HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MIKE!

September is proving to be a very busy month. The kids are enjoying school, making friends and enjoying the ranch. Mike celebrated his birthday this year by tractor shopping.

Opening birthday cards.

The new zero-turn mower fit for a ranch!

Mike and Chandler spent the birthday evening mowing the paddocks near the barn.

Chandler enjoyed lunch with Papa and Gran for Grandparents Lunch at school.

It is still hard for me to get used to sitting at my kitchen table and seeing a bull outside my window.

Mike mowed a trail along the parameter of the acreage. Today Cyd and I went hiking along the trail. We saw the creek for the first time today.

Martina couldn't resist a little swim.

The upper part of the creek.

View from the back of the back pasture. It is a really beautiful place to walk.

A New School Year

A new school year has begun and the kids are enjoying their new schools. Chandler is in the 3rd grade and started at an Intermediate school with 3-5 graders. Cydney is attending a preschool at a church in town 3 days a week.

All of the kids in Chandler's school start the day in the gym then they go their classrooms.

Chandler saying goodbye to Martina before heading to the first day of school.

We are always admiring the views of the ranch. This one is from our porch looking toward the driveway.

Cydney outside her new school.

Walking into Mrs. Angela's class. I am dressed for a much needed run now that the kids are in school!

Loving the Country Life!

We have been in the country for a couple of weeks now and we are loving it! We are not near moved in but that is ok - plenty of time for that later...Both kids got off to school this week and are doing ok so far. We plan to go support the high school football team this Friday night!

Fishing in our pond.

Chandler caught the first fish!

A real cowgirl in the making.

Chandler and Martina are wearing each other out.

Calling up the cows.

Mike & Chandler in St. Louis!

Mike and Chandler took their latest father-son trip to St. Louis, Missouri. They enjoyed a Cardinals game, a Clint Black concert, a trip to the zoo and history museum, a paddleboat down the Mississippi River and an elevator ride to the top of the Arch.

Outside Busch Stadium.

Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals

View from their room. Chandler spent most of his time in the room (even at 3 a.m.) looking out the window at the stadium below. He even let Mike know, at 6 a.m., that the ground crew was already working on the field for the afternoon game.

Chandler enjoying the game; St. Louis Cardinals vs the LA Dodgers. The Cardinals won 2-0.

Chandler defying traffic to pose in front of the Arch!

Petting a sting ray at the St. Louis Zoo.

Mike and Chandler inside the top of the Arch.

Enjoying the Tom Sawyer boat trip down the Mississippi River.

Fun Times with Family

We enjoyed a fun week with Uncle Bill, Aunt Gloria and our cousins. It was a week full of VBS, swimming and playing till we dropped!

Enjoying VBS with Jeremy.

We enjoyed a fun picnic at the Park after VBS. We enjoyed eating with Uncle Bill and cousins Gage, Molly and Hailey.

Chandler enjoying the water slide at Jeremy and Traci's house!

Cydney also enjoyed her time swimming!


Cydney is amazed her cousin Gage is such a wonderful performer!

Celebrating the Fourth!

We got off to a fun start to our Fourth of July weekend when the kids finished swim lessons. Chandler graduated from Basic Diving and Cyd graduated from Level I.

Chandler is 'King of the Cannonball' which he did not learn in Basic Diving. He was already good at it.

Cydney jumped off the diving board twice and swam to the edge of the pool by herself. Now she is going to want to do it all of the time!

July 3rd was a fun day too. I ran the Independance 10K at White Rock Lake. That night we went to Papa and Grans for a family cookout. Cydney is really enjoying her smore!

Aunt Gina even joined in the fun. She had never roasted a marshmallow or had a smore before.

We celebrated July 4th at the Ranger Game where the Rangers played the Chicago White Socks. Chandler scored an autograph from White Sox DH Paul Konerko.

The whole family enjoying the game!

The Dynamic Ranger Duo!

Fireworks over the Ballpark!

June in Llano

As is our family custom, we spent the first weekend in June in Llano for the Rodeo. This year we went both nights and had a great time. We stayed in a great cabin right on the Llano River. The cabin was awesome and the river was great for swimming and exploring.

First Cannonball of the Summer! We named this rock Cannonball rock!

Hill Country Sunset!

The cabin up on the hill from the river - Rio de Looney.

One of the beautiful views on the walk from the house to the river.

Chandler trying out his new fishing pole he got for getting perfect attendance at school this year.

The river was gorgeous! We swam and hiked, collected granite rocks and had the whole place to ourselves!

Under the big lights at the Rodeo.

Chandler enjoying the team roping.

Chandler working the calf shoot - he helped out the cowboys keep the calves in line.

Suited up and ready for Muton Bustin'

Ready to come out of shoot #5.

We spent the last night enjoying a cookout. Cydney loved 'smore time'

Chandler after roasting too many marshmallows!

The swing down by the river was my favorite part. It was a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings.

What fun to unlock and swing the gate open so Daddy could drive the truck thru.

A great place to stay in the Hill Country!!!