Kick up your boots!

We headed to the rodeo up in San Antonio. Three major reasons: 1) we got to see our good friends, the Saxtons! 2) we go to see Lady Antebellum perform 3) I finally got to go to a rodeo!!

We drove up to San Antonio to get to play with Carter and Emme before the adults went to the rodeo, and then the big kids left for an adult dinner and night at the rodeo!

My cute date :)
Vaughns and Saxtons - reunited and it feels so good...

We had a delicious dinner at a fun restaurant where the boys were excited for $2 beers.

We got to the rodeo where we had super high up seats which caused for a little vertigo and worked off our dinner :) BUT we had a great view and the perfect view of MUTTON BUSTIN'! The litle kids ages 4-7 get on sheep and ride them for as long as possible. It is hysterical! I am pretty convinced that if Will Foster could compete, he would win.
Here is a small child riding a sheep...
And then falling off...
Where the sheep hide from the wee people.


Then we saw barrel racing, bronco riding, bull riding, the 4H kids rounding up calves, and many other fun "rodeo" things that I don't know the name to.

The end of the rodeo was the performance by Lady Antebellum. They performed for about an hour which was perfect. They did all the great ones like "Need You Now" and even performed a new one they are recording now. They were FABULOUS!

We had a great weekend getting to see a real part of Texas (the rodeo), one of our favorite bands, and some ol' faves in friends :)

A little game I like to call "Catch Up"

So I have refused to upload pictures for a bit. Why, because I am the third child and sometimes I throw mental temper tantrums. (or for real ones - just ask my mom and sister about Easter EVERY year.)

But I digress. Really it is because I am mad at myself for not taking more pictures over the holiday season. As in I have NONE that show that Kenny actually has a family. Kenny is not orphaned. I just came down with a cold and let's be honest, was lazy at taking pictures. Kenny even got a fun tripod for Christmas that we put the camera on, and we never took a picture in Maryland.

Now what I DID download and what we took, I will now share...

The Henry siblings all together after Thanksgiving.

My mom, Daisy, and Uncle Paul cruising around Corpus looking at the sights. Please not how they all color-coordinated with a shade of blue. Daisy is sporting her UVA collar.

Daisy's first day at the beach. She LOVED to dig in the sand. She did NOT love the water.

The squadron Christmas party - I had a pretty cute date.

And finally, the few pictures from Christmas. Would you believe there are adults in our family other than Meg? No, I wouldn't either.

New Year's resolution: take more pictures.

Happy 4th Birthday Maeve!

Our little niece is growing up... she turns four today! She is wicked smart and loves books. She is beautiful and some might say a princess. :) I fell in love from the moment I met her, and Uncle Kenny is a big fan. We love you little Maeve and can't wait to see you in March!!!

Such a pretty baby :)
Such a cutie patootie!
Such a cute toddler!
And such a BIG girl!

We love you Maeverini! We miss you lots and hope your 4th birthday is amazing!!!

Missing us?

I got a little note from a friend (thanks Molly) reminding me that people other than my mom and mom-in-law read this little blog.

I will post some pictures of Thanksgiving which was amazing! We had Papaw and Maw (Kenny's grandparents), Uncle Rick and Aunt Cindy (Kenny's side), and my parents for the actual day of Thanksgiving!

(Maw and Kenny)
(Papaw and Uncle Rick)
Kenny attacking the turkey...ew.
He made it wave at me...
My cute parents! (and our Christmas card photographers)
The in-laws, Kenny and Daisy.

Then we had my aunts and uncles from Texas come on down for the next day and spend some time together. It was our first hosting of Thanksgiving. Our first roasting of turkey. AND Daisy's debut with my parents and Kenny's side of the family.

All were a real hit! I married an amazing cook and we got a pretty sweet puppy.

And because I think these are funny...

Dad and I attempting to pose to see how the Christmas card should look. Dad has Daisy's lamb in his hand so he can get her attention when we take the picture. Mom is the professional photog - she did run Cox's newspaper for years. She has major credentials.
Here I was the one that ruined the picture. The wind was blowing - and I am kind of vain about my hair looking good.
Here was the winner. Thanks Mom for being an awesome photographer. Dad thanks for being a fill in model and the one with the squeaky toy.

Old Friends...

Because all posts should start with a cute picture of a cute dog...

As soon as school got out for Thanksgiving break, I packed my bag, left Kenny and Daisy at home (Daisy in charge of course), and headed to the airport bound for Whidbey.

After an unexpected delay, an unsuccessful sprint through the Dallas airport, and a long flight in the middle seat, I made it to three smiling faces at SEATAC!

Kylie!

Whitney, Jamie, and Kylie (Whitney's daughter) came to pick me up! Then we stopped at a Starbucks to meet with our friend Lara who was heading out for a Mexican cruise.

Then once we got to Jamie's house, we threw Whitney a surprise baby shower for baby girl Mumbach who will be here in April some time! Of course I forgot to take pictures until after the event (woops).

The next morning we met at Calico Cupboard for a yummy breakfast, took the kids bowling, and enjoyed some QT with old friends.

Cat and Carlos
Me, Kylie, and Whitney
Aunt Jamie and Carlos

On Monday, Whitney and I awoke to snow coming down in Oak Harbor and before we knew it we were stuck on Whidbey because Deception Pass bridge was closed.

It was a bit of an adventure, but it was amazing to go see old friends and to see the snow! I even got to see some of my students and just enjoy being super COLD :)

next up... Thanksgiving!

Trip to Liberty

So Daisy got her last set of shots this past week, so she could go out in the world a free puppy! The first thing she did was hit the salon (or Shear Heaven) to get a little spa treatment or haircut. I did not know that dogs god their hinies shaved, so when I picked her up, I was a bit traumatized. These are things people should worn me about before I experience them!

We then took Friday off of work to head up to Liberty, TX (momma's hometown) to surprise my cousins at the last home football game for Liberty High School! One cousin was playing saxophone in the band, one cousin was dancing as a prancer at her last football home game, and one cousin was dancing as a little prancer! High school football in Texas is a much bigger and better deal than what I experienced in high school, so I was excited to not only get to see family but to really experience this Texas tradition.

After a long drive, we surprised the cousins and were happily surprised that it was Senior night, so Emmie would be honored as a Co-Captain of the Prancers (dance team) and as a senior! Emmie is named after my mom (her first name is Susan), and my mom was a Prancer in high school, so it was extra special!

Uncle Mike, Emmie, and Aunt Cindy (mom's sister). Please notice the awesome white boots.
Emmie is in the middle of the first line, kicking to the left.
Emmie is smack-dab in the middle of the front row!
Lindsay (Liberty High Math teacher, cousin and Emmie's big sis), me, and Emmie, our Prancer!

Emmie's niece and my 2nd cousin, Natalie who is 6 got to get out on the field at half time too to dance as a little prancer. (Natalie, Lindsay's dauther and her favorite aunt Emmie!) Also, James, my second cousin did an awesome job leading all of the extra people in the band who came because it was friends and family night. James is the one middle with the green shirt and sax! Mom and my uncle played the sax in the Liberty High School Band!

It was a real proud evening! We weren't close to family in Washington, so we made our own. Living in Texas, it has been awesome to get to be there for special moments and love on family members. I can't wait for even more exciting events like high school graduations and proms!

And because we have to have a shout out to my Uncle Paul (mom's brother) who not only housed us and fed us but loved on Daisy like any good great-uncle would. His own dog, Dusty, was a little jealous at times because as you can see, Daisy likes to take over people's laps. :)
Hope you all had a beautiful weekend. Daisy would say hello, but she is too tired from her exciting weekend away.