Texas Tea Party

The day that our families went to the Astros game one of my nieces had a church activity where a tea party was planned. She really wanted to go but some of us would have to stay behind. I suggested that we have a tea party at their house instead and everyone was happy with that - even the older girls who we let create and prepare the food.

While the princesses went to find proper attire for such an occasion (including clothes for all of the little princes) the girls prepared this feast:

When they were called down for their tea party each princess was escorted down by a young prince.

Once they were seated the older girls served each guest their finger foods...

...which all proper royalty knew to eat with their pinkies up.


Okay, some ate with their pinkies down. But whatever. They were sure cute doing it.


And, honestly, what tea party is complete without chocolate milk and bendy straws?

And they all lived happily ever after.

Elk Ranch

Cutest little cowpokes you ever did see!

One of my favorite places to spend some time when we visit Texas is Elk Ranch. This is some property owned by Allen's brother, Troy, and his family. It is like a little piece of heaven on earth because there is something for everyone. If you want to sit back and watch a movie or read a book, you can hang out in the ranch house. If you want to get outside and play, there is ziplining, fishing, canoeing, and plenty of exploring to be done.

Chow time!


Where the ranch gets its name - this impressive herd of elk roam the grounds.


Uncle Troy and Baby X


One of the cousins shows them how the zipline is done


Ready for a canoe ride


Coolister and Little O


Ziplining over the pond


Bighorn sheep


Allen and Coolister


All-a-boy loved the zipline


These cuties loved going for rides on the Polaris


Allen decided to cool off with All-a-Boy


Coolister became the non-official guy in charge of canoe rides


Did I mention that All-a-Boy loved the zipline?

Rich And Famous (Sort Of)

Remember this post from last year?

Well, it happened again! Only this time it was a surprise.

I got my December/January SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE of Family Fun magazine on Tuesday and started to read through it. When I got to page 88 I saw this:


I thought, Funny, that sounds like the idea I submitted a LONG time ago. And it was even funnier when I saw that it mentioned our family by name. It WAS my idea! Someone did call me about publishing it about a year ago but she didn't have a definite date. Honestly? I think it was a lot more fun finding out about it this way.

Two days later I got 2 extra copies of the magazine in the mail. I'm guessing it's so I can autograph them and pass them out to my adoring fans.

It makes me feel a little famous.

To top it all off, they pay you $100 if they use your idea...

I think that makes me rich and famous.


(Hey, when it comes to fame and fortune, I take what I can get.)

What We Do For Fun

Guess what we did this month? Family pictures. And because we love the feeling of herding cats, we did it twice.

The first time (see above) we wore authentic 70's clothing purchased from our local thrift stores.

The second time we dressed a little more 2008.


We have never had so much fun taking family photos - from posing to the blaring tunes of Saturday Night Fever on a deserted water truck to running amok on a playground...

Jason, you did an amazing job. Thank you for putting up with our crazy antics.

Want to see a few more? Click here.

Have You Seen Me?

Do you get this magazine? Because I don't. I have some published words in it, and I'd like to see them. They said they'd send me a copy, but I didn't get one - and I can't find one at the store. (I'm not complaining...I did get the check they said they'd send me, which was pretty cool!) Does anyone have a copy I could look at?

I'd be much obliged.

I'm a Texas Star!

Howdy all y'all! (That's Texan for "Hello everyone!") We just got back from a family reunion down yonder in Houston, Texas, and a rootin' (YEE HAW!!) tootin' (only had beans once) good time was had by all! Our little EG was especially enthralled by the experience. She has always been a cowgirl at heart and even began speaking with the occasional western drawl a couple years back. She was absolutely ecstatic to 'speak cowboy' and fit right in!

EG was honored to receive Texas-themed prizes at the reunion. She was awarded a 'Texas Forever' shirt which immediately became her new favorite article of clothing (Yes, EG, we DO have to wash it!) and a Texas-shaped pen, her new prized possession.

EG has a passion for writing. She brought along her kindergarten journal and wrote about things that happened on our trip. I will quote her journal instead of boring you with my personal details. Keep in mind that she sound-spells quite a bit. If you don't understand, just sound it out. It's like a whole secret language. I remember when my friend Jason and I wrote notes to each other in sound-spell in high school. It was loads of fun! Anyway, back to EG's journal:

"We drove and drove. We watcht a movey! And we drove mor. I lookt awt my windo. We wnt to a stor to go too the bathrom. We got to the temple in Monticello! (She asked me how to spell that one.) We watcht mor moveys. We stopt in Farmington! I did play! I had lunch and then I did play mor then it was tim too go. Then we drove mor and mor. We saw a lat uv TREES. We were at the watermelon mountins. I saw some horses and animals. We drove allat. I had a drink! I wanted too go to a restaurant. (Mom helped her spell that one, too) It was night. Then it was morning. And we had brekfist at a restarunt. And then we drove and drove and we watcht some moveys! We watcht Rubadubrs. We watcht Bob the Bildr. We watcht Barny. And we watcht more moveys. We got to Texas! I liket talking in cowboy! My mom and dad saw a turtle on the road! I saw 8 water tawers. We went to church. We went to the beech. We went to a swiming pool! Ther was a lat mor but I frgot all uv that. We slept good. It was morning! We drove allat more. Then we went bac hom. (Big sad face drawn here). the End."

There you have it! Our 10-day Texas vacation in the eyes of a 6-year-old. A large portion of this was written with her Texas pen, so it's very special.

EG was not particularly excited to cross the border of Texas and enter New Mexico. When I proclaimed, "We are no longer in the state of Texas! We are now in New Mexico!" She replied, "Awwww!! Now I can't speak cowboy anymore. I have to speak Mexican. Or just normal."

She can still sing her new favorite song, though, which Aunt Becky taught us at the reunion:
(you better believe I'll be singing this at Girl's Camp next month, along with all the actions!!)

I'm a TEX, I'm a TEX, I'm a TEXAS star,
From way down yonder where the cowboys are!
I can ride 'em, I can rope 'em, I can show you how it's done-
So come on down to Texas with your boots & hats on!

But just so you can see that she is happy to be home, and so I can show off her darling new haircut, here's our happy EG, who we are hoping will take up cowboy talk again very soon.

P.S. If you want to see more pictures and descriptions of the reunion, check out my sister-in-law Stephenie's blog HERE.