rodeo!

one of our favorite things. we look forward to it every year.

it was sad we didn't have a mutton buster 

grant was too heavy, chase too light

maybe next year!

it was funny that they had this exhibit, the boys are both very

into bugs and insects right now. especially spiders.

the chickens hatching are always super fun to see - and so cute!

pony rides! grant originally said he was too old, then at the last minute

decided he wanted to ride. so cute, even though they put the biggest kid

 on the smallest pony.

petting the bunnies is always fun... i love the one that feels like velvet.

guess who wants a bunny for his birthday now?

lunchtime! it was a beautiful day.

aaaahhh the petting zoo....grant's absolute favorite. chase's absolute nightmare. 

chase wants so badly to pet these guys but as soon as they pay him any attention

he cringes and crumples. it's hilarious yet sad at the same time. at least he's not

screaming anymore....

watch mom...just watch...i WILL pet this one.... watch...

(after 10 min i don't think he ever really touched it...)

grant always searches out the goat who will eat his shirt...he loves that.

"mom, why doesn't grandma have a pony this size for me?"

i have no clue what's happening in this picture (i think jason took it?)

but i ran across it and thought it was hilarious....

awww, the baby ones are the best....

the carnival! the best part. they love riding the roller coasters. i actually 

thought this year that grant is almost too big for a lot of these....crazy!

this dragon was like the teacups and jason almost barfed....

grant looked a little green for a while too....

this is scarier than you think!

we had such a great time! love the rodeo.

spring

we finally had a few warm days after a cooooold winter 

(coldest in 30  years!)

we finally were able to go back to the park and ride our bikes

like we usually do all winter. ahhhh......so nice.

birthdays and valentine's day

Birthdays! Jason's was delayed as his big present was a ski trip to Utah! he had a blast

 staying with uncle rich and aunt susan and skiing with friends and family. 

next year we hope to all go and teach the boys to ski! 

i absolutely love these mountain pictures. makes me wish i was there, even though

i always forget how cooooold it is.....and how bad at skiing i am....

my birthday celebration! i took grant out of school and met Jason at a Japanese 

steakhouse, where they cook the food right there, and the boys loved it. 

they loved being entertained with fire while we ate.

while Jason went back to work, it was a beautiful day so we went

to feed the horses and the Houston police horse barn. 

the lucky horse who has the stall closest to the parking lot. i bet he gets fed

a lot. these horses are awesome. all so big and gentle and well trained.

i had to keep dragging grant away from this cat who was following

us around. grant kept saying "can we go to a cat farm? and pet all the cats?

do they have those? can we go?" haha. 

my favorite one! a huge gentle Belgian.

poor chase really wanted to feed the horses, but wouldn't get any closer than this! 

he was scared of the "big teeth." so he just ended up eating the carrots.

valentine's day! super fun. here's the boys opening their little gifts/candy they woke up to.

whoops, this picture is crooked, but Jason really went all out for my birthday and valentine's

day. he was so nice. he surprised me with gifts and a homemade spa day, made a super

 dinner, and was so good with the boys. i felt really lucky. it's my turn to be in charge of our

anniversary and i'd better start planning/thinking of some great ideas!

so i'm not much of a beef eater, but this dinner was sooo good. beef sirloin steaks

 with wilted spinach and blue cheese. and roasted potatoes. and an appetizer of cheese 

and crackers. and lots of chocolate for dessert. good chocolate too.

oh my gosh, it was amazing!

valentine's dinner!

grant's great photography skillz....  :)

and then he surprised me with a 2 hour horse back ride! got a babysitter and everything. 

it was awesome. beautiful weather, being together outside, riding horses - all things i love.