February 22

Luvy is four months and weighing 15lbs. Bootsie is only two months away from being 3!

How time flies. I entered a blog last week about the week before and here I am again doing the same thing again.

Peso seems to be staying busy with flying, his masters, reading, going to the gym and I am sure squeezing in Xbox when he can.

Papa and I took Bootsie to the Stockshow last Friday to check out the animals. She loved seeing the cows, horses, sheep, hogs and especially the chicks. I took her into the petting zoo, which she enjoyed, but was somewhat timid. I think she actually understands that things can hurt her and so she is more guarded around the unknown. She would pat and animal then quickly walk away. We fed the animals, I had to hold Bootsie's fingers out so they wouldn't bite her while they were greedily eating the feed. She squealed with delight and a little terror mixed in there. Papa bought funnel cake bites, which were great and overall we just enjoyed looking at the awesome animals-awesome because they are soo well cleaned and taken care of for competitions.

This past weekend a good friend, Kk, came in to town and she, my sister Bek, my mom, my mother in law, and I went to the Rodeo on Friday while Papa and uncle J watched the girls. They were great for the guys and we gals had a fun night out. It was fun to get back to my Texas roots! Yehaw! My sister, Kk and I even sported cowboy boots!

Sunday I ran into an friend of mine from college, who I had been really wanting to see while I was here, but didn't have any recent contact information for her. My mother and I were supposed to go to my friend Meggan's church, but she ended up being out of town and so we went to my parent's church instead. As we were getting out of the car, the gal in the truck one space over looked familiar. I thought it was my friend Lisa, but then quickly thought no, it couldn't be her. My mom asked who I was looking at, so I said my friends name, I said it loud enough for the woman to hear and believe it or not, it was my friend Lisa. The last person I would have expected to run into in the church parking lot. Praise God! We are going to get together and catch up. I am soo excited to get back in touch with her. She and I did our student teaching together.

This week has been pretty low key. Monday, I did paperwork. Tuesday, went to my friend Meggan's for a playdate. Wednesday, Bootsie went to Mother's day out and I went to lunch with my grandmother in law, Winnie. We had the most delicious empandas. Afterwards, I checked out the PX (got some weird looks when I asked where the BX was) at Fort Sam Houston-Huge place with an entire room dedicated to sports tennis shoes. Mt. Home pales sadly in comparison. But on the other hand, getting a medical appointment in Mt. Home is ten times easier than in this large town of San Antonio where they have five military instillations. I was on hold for five minutes just trying to get a live person and when I did, the earliest they could see my girls for physicals was in the third week of March! Maybe I am being silly, but come on now. Makes me miss my small town.

Well, that is what we have been up to. I pray this blog finds all my friends and family doing well. Sure do miss you! Don't you want to come to San Antonio for a break? You are all welcome!

Love, Ralee

February 14

Last Friday we went to the Zoo. Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold, but Bootsie had a good time hollering at the animals even though most of them were in their caves hiding from the rain. I was able to get to know several ladies that I had met at a Super Bowl party my sister took me to hosted by her Sunday School members. Each of the ladies were really nice and one even has a girl Bootsie's age, so we are planning on getting together. Bootsie loved petting the "sheep"(mind you that's a goat), everytime I corrected her she would say goat and then one second later she would call it a sheep again. Silly!

This past weekend we went to the Outlet Malls-awesome, I am talking the best every shop you could want and more. My sister, father and I all got cowboy boots, yeehaw! I bought new running shoes, now I don't have an excuse. Sunday we went to church, had lunch at home and packed up to go to the Stockshow grounds to show Bootsie the animals. We drove all the way down town only to find a line that was clear to the highway from the arena, so we made a u-turn and headed back home. We were soo disappointed and Bootsie seemed like she knew she had been cheated. I am going to take them down on Thursday to see the animals.

I had the girls pictures taken yesterday, boy that was an experience. I showed up at 11:10am and they didn't get to us until 11:45(my appt. was for 11). After doing the photo shoot and then viewing all the pictures, waiting for all the paper work and everything else, we didn't leave the mall until 1:15pm. Fortunately, they have a good entertainment area for kids. The pictures are going to be adorable. Luvy has one that she took on a bed of pink rose petals soo cute. That was all I did the whole day except for exercise and make cookies.

Bootsie has a Valentines party at her mother's day out today, first one, so we will see what she thinks. I made cookies and Valentine's for her to hand out. I hope she has fun.

Luvy is now 4mos. old, I can't believe it. She is cooing, blowing and making all sorts of funny noises. She continues to be easy and a pure joy. Love her smile, her whole face lights up!

Happy Valentines to all my friends at home in Mt. Home, I miss you all. Lots of love, Ralee

February 5, 2007

What a beautiful day Monday was, the weather was mild with a light breeze, the sun was shining, Bootsie was playing happily, Luvy was cooing next to me in her bouncy seat and I was able to do my quiet time for the first time peacefully in I don't know how long. Usually I find a couple minutes in the morning before the hustle and bustle start to do my quiet time, but this time outside on my parents wonderful back porch was truly blessed.

Over the weekend, I was able to go to Kerrville (where Col. Rock is from) and see my grandmother to introduce her to her second great granddaughter. We played in her backyard with bubbles and then went to a park on the banks of a river. We all, I mean even my grandmother, swang on the swings for a while and visited the ducks and geese, who were quite a bit nicer than the ones in Mt. Home.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I was unable to capture the moment in picture-bummer.

Sunday we went to church and heard an amazing message, then we met my mother-in-law for lunch at Pei Wei's (sp?). It is kind of like a cheaper P.F. Changs. Yummy! Then we napped(my favorite) and chilled the rest of the day.

Tuesday I enrolled Bootsie in Mother's Day Out. I am excited for the break to get errands done and for the opportunity for Bootsie to start interacting with others in a more structured environment. I am out exercising now with my new stroller and feeling the burn, it is really hard getting back in to the regime, but I love it. I only wish I had a friend to work out with. Hope all is well at home, sorry for such irregular inputs on my blog. I am finding it really hard to get the time to sit and type, by nighttime, all I want to do is sleep. I know you all understand. Love to all! Ralee