April in Review

I have so much to share and really need to get to it... in the meantime, here is a glimpse into our life this April.   

Braden is playing soccer again... and still loving it.  While Chad would say it's still like herding cats (which Chad informs me... you can't herd cats), I can see a huge improvement from the last 6 months.  Not just Braden... but the way the team plays overall.  Every game he says he wants to score 10 goals, while that hasn't happened, he has contributed, even scoring 3 goals in one game!

Chad is co-coaching this year.  It's added a fun dynamic!

Relaxing and Fishing

This is 1 of 10 fish (and one turtle) that they caught this day!

Vivian exploring, posing for pictures and having a snack while the boys fish.

We got a slip and slide...

He loves it

An Easter Egg Hunt with our neighbors

Vivian asking Dad where the chocolate inside went... it's probably all over her face.

There has been a lot of jumping on the trampoline.  Miss Vivian has figured it out.

Braden's a pro...

Uncle Keith and Aunt Casse came for a visit

Uncle Keith and Braden played some baseball

Some quality time

Vivian must think she's a model, posing all these sassy looks for Aunt Casse.

We've spent a lot of time on the swings

And acting goofy on the swings.

It was a great month... FANTASTIC weather.  Many impromptu get togethers/BBQs with the neighbors, a trip to Dallas for the McIntosh wedding, and a trip to Austin... which prompts me to share a story. 

The day before we left for Austin, Chad and I kept telling Brady with a lot of enthusiam... "We're going to Austin tomorrow!!!"  He was equally excited.  I was a little surprised, but thought he was just feeding off our energy.  I drove up with the kids separate because Chad and work things to do and we would only be staying one night.  As we drive into the city, I exclaim "Braden...we're in Austin!!!".  

And then he says, "But Mom, I don't see his palace, where is it?"

I'm confused... don't see who? what?

Then it hits me.

When we said we were going to see Austin, our sweet boy thought we were going to visit this guy... 

Austin from The Backyardigans. 

It broke my heart.  Of course he would make that connection.  Shame on me for not.  But kids are resilant and forgiving.  Instead I told him we were going to our own "palace", (aka, the Marriott), and our little guy was just fine.

Rodeo... Yee haw!

Two months ago (yes... that is how far behind I am), we were lucky to have Grandma Paula and the Maywalds come and visit.  The motivation was t come over Reece's Spring Break and experience the Houston Rodeo.  Well... the company was great.  Chad and I really enjoyed spending time with everyone, and Braden was in heaven spending days with cousins, Reece and Addison.  Even Vivian got in and played with the big kids (the highlight for her... getting out of her highchair and sitting at the kids table). 

BUT... I did poor planning.  I knew the Rodeo would be busy over Spring Break, but I happened to also pick the weekend of Go Tejano.  Which is the weekend where they have special events to celebrate Houston's Hispanic Heritage.  So it was SUPER DUPER packed.  We really couldn't get on any rides, we had to park REALLY far away.  It just wasn't the "magical" easy day trip we had the year before.  Well, I'm glad it got the Maywalds back for a visit, and not all was a bust.  The kids did have some fun.  

I'm not really sure this cow was there to be touched, but Brady jumped right in.  This cow gave the loudest "MOO" when Big B was nearly poking him in the eye.  Our guy thought it was really hilarious.

Got to practice milking a cow.

Pose in goofy cut outs.

Braden was a fan of these, he sure had "Fun on the Farm".

Got into a huge John Deere tractor (which had this TV and simulator inside like you were riding on the farm).

Another John Deere machine, he thought he was really cool!

The next day were were supposed to go to Kemah Boardwalk, but instead greeting with a big thunderstorm.  So we pulled out magazines, posters, glue and scissors to make collages.  And sat around in PJs a lot of the day.

(Side Note... we are on day 59 of no rain here in the Houston area... this week was the last time we've seen rain)

And when the smallest of people in the house join in and color with markers... they put a Cindy Crawford mole on their own face.

And we displayed the coloring pages and had our own art gallery in the house. 

Vivian is hanging her own art work here.  

(Painter's tape, great way to display but not damage the wall).

And this wasn't even the final display... only about half here.  Those kids were busy! 

Thank you Maywalds for making the 4-5 hour drive.  Thank you Grandma Paula being with us.  I love, love the memories and relationships our children are building.  And the adult company is top notch :)  Next time we need to be sure we get a grown-up picture!

Myschla

That's her name... the horse that Braden got to ride.  Candice, a woman that works with Chad, has a horse of her own and offered one Saturday morning to let our boy take a ride.  What a treat for a four year old to have an entire morning with a horse! 

Braden was part of it from start to finish, starting with getting things out of the stable for Miss Candice.

Meanwhile... Vivian enjoyed the farm dog (who was so gentle and kind, this pup followed us all morning)

Braden groomed Myschla.

Happy Kid! It's like the longest "pony ride" ever!

Even Chad took a ride.  The horse looks much smaller with him riding.

Braden and Candice together... Thank You Miss Candice!  He had a blast and still talks about it!

Bluebonnet Bust

Texas is known for it's bluebonnets... and they are pretty, mostly found off the side of the road or open lots along with other wildflowers.  Last year we had a pretty successful outing.  This year, not so much.  We've had a bit of a drought around here, and it was clear the wildflowers suffered this year as we packed up two weeks ago and went back to Brenham.  Not to mention... Miss Vivian is getting her back molars and was just not in the mood.  But it's still worth sharing picture from our Bluebonnet Bust. 

What Vivian is trying to say here is, "My teeth hurt, I'm crabby and I want you to put that camera down and hold me Momma"

The only picture I could get with both of them... well that's not true, the other one is Vivian running away from Braden and crying while he's trying to get her to take a picture with him. 

Bluebonnet Bust - 1, Ramseys - 0.

Here you see how weak the bluebonnets are... and also see where I made another mistake.  Miss Viv's hair is too wild and crazy for a simple clip on this windy day.

Then when she wasn't crying... she was trying to take off her clothes.  It's kind of this thing she likes to do these days.

But not all was a total bust... Braden and Chad found these huge caterpillars in the open field.  Big B was so excited!

I did manage to capture a couple pictures I liked.

Not an all time favorite... but this was as much as our little lady was able to handle for the day.  There is always next year!

Sidewalk Chalk

One afternoon a few weeks ago, Vivian and I found ourselves alone and she was happily playing on her own. She was so focused and content, I pulled out the camera and got a few photos of my 18 month old daughter playing with sidewalk chalk... but not like you're supposed to. Just pulling it out of the bag, putting it in the bag, over and over and over again.  Well actually I guess that's exactly how a little person her age would play with sidewalk chalk.  

She's looking at me like, "are you seriously taking pictures of me doing this?".

Back to the task at hand.

This is a pretty typical look for Viv.  She'll either just put on one shoe, or has on two and somehow loses one.  Either way, 8 times of out ten (when she isn't barefoot) this is her fashion statement.

Little hands, covered in chalk.  I know it's silly, but there is something so sweet about this.

Literally falling through her fingers.  Her sweet chubby baby hands. (I can still pretend she's a baby, right?)

Face covered in chalk... hair tied back in what started as a ponytail, and ended up with different things throughout the day to hold it out of her face.  But I don't really notice all that... just those big, baby blues.  Love you Miss Vivian!