Festival Weekend

In Texas it seems like every city has it's own festival, and this is the time of year for them.  The weather is usually pretty good to be outside, unless there is rain, but it is a risk you take.  This past weekend we were able to go to two different festivals and we were pleasantly surprised by both.

Friday night we headed out the the Real. Texas. Festival. in Mesquite, TX.  We basically live in Mesquite, so it was just down the road.  Our plan was to enjoy some food, walk around and look at the booths and then watch part of the rodeo, all before the concert.  We weren't sure how Macey was going to do, but she proved to be a little trooper.  She enjoyed herself and was a perfect little angel!!!  

Macey's first rodeo

Looking at the baby goats

Saturday we drive a little further, but it was worth it.  There is a little town called Wills Point about an hour from us and we happened upon their Bluebird Festival last year and knew we needed to go back.  Most festivals have, what I like to call "Fair food."  You know, the portable concession stands on wheels that serve corn dogs, nachos, funnel cakes and your occasional BBQ sandwich.  There is nothing wrong with these foods (not referring to the nutrition), but they are the same everywhere you go.  Well, Wills Point is a small town and they know how to have a festival.  Literally people bring their own cooking instruments from home and sell home made food.  It is wonderful!  Kevin loved the steak tacos, my personal favorite is the gorditas (with your choice of beef, chorizo, cactus, pork skins or beans).  The gorditas are freshly made right in front of your eyes; good home made food.  And it is cheap!!!  We left the festival, very full of lunch and a dessert of home made ice cream and fried peach pies, for about $20!

So tired from all the excitement

More firsts

Well, as with any baby's first year of life Macey is adding to her list of firsts.  Unfortunately, last week she had her first ear infection, but she is feeling better now and just trying to get healthy before our trip to CA.  I have been offering her some teething cookies recently, but she doesn't know what to do with them.  She just kinda picks them up and plays with them, but won't put them in her mouth.  Well, the other day she put it in her mouth, so of course I took a picture!

"Feeding" herself for the first time

She didn't really eat the cookie for very long, but she seemed to enjoy it.  She is definitely teething, she is always biting on things.  So hopefully soon we can post about her first tooth.  We have also been hanging out outside.  She isn't very mobile yet, so a big blanket in the front yard is a great change of scenery.  She loves watching cars and people go by and she is very calm and content while we are outside.

Enjoying the outdoors

And finally Macey got to meet the first of her 4 uncles.  Uncle Gary moved to Texas last week to start his new job, and made sure he came over to meet Macey.  She kinda stared at him for a while, but eventually she was playing with him and even let her hold him.  She looks pretty happy!  I think it's partly because he is so tall, she had a whole new perspective on things! :)

Macey and her Uncle Gary

MT4

Two weeks ago, as Allison mentioned, some friends and I went on our annual Man Trip.  We have hiked to the top of Texas in the past as well as our river trip last year, so I decided that we should set out for an adventure on our mountain bikes.  On Friday we drove to the panhandle to ride along an abandoned rail road line that has been converted to a hike, bike and equestrian trail, which is near Caprock Canyon State Park.

The advantage of having an engineer in the group.

The plan was for us to start in the small town of Turkey, ride 32 miles uphill to South Plains and then back.  The forecast was for 55 mph wind gusts and blowing dust.  Well, it turned out that there were 61 mph gusts in the area. 

Aaron S., Ram, Bubba, Kevin and Crawdaddy in Quitaque ready to start.

The least scenic section between Quitaque and Turkey.  Mmm, breathe it in.

Aaron and Kevin standing by the Clarity Tunnel.  We had to walk the bikes through the tunnel due to the mounds of guano.

We changed our plans the night before and decided to start in Quitaque, ride 10 miles downwind to Turkey, then back to Quitaque before heading off to S. Plains.  The first 10 miles was easy, and only took one hour, but the same ride back to the truck took us 2 hours in the wind.  We were averaging about 4 to 5 mph on the bikes and about 3 walking the bikes, which at times was much easier.

On Saturday we ate dinner in Turkey, but Friday consisted of steak and West Texas Chili (includes steak, ground beef and chorizo) by our talented cook Crawdaddy.

By the time the first 20 miles was over, we had decided that failure had set in.  A couple of the guys ended up driving me and the two Aaron's to South Plains, which is at the highest elevation and they went back to the campground to ride around the canyon.  The three of us rode downhill and thankfully downwind for another 22 miles along the trail and five miles on the road back to the park.

We could only find one restaurant in town, but it was a good one.  Mexican food and homemade fried pies.

Bottom line, I rode 47 miles, but the plan was for 64.  The wind was absolutely ridiculous and the dust did not taste good either.  This was the first time we have failed to do what we set out to accomplish, but it leaves incentive for next year's International trip (Oklahoma and Arkansas).

While I was writing this, someone was not very impressed.  For those of you who only read this blog for Macey pictures, well, here you go.

Spring is finally here!

It seems like winter did not want to give up on North Texas this year.  I wouldn't call it a hard winter, it didn't seem like we had very many really cold days.  However, we had our last freeze just last week, so it lasted a little longer than normal.  We are so ready to see the sun and enjoy being outside.

Well, a few weekends ago Kevin went on the annual "Man Trip."  It is planned by him for his friends, and they do "man"  things.  The Crawford girls came to stay with us while the men were out doing whatever.  I didn't get too many pictures, but here is one of the babies.

Macey and her good friend Julia Crawford

Macey has been doing much better with eating.  She is starting to like some foods, fruits of course, and eating is getting fun.  We got out her high chair so now we enjoy meals together at the table.

This was her first meal in her high chair. She enjoyed a wonderful meal of banana puree!

Macey has been learning to crawl for the past week or so.  She gets up on all fours and just rocks back and forth.  It is so cute.  She can get around, but it is not a true crawl just yet.  She scoots and rolls and usually gets just was she is after.

The cutest little crawling booty

It is an annual Texas tradition to take pictures in Bluebonnets.  Typically these bluebonnet patches are on the said of the road, so you will randomly see people parked by the road taking pictures.  Well, we found a safe patch of bluebonnets at the park near our house, so we got our first pictures there.  Macey wasn't really into smiling, it was kinda sunny and when she looked up the sun was in her eyes.  So we took what we could.  We tried to lay her down and that just made her mad, and so ended the photo shoot.  I broke the law and picked a bluebonnet and we headed home.  We got some really cute indoor shots!

Our little Texan in her first Bluebonnet pictures

Our indoor version of Bluebonnet pictures

We really enjoyed our first Easter with Macey.  We attended Easter service on Saturday night, and that is when she wore her dress.  Sadly, I didn't take pictures of her that night.  We had professional pictures done in her Easter dress, so I guess I just didn't think about it.  Macey sat with us through Easter service, she really enjoyed the music and singing, and we're sure she enjoyed the message as well!  Easter morning was very low key.  With no family in town we really had no plans, and it was great.  Macey got her first Easter basket, which she loved.  Later that afternoon we had a Easter egg hunt with our church family, complete with pictures with the Easter bunny.  Macey didn't really understand the hunting part or the big bunny, but it was fun for us.

The cutest little bunny, in our opinion

Macey's first Easter egg hunt

A picture with the Easter bunny (aka our friend Jerrod)

So far, the beginning of spring has been great.  We are taking advantage of being outside as much as we can.  Macey seems entertained, and it is just nice to get out after a long winter.  We are counting down the days until we are in California.  We hope to see as many of you as we can while we are there.  We hope all of you are enjoying the beginning of spring as much as we are!