crew. Doesn't surprise me a bit. It also didn't surprise us that she got wet enough to need to change clothes after only being at our campsite a few hours.

The best family picture we could get 

The birthday boy with his new to him bike

and wrestling with his best bud Boone.

Our little rock climber

Singing Happy Birhday

and enjoying his S'mores bar

One of my favorite things about camping- just hanging out by the campfire

Sunday picnic

A shooting lesson.

Afterwards Boone sweetly corrected Blake when he was holding the gun at his hips, saying "shoulders Blake" and showed him, and then they went off hunting.

And as usual I am looking forward to the next trip!

Happy Birthday Blake

Happy Birthday to our big two year old! At this stage of  life you love:

• your "fa" (giraffe)
• the color green
• your daddy (big time)
• hugs, kisses & high fives
• copying your sissa
• reading books to yourself before naptime or bedtime
• choo-choos, construction equipment, and tractors
• your milk & cereal first thing in the morning
• coloring
• fishing (with Pa) and talking about fishing with Pa
• Nana's riding toys
• adding -ie to the end of words
• when someone rubs your back
• Bailey's rain boots
• dancing in the car to "God is Wild About You" and "The Lion King Song"
• helping & watching in the kitchen
• swinging
• Ms Ginger your teacher
• car keys
• seeing how loud you can make noises
• stroller rides
• being sneaky and making messes for mommy
• jumping off things & climbing up things
• waking up way too early

We love that you finally know your name and call yourself "Baker" or "Bakey".

These pictures capture how busy you are these days and how you "no like" to stop to take pictures, but we still think they are pretty good actions shots : ). 

 

 

 

Love you Blake!

And Happy Birthday to Dr Suess. Thank you for your funny, quirky books that we enjoy reading!