D is for DADDY

I finally finished it! My Daddy wall has been on the back burner for some time. I was actually used to seeing a couple ledges with letters and frames stacked on top. It feels good to be done. 

I dreamed this up before Tyler left. I thought maybe it would keep Daddy alive in those little minds. I love that they wake up and see him, go to bed and see him, and play in their room and see him. I figured even if they didn't notice, it would put my Mommy heart at ease. To my delight, they DO notice. All the time.

 And I think it's pretty dang nifty! Not bad for my first gallery wall, wouldn't ya say?

Maggie will say "Da-Da" when she looks at it, and Miss Rachel notices it all--- what kind of hat Daddy is wearing, the stars on the letter D, the swing, the fountain- she loves it. I think so anyway. 

Little things count. It's amazing just how much they count. I'm glad I finished it. 
We love our Daddy. 
side script from today:
Mommy: "That's MY Daddy!!!"
Rachel: "MINE Daddy!"
Mommy: "No, he's mine."
Rachel: "No, that's MINE Daddy!"
Mommy: "Nope, I found him first."
Rachel: "Daddy is MINE."
Mommy: "No, he's mine."
Rachel: "MINE!"
(I think you get the drift.)
...
...
Mommy: "Okay, you're right. He is your Daddy. But he's my sweetheart." hehe. 
Got her there!


Yep, we're already fighting over him.

Bluebonnets and Blue Bell Ice Cream

I don't know a single Texan who doesn't adore the bluebonnet flower. Every spring people come from miles around to find the best bluebonnet fields. Bluebonnets naturally grow in only one place in the world- Texas. I'd like to have a big painting of one on my mantel one day myself. ;)

"The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland,the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland." 

And just because I'm a dork and like this sort of thing- the scientific name is: 

Lupinus texensis  

My parents and the girls and I went on a journey to find to best bluebonnet field. If you're from Houston, that means you drive to Brenham. And since you're in Brenham, you might as well stop at the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory too. ;) It is the best ice cream. hands down. period. If you haven't tried it, you must! Homemade Vanilla is the best, but they are all good! Especially drowning in a pool of Hersheys syrup. hehe. 

Check it out! They aren't just in Texas! In fact I still remember trying a flavor called, The Grand Canyon while visiting Arizona once. It was good. 

Rachel insisted on chocolate, of course. And Miss Maggie got Cookies and Cream. This is one way to get little kids to sit still, that is until it's gone.

She's just cute. That's all.

Rachel was thrilled! It was worth the car ride.
This is a job Maggie could do... eat ice cream. And it's so cute to watch...
After the Ice Cream Factory, we went out to lunch! Ha! I personally like to eat Blue Bell Ice Cream before and after my meals. Good thing I don't- I'd probably weigh a bazillion pounds! This little sandwhich shop was so charming and delicious! There was a line all the way outside the door!
Taking pictures while waiting in line... Me and my Momma...

Mommy and Magster...

Lupinus texensis is all it's glory. Man how I love bluebonnets. My absolute favorite flower though are the Indian Paintbrushes... normally they are mixed together, but this field was mostly bluebonnets.  Texas wildflowers make me happy.
Someone was all tuckered out by the time we got to the bluebonnet fields...

But we still managed to get a few smiles out of her...
The girls and Nana and Pop...

My parents...

Looking for butterflies... they were all over the place!

"This way Pop!"

A couple Mommy pictures... All I want is one good one! Jeez if only Rachel was smiling, then this would have been one of my all time favorites! darn it.
And another one. I want a professional photo shoot so bad. Oh well, we'll just have to keep trying.

God Bless Texas 

Castle Park

She is such a stinker! And that expression- fearless...  

It doesn't matter how high- at every park we go to she leans over the ledge...

I remember playing at this park with my cousins! It's still called castle park!  I really can't wait to get a dog. When we have the space it's happening! I'm thinking a blood hound. I love that wrinkly face and long ears. It's so ugly it's cute! (to me anyways) And I'm going to name him Earl. Or maybe I'll stick with chocolate labs like my Grandpa Barrow...
Grandpa and his dogs- they go everywhere together...If only that feathery bow was strawberry blonde! They'd be baby extensions! I love her baby chick hair...

Playing with Grandpa...

They went back and forth for a while... Grandpa is a hat person- So is my Dad- and my brother- and my husband.  I like hat men. ;)

Rachel LOVES playing with Grandma Barrow! She plays right into her imaginative games, and Rachel adores her for it.

In her own words:

"This way Grandma! The dragon is coming!"

Well in that case we'd better get home.  Thanks for the visit Grandma and Grandpa. We'll be back to slay dragons another day. ;)

My Brother is HOME!

MIKE IS FINALLY HOME FROM HIS MISSION!

I missed him so much. Since he's been home we've gone swimming, ate M&Ms, made cookies, watched "Man From Snowy River 1 &2", gone running, talked, listened to rock music, and next weekend we're doing the Tough Mudder together! GET EXCITED. 

Seriously Jess, how in the world did you botch this one up? It's blurry and they aren't even two years old. Oh the shame.  

My family knows how to throw a party. Period.See that brisket there? That's what I'm talking about...

Oh my goodness and Uncle Mark made his famous ribs. They were DELICIOUS. I'm not going to lie- I poured myself a glass of root beer and microwaved those babies around midnight a few times. A dream come true. I was actually able to satisfy a rib craving at midnight! And guess who got to watch me via skype? Ah yes, my poor husband in Afghanistan. I know, I'm evil. We both got a good laugh though.

Have you noticed that my family buys a cookie cake for just about every party? Well, we do.

The bachelor picture... looks like troubles a' brewin...

This one isn't so bad... But were's the one of Mike with me? With his nieces? With his parents? With his Nana? I know, I'm a slacker. Give me a break...

Welcome Home Mike!

REBA!!!

I love going to the Houston Rodeo!!! I had been planning on going for months mostly because I knew it would be a huge "pick-me-up" during this deployment plus it would something fun to look forward to. 
But who to go with? Which show? Turns out my amazing friend Denise invited me to go and see REBA!!!!!! Has soon as she said Reba I couldn't contain my excitement. I mean- it's Reba! I love her! I love her show... I love her clothesline... I love her MUSIC!!! Classic. 

Reliant Stadium... It's ginormous!!! Check out this view!   

The Reba group! I swear that top was flattering when I tried it on... hmmm... oh well I'm at the Rodeo for goodness sakes!

Awwww yes, the bull riding! I had so much fun taking pictures! I'm sure everyone around me was like, "What's that annoying clicking noise?" hahaha...

Even looking at these pictures something inside me wants to give this a try... the adrenaline! Yep, it's official, there must be something wrong with me. 

haha! Sue and her sister with their cotton candy tongues! How fun to have a sister! I hope Rachel and Maggie are like these two when they grow up...

Man that guy got trampled on- bless his heart, haha...

okay, I'm cringing now... OUCH! I think I'll stick to the mechanical ones with foam mats under them... {yeah, good idea Jess}

Chuck wagon races! I always root for the 93Q wagon...

The whole night felt like a high school flashback! But in a good way! These girls were so much fun...

fireworks!!! Cover your ears Denise! haha...

Here she is, the lady of the hour- REBA! She's so pretty! Reba was actually my very first concert I ever went to. I remember her driving into the Astrodome in a pink corvette (I think it was) and her big, crazy red hair... good times...

okay Tyler, I think I know what I want for my birthday now... hehe!!! Seriously though, check those suckers out!

Awww, Reba- gotta love her. She's such a class act...

Thank you Denise for inviting me to the Rodeo! I had an amazing time!!!

A Blurry Museum Visit

Some friends from the ward invited us to go to the Children's Museum! I love when people invite me to things. Who doesn't? Plus, getting out of town with the kids and having other Mommies to talk to is a double-wammey in my book. Anyway the girls and I jumped on the offer and we had a great time. 

So I'm not incredibly proud of these pictures but I suppose they'll do. Low light plus quick little movers equals a photography challenge. I love this one of Maggie, the grocery is always a hit with my girls... too bad Walmart doesn't get the same reaction!  

pretty sure they stayed there for an hour!

Hanging out in the Dinosaur footprint...

They had this whole new section called the GROSSOLOGY department! IT WAS AWESOME and totally gross!!! Next time my goal is to get some GOOD pictures in that section... Here's Mr. Burping guy, too funny...

Rachel and D-Max at the throw up machine...

Rachel loved shooting balls into a giant nose!!! haha!

Another giant nose... Here's our group plus Rachel refusing to take a picture. Ahhh good ole' motherhood... Can't blame her though, if I was in so many pictures I'd try to run off too!

And Miss Mags with the air machines... It was so much fun to watch here there; she was having a grand time with that beach ball...

Mark my words we will be going there again! And next time my pictures will do it justice! So there! haha!