Texas Part 2

Ryan preached in two services at his home church in North Houston, we grabbed a bite of lunch and went straight to Brenham to my Uncle Richard's farm. My family all gathered for a bit of fun, but also to scatter the ashes of my Granddaddy. It was the perfect setting to honor him and I was so glad to be there with family. Ryan did an amazing job of leading our little service. It was perfect.

 

 

 

 

The tractor wasn't sure it wanted to start. 

 My Granddad's two sons scattering his ashes in the bluebonnet field on his John Deere tractor. 

 

 

 

 

Sisters! (Trisha on left. Candice on right.)

The farm is full of toys for all ages. Uncle Richard is an amazing host! 

Sweet cousin Abby.

 Grandma. I realize I am more and more like her the older I get! I honored to be like her.

 My baby boy.

 Swimming in the horse tank.

The big kids having fun on the little kid toys.

 Sharks and minnows.

 Joy

 Splash

 Ben: Help!

 Swinging

 Nate caught up on his golf game on the putting green.

 Peaking from the horse tank.

Sorry for the sound; it was windy.

 Big boy toys.

 Sisters

 Twilight fishing at the pond.

 Ben caught a fish!

 Nate trying his luck.

 Ben gave no-training-wheels a quick try.

 The love of my life!

 More big boy toys. 

Too loud.

 

Our family photo. The family that takes target practice together...

 Ben was totally mesmerized by my cousins game.

 Nate made friends with my Granddaddy's dog, Crawford.

 Sweetness

 More toys.

Uncle Richard is a big kid at heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 Abby's first solo 4-wheeler ride.

 

 

 

Sometimes the toys cause problems. Ben chipped a tooth on a 4-wheeler ride through the new off-roading path.

 He was brave! He got back on and rode again. No real damage. It's just a baby tooth.

Texas Trip Part 1

We made the trek down to Texas to visit Grammy and Papa, Aunt Kelly, Uncle Michael and Cousin Ella. The Carolina Carters came down too - Uncle Randy, Aunt Becca, Cousins Wesley, Jeremy, Avery, Oliva, Justin and Valerie. Grandpa and Nana even drove down from Colorado and Aunt Curly Kelly used her weekend up to come see us. Even Grandpa Bud and Aunt Susan came for a quick 24 hours.

We packed in as much fun and chaos as possible. We never got to bed anywhere near bedtime and we missed about half our naps, but the giggles and smiles were plentiful. Here is our fun in pictures.

We took in an Astros game. They came back to win in the bottom of the 9th. We didn't get the kids to bed until midnight, but we laughed, we cheered, we danced. We had a blast!

 We went to a park to fish and play.

 Olivia is always willing to help the littler ones.

 Sweet cousin Valerie.

 Tough guy Jeremy.

 This is Ben's serious face.

 Some park weirdo.

Grammy!

Grammy and Nate.

Mommy and son.

 Mommy and son.

 More outside fun at Grammy and Papa's house.

Valerie jumping rope.

 Jeremy showing up the old dudes.

  

 

 

 Catching a pic of Justin is a challenge.

 Silly boy, Nate.

 Olivia, helping again! Little cousin Ella was never without a handful of helpers.

 

 Ryan's Grandpa Bud blowing a bubble with his gum.

 Papa Tom fell asleep on the dog's bed.

 The Carter men tend to make their wives make faces like this.

 Aunt Susan's phone was a big hit with the girls.

 The girls wanted curls and nails like Aunt Amber. I was thrilled to play along.

 

 Ben got some special treatment during rest time. Avery and Wesley read books to him. He was in heaven.

 

 Pool time!

 My fearless water baby. He even jumped off the diving board.

 Ah, Justin looking at the camera and smiling. Got him!

 Olivia and Nate.

 Wheeee

 Ben and all his swim gear.

 Papa and Grammy keeping watch over the food.

 We got to stay in Ryan's sister's 5th wheel while there. We loved having a little space to call our own and the boys were in absolute heaven. They just thought all of it was the coolest.

 The favorite was, by far, the loft area where Ben got to sleep.