I Love The Houston Rodeo

When we first moved to Texas from California 7 years ago, I had no idea I would love rodeo time so much. When we were looking for houses in our neighborhood, it was actually Go Texan Day. That is the day that all of the trail riders ride into the city and everyone dresses like cowboys/cowgirls (aka what people think Texans dress like daily).

We were driving around and saw covered wagons, horses, native americans in full dress. I thought WHAT THAT WHAT? I know we are moving to Texas an all, but this is ridiculous.

Now I love it. And we look forward to it every year. From the school rodeo parade to visiting the trail riders camp to Go Texan Day to the rodeo itself. I'm hooked.

Here is a quick recap of our trips. This is minus all of the trail rider and parade stuff. Cowboy overload!

#1 - BBQ Rodeo Cook-Off - This is adults only. There are 200+ cook off teams and the event lasts 3 days. You have to be an invited guest to enter a tent. Our neighbors are on a team and we shamelessly asked for wristbands. We farmed the kids out to grandparents for sleepovers. Then it was all the BBQ we could eat, open bar, live country band and so much dancing.

#2 - Michael & Angelina Day Trip - I wanted Michael & Angelina to get to see the Livestock Show and do a bit of the carnival. We took the light rail train in and and had a half price Wednesday, so it only cost $5 to enter. I had gotten some half price rodeo carnival books too. They loved playing "Fun On The Farm" and the petting zoo. I also love that they are now old enough to do the pony rides. This was also the first time we have taken NO STROLLER to a major event. They were also and tired afterwards. 

#3 - Field Trip For Sophie's School - Kindergarten Field Trip Day! Super fun! More Livestock Show and "Fun on the Farm." We also saw Pig Races for the first time. 

#4 - Another adult trip. A friend scored tickets to Jason Derulo. Poor guy has no real name recognition, but trust me, you know his songs. "Want to Want Me," "Talk Dirty," "Trumpets," and "In My Head" to name a few.  We got some BBQ, a few drinks and danced to the rodeo! 

Trip #5 - This time we took the "bigs" to the rodeo! Plan had originally been to hit the carnival and then go to the rodeo/concert. This would be Sophie's first concert and it was for the "Stitches" teen heartthrob, Shawn Mendes. When we got there, Sophie's friend REALLY wanted to do Mutton Bustin. Five and six year olds riding sheep? What could go wrong! 

My friend and I tag teamed taking the kids around to stand in line to sign up. $15 and 45 minutes later, we had two riders. We then ran around the carnival for a bit before their ride. They were suited up and off they went. 

Sophie was AWESOME, until the dismount (aka fall). Her rhinestone belt scratched here. Talk about glitter cowgirl fail. So many tears. She was awesome though and I was so proud of her. Took her a bit of time to recover, but this morning I heard her telling M&A about it and her ribbon. "I rode a sheep called, "My Little Pony." It was a rough ride!" Angie said "Mama didn't buy us a ribbon." Her response was "We didn't buy it. I earned it!" The fall was worth the ride. 

I think the girls liked the concert. Sundays are earlier, which is why I bought tickets then. You could tell they were fading though. They only knew one of his songs and he did an acoustic set with mostly ballads. Hard for the kinder kids to get into that. But they all perked up when he sang his hit! 

Giddy Up - Houston Rodeo Time!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged!

This transition to kindergarten is really been hard. That or three kids keep me running that I am finding less and less time to blog. Or that Facebook at Instagram are filling my need to conical everything!

Whatever the reason, I am going to try to be better at writing!

Sophie turned six and I can't believe it. She is so full of life. She never slows down. She enjoys school and we are working on reading. She seems to be doing well overall and in Math, but talks too much. Not surprised by that at all. Reading has been a bit of a challenge as she likes to guess at the words and doesn't want to take the time to sound them out. We keep telling her to be a turtle and not a rabbit. I think that is the best way to explain her overall style. Rush, rush, rush to the next thing. She makes friends easy and is generally a happy kid. She is still enjoying swimming and dance. We also have her in church choir. There are a million different activities that I think she would be great at, but I don't want to overload the kid!

Angelina is THREE! How did they turn three???  She is also a little charmer. She has a small, sorta high pitched voice and she makes everyone fall in love with her. Even Sophie says she is the cutest, "Just look at her face!" she says. She is also the more helpful and pleasing of the kids. Most of the time if I ask them to do something, Angie jumps to it. That does not mean she doesn't have her moments, surely she does. They started swimming this week and are both like little ducks. She is also begging to start dance, but I am dragging my feet. I need to ease into all of the different activities for three different kids. Angie has a great memory and always says " I did that last morning," which is to say she did it yesterday. She is also the best sleeper of the three and I thank God for that nightly!


Michael is a ball of energy. The boy climbs on EVERYTHING and is starting to all out run and tackle. While he enjoys many of the same activities as the girls, his approach is so different. All force.  He too LOVES swimming and is also asking for dance. We may try gymnastics first for both of them since it is offered through school. The boy loves his screen time (much like big sister) and I have to work harder on limiting him. I am not sure if it is due to having a older sister or being second (and third) kids, but he is picking up letters and numbers faster than Sophie did. He surprises me often with what he knows.

Overall, we are doing well. Still battling coughs which seem like they will never end. Also have at least one if not two kids up every night. We went to CA for Christmas to meet our new nephew and spend time with CA family, which was great.

Now we are getting back to the routine! I am sure 2016 will go by in a blink just like 2015!

Long Sick Fall

I have been majorly MIA here. Truth is that this is a pretty accurate representation of the past month in a half at our house.

Sick. Sick. Sick. Let's see if I can remember it all. 

Sophie started with strep and was home for a few days. Then she got a 4 day random fever virus and was home for that too. Next Joe and I went down. Ultimately I got diagnosed with pneumonia and he had a cold that ended up with his own antibiotics script after I begged our doctor. He stayed home for three days, which is unheard of. Sophie went in again after never really recovering from her fever. She was diagnosed with a wicked ear infection that she never even complained about and croup. 

A few weeks go by and Sophie is still not 100%, so I bring her back in. Double ear infection. Not terrible, but there. I don't think it ever really cleared up from last go around.  Next, Michael got a cough and we sorta ignored it for a week.  It's croup we said. Nothing they can do, we said. Then he was showing some signs of asthmatic breathing and I took him in. Two breathing treatments and a steroid shot later, he got a pneumonia diagnosis too. More antibiotics. 

Then this weekend. Angelina gets a cough and I try to bury my head in the sand. After 4 days and two incidents of vomit because she is coughing so hard, she spikes a fever. I rush her in. Nada. Her ears are fine. Her lungs are okay. She doesn't really cough the whole time we are at the doctor. She has been complaining while peeing, mostly due to a red vagina. So, they suggest a urine sample to rule out UTI. 

Write this one down for the baby books. She refused, REFUSED to pee in the cup. Thus began a standoff of epic proportions. I begged. I bribed. I nearly cried. I pumped that kid full of water and told her we were not leaving until she peed in a cup. I knew it was a Hail Mary. I doubt she had a UTI, but I needed a diagnosis and drugs and hopefully something not contagious. 

Four suckers and two forced glasses of water later, we got a sample. And of course, no diagnosis. Nevermind I was also peed on in the process, but that's par for the course. 

I left defeated. 

Then I went to kinder pick up and ran into another mom who has been dealing with sickness. "Call them and insist on antibiotics! Your whole family has had this, you know!"

And she was right. I called. I said give me the drugs and they were delivered. 

Angelina started them today and I am praying this is the end of our sickness cycle. I am so tired. I am so ready to be back in a routine. It's the holidays and also Joe's busy travel time. Lovely. 

But maybe this is just life with three kids. That notion scares me the most. 

I'm off to fold laundry. Drink a martini and watch something mindless. I'll also most likely eat the last of the Thanksgiving pie and fall asleep at 9pm. 

It's Begging To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Halloween 2015 - Inside Out

We decided to go as all of the emotions from Inside Out. I give you Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness and Disgust! 

Pumpkin Patch Photos