All in a Day with Penny

Penny, at age two and four months, likes to:

Play Hide-and-Seek, utilizing her princess flashlight.

Serve donuts. (courtesy of Melissa & Doug)

Watch and sing along with the ABC app on the iPad.

Her favorite thing to do in the world: hang with Cooper!

All in a Day With Cooper

A few things Coop likes to do on a day off from school...

Monkeying around at the playground.

Playing with the dogs.

South Texas sledding.

How We Spent Our Winter Vacation

For two weeks, our family had lots of time together.  We all enjoyed the busy time, first as the holidays approached, and then the quieter time, after the new year.  Now that we are back in the swing of things, in between trips outside with Brewster, I can reflect on just how we spent that time.  During our vacation we...

spent cold nights snuggled up on the couch.

enjoyed our Christmas presents while expanding our minds.

 visited the aquarium.  Penny saw this coral and said, "Look Mama!  Cheetos!"

visited the museum.  Both kids love to play in the children's area.  So much so that we got a family membership for the year.  We will be back.

ran errands, and met up with Daddy!  We were saved from a meltdown in the middle of a store when the prospect to meet Daddy for lunch was introduced.

Went to the lake...twice.  Mama and Daddy had work  to do but the kids enjoyed the break in routine (and the tearing through the house).
Cooper found a set of dominoes in the house, which he used to build a tall tower.  At one point we heard from the other room, "PENNY!  You knocked over my San Antonio!"

Penny found out just how fun it is to throw rocks in the lake.  

I hope we can always remember to take advantage of the time we have together, in the here and now.

Meet Brewster...the Newest Member of Our Family!

Yesterday we added to our family...with a new puppy. As David and I both grew up with dogs, we felt it was important that Cooper and Penny would have a dog to grow up with too.  We are so excited to start making memories with our new addition.  Hello, Brewster!

This sweet boy slept comfortably on the floorboard of the truck almost the whole way home.

Cooper already loves Brewster!  We were just hoping he wouldn't be afraid of him.  He described him as "so cute" and "cool like Ralph".  He also asked last night if Brewster could sleep with him.  Penny is a little territorial ..she has told Brewster a few times, "That's my Mama!"

Ringing in the New Year at the Ranch

We continued a new tradition this year by spending New Year's Eve at the Ranch.  Becky, Ryan, Jenny, Leighton, Raeleigh, and MJ joined us for some real ranching fun.  Cooper and Penny had their jeep and Raeleigh and MJ had their raptor to romp around in.  It was hilarious to watch the four kids in two vehicles driving around.  One time we swore they were playing "chicken."  While the kids drove around, ran around, dug in the big dirt pile, visited the fish, and played with toys, the adults sat around the fire, drove the mule, played cards, shot clay pigeons and just watched the kids have fun.  Despite the cold, drizzly rain that began on New Year's Eve afternoon, everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend.  

The dueling kids' vehicles really made the weekend.

Penny gets to work.

Penny and MJ pick "pumpkins" to feed to the fish.

Coop and Raeleigh wait patiently for their mule ride.

Breakfast on the porch.

Happy New Year!  2013 is going to be great!