Kentucky Horse Park

Labor Day weekend, we made a very last minute decision to head to the Kentucky Horse Park. I had recently heard about it from and friend, and I cannot believe we have lived this close for 2 1/2 years and never been there. Saturday night, around 10:30 pm, I began looking up some information about it. Sunday morning, we needed to be out the door to teach Sunday School at church by 8:15am. I told Tommy an hour before we left, let's pack bags and go from church.

It is about a 2 hour drive and there was a Marriott resort nearby. We didn't tell the girls what we were up too, but after hearing me on the phone making reservations and putting together a few clues, they had it figured out pretty quickly.

We had THE BEST two days. It was a perfect quick get-away to relax after the first 2 weeks of back-to-school craziness. There are horses everywhere. You can walk up to any pasture or stall and pet and visit with all the horses you would like. There were several shows, a horse-drawn trolley tour and trail rides.

This adorable picture, with everyone's big smiles is courtesy of the horse behind them. He was passing some serious gas. They thought it was hilarious!

We stayed until they closed on Sunday then went back to the hotel to swim and eat dinner. We were back bright and early Monday morning and stayed most of the day.

I love those times away, with no chores or responsibilities, just fun time with our family.

We will be heading back here, for sure.

Gracyn's First Day

After Labor Day, Gracyn finally headed back to pre-school. She was READY!!! She goes 3 afternoons each week with Miss. Julie and Miss Dana. They were Reagan's pre-k teachers so we already know and love them. Gracyn's class stayed almost just the same from last year. She has the sweetest friends....one of the cutest most fun bunch of kids I have ever known.

Gracyn was excited to be back and learning. She loves painting and drawing. She is crazy artistic, so it didn't surprise me the first week when she came home with a perfectly detailed family portrait she had made. She drew Tommy and I and all 3 girls with matching dresses. She did Addison's hair down, Reagan's with a head band and her's with a bow. She even had everyone's eye color right. I laughed that she mixed Gray into Tommy's brown hair and I gave her a BIG hug because she didn't add any to mine! That means Mama's hair lady is doing her job well!

Back to School

On August 22nd, Reagan and Addison headed back to school. Reagan started first grade with Mrs. Ahlers and Addison is in 3rd with Mrs. Scalfaro. They love their classes and teachers and are both having a great time. I am always sad for summer to end, and was especially so with Reagan headed into her first year of full day school. But, being back to some schedule and order has been good.

I can't believe looking at these pictures how big and grown up my girls look.

Both are above the 97th percentile and at least a few inches taller than their friends.

Gracyn wasn't going back to school until after Labor Day, but she got up and dressed and put on a little make-up to walk the girls to the bus. :)

Reagan with one of her best friends and our neighbor, Olivia.
I mentioned that she was tall.....Olivia is 6 months older than Reagan.

Part of the  morning crew waiting for the bus.

Off they go.

Daddy, Maggie and Gracyn headed back home for the day. It was a long week getting used to being away from the girls, but I had some sweet, special time with Gracyn. And, I am thrilled that this year seems to be such a good fit for everyone. 

Texas, The End!!!

Here are the last of some very random Texas pictures! Next year, I vow to get my camera out more and then blog them in a more timely manner!!!

Horse Day!

The horses are always a big favorite part of our Texas trips. The girls couldn't wait to get to Deb and Phil's house so they could ride. Kris, the large brown mare, is the first horse the girls ever rode. She belongs to another family, whose children showed her growing up. They don't show her anymore and just want her to be loved and enjoyed, so she has recently come back to Deb's to stay. Addison, especially was excited to see her again.

You can tell from the above picture of Gracyn that is was SO HOT!!! They don't have much shade, so we did the best we could. We led them around in the front, under the trees for awhile, and then Deb gave each girl a short lesson in the round pen.

Despite Reagan tripping over barbed wire and cutting up her leg and Addison getting stepped on by a horse, we had a great visit. Addison had to jump out of the car on the way out, to say one last good-bye to the horses. That girl is really hooked! Glad she can share that passion with Miss Debra.

Baby Noah

6 days into our Texas trip we made it to Steve and Dannea's new house and I pulled my real camera out for the first time since we had been there. Baby Noah was born April 14th and we had been anxiously waiting for our chance to met him! The first 24 hours of our stay was so much fun!!! The girls couldn't hold and love on him enough. I got to give him a few bottles and get some good snuggle time. 

It was all so good, and then my family got a stomach virus! BAD!!! Tommy, me, Reagan and Gracyn threw up all-night-long. It was terrible. We were in their brand new house (thank goodness they have stained concrete floors) we had only packed clothes for overnight....NO BACKUP and we ruined about 9 loads of laundry worth of their towels, sheets and bedding. It was miserable. And the worst part was that we couldn't love on Baby Noah anymore. I was scared for any of us to go near him for fear he would get sick.

Thankfully we all survived and after 24 hours felt pretty normal. But, so sad that our one day of snuggle time has to last us all the way to the next visit. 

As I look back at these pictures. His huge gummy smile reminds me so much of Reagan as a baby.

Uncle Steve has MANY drums!!! MANY!!! Whenever the girls weren't playing with Noah, or throwing up, they were in here pounding away.

Sad to think next time we see the little guy, he will be a toddler. Thank goodness for skype!

The Gaylord Texan

After spending a few days with Tommy's family in Temple and Killeen we headed back north to Dallas. This picture shows how I spent a good 40 plus hours of the 10 days on our Texas trip. Riding shotgun, Tommy doing most of the driving, Addison's foot propped up on my chair and the girls all busy in the back. 

I'll have to go back and catch up our time with his family. I didn't get many pictures....it was the best of times and the worst of times. We got to meet our adorable new nephew, but 1/2 way through our time there, 4 out of 5 of my crew got a miserable stomach virus and spent 24 hours in pure misery.

Tommy's parents came with us for the first night of the Gaylord. We explored the ENORMOUS hotel grounds, watched fireworks from the roof of the parking garage, played at the waterpark and Addison had a sleepover in their room.

One morning Deb and Phil met us there for some waterpark fun. The girls got those balloons early in the morning and were so sad when they popped in the heat!

Swimming cuties....getting some energy out before we jump in the car and start the long trek home.

Enjoying some sunshine

Gracyn had to pose with this longhorn at the hotel. She was so excited with all the horses and cows we saw during all our driving. She would shout from the backseat, LOUD, "Holy Cows!" or "Holy Horses!" Each time she saw any. 

The beautiful lobby. My iphone camera doesn't know what to do with all those lanterns.

One day after our waterpark time, we headed to see Tommy's Grandma and most of his aunts and uncles. We had a great time catching up, visiting with them and teaching the girls how to play Scrabble.

Catching up with Friends

Each year when we are back in Texas, I arrange a reunion for my best college friends. These girls live a few miles from each other, but I think my visits are the only time everyone manages to get together. This year, it was only the Mama's and a few of the kids for a quick dinner. So thankful for all these sweet ladies and for small amounts of time to catch up with them and their precious families.

Shanda isn't very tall! Somehow, traditionally, she always ends up next to me in all our pictures. This year, she posed with our oldest kids. Jackson, Addison and Kaleigh will probably pass her by next summer.

Addison came with me that night. She and Kaleigh chatted away on the end of the table all night long. Shannon and I have been friends our whole lives, so it is precious to see the girls bond. After everyone left dinner, the 4 of us headed to Barnes and Nobles to hang out a little longer.

Gracyn and Reagan stayed back at the hotel with Tommy to order pizza and swim. They must have had a good time, because this is how we found them when we got back. So precious all snuggled up on that twin bed.

Addison couldn't put her new book down. She was forced to read in the bathroom, since everyone was sleeping. I can't tell you how many traveling nights I spent like this before the invention of the Kindle. That goodness for e-readers and the backlight, I don't have to do this anymore. Maybe we will have to get her one before next years travels.