Let's Rodeo San Antonio

The rodeo comes every year to San Antonio.  The catchy phrase, "Let's Rodeo San Antonio" is heard everywhere.  To describe to my hometown friends it is like a fair, a rodeo, and a concert all in one.  

We went during the day with some friends to explore the "fair" aspect.  There were rides, exhibits, animals, petting zoo, pig racing, and more.  Joshua had fun but was still not thrilled with the animals.  He did actually have fun on a ride or two as well.  

One night, we got a sitter and all three of us then went to the rodeo/concert part.  The rodeo was impressive and the Billy Currington concert was pretty good as well.  Rachel went an additional night and saw Rascal Flatts.  She said their concert was amazing!  The names that come to this even every year truly are impressive.  This year Tim McCraw came as well!  I hope Matt is in town next year so we will have more nights to choose from.  

This was Matt's first rodeo, first "concert", and first funnel cake.  What have I been doing wrong the last 10 years?  

Joshua's big day!

Yesterday at church Joshua had his dreams come true. First, he was able to meet a pilot that flies for Southwest. We had a visitor and he happens to be a pilot.  Joshua has a met pilots before but it didn't lessen the excitement.  The kid is seriously obsessed with planes and flying.  He insists he will be a pilot someday but only for Southwest.  :-) The pilot showed him pictures outside of his airplane and Joshua was thrilled. Then he went to Primary and he volunteered to recite the third Article of Faith. He knows 1-3 and both of the new songs for the year. I am so proud of him.  He just loves to learn and really is a sponge.  He was able to finally actually talk on the "black macrophone" as he pronounces it.  This has been something he has talked about since his nursery days.  Then he was chosen later on to explain his picture of his favorite creation.  He chose a red race car like Lightening McQueen.  I missed that reference in Genesis.  :-).

He is growing up so fast.  He has decided that other kids can win sometimes but he said he still probably won't really like it.  We have a sticker chart that has ended the temper tantrums that cropped up 2 weeks ago.  Solution for now as being a mom is a constant adjustment game.  I am blessed to have been chosen to raise this little guy.

Month of love

I love celebrating Valentine's Day or week or month.  :-).  I really just like making the man/boys in my life feel special.

I had fun writing notes about all the things I love about my boys.

I hid notes all in Rachel's room and she is still finding them.  :-)

Matt was leaving for Houston the Sunday before Valentine's Day so I made him notes and treats for him to open one a day while he was away for the week.

The mailman brought me a sweet treat from Matt in his absence.

Friday night we had a candlelight dinner with Joshua, Nathan, Rachel, and myself.  We listened to music, danced, and practiced polite conversation.  Joshua took the date very seriously.  He pulled out our chairs and tried to ask us each questions.  Nathan was yelling at the candles and desperately wanted everything off the table.  Joshua thought that was hilarious so they both decided to yell and playfully scream.  We celebrated at home exactly where we belonged.  It was a fun night.  Matt arrived home around 9:30 so Valentine's Day was complete.

Teeth

I took Joshua to his first dental appointment.  I was terrified!  He had decided this was going to be a scary trip and he didn't want to go.  I hear you "old school" folk saying in your minds but you are in charge you are the mom.  This is only partial truth.  You may tell a 3 year old what to do and you may give him consequences when he doesn't obey.  However, if a 3 year old wants to let their inner crazy out.  You are pretty much at their mercy especially if it is a situation where you can't just leave.  We watched a sesame street video that showed what was going to happen and we talked about it.  The waiting area had a mural of Thomas the Train which showed a great deal about this place to Joshua.  We went back and Joshua was stoic and absorbed every detail.  The dentist was right up Joshua's alley since he intellectually explained the whole process including the whys to everything he did.  Joshua had perfectly healthy teeth and actually said this was a fun place.  The dentist did mention some possible alignment issues and wondered about thumb sucking.  I told him no thumbsucking but I did wear braces for 2 years including head gear.  (Yeah, I know.)  He laughed and said, "Well at least you are prepared."  

Nathan didn't want to be left out so he is getting his two bottom teeth in!  One has pushed through and the other is trying to come in as well.  As my Dad said, "Bring on the steak."  

Overnight Date

My sister Rachel is here with us and generously offered to watch the boys for an overnight date.  Everyone that knows me knows that I am a bore when it comes to spending money on fun for myself.  If I think my boys will enjoy it I am all in but otherwise I usually talk myself out of it.  So touristy places are really hard for me because everything really is a bit overpriced.  Come on someone agree with me.   For Christmas, I received lots of gift certificates and vouchers so I can't refuse.  

I found a groupon for a hotel downtown.  I justified this purchase as an early Valentine's Day treat. There was sparkling cider, roses, and chocolates in our room for an added bonus.  Plus, a very nice and relaxing whirlpool tub.  I want one of these when I grown up.  :-)

We ate downtown at just a regular restaurant.  The restaurant we planned on going to wasn't really in a place we wanted to walk to but we discovered this too late to change.  Then it was too late to really eat at the River Walk or we would miss our carriage ride. It was fine though and the food was good.  

We went on a romantic carriage ride.  It was the perfect night as it had been in the 70s all day.  It was the best way to see downtown.  You aren't fighting pedestrian or traffic.  We just sat back, relaxed, and talked.  We had a no children policy the entire date with no conversations about them period.  This was hard to do but worth it.  I especially need to remember that I am other things than a mom even if that is my most important and demanding role currently.

We went on a ghosts and legends tour after our carriage ride.  I loved this because I enjoy historical fiction and this tour was more about stories about real people that lived in San Antonio than trying to scare you with ghost stories. 

Breakfast was at the hotel and everyone needs a blueberry Texas waffle in their life.  

We did the morning run through the Historic King William District.  

On our carriage ride, we found out that Saturday morning there would be a special kick off for the rodeo.  There were booths from the living history group and of course country music blasting.  

It was all in preparation for the annual cattle drive to kick off the rodeo.  There were about 100 longhorns trotting down Houston Street.  It isn't something we would have fought the crowds to do but since we were there it was perfect!

After the parade, we headed home.  We were greeted with two clean, happy, and well-cared for kids. That really is the perfect ending to a date.  

My boys

We went to a play with Eliza and Hannah while Rachel kindly watched Nathan and Eliza's younger sister.  Joshua wanted to be handsome and he picked out this outfit all by himself.  We had a good time but Joshua is really going through a "diva" stage that has been appearing sporadically.  On the front row there were love seats and cushioned chairs.  Joshua and Eliza were sitting beside Hannah and I in their own seats.  They moved and joined us on the love seat someone had the audacity (sarcasm) to sit in the seats that Joshua and Eliza had been sitting in originally.  Joshua proceeded to pout most of the play because he was "just so mad" that someone sat in his chair.

Making doughnuts at library time was a treat.  However, still true to his nature he needed to wash his hands after each use of the glue since we were supposed to smear it with our fingers.  

Nathan loves being in his high chair.  I think he loves it because he is at our level and really feels apart of the family conversations.  

Joshua has been wanting to put gel in his hair lately also.  He says that he is so handsome and that it is like being a cat because of their ears on top of their head.  Yep....nothing else to say here.

We emptied out the piggy bank into our new 3 jar system.  Joshua counted out all of his money into tithing, savings, and fun money.  He really seemed to understand the concept.  

This is probably the only time you will see a pose with Nathan not smiling.  I thought he was looking very handsome in his plaid onesie.  

We have lots of dance parties at our house.  I have the responsibility of raising gentleman and future husbands.  Joshua politely went up to his Aunt Rachel and asked if he could have this dance when the movie ended and the credits with soundtrack started.  However, their moves are a little wild as I kept getting lots of booty shaking in my direction.  

Joshua got a Target giftcard from Nani at Christmas.  She buys him popcorn and "rabbit milk" a.k.a Nestle chocolate milk.  If this is just a mom trip to Target there are no such indulgences since I don't like popcorn and he doesn't need a whole bag.  If Matt is with us, we may get popcorn and a drink but then Joshua gets a water.  Still most of our trips to Target are just to shop.  So, this giftcard was an exciting trip for him.  

He had enough money afterwards to choose one toy.  We wandered the aisles and he has big dreams and no concept of 5 dollars yet.  Everything he chose was too much so there was an endcap display of Valentine books that I suggested.  Joshua chose Fancy Nancy.  :-)  

I then had to make my loop through the seasonal stuff and then the decorating stuff because it is what I do and Joshua panicked that he had not gotten his toy yet.  Clearly, a book was not a toy.  We went back to the toys and swapped the book for more cars and some Teddy Grahams.  I explained that he already had a million cars at home.  He looked at the cars carefully and then responded quite simply that he didn't have these 5 cars yet.  

Another moment that has me shaking my head is Joshua's declaration that he doesn't want to be on a sports team.  He loves to play soccer and is actually pretty good.  I know he is 3 and my kid so probably being biased.  A little background information, we have been talking about the fact that he can't always win.  He always wants to race us upstairs and he doesn't want to lose.  We play Chutes and Ladders and if he is losing he is done with the game.  

I mentioned that we may be able to find a team for 3 year olds if he would like to play soccer.  He adamantly declared that he didn't want to play.  I asked him why assuming he would say he was afraid but instead he asked if the other kids would win sometimes.  I told him yes and he said that he didn't want to play then.  Wow, right?  

He is will be 4 in May what direction is life taking here?  He is still a super sweet and smart kid but he has definite opinions about the way things should be only he doesn't view them as opinions but facts.  

Joshua has been taking showers since he was about 1 but with the prospect of getting to take a bath with Nathan he has switched camps.  Now, the key is to get everyone out of the bed and in pajamas.  We need to move the bedtime routine significantly earlier to make time for this new adventure.  

Do only parents with daughters get to be all cute and match?  I think not!