Making memories and finally blogging about a few of them

Hey yall!  I know it has been awhile.  I just couldn't bring myself to blog, but for some reason felt like sharing a little of what we've been up to in our neck of the woods.

 

We spent Thanksgiving with Lane's brother Trent and his wife Nancy and his parents along with Nancy's parents in San Antonio. It was a fun day with too much yummy food.  I fixed a pumpkin pie, brown butter pecan pie, and coffee angel food cake.  They were all delicious!

 

Out of about 15 pictures this was the best the girls would give us for Leelee and Paw.

 

 

 

On Nov. 14 I became Aunt Elaine again to precious twins.  My brother and his wife Amy, along with Big Brother Charles welcomed William and Emma to the family!  They are precious tiny babies and doing great. 

 

Emma Kathleen

 

William Bradley

Proud Daddy

 Sweet sisters

 

 Girl can pout!

 The real story!

 Uncle Trent modeling his new sock monkey hat.

 Turkey carving photo bomb

 Thank goodness she got the big side, otherwise we might have had tears.

 So we have spent lots of time as a family out at a lease that has been in our family since I was a little girl. Lane was in a blind hunting as was my brother.   Lane was hoping to shoot something, be it a deer, hog, or turkey.  This little buck walked up to the tank where the rest of us were sitting around the campfire watching the kids play and getting ready to bbq.  He watched us and ate corn, but was not scared away by our screaming kids.  When Uncle Ray drove up on the Polaris he ran off, only to come back 10 minutes later.  At this point I thought it would be funny if I was the one that shot something while the guys were out in blinds hunting.  I had Dad get his rifle ready for me to shoot.  I am not sure who was more proud, Dad or my husband, that I decided to shoot him as well as dropped him on the spot.  I know Lane is glad we have meat in the freezer and didn't really care how it got there.  He was proud of me, I could tell:)  Dad was also sharing the story the next morning at the coffee shop.  Word travels fast in a small town.  I will say the thrill of the kill was more than I expected and I am ready to do it again.

 Nice sized (not concerned about a big rack) and super fat since it was before rut.  He ought to be tasty.  We spent Sunday afternoon, grinding and packaging this guy.

 Early fall trip to Eldorado.  We have an annual weekend with Lane's old friends at his uncle's ranch.  The kids had tons of fun playing in the puddles. They had inches of rain the morning we arrived.  The weather cleared up and it was a fabulous weekend visiting and watching the kids play.

 Cinco is a quite a character

 Daddy and his girl

 Mommy's girl

The musketeers



 Our newest addition Delilah.  She is 1/2 lab, 1/4 Dogo, 1/4 American Bulldog.  She is quite the handful now.  We are working on that!

More Fall fun at Wilson Ranch.

 What she does now

 Pirate and Fairy Halloween 2013

 Mommy was a black cat

 Papa's girl

 Late summer riding

 Feeding the deer

 Back when she was small

 Bird hunting is so fun!

 Pretty girl

 The sunsets were awesome

 The birds weren't flying this day, but it was a pretty view.

 Fall Festival at church.

 Polaris climbers

 Old log fence at Lagarto

 How they chose to ride in the truck at the ranch.

 

 

Life is good and God is great.  I am blessed to have such a loving family-both mine and Lane's side.  We have been making memories and I am just trying to raise these girls with the love of God in their hearts.  I am thankful for His grace because days can sure be rough with a 2.5 yr old and almost 5 year old. 

 

Hopefully, it won't take me 4 months to blog again!

Summertime

Here we sit as Ainslee settles in for a nap, or not,  next to me in Daddy's chair.  We are just enjoying the days as they are passing quickly.  Here is a little glimpse of rando thoughts on us these days.

Lena Kate is with her Leelee and Paw this week for her first ever visit "without mommy, or Daddy, of Ainslee."  She was so exited ad apparently has had much fun.  I think she may be missing mommy a little now but I know she is being treasured and treated.  Little sister has stated that she misses Dodo several times now.  I love that they love each other so much.  Since LK was away I transitioned Ainslee into Big Sister's big girl bed.  She has done well and I only had to stay with her about 20 minutes last night.  Hopefully when sister is back she will suffice as a bedmate and they will officially be sharing a room and the crib can go to baby cousin twin boy or girl.  

We have been to the beach and aquarium with our friends and are gearing up for our West Texas trip.  

I ran a 1/2 marathon on July 4th and got 2nd place by only about 5 seconds.  It wasn't a huge race, but I was so proud of my 1:50:03 time. 8:18 a mile was way faster than my goal.  I haven't run outside  or more than 6.5 miles since and I am good with that.  It is hot and I am ok with treadmill miles for now.

We got a new pastor at church and I think Pastor Beth is wonderful so far.  Her sermons haw been great as well as children's time.  Lena Kate is slowly warming up to her.  Ainslee is a wild chins in church these days.  I sure try, but sitting quietly just doesn't happen with the 2 year old of mine.  I hope she grows past that as LK did.  She is doing great in church these days.

Ainslee is now "on the charts" at 22.5 Lbs at 2 yrs old, 2% and proud of it!  She is talking up a storm and conversing with everyone.  I can understand most of it.  She sings so sweetly, love to say and sing happy birthday, even if it isn't your birthday.  She tells me, "I love you so much," and grabs my face with both hands and kisses me square on the mouth.  I just love it.  She can also really throw a fit is she is tired and doesn't get her way or is asked to so something she doesn't want to.  Daddy doesn't like that so much.  He tends to escape with big sister following his heels.  Lena Kate is such a Daddy's girl.  It is so cute.  Ainslee remains a mommy's girl for now but sure lives Daddy too.  She Lao really loves to feed Buddy, buddy, happy Bull, ad their cows too.

Both girls love to go swimming at Mimi and Papa's.

It is also birthday party season.  Lena Kate has had tons of fun at preschool classmates' birthday parties. Two little boys, Ronan and Nolan, seem to think se is pretty special.  I can't say I blame them:). She had her first bad behavior day at school a few weeks ago, but it must have jut been a wild day for some reason.  We had a long talk that it shouldn't happen again.  She just loves school and I love that she does.  Two days a week is perfect right now for her.  She is as spunky as ever and can be so sassy:). Before Pastor patti retired LK called her Daddy out twice during children's time.  One day (father's Day!) after asking what Daddy's did Patti mentioned that Daddies bring their children to church, and LK said, "well, sometimes they do." We shared a laugh. Not two weeks later they were talking about Daddies again and what they do.  In addition to taking her horseback riding hers also yells at his sister.  Oops!  Poor Daddy:)

Birthday boy hugging Lena Kate randomly throughout the movie!

I have been baking and trying new recipes all the time.  A few favorites: lemon drop cookies, chocolate coffee toffee trifle, chocolate snickerdoodles, oatmeal cookies, lots of coconut granola, browned butter banana bread bars, mounds brownies, lemon buttercream topped buttermilk poundcake, lemon cheesecake breakfast buns, brown sugar poundcake...and the list goes on!   I love Pinterest!!!  I have also baked some super-fun birthday cakes these last couple of months for friends.

Well, the dog is snoring loudly and Ainslee is still awake....not good.

Happy weekend to ya may God bless it!