Chick-fil-A Family Night!

We're addicted! Not only do we frequent Chick-fil-A (especially me and Colton), but now we are into Family Night there! We've played BINGO and Andrew won a t-shirt, we seen a puppet show and done a craft, and last week there was a Science Guy! My boys LOVED it! I couldn't get them to leave until 8 p.m.! We met some friends there and had a yummy dinner and lots of science fun! They even did the Mentos/Diet Coke eruption! Andrew could hardly contain himself because he wanted to shout out all the science knowledge and trivia he knew!

Mommy gets her Chick-fil-A fix and the kids are entertained... what could be better?! :)

Puzzles, Pennies, and Pracitcal Jokes

We had such a great visit with Gramby and Pa Pa this time! We kept them so busy... In addition to the Rodeo we enjoyed some down time at home doing LOTS of puzzles, playing baseball in the backyard, Wii, and Pa Pa even watched and enjoyed the movie, "Everyone's Hero"! Thanks to Gramby and Pa Pa, Tom and I had a wonderful date night where we used gift cards to eat at Saltgrass (thanks Steve and Karma!) complete with a HUGE piece of cheesecake! Then we got to see "Duplicity"! On Friday we went to Kemah where the crowds were so fierce that our plans to ride the train turned in to getting ice cream, listening to the music, and watching the boats! That evening after Tom got home we headed to Galveston and walked on the jetty. The boys were having so much fun watching the waves crash and not getting wet as instructed... but then Pa Pa played a little practical joke on Andrew and Braden and took my bottle of water and poured it on them from behind! Too funny! We even got Pa Pa to eat Mexican again this visit and we all enjoyed Salsa's and the queso (cheese dip)! :) Saturday we went to the San Jacinto monument. What an awesome view! We were up 540 feet and all the boys could do was crawl around on the floor looking for pennies. They really wanted a pressed penny so bad! They ended up with at least 15 pennies, made 4 pressed pennies, and even left some to bless other families. We took the ferry home and ended up with a long drive! Church, out to eat at Boondoggles and more time outside rounded out a great visit! Can't wait for them to come again!

Rodeo Houston 2009

Rodeo Houston!

We had a yee haw good time at the Rodeo this year! Tom's parents, Gramby and Pa Pa, were able to join us this year and I think we wore them out! The Pig Races and holding Swifty the swimming pig was a highlight along with riding the bull! They were tougher on Andrew this year and he held on to the very end and then fell off. Although Braden had a broken arm, we let him ride too. We asked that they go easy on him and they did, but he too fell off at the very end. And then there was Colton... he had a death grip on Tom with his arms and legs. Tom had to get on the bull and put a very scared Colton in front of him. But that little cowboy was awesome and even took off his hat and waved it around with a big smile! We enjoyed the quilts, tiny new born calfs and piglets, Borden milk, tractors, getting trading cards at all the livestock stops, crazy animal races, awesome lunch, and more... The boys even got to make their own ropes this year! We love the rodeo! Some day Tom and I will make it to the real Rodeo and a concert and next year the boys have already requested the carnival!

For those of you that get e-mail updates, check out my blog on the web for a slide show of the rodeo and other slide shows like our camping trip!
http://leimkuehler.blogspot.com/

The Blue Bonnet Tradition continues...

It is spring... that means the Texas state flower, the Blue Bonnets, are in full bloom! We headed out to our favorite blue bonnet patch over spring break for our annual pics. Andrew remembered that we needed to bring a picture to leave the generous man who lets us take pictures in his yard, Colton was WAY into setting up his own poses this year, and Braden's bright red cast didn't coordinate with the blue bonnets! :) No one likes the bees, but we love the tradition!

Spring Break Camping Trip

18 kids + 13 adults in one lodge = chaotic fun

We kicked off Spring Break with a "camping" trip to Carolina Creek Christian Camp with tons of friends! There were 18 kids and 13 adults (missed you so much, Ang!) The lodge was amazing with 8 bedrooms each with a private bath, a huge kitchen/living/dining area... and thankfully so... because the whole weekend was terribly cold and wet! The kids got to get outside for about an hour two different times on Sat. There was an awesome covered basketball court where the kids had a blast. It was so great to watch the kids play with all sorts of combination of friends throughout the weekend. So much interrupted play time! There were puzzles, legos, crafts, bubbles, lots of movies, games, laughter, screams, coloring, and way too much food! Tom and I had a great time playing games, watching the kids play together, visiting with friends, and eating! I stayed up WAY too late chatting each night... Andrew and the Lego Crew had a ball being Legomaniacs! Braden pigged out on Puppy Chow, found deer tacks on a short hike, and was caught leaping from one bed to another in one of the rooms... keep in mind he has a broken arm!!! Colton had so much fun riding and pushing his friends on a toy firetruck, was caught in bed with Grace one day and holding hands with Hannah the next... :) All wonderful memories! We'll need to make this a tradition ever year! Thanks, Karen, for all of your coordinating... what a gift you have!

Thanks, God, for treasured friendships and time to grow those relationships!