State Fair of Texas ~ 10-22-11

We planned a few months back to go to the State Fir of Texas. For most of us going, we had not been and others it had been a REALLY long time.

Michael, the boys, and myself drove up to Red Oak and stayed at my cousins house the night before and then made our way to Dallas the next morning. The added expense for a hotel room an added night wasn't in the cards and while we thought we would see my cousin and his wife, we were grateful for a bed for a few hours and a chance for the boys to run around on Friday evening.

We were all excited to get our trip under way. EVERYTHING at the Texas Fair is bigger.

 

Braydon not sure what to think of the big animals.

 Cameron enjoying feeding the animals.

 Daddy helping Braydon with the feeding.

 Braydon feeding the animals all by himself.

Braydon trying to get in the animal pin.

 Trying to stage a picture.

 I would not want to be the mother of these rambunctious little piggies!

 Nor would I want to have this thing in my belly AFTER it is born! 

This joey was not gentle climbing in!

 Then we went to see a dog show. The great thing about these dogs is that they were all rescues. Amazing that these dogs can do what they were doing.

 This dog was a pit-bull mix who only had 3 legs. What he could do was amazing.

 In one of the livestock buildings, they had a milking session. It was interesting with the exception the man conducting the session made some rather sexist remarks about moms buying milk. Of course there was more to it than just that and I wasn't quite infuriated, but was a little taken back by his mid-west attitude of women.

Then we saw this massive momma. She was huge. We joked about 

how much bacon we could fill the freezer with!

 We visited one of the food buildings and got some ice cream. 

Even Braydon got in on the yummy treat at like 10 in the morning.

 We saw some cool windmills made from license plates.

 Family picture minus Braydon in front of a huge gourd.

 We went to the Birds of the World show. 

Braydon was too active to sit so we played on the side.

 They released one of the big birds from the top of the Ferris wheel and 

it flew down to the arena we were in. It was really cool.

 Braydon still being silly and moving around.

After the show we went for lunch. The Texas size corn dog was as long as Cameron's arm!

More to come...

Happy 5th Birthday Cameron ~ 2-7-12

We celebrated Cameron's 5th birthday today. More to come soon on our happenings!

It's SO hard to believe that he is 5 already. It seems like not more than a few months ago we had him.

Time to cut ~ 10-19-11

I got a bright idea to laminate shapes and use them with my my school kiddos. For every A on a test the kiddos write their name and on the shape and hang it on and outside our classroom door. My student teacher from the beginning of the year was fabulous and used the di-cut and laminator at her school to prepare a bunch earlier in the year. Then a few Friday's ago when we picked up Cameron from school we used the di-cut machine at Cameron's school and cut out a TON of shapes. I took them to school and had them laminated. Then of course it was time to cut.all.the.shapes.out! It has been worth it each test the kids get to write on and post the shapes.

Randomness ~ 10-15-11

2 years ago I wanted and received a wonderful 3 bin recycling bin for the kitchen. We throw very little trash away and instead have mostly recycleables that we need to have a place to keep them until we put them in the reycling bin out in the garage. One might think just walk out to the garage but I would spend most of my time walking to the garage if that were the case.

Braydon went through a phase that he would toss EVERYTHING in the recycling bin. I now have to go through the bin before dumping it in the large recycling bin out in the garage. Who knows how many items might have made their way to the big bin without me realizing it. Here is today's bounty.

And I was looking for the baby tooth and gum medicine.

Yummy Bacon ~ 10-15-11

Through a local blog I found out about a company, Zaycon, who sells bacon, chicken, and ground beef, among some other items. They sell in bulk and are able to keep the price low. The first purchase we made was for bacon. It ended up being $2.97 a lb. We were a little skeptical about the quality and taste, but it turned out to be absolutely delicious. The bacon comes in four 7.5 lb bags. The one here is one of the packages. I was able to split an order with our sitter and a friend. It is definitely a win-win situation.

A funny Sunday morning...unless you are Michael ~ 10-2-11

We had our usual Sunday morning of breakfast as a family. We all got our food and we sat down at the table. The boys were excited to have food in front of them.

 Braydon was recently switched from his high chair to his big boy chair that sits on the regular chair. So he was he more excited than usual.

 Then, Michael went to sit down. He scooted his chair up and we heard a loud crack of wood. He got the leg of the chair in the groove between the floor tiles and broke the chair.

But we figure "no big deal." We continued eating our breakfast. And then...another loud crash! (Insert uncontrollable laugh - even though it's not funny.) The next thing we know Michael is ON THE FLOOR! The chair had completely collapsed. I tried not to laugh, but just couldn't help it.

Sorry, Braydon. You have to go back to your high chair.

Cameron's many talents ~ 10-1-11

Cameron loves to help out. Today was no different. He folded Braydon's diapers for me. Such a sweet boy. 

Then Cameron decided to try his hand at photography, which is normal around our house. I've stopped holding my breath when he picks up my expensive camera, well, most of the time!

Looking Brand New ~ 10-1-11

The Payne's gave us a fridge 7.5 years ago when we moved into our town home. When we moved to our current home we moved it to the garage and got the Payne's fridge they replaced for the kitchen. The fridge in the garage leaked from the freezer into the bottom, pooled inside, and could get pretty gross if left unattended. I decided that it was time to move it out of the garage and find something a little more economical on electricity and smaller since we don't need anything that large.

I posted the fridge on Freecycle to see if anyone would even want it. I listed the pertinent information and low and behold someone wanted it. It took me a few hours to clean it out. Why I took so much time to clean it for someone else I don't know. I guess because it was NASTY GROSS. After I got done cleaning it I seriously considered keeping it, but I had already promised it to someone who REALLY needed it! It did my heart good to give it to someone in need.

A continual mess ~ 10-1-11

If you have children you know what part Cheerio's play a roll in your house. Both of my boys have always had a cup of cheerios. If I was lucky there were in a snack cup that is supposed to keep the cereal IN the cup. Or if your kids are like mine they are talented at getting ALL the cereal on the floor, as in this picture. Most of the time our pantry is stocked to the ceiling, literally, with cereal.

Now if they would only clean it up as easily as they make the mess.

Date Night ~ 9-30-11

Michael and I have never had anyone other than family or a couple of close friends watch the boys. And even for almost all of those occasions the sitters have always watched the boys because there were other obligations not just for us to go out and have fun.

I trust my student teacher and after talking about her watching kids and seeing what a great job she did with my school kiddos I had a feeling that she would be great to watch the boys for the evening while we went out. We picked up Cameron at school and took advantage of the di-cut machine to cut out some shapes for school. More on that later.

We grabbed some food for the boys and Lauren and we waited on Michael to arrive home. I originally wanted the date night to be a surprise for Michael but with his work schedule I had to tell him we had plans or he could have ended up with a customer and blown our date night. So, we didn't have planned what we wanted to do but quickly figured out what our game plan would be. We went to play miniature golf in Spring, a favorite activity, and then to dinner at Red Robin, to experience a new place we have always seen and had been yet to try.

The miniature gold place was a bit run down. Michael beat me on the LAST hole! Then we went inside and played some games. Michael and I have always talked about dreaming of owning a miniature golf place. In fact there is even the remnants of one that has gone out of business in our town by our barber and I drool every time we go by there and wonder maybe, just maybe.

We had a great evening and it was wonderful to get away just the two of us. Although it was pretty sad that we were home by 9:00. We just can't hang with the young kids any more.

One Cool Dude ~ 9-28-11

Braydon found our 3-d glasses from going to the movie a while back.

Grandma Nancy turns 50! ~ 9-27-11

My mom would have turned 50 today. It's crazy to think of her at 50 considering she passed away at 33, the same age as I am now. We went out for Chinese food tonight for dinner, my mom's favorite food next to crab legs. It also happens to be my favorite. My first job was at a fast food Chinese restaurant where I ate Chinese 2-3 times per week and LOVED IT! I think I could still eat Chinese food that many times per week.

My mom collected butterflies and it seemed fitting that Cameron would color some at school this week.

Cameron practicing P for his last name.

Full of Personality ~ 9-11

Braydon got the personality gene from the Payne side of the family. He is funny, energetic, and when he starts talking we won't be able to get him quiet.

Who could deny this precious face?!?!

Fave place to eat ~ 9-11

One of Cameron's favorite places to hang out is in the window sill. 

 You can also tell the garden is thriving behind him.

Fruit by the Foot ~ 9-17-11

Braydon decided to take it upon himself to get a snack, open it, and start eating it. Sneaky little boy!

Mental note, hide the snacks!

Fishing Trip ~ 9-14-11

Michael got to play hooky today at work and go with the owner and the owners son fishing out in the gulf. He had fun and came back with his tail bone hurting. Serves him right for not going to work! I wish I could play hooky!

Play time ~ 9-11-11

After we got home, got baths, and had snack it was play time for the little and big kiddos. Now that Braydon is tall enough to try to climb in the laundry basket its one of his and Cameron's favorite places to play. Tonight Daddy decided to sail them around the living room and kitchen. Man, I hope they don't pick up too many bad habits and start crashing into walls and breaking things.

Braydon enjoying his ravioli's.

Thinking about climbing into the basket.

 

Cameron teaching Braydon how to put one leg in and then while standing inside putting the other leg in.

 Problem was that Braydon wasn't quite tall enough to stand in the inside to pull his other leg over so Daddy helped him out.

Cameron loving on his brother.

Daddy pushing them around the living room

and kitchen, where it slides great.

Then Cameron getting the idea that he could push his little brother. Waiting for the basket to tip and Braydon to come tumbling out.

But alas, no one came tumbling out...this day.