Vegas

Our guaranteed 2 times a year get away with Toms job.  Vegas is a great place for us.

 Sweet Treats! Sweet dates!

 This is our time to connect just like when we were dating.  Highly recommend getaways.

 Ashley was working in Vegas too!  So great that we could spend one night with her.  She had never been to Vegas.  We went to Caesers and Ballagio.  Of course got to take in the fountain show.  We had dinner and then I didnt mind going to Paris to see Taylor Hicks again.  It was his last 2 weeks there and I knew that Tom would enjoy the concert.  

The 3 of us had such a fun night together.  I missed seeing Ashley's babies but I know she deserves some alone time too!  I will try and see them this summer.

 We have been coming to Vegas for 20 years and seen lots of changes.  This was another big one.

This new street is called The LINQ.  Obviously the ferris wheel is the biggest attraction.  In fact this ferris wheel is the largest in the world.  Each car is like its own little club with a bar and TV's.  It takes 30 minutes to go around one time.  It was running but they were only in test runs.  It wasnt open to the public yet.  We will definitely do this the next time.

 The Linq is just a really cool street with a bowling alley,  restaurants, stores, and yes, even a casino.

 Sprinkles is a famous cupcake place.

This is Winnie and Buck.  I loved these statues.

 We got to spend our last day at the pool totally relaxing and enjoying every minute of our alone time together.  I am a very lucky girl in many ways.  Our Vegas trips have always been a reset button for me.

RRE Beach Party

River Ridge Elementary had a Beach Party for the kids.  They did a really great job on this event.  There were food trucks, photo booths, activities, and of course a cool DJ and live screen.

Bracken won the costume contest.  He was hysterical and wore his life preserver all night.

Larson had a great night with all of his friends.  He did not want to leave at the end of the night.

Logan thought the music was too loud.  After he did the photo booth and got a sno cone he was ready to leave.

 At least Logan's class won a Menchies party for winning the surfboard contest.

Rodeo 2014

Rodeo time in Austin has been tradition for us every year.  Just one of those things we love about Texas.

Jordan went to the Rodeo with friends from school.  I met her that night so we could actually go to the live Rodeo and stay for another Scotty McCreery concert.

When she came walking up to me, I just couldn't believe how much she looks like me when I was her age.  I know that she hates hearing that but it is so true.

I love candy apples.  Every time we see one, Tom and the kids will tell me to get one and for some reason I usually pass.  (In Vegas a candy apple was on sale for a cheap price of $12.95)  That's pretty easy for me to pass on.

However, tonight I was enjoying a Candy Apple.

I once made homemade ones.  Now that is on Jackson's list to do with me.

We have always wanted to stay for the actual rodeo but after a long day of hitting the fair grounds the kids have always been ready to go home.

So this was so much fun.  I will definitely be bringing the boys next year.  We will just have to break it up into different days.

The bucking horses scared me!  These cowboys are tough!

As if the rodeo wasn't fun enough.  We get to stay and watch Scotty's concert.  

Same concert as when he played at Stubbs but completely different venue so it seemed really different.

We were sitting by some fun people we didn't know but that added to the entertainment also.

I love date nights.  With Tom, the boys, or just us girls.  I am spoiled!  We have so much fun.

Rodeo: Day 2

Brought the boys to play at the fair grounds.

I took this picture and sent it to Jordan.  Logan was on this ride and in the back seat were 2 of her friends.

I titled it:  Logan hanging with some friends.  They had no idea who Logan was or that fact that I was taking a stalkerish picture.

Logan goes on any ride that he is tall enough for.  This Tornado one is his favorite.  I would make him ride the little kids rides because they are strict on height requirements.  He just barely squeaked through.  Next year he will be too tall!

This is one of our favorite petting zoos.  Its not like we hang out at petting zoos all the time its just that the kids will talk about their memories of this one.  They have come to this each year and there are always funny moments.

This was the best picture of the day!

Logan would have held this baby lamb forever.  They were pretty sweet.

This is Chase, one of Logan's friends.  We ran into him and that was great as they ran around for an hour riding rides together.

Love the Rodeo, Love Texas, Love these boys!

Cowboy Room Gone

 When Jackson was 4 years old I decorated his bedroom with a cowboy theme.   Shortly after we were moving to Austin.  I just copied the room when we got here.  Larson eventually moved out of his nursery and into this room with Jackson.  I'm going to guess when he was 3 as Logan was then going to take the nursery.

 For about 1 1/2 years Larson had been making plans for a new room.  I just never got to it.

Finally, when he turned 10, he said MOM!!!!  I'm 10 and I have a Cowboy room!

OK Larson, let me take care of it.

One of my favorite things to do is design and redo a kids bedroom.

The plan was to switch out furniture but I decided to just keep what we had and just change the room around.

Took a while for me to decide on the paint color but everyone loved this one.  It turned out great.  I didn't want any kind of theme for the room.  Just real eclectic and boy.

Train table gone but...

Larsons drums stay. (sorry neighbors)

from this to...

this.

Larsons favorite thing in this room is the clock.

Logan has now learned about Roman Numerals.

This is where the dresser is now.  Use to be a chalk board where each kid would sit and learn their letters.

Painting over the wood wall made me a little sad but painting over the chalk board made me a lot sad.

Gone

Made over

and gone.

 New reading area.

 See you Later Alligator trunk may be my favorite thing in the room.

No, I think the Come on In sign is my favorite.

Larson says this reminds him of Cracker Barrel and our family loves cracker barrel.

 The Exit sign is metal and awesome.

 There use to be cowboy pictures of the family where the exit sign is now.

I also added a couple of soccer pictures.

I actually was going to paint the lantern another color but Larson likes it being different.

Easier for me.

This is their gaming table.  Although Larson bought this lamp and has been doing his homework here.  He also bought this globe.  I had one there that was way too babyish for him.

 A couple soccer accents for my soccer boys.

So now Larson has a new room.  He loves it!!!  I love it!

Logan just wanted a Skylander bedroom and a bunk bed with real stairs so he has been not so appreciative. 

 Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring him some Skylander sheets for his bed.  He would love that and you wouldnt be able to see them with the bed made.