What I Learned This Week

About a week ago, I learned that my dear friend, MaryJo had started her own blog! She was taking the plunge. Her blog, Turn It Up, Mom, is wonderfully written. She describes it as "more than a survival guide", it is about "making the most out of everyday as a mother"!

I met MaryJo almost 10 years ago. Her husband and my husband are the best of friends and have been since grade school. All three of them went to high school together. So, when we began dating, I visited their hometown and had the opportunity to meet her. We hit it off and I am blessed to have her as a friend. She is a generous, supportive, kind, funny and special human being. In fact, she and her husband are so special to us and share the deep faith in Christ that we do, that they are actually Cate's Godparents!

So, if you need a little motherly inspiration, head on over to her new blog and check it out. I don't think you will leave disappointed!

This bloggy carnival was hosted by Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife. Head on over to her place to see what others are learning this week.

Bub-Bub!

Cate's newest words...

Dite-Dite, Bub-Bub!

Translation: Night-Night, Brother!

We are all so excited that she finally calls Max by name...well, sort of...but it's a start!

Where I Come From

Yep, I am a country bumkin that grew up longing to live in a big city. I do, but I still love to go back home and visit. I grew up in a wonderful tiny Texas town. Our county is about the size of Rhode Island and only has one (maybe two towns in it). So, it is the county seat! Here are some pictures of our day exploring the town sites and little museum. My mom is on the museum board, so she had some interesting facts about the exhibits. All in all the tour around town took about an hour and a half.

The Museum building used to be the original St. Anthony's School.

Erastus "Deaf" Smith, who our county is named after.

The chapel area with pieces from local churches.

Pieces from an old office building.

My dad and Max in front of the "Old West" kitchen.

The kids walking into the "General Store" area.

Cate playing the piano in the parlor area.

Cate and I in front of the old "school room".

The generational bridal gown displays.

Behind the museum is this old windmill.

I thought this was a really neat sign about Ghost Towns.

Max on an original John Deere tractor.

Sign about how Hereford came to be in existence due to the Santa Fe Railroad.

Dad and I inside the old caboose.

Cate and my mom in the same area.

Cate walking into an old fashioned jail cell.

The little prisoners.

They thought this dugout was really cool and to think that was supposedly the very first home in my little town. Very cool.

The kids first glimpse at an old "outhouse".

The horse drawn "ice carriage" for Hereford.

The Deaf Smith County courthouse (one of the only all-marble courthouses in TX and built in the Texas Renaissance).

E.B. Black House

Gazebo out back surrounded by memorial gardens.

Texas Bluebonnets

The rest of our time in Hereford, we just spent with them hanging out at their house.

3 of 52

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are gald you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
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Last week, while at my parents' house, we built several puzzles. This was a 100 piece puzzle and Max did most of it and within 30 minutes! I swear that kid is going to be an engineer when he grows up. He is very detailed oriented and loves to build anything. It was fun to have that one on one time with him while Cate was napping.

For more pictures with Moms in them, head on over to Forever in Blue Jeans by clicking the button at the top of the post. Thanks, Carin, for hosting.

Raisin

Let's see if I can stop laughing long enough to write this post!!!!

About a week and a half ago, before we left for West Texas, we were at dinner or in the family room...I can't recall exactly...anyway, Max told us that he had a hard raisin up his nose. We were a bit alarmed at first, but looked up in there with a flashlight, had him blow hard into a kleenex, and NOTHING. So, both Matt and I thought he made it up or it fell out without his knowledge.

Fast forward to tonight at dinner. While eating, Max exclaims, "Look, Mom, the raisin!" Not sure what he was talking about, I thought maybe it was a black burned piece from his tater tots. Then, he handed it to me...YEP...it was a booger drenched wrinkly raisin.

Then, it hit me....."Max, is this the raisin from last week?"

"Yep! It's been in there the whole time!"

We asked him if it hurt. I was stunned. And to think that we brushed off the initial incident!

That's me! Mother of the Year!

At least we all got a good laugh out of it!

WordFUL Wednesday - Cadillac Ranch

While in Hereford/Amarillo over Spring Break, we drove by the infamous Cadillac Ranch! For those who don't know what it is, click here . We pulled up on the frontage road and Cate was almost asleep, so my mom parked and stayed in the car while Max and I walked up the dusty path to get a closer view. They have a bucket of spray cans for you to add to the graffiti, but I figured this would not fare well with a 5 year old. He was pretty impressed though. Later that night, while reading bedtime stories, my mom read him the book, "Round-Up: A Texas Counting Book". On the page for number 10, the Cadillac Ranch was illustrated, and Max quickly stated, "I've been there!"

For more Wordful Wednesdays, visit Angie at SevEn cLoWn CirCuS.

Love and Hate in a Small Town

For this week's installment of What I Learned This Week, hosted by Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife, I decided to share what I "re-learned" this week in my hometown. I have a love/hate relationship with some aspects of my childhood region.

I LOVE seeing my parents.

I HATE the smell of manure (Hereford, TX is the Beef Capital of the World, and is completely surrounded by feedlots of cattle).

I LOVE the quiet, peaceful nights.

I HATE the drive there.

I LOVE the sunsets and open skies full of stars.

I HATE the dust everywhere, all the time!

I LOVE the small town friendliness from EVERYONE, even from strangers (which in a small town, there aren't very many of those).

I LOVE seeing how much things have changed since I left after high school.

I HATE seeing how much things have changed since I left after high school.

One thing I learned on this trip with my kids is there really is more to do in this small town than I had remembered.

the view from my parents' backyard

Howdy Partner

Max and Cate had a hootin' hollerin' round up at MiMi and Papa's house!

While in my hometown, we went up to Amarillo and took them to the American Quarter Horse Museum. They loved learning all about the horses and cowboy life! There was a wonderfully done childrens area that had interactive buttons to push to learn about all sorts of things like what a horse eats and how much, how horses are cleaned, parts of the saddle and bridle, and the anatomy of a horse. The other parts of the museum had memorabilia of former rodeo champs, cowboys, and cowgirls, but they weren't interested in that!

At the end, of course, MiMi (my mom) played doting grandma and bought them all kinds of souveniers including the get-up you see them in above. I also bought him his first pair of REAL cowboy boots from a true boot outfitter in town. Of course he chose red, as that is his favorite color.

On a side note, Max has decided to be "Rowdy the Rat" in their end of school alphabet parade. This week is also Texas week at school and on Wednesday they get to dress up in western gear and ride ponies. He may even decide to be a cowboy for Halloween. So, rest assured, the stuff will get lots of use!

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Please continue to pray for Stellan