Can I Get a "Yee-haw"?

Today is "Go Texan" day in the greater Houston area. It all has to do with the Rodeo Houston coming to town. The Trail Rides start today, so you have to watch out for horses and cows meandering down the streets of Houston and then watch where you step if you walk behind them. It also means Bar-B-Que, the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest to be exact. Three days of smokin', saucin', finger lickin' fun. There's also concerts ranging from country music all the way to get this, KISS and Janet Jackson, though not together on one stage. That would be too much to handle even for the greater Houston area. Auntie Amie and I are taking the girls to see Selena Gomez. Who you say? What do you mean you've never heard of her? Don't you watch the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place? Don't you listen to Radio Disney in your car every chance you get? Well, if you don't, clearly you're not living the high life like we are.

The local schools proclaimed this an official dress code release day which puts joy in the hearts of every child and fear in the minds of every parent. Suddenly there is pressure to come up with the right clothes to fit the occasion. I felt increased pressure, because I forgot the last dress code release day, Valentine's Day. Brenna went off to school in boring, regular old school clothes that day, so yesterday the hunt was on for "western" clothes. It couldn't be just any western clothes, no sir-ee. It had to be GIRL western clothes, because she didn't want to dress like a boy. Fortunately, the local merchants are all on board with this western wear thing, and I easily located a western dress and some western-ish boots. I got the last pair of brown western-ish boots in her size, YES!

"Do the hoe down (throw down)! Throw it all together that's how we roll."
The hat didn't make it to school. I think she was too embarrassed to be THAT western.

Ready for a rodeo. Delicious Chapstick and all.
He did go to school in his boots, but his tennies went with him for back up.

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Turning Two

Austin,
It's hard to believe that you are turning 2 tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. You were just a tiny bundle of sweetness.

Didn't you just have your first taste of cake a couple of weeks ago and not an entire year has gone by? You just took your first steps last month, right?


Now you're this little boy who is starting to talk and heaven help us, share your thoughts and opinions. You are adding new words to your vocabulary on a daily basis and it's sometimes hard to keep up. You are so proud when you master a new word and want to be sure that we know that you know how to say it... over and over and over. You like to add "ah" to the end of your favorite words for emphasis. Jeep is Jeep-ah. Milk is milk-ah. It's so incredibly adorable.

Now you want to do it yourself, because you are so big and "capable". You are trying to convince us that you don't need sippy cups anymore, but the dribbles on the carpet suggest otherwise. You know that if I put a waffle in the toaster for you that you will need a plate and you know exactly where the plates are in the kitchen. I know it's just a matter of time before you climb onto the counters to fetch one for yourself.


You have a fascination with ChapStick that you lovingly call "stick". Mostly you are content to simply take the lid off and put it on again. There are times, however, when I have to reign in the "application" of the "stick" to prevent a sheen of Cherry ChapStick from covering your entire face.

You've discovered music and like to hear the same song over and over again. It's a good thing we have already been desensitized to this by your sister. Now "Twinkle Twinkle" doesn't get stuck in my head for days at a time like it used to.

You still have the ability to turn people's heads with your cuteness. I've always thought you were cute, but sometimes a Mother tends to be biased. I hope your blond hair and blue eyes are here to stay, but if they're not, we'll remember them fondly .

Happy 2nd Birthday! I can't wait to see what the next year brings.
Love,
Mommy