Adding a new twist...

OK, so I'm going to try to start dabbling in the actual art of blogging by journaling different things that don't necessarily pertain to family outings and pictures of things that we have recently done. To start with I want to pass on the web address of a very fun website/blog. www.thepioneerwoman.com
Now this lady is a real blogger! She gets hundreds of comments to her posts...which means hundreds of people read her bog every day. She just created a new site and it has some great recipes and photography tips on it. I can't wait to try the photo tips she has on there. I do aspire to be a better photographer. It has been one of those things "I want to do someday". My cousin and I have often talked about taking photography classes at a local college. I think she has done a pretty good job learning somethings on her own. Maybe when all 3 boys enter Elementary school I'll take a class. The other thing I aspire to do is learn to play the acoustic guitar. I want to learn so that I can hopefully inspire my boys to learn as well. I have visions of them sitting around with their friends in the youth group someday strummin' away and writing great praise songs. I know there is no guarantee that they will even care to play the guitar - but at least I can try to interest them and hope for the best and that they will have a passion for music of some kind. So, as I approach a different phase of my life in the next few years, I look forward to learning some new things. For now, I'll keep doing what I'm doing and do my best to raise some good 'ole boys that love their mamma and love their God. They can love their daddy too, but...we always try to get them to say "I'm mamma's boy" or "I'm daddy's boy". It's a game we've been playing since our oldest son was 2...and that was 5 years ago!! Wow. OK, so my dear hubby is done watching Smallville which is not one of my shows - so I do my computer work while he watches - so...since he's done, I guess I'll be done too. Easter pics will be coming soon for those of you that care :-)

It's Carnival Time!

Well, we did it...we ventured out to check out the Austin Livestock Show and Rodeo. We really just went to the carnival and petting zoo though. Maybe next year we'll plan ahead and get tickets for the rodeo and concert. Anyway - we had a blast and enjoyed hanging out with our neighbor and babysitter who came along with us. One thing we did learn...IT COST A LOT OF MONEY! I think the boys may need to save their allowance next year :-) Just as an example - the jumping apparatus that Austin and Jackson did cost 7 tokens each - and each token was $1. Wow, so that "ride" was bringing in $28 every 10 minutes. Who said those carnival workers don't make very much money! Oh well, it's all about making memories right?

Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-cake, Baker's Man...

We have a baker in the making! Ryan is always looking for an oppurtunity to get his hands messy and help in the kitchen. On this particular Saturday morning Ryan was helping Jeremy make biscuits for breakfast. He loved rolling the dough and using the cup to cut out the circles for the biscuits. He thought he would like the taste of the dough but that proved to taste VERY different from cookie dough :-)

Family Fun in Rusk

The yearly round-up for the Burch-Cotten clan brought lots of time outdoors on a beautiful weekend. The kids were so excited to have this time to play with their cousins. My parents have a great place for us all to get together and explore the woods. Climbing trees, riding the tractor, shooting BB guns, and running in the fields led to some very worn out kids! We are so thankful that we have a family that takes the time to get together during our busy lives.