Houston Rodeo

Last weekend we went to the Houston Rodeo. If you have not heard about the rodeo here... well let me tell you it is the darnest biggest RODEO I have ever been too. It goes on forever, we literally could have spent all day long there and not seen everything. Every Texan/Houstonite talks about the Rodeo and how amazing it is.. We decided while we are here in Houston we want to really engage ourselves in the culture here and experience all that Houston has to offer. 

I got my cowgirl gear on.. My white cowboy boots---i think I was the only girl with white boots... I think they were meant to be for fashionable reasons not actual get up on some stallion kinda boots.

It was crazy packed... and we headed straight to the animals, petting farm. There were llamas, goats, piglets, kangaroos, fawns, and a donkey. Animals are so cute when they are little. 

Calvin had no problem saying hi to them all and going up to touch them. he even got head butted in the stomach by a baby goat.. didn't even phase him. He's a tough little guy. Loves his animals.  Next we went and saw the cows, man were these beasts huge. It's another world in the farming business. Saw some pretty massive cows worth a lot of mula. 

The rodeo was awesome. Tim McGraw was even more Awesomer. He sure makes my heart sing. We had nose bleed seats but it was still amazing. 

Really do you have to put your mouth on the same place I'm sure all these animals have put their mouth.

My little cowboy... so handsome

friendly goat...no we don't have food

where did you come from whitey

whitey distracts while blacky goes in for the Head Butt

 

Teaching in the home

Over the Past few months I've really come to love being a mom. With Daniel working long hours 6-7 days a week I have had a lot of Calvin and me time. At first I hated dan being gone so much, ( I still do) but I have come to accept it and try to stay positive and enjoy all the one and one time I have with my baby. I have  also grasped the importance of teaching in the home.  Teaching incorporates all aspects of life and through teaching we also show by example how to live and act. Teaching allows us to draw near to the ones we love and care for.  Everyday I try to think of ways I can teach Calvin that day.  Sometimes I think too much about all that I could and want to do to teach him and then I realize I wasted an hour or more.  Or I let myself get caught in the List Trap... I have so many things on my list to do that I forget that one of the most important things on that list is Calvin.  I was reading somewhere that babies learn so much by watching. this hit me pretty hard as i thought what am I doing that I would not want Calvin or my future children to do.  We need to live our lives the way we want our Children to Live!  If you are like me I want to do so many things to teach Calvin but just don't know where to start or feel like he's not grasping anything I'm teaching him. But I know he is I just have to be patient and continue to teach.  Also there are so many resources out there for ideas and ways to strengthen the home and the best of course is LDS.ORG.  For awhile now I have been listening to the Mormon Channel while I work out in the mornings.  It's by far my favorite APP. I listen to Gospel Solutions for Families and it's Amazing. I have learned so much on what I can do better within our home and family and as a wife, mother, daughter, and sister.  They talk about everyday struggles and give examples of what they do but I am always inspired on what I can do better etc. I urge you to take the time to listen to it.  They talk about handling your children at church, FHE, there's a marriage episode, teenagers, mother daughter. It goes on. I know it will help in ways you had no idea. It has helped me be more appreciative of my own parents, especially my mother who I am so grateful to. Thank you for never lowering your standards and always doing what the Prophet counsels. 

Here are some pictures of my darling Calvin.  I love him so much.  Mom you were right again about how much I will love my own children and that he is my world. 

Going outside is our favorite thing to do during the day. We either go to the park, backyard, walk around neighborhood, or all in one day and there are a ton of teaching opportunities.

He loves getting the mail. He asks for the keys everyday and then off we go in his little red wagon to get the mail. He opens it up almost all by himself. 

Calvin is such a sweetie and gives kisses frequently throughout the day

 Waiting for the Cookies to be done.. cant wait any longer

My GARDEN. I love growing a garden. I love Houston weather that allows for a garden year round. There is something about harvesting your own vegetables that just makes my heart and belly sing. All these were planted by seed except for the brussell sprouts and tomatoes

Brussel Sprouts

Carrots

 My little helper

Broccoli

Cauliflower

We are also growing, peas, beans, beets, spinach and lettuce and the smaller box has all my herbs that Makana planted for us that are on steroids are something.. they are huge, I want to dehydrate them. 

Happy Weekend. 

Sweet Olivia - Newborn Photo Shoot

I had the opportunity of remembering How much Love and passion I have for photography.  The last time I did an acutal photo shoot was in my photography class in college.  I take pictures all the time but it makes a pretty big difference when You have a nicer camera.  It brought back many fond memories of taking pictures in high school and college. 

A friend I met down here in Texas, who's husband also works for Deloitte, just gave birth to a precious little girl named Olivia.   I couldn't wait to do the shoot and was so happy she asked me to take them.  Even though she would not fall asleep and kept squirming and yawning.. we managed to get some cute ones. 

 Calvin felt left out and wanted to get in the picture...

 

Weekend Trip

I am so sad the weekend is over.  Daniel's brutal work schedule is now over, well it just won't be sleepless nights anymore. But his boss was oh so kind and gave him Thurs-Sunday off. Which before he was working 7 days a week. blah. So as you can imagine we had a very lovely weekend spent together.  We took advantage of his time off and journeyed over to San Antonio.  

We had fun visiting the Alamo, River walk, The Missions. We did try to go to Sea World but it was closed. Bummer. 

After this trip we never want to eat Little Caesars Pizza again, Grateful for a clean city and for parents who taught us to be clean. Learned how much Calvin loves Dogs, he calls everything doggy, We want to go to Vienna. You get what you pay for (hotel) and what they have pictured on the website is immaculate compared to the real thing. 

We love being together .. wait we already knew that. 

Being with my family brings me Happiness.

I love my little Family. Glad we were able to get away and have some alone time together with just us 3. Cherish every minute you have together and remember to always find joy in the small things.