Fort Worth Stockyards

I have finally been to the Fort Worth Stockyards! And only after four years of living here! 

Unfortunately, it may be another four years before we go again!

In my head this excursion went very differently.

In my head, I envisioned Colin watching the cows walk through the street and have him say sweetly, "Mama! Cows! Moo!" or something like that.

Instead, he screamed and threw the biggest two year old tantrum you ever did see.

I envisioned us eating lunch at one of the cool restaurants and having everyone think, "Wow! The hour drive was totally worth this (fill in the dish they ordered)"

Instead, we left in disgrace with both children in hysterics and then listened to Reagan scream for half the drive home.

Oh well...that's life, huh?

The trip wasn't a COMPLETE waste...

Grandma in from of the cattle pen maze (she is a big Amazing Race fan)

Colin loved the coin operated rides

I got my picture taken with an old prospecter

We paid $5 for me to get this picture - totally worth it!

Reagan was a trooper...until the end :)

Colin wanted to run with the bulls - I guess we should send him to Spain! 

At least I can check this off my list :)

Memorial Day

Ah, Memorial Day...

Growing up that meant family time, swimming, barbecuing, and lots of seven layer dip and we are trying to keep up the tradition!

The Zollingers were kind enough to invite us to swim and eat with them and we brought the dip :) 

Colin got some serious height!

The water was a little chilly so us girls stayed dry and stuffed our faces (okay, that was just me!)

The boys barbecuing...such a fun Memorial Day!

Thanks, Zollingers!

Family Movie Night

We are loving our new weekend tradition (okay, we've only done it twice so it isn't quite a tradition) of family movie night! So far we've watched Monsters, Inc and Peter Pan (both huge hits).  I am not sure what Colin likes more - the popcorn or the movie! He gets to stay up late, have his own bowl of popcorn, unlimited (well, not quite) chocolate milk, and watch a fun movie - can life get any better for a two year old?

I love watching his little face light up as we introduce him to some of our favorite characters and stories.  He loves to talk about the movies all week and can't wait for the next movie night!

Rah Rah Rice Cereal

Well...

We're doing this now:

I don't like it any more than she does.

I think we will move right on to the fun stuff - bring on the peas!

Nursing is soooo much easier! I waited as long as I could to start her on some real food (partly because I like the weight loss for me and partly because it is just horrible to feed babies at first) but we finally gave her the first taste of rice cereal.

Not quite love at first taste, but at least she didn't gag on every bite like Colin!

Trucks!

As they are currently building a house on our truck path, we are trying to get the most out of "our" second lot while we can! And that means some serious truck time!  

Oh, and did I mention that since Kevin can't share, Colin needed his own truck too? His is a much smaller, cheaper, battery operated Wal-mart version, but they look so cute riding together! 

Us girls love to watch our boys!

(I totally made the skirt I am wearing!)

Six Months

 Reagan is growing so fast!

She rolls, scoots backwards, has three teeth (two on bottom and one vampire tooth on top!), and is constantly giggling and smiling.

Reagan can light up a room, and she never misses an opportunity to make you feel like the most amazing person in the world!  She gets particularly excited and distracted whenever she hears dad's voice.  This is most noticeable when she nurses and repeatedly turns to look at dad and give him a million-dollar grin.  At regular intervals while nursing she pulls away to ensure that dad is still doting on her and rewards him with a smile and a coo.  The special attention from Reagan makes Kevin's head so big he can't walk through the door!

From her daddy: I love this baby so much!  Every day I think she can't get any more sweet and lovable, and ever day she raises the bar on how adorable a baby can be!

Love, love, love this girl!

Six Month Stats
Height: 28 in (about 110th percentile!!)
Weight: 18 lbs (82nd percentile)
Head Circumference: 43.4 cm (82nd percentile)

Sewing Step by Step

My mother sews beautifully.

She sewed my winter formal dress, my prom dress, and countless costumes for Halloween, plays, and show groups.  She made all of Colin and Reagan's bedding and has only drawn the line to say she wouldn't sew my wedding dress.

It isn't that she couldn't (she made hers) but that she didn't want to...with all the other wedding planning and partying going on, she didn't want to throw in making my dress too.

Is is a generation thing that our mothers can sew but we cannot?**

I spend a fair amount of time on Pinterest while I am nursing Reagan and there are countless tutorials and free patterns out there for the novice and the seasoned seamstress alike.

I have pinned so many, I thought it was high time I actually started sewing.

So I am teaching myself step by step, tutorial by tutorial, and you tube video by youtube video.

Please don't laugh :)  I am quite proud of myself!

My little willing model

Work it, Reagan!!

So far I have made myself two knit skirts, two knit skirts for Reagan, and two onesie dresses for Reagan. I have fabric for a maxi skirt for myself and a charmeuse circle skirt that I want to do while Kevin is out.

It isn't quite a prom dress, but hopefully one day that will be a possibility (with Nana's supervision, I am sure!)

**I am sure my mom would have been happy to teach me to sew had I been interested as a kid and if I had had the patience with her to teach me! I remember making pajama paints in Beehives at Church and having to take them home to finish.  My mom helped me, but I was so frustrated with not "getting it" that I was too turned off by the whole thing to continue.    

Insert whiney, teenage voice : "It's too hard!! I don't get it. This is lame! Why do I need to learn how to sew?"

Yeah, I can see why she didn't want to teach me after that:)