Back to College Station

I don't know how it happened, but I'm not asking questions. Colten was over the flu enough to finally go to school Friday and nobody else caught it! That meant we were able to go to College Station to help with Rena's move. We left pretty early Saturday morning with a love seat for her new apt on back of the truck. It rained a bit on the way, but not too much. Mom & Dad went through much more rain since they took the southern route. We hadn't been to College Station for several years and Colten had never been. Ashlyn says she doesn't remember much from when we lived there and so the kids were awed by all the Aggie stuff everywhere. They were sure they were in heaven! If they weren't brainwashed Aggies before, they certainly are now ;) We got there close to lunch and helped unload everything and then went to have lunch at Wings n More - John's favorite spot. Now, though, it's also Ashlyn's favorite spot. She ordered the kids' wings and that wasn't enough for her. We ended up going again the next day (does she have us wrapped around her finger or what?) and she ordered the 10 piece and ate all of it - and was still hungry! No wonder she's been growing out of all of her clothes, lately! Anyway, after lunch we stopped by the bonfire memorial. I hadn't seen it except in pictures since it happened during my last semester there and was anxious to visit it. It's an awesome memorial full of symbolism. Ashlyn was impressed with how much respect the Aggies have. After spending some time there, we went back to the apartment and did some more unpacking. The kids loved Rena's apt b/c it has a loft with a balcony over the living room - there were lots of games involving throwing things over the balcony - for awhile anyway.

Then it was time for a break so we went to check into our hotel rooms (Rena's apt wasn't quite ready or big enough for all of us to stay in!), got settled in and then dutifully patronized the Dixie Chicken. Ashlyn thought it was scary since it was so dark, but it was the afternoon, so very tame for a bar. Both kids liked it much more after I got them a chocolate shake to eat while we were there. We also managed to play a couple of rounds of 42 before heading off to eat dinner. We all passed out early - lame I know. I had wanted to go dancing while we were there, but we were all too exhausted! We got up fairly early the next morning and had breakfast and did some more unpacking, did some shopping and then ate lunch before heading back home. It was a super quick trip, but we are planning to go back again soon so we can enjoy it a bit more leisurely!

Here are a few photos:

Rena's Move to College Station

This Friday is Colten's pinewood derby in boy scouts so we've been getting ready for that. Also wanted to share these pics of some sketches Ashlyn did - I think she is becoming quite the artist!

Valentine's Weekend

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's. Colten had a nice party at school and thankfully made it to school with the fruit I was volunteered to send. I was hoping he'd bring some leftovers home, but they ate it all! We stayed home Saturday and I helped John move and feed cattle that morning. Rena was there and played with the kids all day. Then Noel came out and we tried out his new gun. That evening, Roseline came over, too, and we all pigged out on wings, some hot, some just fried. Not much 'valentine' type stuff, but a good day.

Sunday night we had dinner with our neighbors after I fixed their computer (thankfully it cooperated!) and Colten started getting a headache while we were there. It wasn't better Monday and he wasn't himself, so we kept him home from school. By Monday night, he had a 103.5 temp so we decided he'd go to the doctor the next day. They tested him for the flu and yup, that's what he's got. Influenza-B. He's on Tamiflu which is giving him tummy problems in addition to the flu - poor guy! So now we're waiting to see who gets it next. Which is unfortunate, because we had big plans this weekend - moving Rena to College Station! We've all been looking forward to that, but it probably won't work out. I guess we'll see what happens.

Barn pics

Just thought I'd share this album that shows the progress of the barn. Not much has changed recently, but John is slowly filling in the gaps between the roof and the walls and making progress on the inside.

Barn

Slow February

Still don't have much of anything new going on. Last weekend, the only time we left the house was to go to church Sunday. Friday night I brought home Pizza Hut pizza and we watched Leatherheads and Saturday was a clean up day and John & I finally got around to putting things away in the office and I did our taxes (so happy that's done!). It was kinda nice not going anywhere! Sunday we found out that Colten will have his first communion on May 17 (hopefully), so mark your calendars! We ate band turkey dinners with Roseline and then headed back home to finish laundry (there was a lot!) and get ready for the week.

Ashlyn had her last basketball game Monday which they won and she got to play during the normal game. It was in Menard, though, so we missed it!

This weekend we still don't have a lot going on, but it is Valentine's Saturday so we've been busy getting ready for that. Poor Colten was up past 9 last night doing his because he wanted to send one to all 3 classes of 2nd graders - he was tired of that when he finished, but he had to bring them to school today, so he had to get them done! Colten informed us that he has two girls fighting over him. They always want to sit by him and chase him around. He says that's weird and doesn't like it much. I think it's hilarious :) I'm sure he'll change his mind about that soon enough!

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!

Just a quick update

We haven't had too much going on lately, but I thought I'd post a quick update anyway. Saturday, John & I went out to celebrate our 13th anniversary with dinner and dancing at the Peanut Mill. Before that, we went out to the rocks in the pasture to set up the game camera I got for John as a gift (he got me some James Avery earrings to go with the necklace I got for Christmas!) and while we were there we enjoyed some wine while sitting on the rocks. It was a very nice evening! Sure glad there were no heifers about to go into labor this year!

Sunday after church we went to Frances & Dennis's house to celebrate some birthdays and had some yummy chicken enchiladas and were completely stuffed before we even got to the Super Bowl party we went to in Mason. Of course we ate more while we were there and mostly didn't watch the Super Bowl. The kids had fun there playing with some kids that ride their bus, and I got my baby fix :) We left after the 3rd quarter so the kids could get to bed at a decent hour and managed to see the best part of the game at home!

Monday, I didn't have to drive to Austin (YAY!) since my boss had taken the day off. Ashlyn had a home game that day, so I was happy I'd get to see it. However, they played the extra people quarter before the game this time and I missed her anyway. So did Omie & Opie & Rena... very disappointing! That was her last home game and after next week, basketball will be over. She wants to practice over the summer so she can be better next year. Hopefully she keeps up with that! Next is Tennis, so we'll see how that goes!