Fun, Freezing Times at Mainstays Farm

Since we had our first weekend in a month without company, we decided to keep ourselves busy by going get a Christmas tree. Friends of ours told us about this great place a little ways out where you could cut your own tree if you liked and it had great things to entertain kids like hayrides, pedal cars with a track to race on, a maze, and a super-giant slide. It was fun, but really, really cold. Next year we will be sure to make the pumpkin patch there while it is a little warmer.

Yes, everything is bigger in Texas!

Even the slides are bigger....it's the big black tube behind the grass

Daddy and Kegan coming all the way down

the farmer and the dell.....what is a dell anyway?

trying to hold the frozen beast on the hayride and get her to smile for the camera....FAIL!

Sowy Times in Texas

After all of our Thanksgiving visitors headed back home, we had our second round of snow. It never amounts to much, but it is pretty to watch. We much prefer the snow over the freezing rain we usually get. This has been an unusually snowy and cold winter so far. We are ready for the 100 degree heat to come back.

Our house all ready for a white Christmas, complete with the "white"

Kegan's house burried in the immense snowfall!

I'm only a Louisianian living in Texas, but that has got to be at least three feet of snow. Don't you think?

Kegan's Birthday!

Then the next day was Kegan's birthday. All of our Raceland family that was in Texas for Thanksgiving came to Kegan's "monkey" party. Aunt Alex outdid herself again by making Kegan's adorable dress. We had hotdogs, cake, and banana splits....yummy. Jennifer made the cake and we both decorated it. Never having decorated a cake I think we did pretty good despite our brown polka-dots looking like cow patties! We were pretty proud of it. It did taste wonderful, which is what counts most. Right?

Nana and her three girls. Ava and Kegan are busy admiring their tights.

Are those little monkeys supposed to be on fire?

last year she dug in with her hands, this year she is a sophisticated lady and uses a fork.....well sort of. She is at least holding it.

And, it's gift time! Kegan got so many wonderful gifts. Thank you!

The three amigos. Trying to play it cool at a two year old's party. It's more difficult than it looks....really.

all partied out!

Aaron got Kegan "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" for her birthday and her and Ava sat watching it like little marionette zombies. We debated tying the balloons to their heads to keep them up.

Safari Ride 2009

To continue our fun-filled family week, we headed out to Fossil Rim Wildlife Park in Glen Rose. We went there 2 years ago after Kegan was born and had the best time. This time, we all piled in the back of Madison's truck while Nana and Pawpa drove and tended to Truly. Evan was hilarious and refused to feed any of the animals for most of the ride insisting that he would get bitten. Last time, Madison didn't feed the hostile ostriches until the very end, but he was a bit braver this time and started off by feeding them. Those are some aggressive ugly birds.

Here little deer! I have some nummies for you!

Mommy, I did it!


The hand with the red shirt is Evan's. Very reluctant to touch the viscious, man-eating deer.

Someone is missing her nap and getting tired

One last picture before we left. Had to wake both girls up to get the picture. They both fell asleep before we even left the park. Truly didn't make the photo becuase she was busy making messes for Nana to clean....big messes!

Thanksgiving 2009

So, 3 months after Truly was born, I'm finally gonna get back to this blogging thing. Unfortunately, my OCD requires me to keep things in order, so we'll have to start way back at Thanksgiving to get back to the present. True to the second child, I don't have very many pictures of Truly....or Kegan for that matter. I haven't had professional pictures made since last Christmas....I'll get on it, eventually.

Thanksgiving 2009 was one of the best in a long time. We usually get some of my mom's family here, but this was our biggest Thanksgiving ever in Texas. My sister and her kids were here as well as my parents. Aaron lives with us, so that was awesome to have us all together in one house for an entire week....really, I'm not joking. It was so great to have everyone together.

The day before Thanksgiving, we all loaded up and went to see the "Grinch" ice exibit at the Gaylord Texan. It was really neat, but also really cold. We all really underestimated how cold 9 degrees was. Even with the huge parkas it was borderline miserable for Louisianian's and Texan's to bear. Kegan refused to lift her head from where she had it snuggled in her Dad's chest the entire time.

Kegan super stoked even before we entered the freezing exhibit....in her defense, she was sick with a cold and it was getting close to bedtime.


This was the position Kegan immediately assumed as soon as we entered the exhibit

Truly is actually in this picture....she is the bulge under my coat. she slept soundly in her sling the whole time. I sort of felt guilty having her there not realizing it would be THAT cold!

Kegan eyeing her escape outta there!

Good thing I paid extra for Kegan to meet the Grinch afterwards. She Really enjoyed it....see!

Far away from that scary Grinch, everyone relaxed and enjoyed the train. Evan is so excited, can't you tell?

Our Thanksgiving feast was at the France household in Grapevine. My Aunt Nikki and kids were there, along with my Aunt Julie and Uncle Bert and my Grammy and Grampy, all visiting from Louisiana. So we then added all the France kids and then everyone from my house. And if that didn't make for a huge enough Thanksgiving, my cousin Matt's in-laws, the Hughes', joined in for our family fun! It was a wonderful, beautiful, fun day. Nanny and Uncle Tommy had everything set up so nicely. Thanks to the France's, as always, for hosting another great Thanksgiving feast.

Nanny and Uncle Tommy, our wonderful Thanksgiving hosts!

Nana spending quality time with her 2 sweet granddaughters. Ava isn't quite used to having to share her Nana.

Me and Truly hanging with cousing Jeff

the three of us together like the good 'ole days, good for them, but I seem to remember repeated torture and embarassment from these guys. And they look so innocent now.

Sweet brother-in-lawly love. Awwwwww, how cute!

all the boys keeping Truly company

A mom, an aunt, a sister, and a cousin, oh, and me

everyone's watching Grammy clean up, making sure she gets it all

The Autin's. Together at last.

Kegan rocking and relaxing after a big meal

This, however, is how to not relax after a meal??? Evan is trying some of his ju-jitsu moves on Hannah.....I'm no expert, but I think Hannah's kicking his butt!



Trouble on wheels! make that Double-Trouble on wheels! Hannah did a wonderful job entertaining the girls. They had the best time playing with her....when she wasn't kicking Evan's butt.

Meredith is trying her hand at the "Five S's" from the Happiest Baby on the Block. She did a most excellent job. shushed Truly right to sleep.

And lastly, my two favorite women, Grammy and Mom! I love you guys!