February 2013

Most of our month was spent playing basketball.  It was a fun, busy February!

Brock played his first year of full-court basketball.  I think it was a bit of a shock, at first, but he adjusted and did well.  He didn't like playing post because he rarely got the ball, but I told him as he gets older, he'll get the ball a lot more.  He really picked it up about halfway through the season and really hustled and played hard.

Brock playing some great defense!

Ryan really learned to play good this year.  I think he finally "got it."  He improved so much...he got physical trying to get open and rebounding.  He did a really good job!

I showed him how to use his bootie to get open and he used it!

He lost the ball, but then hustled down and got the rebound!

Steve and the boys went camping at one of their favorite places, Camp Cullen.  They got to do so many fun things, including canoeing...

...archery...

...and "The Screamer!"  Ryan getting ready to go!

Ryan on "The Screamer."

Brock looks so excited as they buckle him up for "The Screamer."

Brock on "The Screamer."

January 2013

We have a tradition that Steve and I ring in the new year at midnight and Brock and Ryan ring it in at noon.  Here they are with their "fancy" glasses, ready to toast a new year.

Many of our January days included a nice hot cup of cocoa, including whipped cream and a Christmas Peep.  Yummy!!

We went to see The Guardians (great movie!).  Do you see the two extra little elves?

We borrowed Rock Band from a friend to use while my family was here at Christmas and had it a few extra days to play!

Daddy celebrated 42 glorious years on this earth.  Happy Birthday, Steve!

I was (barely) able to fit 42 candles on his cake.

and they lit up the room like it was mid day!!  :-)

We took a trip to the Austin area, but decided not to do the same ol' Austin stuff.  So, this time, we went to see Longhorn Caverns.  It was a beautiful cavern, much bigger than we thought it would be and full of history!

Just outside of the caverns.

We then went to Hamilton Pool.  It was an amazing naturally carved pool.  The stalactites growing from the top, half cave and huge boulders.

The stalactites on the top of the half cave.

Under the roof of the half cave.

Little waterfalls were all around the pool.

In the half cave looking out toward the pool.

Monkey #1 and Monkey #2 (a.k.a Ryan and Brock) climbing on the boulders. 

I used a setting on my camera to enhance the colors.  This is really what it looked like...absolutely beautiful!

The moon rising over the pool.

Me and my sweet boys on our hike back up from the pool.

The next day, we went to a pretty cool little park.  It had a great path for Steve to run and a great playground for the boys.

My little dinosaurs in their egg.

The boys talked Steve into climbing up on the dino bones.

On our way home, we stopped at a little zoo out in the country.  It had some beautiful birds...

...including this amazing peacock...

...and this funny little macaw!