The Rodeo: part 2

I was looking at my blog and realized I didn't blog about our trip to the stockyard part of the Rodeo. We really wanted to take the kids to the stockshow part of the rodeo, ride rides, go to the petting zoo, eat the rodeo food, see the animals and just have fun.
One Tuesday, Brent was 6th call and it was a nice day, so we decided to head to the Rodeo. I went to my bible study in the morning to watch the video and headed out early. We got to the Rodeo just in time for lunch.

After lunch, we headed for the stock show barns and looked at all the different animals that were still there to be shown. The kids got to see pigs, cows and some horses in the barns. Most of the livestock wasn't there because it was the last week of the rodeo.

The kids wanted to ride some ponies, so we got in line for the pony rides. Ezra picked out the brown horse, Tex (very appropriate for him) and Emersyn picked out the white horse. They were so excited to be "riding" the horses by themselves.

Right next to the pony ride was the potbelly pig races. We happened to be there 15 minutes before the races were about to start so we took our seats in the bleachers.(Elynn and I ended up watching from behind the bleachers. She was ready for her nap at this point.) It was so cute to see those little pigs running so fast for an oreo. The kids LOVED it!

After the races, we headed to the petting zoo. We were in there for a good 30 minutes. They had so many different animals. Elynn wasn't too sure about them coming right up to her, I mean, she is just as tall as they are, so she is face to face with them. I get it! But, she still enjoyed herself. Emersyn loved all the big animals. She is not scared of anything. Ezra followed this one, oh so cute, baby goat around the whole time. I even picked it up so he could hold it for a bit. Not sure you are supposed to do that, but we did!

Our next stop was the HEB barn. The kids were given baskets to collect veggies and fruit as you make your way through the barn. At the end of the barn, you return your plastic veggies and fruit for a prize. We ended up buying a real tomato plant. It is growing nicely in our green house. It makes me miss our garden we had at the other house. Maybe we can find a good spot in our yard for a new garden. We shall see.

The last stop of our day was the Bluebell barn for ICE CREAM! It was a great way to end a great trip!

Emersyn with the Llama 

Not so sure about that goat.

Emersyn and her white pony

Brent teaching Ezra about the different pigs. Brent actually showed pigs in 4H growing up. So country! ha!

I will stand by him, but will not pet him. 

Ezra and Tex

ICE CREAM!

Ready for her nap. Such a trooper.

Love this picture! He is the cutest boy EVER! He loved this goat!

So long Rodeo, you have been good to us! Until next time!

Hill Country Daily Bread

Two Saturdays ago, I went to a benefit dinner for Hill Country Daily Bread. They are a non-profit organization. So, instead of trying to put it in my own words, I went to their website and and copied their definition.

HCDBM is a faith-based, regional ministry that provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to more than 8,200 people living in poverty in the Texas Hill Country.

We are a hub of community resources, services and supplies that are delivered directly to homes by Mentors—thousands of trained volunteers from more than 170 ministry partners and agencies. In addition to food and basic household necessities, Mentors bring hope, encouragement and the message of Jesus Christ to those who need it most.

Our process is designed to foster long-term, meaningful relationships between people in need and people who are called to help… family to family, neighbor to neighbor, a community united to end situational and generational poverty in our Hill Country.

So, a group of us, 10, had a girls night at the benefit dinner. Mac Powell, from Third Day, played, we heard testimonies from families that have personally been helped from this ministry and bid on some things in the silent auction. It was a great time and for a great cause.

I feel like God is calling me to be more of his hands and feet in my neighborhood and around San Antonio. I hope to be obedient to His calling. This is one great way to start.

Playing Catch Up

I have been a little behind on my blogging. We have had an active couple of weeks. Between Ezra's preschool, my bible studies and play dates, I haven't had a chance to just sit and blog. This weekend, the kids are in Houston living it up at the Rodeo with Mimi and Ron. It is just Elynn and I sitting here. Brent is golfing, so I am blogging!

We renewed our Sea World and Zoo passes, so we have been living it up! We have gone to the Zoo once a week and Sea World once. The weather has been so great, so we are trying to take advantage of it. I also am feeling so much more comfortable with taking all three kiddos out and about by myself. I haven't tempted Sea World by myself, but am thinking I may be able to do it.

Here are some pictures from the Zoo and Sea World.

The Zoo:

I wish I had sound on this picture. They were ALL roaring!

My little roaring lions!

Emersyn and Brielle sitting on the hippos before we went to see the hippos

Sweet Elynn

Sea World:

Feeding the Sea Lions. Their favorite part.

Emersyn and Zoey. Her favorite Sesame character.

Riding rides..

eating snacks. Her favorite part! Ha!

Love this picture!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's day was pretty low key during the day, until we went to the rodeo that evening. I liked it that way. Ezra's class had a breakfast party and made valentine's cards for children in an orphanage in Africa! Super sweet idea!
The kids got a little something from Brent and I made heart shaped waffles! Sweet, yet simple! Just the way I like it!

Making his card in class

One of his best friends, Kate

That was there, "I am trying to finish this" smile

Happy Valentine's Day

Sweet girl eating a chocolate!

Baby Townes

The first weekend of February, the kids, my grandma and I went to Dallas for my sister's baby shower. She is having a little boy, Townes Hunter Parrish, due March 21st! It was fun to celebrate her and the new chapter of their life they are entering.

Ashley and Hunter are going to be great and are super excited! I am super excited for them. It is so different when your own sister is having a baby vs. your friends. You are super excited when your friends are having a baby, but when your younger sister is, it is different. I, at times, feel more of like a "mom" when it comes to her. I guess because I am older and just protective of her. I have loved walking this experience with her and know I will cherish the next step as she becomes a mother. I am so excited for her to experience it for herself. You can never truly "know" what something is really like until you walk it yourself. It is a beautiful and hard journey all in one, but one of the BEST things I have ever done or experienced!

Praying for continued health for her and the baby in this last month of pregnancy!

Back: Ashley, Me, Emersyn, Elynn and my Mom

Front: Shelby (sister in law), Grammy and Cambelle (my niece)

So, I have to explain the picture below. Elynn had a really hard time going to sleep while we were in Dallas. I am not sure if it's because we have only slept over somewhere like 2-3 times since she has been born and doesn't like pack-n-plays or if she thought she was going to miss out on the fun if she went to sleep. So, my grandmother was a rockstar! She would take Elynn in my brother and sil's room and get her to sleep. This was around 1030 or 11 PM! Ha! But, I walked in to check on them at one point and this is what I found. Such a sweet picture!

Let's Rodeo, San Antonio!

Yesterday, on Valentine's Day, we decided (a little while back) to have a family date night and go to the Rodeo. It was family night at the Rodeo, and Tenth Avenue North was playing. We had such a great time!

My grandma came down from Fredericksburg and spent the night so that we could leave little Elynn behind. So, we loaded up Ezra (after Ezra had to put on his chaps, boots, cowboy shirt and cowboy hat) and Emersyn (in her "cowgirl" dress) and headed to the Rodeo. We didn't go to the outside events of the Rodeo because we are saving that for another day to do with the whole family. We got there in time, however, to watch the whole inside event of the Rodeo. We watched, bucking horses, bucking bulls, barrel racing, muttin' bustin', calf scramble, team roping, etc., etc. The kids loved it! They sat the whole time and watched. When Ezra would ask a question, he wouldn't even take his eyes off the event, he would ask it with the corner of his eyes and mouth. Ha! It was so cute, so fun and a great Valentines!

We stayed at the rodeo until a little after 10! The kids were just being so good and enjoying themselves! They even loved the concert. What a great performance by Tenth Avenue North! Loved every minute of my Valentine's with all my Valentine's, sans Elynn.

We even saw our friends the Marshalls at the Rodeo! The seats next to us were empty so they came and sat with us! Have I said how great of a night it was yet!? ha!

Getting ready to leave. Everyone was excited, even though it may not show on this picture!

How sweet is my little cowboy??

Trying to get a picture of the two of them with Emersyn smiling.. Best I got! Ha!

Got a picture of how he asked his questions during the show!

Emersyn, over here!

Love these guys

Sweet friends! Kate and Ezra

The horse she picked out! Her name is Ms. Horse

Little cowgirl

Big Happenings around here

We have had some big happenings going on around the Eilers household!

First up: Emersyn is 100% potty trained! She has been potty trained throughout the day for a while now, but had still been wearing her princess pull-ups at night. For the past week (or more) she had been waking up with dry pull-ups and, sometimes, even getting up in the middle of the night to go potty. I just didn't really want to take the plunge and let her wear panties at night. Well, after several days of doing this, and being very excited that she had a dry pull-up on, I figured it was time to let her sleep in her big girl panties. She has been very successful! She wakes up in the middle of the night to go potty and has woken up dry every morning, so far! I am so proud of her! 2 down, 1 to go! Ha! When we are out of diapers for good, it is going to be a weird, but good feeling!

So, our next big happening is: Ezra can ride his bike with NO TRAINING WHEELS! He is doing awesome! He can even start and stop by himself. As excited as I am for him, I am also kind of sad about this. He is growing up way to fast and just becoming more independent all the time. Oh how that tugs at my little heart. He did such a great job learning how to do this. A friend of mine told me not too long ago, that if he was able to ride his scooter and balance, he was ready to ride a bike. After she told me that, I thought to myself, "Ezra can do that, I'm pretty sure." So, I passed on the information to Ezra and for the next couple days, he practiced on his scooter and really built up his confidence. After a few days of this, I asked if he was ready to try out the bike. He said "yes" and was so excited. I think the key was his mind set. So, when Brent got home, we took him to the back yard, took his wheels off and started him out in our grass. Our backyard is big and has a little part that goes "down hill", so we just practiced this a couple times. He caught on so fast and was doing great, so we took him to the cul-de-sac and the end of our street, and he took off. I was so shocked! He hasn't looked back and is super excited that he can do it!

Such a proud mamma!

Here is a video of Ezra riding his bike!