Everything Texas!

While we were at Brad's parents house, we experienced "everything" that reminds me of my beloved, home state, Texas.  

After our time with the great-grandparents, we came home and decorated cupcakes for the party the next day!  Then for dinner that night we went to our favorite BBQ place, Spring Creek! It was everything I remember and more, so yummy!

Then we came home, gave the girls baths and when the girls were ready for bed, they had the fun of opening a gift from Mimi and PawPaw! They each were given a cute new Gymboree shirt. 

The next day, Luke, Ruth Ann, Aunt Beth, and Uncle Nate came over to hang out with us.  Little Luke fell down 3 feet off the playground the day before and by doctor's orders couldn't run around.  So his parents were closely monitoring him during the day.  And let me tell you,  he was the absolute sweetest, most compliant child.  If his parents would let me, I would take him home with me in heartbeat! :-)  He was also super warm and friendly to his cousins.  He immediately gave hugs and wanted to hold hands with Faith! :-)

Mimi and PawPaw helped Faith and Luke blow bubbles in the back yard!  It was beautiful weather and all of the family relaxed and enjoyed the bubbles together.

After some time outside, we all came back inside and the kids enjoyed listening to Mimi read one of the many books in the house! :-)

One of my favorite things about our trip was all the fun things we discovered about our little niece Ruth Ann. For one, she LOVES to wear her mommy's shoes at home, and in this case, older cousin's shoes too!  Isn't she adorable?
(And I want to add, I have the sweetest sis-in-law who dressed little Ruth Ann in her birthday gift from us this last year!)

Ruth Ann has the most petite feet of a 2 & 1/2 years old; she wears a size 5 shoe!!  Jillian's 11 size shoes were GINORMOUS on her. 

Uncle Brad took little Ruth Ann and Anna on a bear hunt in the living room! The girls were both so cute as they focused on their mission to find bears. They crawled all over on the living room floor, and Brad would occasionally exclaim "Bear!" when he spotted an imaginary bear.  The little girls would sweetly echo "Bear!" after him. LOL! It was too funny and the two-year olds cousins had the best time together. 

Then PawPaw took us on a little adventure to show us some stables close-by their house.

One of the trainers introduced us to a beautiful, friendly horse who came all the way from Germany!

She was a feisty horse who enjoyed moving her head back and forth during the picture time. It's funny,  we were more concerned about getting the horse to stand still long enough to get a photo, then we were about getting the 5 kids to look at the camera. But thankfully, it was an all around success! Beth was awesome to send me these great photos. :-)

After the stables, we went to a nearby lake for a beautiful drive. While we were driving in a two-car caravan, I spotted these beautiful bluebonnets in a field.  I urged Brad, "Honk at them! Maybe they'll stop." But next thing you know, Nate had already pulled over into the parking lot because he had the same brilliant idea!!

These are the very first photos Brad and I have ever had taken of our kids in Texas Bluebonnets.  I love that they are with their sweet cousins.  

It was a sunny day, so this was as good as we could do, but isn't it adorable how little Ruth Ann and Faith are holding hands. :-) 

Brad and I couldn't resist getting a photo of us in the bluebonnets too.  This is the first time we have been back to Texas in the spring for 7 years. 

Beautiful bluebonnets

Uncle Nate with the two-year old girls walking back to the car! 

Afterwards, we came back to the house and the kids played some Connect Four together.

Then we had an outdoor picnic for dinner. 

Brad's dad created this batting contraption many years ago and the kids had such a good time "playing ball"!

Jillian here is rotating the stick and"ball", so Faith can hit it with the bat. 

Meanwhile, Anna and Ruth Ann were enjoying more bubbles time together.

While the dads were enjoying seconds of the yummy Chinese food. 

Then we all went back inside to sing "Happy Birthday" to Aunt Beth and have cupcakes and ice-cream and open presents! 

Then we enjoyed some more relaxation time together. Brad had fun introducing Luke to some new kids games on the iPad. 

And Uncle Nate read the kids some more Richard Scarry.  I was amazed by Luke, he was incredible at identifying every truck/car in the book!
Without a doubt, it was a super fun, memorable time with BBQ, horses, bluebonnets, and most of all dear family.