I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I updated the blog. I'll try to be better about staying on top of it. And what better way to start than by getting up to date? Here's what we've been up to since Valentine's Day (I can't believe it's been that long since I posted).
February 2012 - Pictures at daycare
They took the cutest pictures at daycare. Laney decided she didn't want to cooperate that day, but Brady on the other hand hammed it up (love him!). So the result is that there are very few of Laney, and a ton of Brady.
February 24, 2012 - Supporting Rouse basketball
 |
| Enjoying popcorn with PaRoy |
Late February, March and April - Bluebonnets galore!
MaLyn and PaRoy's front yard was beautifully covered with bluebonnets this year. We took advantage of the scenery many times with these photos:
|
| My favorite! They are so cute when they hold hands. |
We miss you everyday Levi!
March 17, 2012 - Laney's 2nd Birthday Party
We had a Petting Zoo party at our house. It was such a fun party and almost everyone had so much fun. The birthday girl herself was just about the only one who was timid around the animals. You could tell she was having fun, but being cautious at the same time.
Lots of friends were there: MaLyn and PaRoy, Grandad and Mimi, Aunt Shell, Uncle Lance and Austin, Uncle Kelsey and Makayla, Uncle Kerry, Aunt Melinda and Nathan and Natalie, Uncle Sid and Aunt Nell, Connor and Reid Settlemeyer, The Hoey family, Haley, Braxtyn and Emily Kruger, Nick and Anna Rogers, Tristan, Macyn and Carson Cooksey, Anna from daycare and Landon from daycare.
She also got many neat gifs: Books, 2 baby dolls, dress-up clothes, bubbles, clothes, coloring set, pillow pet, Bob & Larry dishes and a My Little Pony.
 |
| Homemade barn cake with cupcake animals |
 |
| Laney is not so sure about this Pony! That man in the far left of the picture is from the farm that brought all of the animals. |
 |
| Brady is so proud! |
 |
| Giving a bottle to a baby pig with the help of Mimi and MaLyn |
 |
| Lance holding baby Carson |
 |
| Brady and his friends giving a bottle to the baby calf |
 |
| The best of both worlds: cupcake WITH marshmallows (which happen to be Laney's favorite!) |
 |
| Birthday girl opening her presents |
 |
| One of her favorite gifts was a baby doll that takes a bottle |
March 18, 2012 - INNER SPACE CAVERNS
The day after Laney's party, we went to the Inner Space Cavern with my sister and her family. It was very educational and the kids did great. We went about 15 feet below the ground and the kids were not scared at all. I can't say the same for myself, I was fine until we saw bats. I wasn't too thrilled about that part :)
Hidden for 10,000 years, Inner Space Cavern is one of the best preserved caves in Texas and one of the few places where remains of prehistoric animals were unearthed.
Inner Space Cavern was discovered by a Texas Highway Department core drilling team in the Spring of 1963. While drilling through 40 feet of solid limestone, the bit broke into what is now known as Inner Space Cavern.
 |
| Laney, Cousin Austin and Brady after the tour. |
March 22, 2012 - Just a beautiful picture of Laney
I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention that we were at the AT&T store because Laney spilt water on my phone and it died :( But hey, I got an iPhone4S out of it :) Thanks Laney!
April 21, 2012 - Lambda Chi Alpha Golf Tournament
Every year, the Lambda Chi's have a golf tournament where Lance's parents give out a scholarship (or two) in memory of Levi. This year, our very own future-pro-golfer showed some guys how it's done on the driving range :)
April 22, 2012 - Hanging out in the neighbors boat
Not on the lake, just parked in front of the house - LOL!
May 11, 2012 - Bowling with our friends, Connor and Reid
We have been having many play dates with Connor and Reid and we just LOVE it! Brady and Connor are only 6 days apart and Laney and Reid are only about 3 weeks apart. They get along really good and it has been so much fun making new friends here.
The big boys started out with this slide to help them get the ball down the alley, but towards the end they were both rolling it down without the slide. They had a great time, but after 1 game, we were all tired :)
 |
| Throwing the ball like a pro! |
 |
| From left to right: Laney, Brady, Connor, Reid |
May 12, 2012 - Spring Football camp at Rouse
Rouse held a Spring Football camp for the elementary students. Brady got to go even though he's not in elementary school yet. You wouldn't know it though, he held his own with those big boys.
Rouse held a Spring Football camp for the elementary students. Brady got to go even though he's not in elementary school yet. You wouldn't know it though, he held his own with those big boys.
 |
| Laney and I hung out on the sidelines keeping well hydrated with some high quality H2O. |
 |
| And yes, it went in! |
May 17, 2012 - First swim of the year
 |
May 19, 2012 - Brady gets a brand new haircut
May 21, 2012 - Surprise visit from the Lackey's!
One night we were on the way to go out to eat and we get a text message from Lance's cousin with a picture of our house! They were in the area for something else and decided to surprise us. We were so excited because it's been a while since we've seen them. So, they met us at the restaurant and we had a great evening!
May 22, 2012 - Just a silly picture of Brady
Brady was pretending to be a vampire. He scared us all!
May 26, 2012 - Mommy's Birthday
Laney and I got to go get our first Mother-Daughter pedicure! We had a great time. Laney just dipped her toes in the water and had them paint her toenails, but she still enjoyed every minute of it. We will certainly make this a new tradition!
May 28, 2012 - Memorial Day at Chuck E Cheese
We had a very laid back Memorial Day weekend. It was so nice to be lazy and not have anything planned. However, we were SO lazy that we ended up getting bored and by the time Monday rolled around we had to get out of the house to do SOMETHING. It was so hot outside, so we just headed down to Chuck E Cheese and had some fun there for a few hours.
June 2, 2012 - Brady's 4th birthday party
Brady had a "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" party at our local splash park. First the kids played in the splash pad and then we had pizza and birthday cake under the pavilion.
Brady had many friends come celebrate his birthday with him. Grandad and Mimi, MaLyn and PaRoy, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Lance, Cousin Austin (who he calls simply "cousin"), Haley and Braxtyn, Connor and Reid Settlemeyer, Erin and Ian Thomas and Logan and Landyn from daycare. He got some really cool gifts too. Lots of Hot Wheel cars, a marble game, a claw game, a dinosaur, a silly sprinkler, a special book with MaLyn and PaRoy's voices on it and plenty of new clothes. His big gift from us was a John Deere Gator ride on toy.
 |
| I just made a regular sheet cake and had an edible topper made for it. |
 |
| Laney guarding the cupcakes |
 |
| Yo-ho Mates!! |
 |
| It was so windy that we had to use a pizza box to keep the candles from blowing out. |
 |
| Uncle Lance being silly |
 |
| The grown up birthday boy! |
 |
| Brady and Austin giving the Gator it's first test drive |
We headed down to San Antonio the day after Brady's party (and on his actual birthday) to spend a few days with my sister and her family. We stayed at the St. Anthony Wyndham hotel, which is rumored to be haunted. We didn't see any ghosts, but it was fun anyway :) We headed down the the River Walk that night to eat dinner and we caught a boat tour, which the kids had a blast on.
June 4, 2012 - SeaWorld
 |
| We fed the dolphins! |
We actually waited in the Shamu line 3 times. The first time he got all the way to the front of the line, got in the shamu car and then got really scared and wanted out. So, then he got out and watched his cousin ride instead. After seeing Austin do it, he gained a little bit of courage and asked if he could try again. He was brave this time and rode the ride with Daddy. He even put one hand in the air, although he was still pretty scared. Then after a few shows, he asked to ride it again. Mommy went with him the second time and by then, his fears had completely disappeared and he had a blast.
 |
| Brady's first ride on Shamu |
 |
| He was having a bit more fun on the second turn! |
We went to the Alamo on our last day in San Antonio. I personally had never been inside the Alamo, only seen it from the outside. There is so much Texas history to learn about there. Lance and I were so inspired that we are going to rent the Alamo documentary from NetFlix and watch it sometime soon :)
