Country Livin'

While I was in Tyler, Shawn found a little gem of a fishing hole. Someone at church has a house that backs up to a small river and it's teeming with perch and a few bass. The owner has told us to come out whenever we want! Well okay! After dinner last night, we hopped in the car and headed there for an impromptu fishing trip. We all had a WONDERFUL time! It's the perfect spot to take the girls because just about every time we put the bait in the water, we caught something! Ava has officially caught her first fish now! We also got to see a gaggle of geese that honked more than any I've ever seen before. Seriously, like carrying on for 15 minutes! We saw a group of longhorns too that were VERY friendly...almost to the point of scaring us, but we were assured that they were only friendly. We also saw a water snake of some sorts which freaked me out. It was a great evening!

The first cast

The first fish!

Ava had an obsession with poking the fish

Love this expression!

Mommy's first fish!!! It has been a L O N G time since I caught a fish and it wasn't because I wasn't trying!

More fish-looking and pokin.

Ava's official first fish!

Don't judge the chin....that was the daddy longhorn and he was ginormous! Can you tell how excited Ava was to be that close?

An added bonus; the man's cat had kittens two days ago!!! They were precious!!!

Packing up and heading home. After this picture was taken, Ava insisted on putting the tackle box in the back of the van by herself. It was so helpful when she turned it upside down to get it in there. Shawn and I just looked at each other.

4 Holidays in 1

I went to Tyler on Wednesday as a gift to Shawn for his birthday. He got to stay at the house all by himself from Wed at lunch until Saturday at dinner. He thoroughly enjoyed it but was glad when we returned home. While in Tyler, we celebrated my dad's birthday, my daughter's birthday, Valentines, and Easter. There has been a full explosion of sugar! We definitely indulged our taste buds! For my dad's birthday we had shrimp fettuccine alfredo and yellow cake with homemade chocolate icing. It was all yummy. We also went and saw Gramme on Thursday and ate with her too. They sure do love their Gramme! I wished we could have spent more time with her...I'm counting down till all the grandparents retirement...if that every happens! The girls had a stupendous time in Tyler and whined the whole way home about having to leave Tyler. To say the trip home wasn't good would be an understatement. But, we did make it and now comes the bragging sappy section about my husband. This is what I came home too:

1. a clean house (vacuumed too!)

2. my favorite candle burning

3. a norah jones CD playing

4. his laundry done

5. dinner in the works

6. Big Red sodas to drink (soda is a luxury as of late)

7. more icecream that I love since he had eaten the rest of the other gallon

8. a sweet homemade note

9. shawn sitting on the curb waiting for us

He did a WONDERFUL job!!! After the bad trip back, it was exactly what I needed. I couldn't have asked for anything more! It made all the stress of my arguing children slide right off! I am so so so thankful for him and how good he is to me. :)

Okay back to regular programming. While in Tyler, we walked some of the Azalea Trail. IT.WAS.AMAZING. I forget how beautiful it is in Tyler during the Spring. It really made me just thank God over and over for all of the things He created for me that aren't "necessary." Like the flowers . They are just decoration for us humans to see and think looks pretty. He didn't have to make such beautiful stuff but He did and I loved it! I took about a gazillion pictures but I'll try to pair it down to a few for your viewing pleasure. It was good to go, but it's so nice to be back home. I am ready for spring and early summer! Enjoy the pictures.

Stopped on the way to Tyler for obligatory bluebonnet picture.

Cousins

Love how this picture turned out!

This picture cracks me up....how random can you get, but so cute and Ava loved it!

This was my favorite azalea.

Gramme reading to the girls.

Ava and Gramme cover their eyes and count while Elle hid.

Shopping trip to Claires for Elle's bday presents. Elle was in heaven!

This isn't lippie...it's the leftovers from a hotpink cookie.

Make a wish Poppie!

Make a wish Elle...these were trick candles which the girls had never heard of before. I have some HILARIOUS! pictures of the looks on the girls faces when they lit back up over and over....HILARIOUS!

Going for a ride

Is this what it means to go "bareback?"

1st Day of Spring

To celebrate the first official day of spring, I got some ice cream sandwiches and we all sat outside and ate them. It was a beautiful start to this new season. It's always so exciting when the time changes and we are given the gift of an extra hour outside in the evenings. This is our favorite time as a family. Friday was no exception. Ava was so very happy to be given ice cream that she could get as dirty as she wanted with.

"Mommy, would the lens of your camera care for a taste of my delicious icecream sandwich?"

"Oh I can't wait to touch all the walls from the front door all the way up to my pretty pink bathroom!"

Feeding of the Goats

Some people go to Italy (?) once a year to experience the Running of the Bulls. Here in central Texas our family partakes in the Feeding of the Goats. Once a year we are invited to a member from churches farm, where we get to see a huge amount of newborn goats. The girls absolutely love this and I have to admit I love it too. There is just about nothing cuter than baby goats, especially when they have a full tummy and are laying out in the sun. They make THE CUTEST noise when they call out. Ava's whole goal was to touch as many baby goats as possible. The sleeping ones didn't stand a chance. Some of them were smart enough to scoot out of the way before she got too close. We also fed the chickens and collected a few eggs to take home and eat. We had them for lunch and they were great. Another fun day at the farm.

Their egg purses...so IN CASE they cracked one, it didn't go everywhere in the car (and this time it was Ava's turn to break one.)
Riding in the feed wagon.

Ava cornered this poor thing and it could only stand there and take whatever she had to give.

PRECIOUS!

Run little goat!!! If you know what's good for you .....R U N!!!

I thought this was so cute..reminded me of one of my kids on their tippy toes looking for something good.

Open the gate and let me at em!

Hair Accessories Gone Wild

The other night, Shawn watched the girls and Kimmy, while her mommy and I went to find gifts for some people. While we were gone the girls went bow crazy and Shawn snapped a few pics. I love them!

Tea Party

This was our second year to go to the library tea party. We went with our neighbor across the street. That was nice because we didn't feel like we were in such a sea of strangers. It was fun and now Ava can't wait till next year when she can go too.

You're NOT invited...but check out the invite!

Here's Elle's invitation that I made for her 5th birthday that's coming up Easter weekend. She loves Fancy Nancy so that's the theme we are going with. I've probably lost my mind because I thought it would be a good idea to have all the little girls that are around Elle's age come to her party. There's about 10-12 of them at church! It will definitely make some great pictures!