Visit to the Ranch - August 2010

We made our summer hike to the ranch and this time Lynette, Ashley and Kolby joined us! We had a fantastic time, as usual. Thanks Fred and Susan for your hospitality!!!

We attempted to take a family picture. If only we could combine all three of these, we would have a great one!

The boys were so loving and played so well together.

Then they decided to play a game of gun chase...I guess.

But don't the big boys usually chase after the youngest?!?!

Not this time. Carson was on the hunt!

Gotcha!!!

Meanwhile, the girls were picking peaches.

Carson decide this was a comfortable distance from the horses...at first.

The girls were feeding the horses oats.

Lynette and Tripoley (Trip)

This is a great pic of all the kids!

Carson getting used to the horses again.

Deedee looking for some loving.

Carson actually pet the horses this time. Last time he was too scared.

Carson was leaning in for a kiss here but I missed the action shot!

I just had to capture this moment. Too cute!

Trip decided he wanted something....

And that was Carson's hat! He took it right off his head! Carson wasn't too thrilled about that one. Daddy had to pry it out of Trip's mouth. We had a good laugh about that after.

Carson trying out a scooter for the first time.

And a skateboard! Mommy wouldn't let him stand on this one.

This was taken before we left Cleo Road. Carson was out!

And I just loved this pic...Carson decided he didn't want to sleep in his Cowboys hat, but he wasn't letting it go too far!

The Cleo Cup

For those of you that know my husband well enough you know he is a very competitive man. He won't just "let" anyone win. Competition is key and its very healthy...if you were to ask him. I think he learned a bit of this growing up with Fred. Years ago Brian and Fred engaged in a friendly golf match each time we went to the Ranch. It slowly became a bit more competitive and each time Fred won he was sure to put the scorecard on the refrigerator. And sure enough, it would be there on display the next time we came out to the Ranch. A couple years back the "friendly golf match" took on the name "Cleo Cup" named after a near-by town, if  you want to call it that. The peak population was reached in the 70's at about 81 people. Now, I am not sure if the population is even counted. Anyhow, Brian decided they needed more than just a scorecard to keep up with the latest winner of the Cleo Cup...and this is what he came up with.

The Cleo Cup

I think it's very fitting, don't you! The winner of the Cleo Cup gets to display this honorably on their mantle until the next "friendly golf match".

Did I mention that Brian and Fred were a bit competitive??? Well, this ought to show you. This is what greeted us at the gate when we arrived at the ranch last weekend.

This was on the second gate leading to the ranch. Apparently Fred was otherwise known as "The Heat" back in his day....

Enough said....

The game came down to the last putt, of course. And, let's just say, the Cleo Cup is no longer residing in Austin. Until next time....

July/August 2010

I am playing catch up from July and August. We have had a very busy summer! We were very fortunate to have some great visitors.

Uncle Phillip and Miss Christina came to visit us for a weekend. Fun was definitely had by all!!!

Miss Laura also came for another visit! We were so excited to continue our tour of Austin with her.

Cousins Kolby and Ashley and Aunt Net (Lynette, Brian's sister) came for a visit the week before school started. Kolby enjoyed reading to Carson.

And Carson loved when Kolby read to him!

Carson, Kolby, Ashley and Lynette joined Grandma Karen and her grandkids Austin, Shelby and Trinity at the Austin Children's Museum while Mommy and Daddy went to the doctor's appointment for the ultrasound.

I hear they had a blast!

This pic was too cute. Thanks Karen for sending me the pics on your iPhone!!!

Aw, how sweet!!!

I heard that Carson was really into the little ladies. Especially the baby girls!!! I am real hopeful that means he will love having a little sister!!! Doesn't he look like he is being so gentle here? I could just eat him up!! I love this little guy!

Carson checking out a baby girl!

Mommy introducing Carson to his baby sister in the ultrasound photos.

Mommy's little man.

Carson's "Big Boy" Room Revealed

We finally put together Carson's "Big Boy Room" this weekend!!! I don't know who was more excited, me or Carson. But if I had to bet, it was me!!! I think it turned out fantastic! We still have a few finishing touches to add - something to put on the wall above his dresser (I am thinking a panoramic photo of Florida Field!!!) and maybe a rug near his bed.

I was hoping to do a big reveal like on Christmas morning, but we just couldn't keep Carson out of his room. He was so excited!!!

Carson loves to read on his new baseball beanbag. Actually, its not new at all! This was Brian's when he was a boy :-)

Here is a before picture of the end table that I got at a consignment store.

Here is a close up of the end table. I painted it and put the basketball knob on it. And of course there is my little guy hamming it up for the camera.

Here is where I think I will put a great panoramic pic of Florida Field. What do you think??

Here is a before pic of the dresser. I bought this dresser and a changing table (not seen) for $40 total off of Craig's List! I was so proud of my deal!

I just loved the sports ball knobs I found online.

I decided to put a cork board up in his room since Carson comes home with a stack of art work each week from school. My refrigerator is covered! I know he will love to show it off once I get it hung up in his room.

These are my two favorite additions to his room. Check out my husband's handy work on the headboard! I looked all over for a headboard on Craig's List and consignment stores but couldn't find what I was looking for. So I decided to design one and Brian built it! I think it looks fantastic! And my other favorite addition is his name above the bed. I loved the way they turned out and it only cost me about $15 to make them :-)

Carson did so well last night is his transition to his "Big Boy Room". After his bath I gave him the choice of where he wanted to sleep and it was not a hard decision. When we went downstairs to say Night, Night to Daddy he announced so proudly that he was going to bed in his big boy room. After our routine of two night time stories and two night, night songs he shed a couple of tears and then he was asleep!!

Now on to decorating the nursery...yeah!!!