The Boys First Rodeo

...and mine too! After our trip to the lake with Andrea's family, we headed up to a small town in North Texas for some family reunion and wedding festivities. The first night we were there, we went to a Rodeo. It was something else. It's the first time I've seen wild cow milking--several cowboys try to rope a wild cow and hold her down while one of them proceeds to get enough milk out of her that it will drip from a bottle when he show it to the judge. In my opinion, it was way more exciting than the bull riding!


Mackay riding his first pony at the rodeo.


Beckett too!


We stayed at a bed and breakfast the same night as the rodeo. It was an amazing place with some sweet old stuff in it. One of the rooms, pictured above, had a jungle theme. Mackay looks a bit out of it in the picture, but he's hanging in there. I do feel bad for the boys, however. We need to settle down soon!

A Fun Visit With My Sisters

We had a great visit with my two sisters and their families...and my parents for a day and a half. Andrea and the boys flew to Texas to where my sisters live on Friday morning, while my parents and I drove the short 13-hour drive and arrived that night. They were great troopers! Thanks mom and dad!

While visiting my sisters, we went to the largest gym I have ever been to (i.e. like Gold's Gym, but much, much bigger!). It was akin to a resort. The pools were sweet! It's true what they say. Everything is BIGGER in Texas! The visit was relatively short at my sisters' houses, but it was great to see them and all of their kids. It will definitely be nice living closer to them...and seeing them more often.

This afternoon after church we drove down to Andrea's family vacation at a nearby lake. It's pretty sweet, but the rain has put a bit of a damper on our boating activities as the lake is closed to boating (turns out all the rain flooded some people's sewage systems!).


Beckett with his cousin, Austin.

Boys First Real Boat Ride

We took Mackay and Beckett on their first real boat ride while we were visiting my parents. The life jackets didn't fit the best, at least Beckett's didn't (he's a thick dude!). We had a great time chillin' on their new boat...the city they live in actually had fireworks on the 3rd and 4th of July so we went the day before the 4th to beat the crowds (and the rain as it turned out). It was my first time watching fireworks on a boat...definitely makes for a great view.

On his way to the airport with Beckett and Andrea (they flew to TX!), Mackay asked my dad, "Next time I come to your house, we can go on your boat?" Mackay definitely thought the boat was "cool"--his words.

The Long Kid Drive is Done!

It's still hard to believe, but we are officially homeless...in search of a backyard for Mackay...and Beckett (when he can talk and tell us that he wants one too!). Yesterday we drove from Virginia to Kentucky to visit with my parents. It should have been a 9-hour day, but with kids it took 12! Luckily Andrea and the boys are flying to Texas from here, so we won't have to put them (or us!) through another long car trip.


Mackay and Beckett...after 3 hours.


Mackay at a lookout during our drive...Beckett was nursing.