Weekend at the Watson Ranch

It had been about a year since we had been to Wendy's family's ranch house in Southeast Texas. Max and Emmy were only crawling this time last year. After a three hour car ride we arrived early Friday evening. The kids were so wound.......the big boys didn't go to sleep till almost midnight. It was a fantastic weekend! Despite the fact that Paul was really hoping to kill a rattlesnake. Personally, I didn't want to see any rattlesnakes, dead or alive. Seriously, the eight inch long centipede was enough for me.




Tyson couldn't wait to fish at the lake. It took every ounce of restraint we had to hold on to Emmy-- all she wanted to do was jump in. We explained she could not swim in this water, needless to say we did NOT bring her back down to the lake.

My son can really cast a line.......clearly he got that skill from me.

Emmy just wanted to drive. The kids always enjoy riding around the ranch on the golf cart.

Paul and Em were checking out the pool.

Oh yeah, and I even got to shoot my gun. Paul got this for me around December, and I had only been to the range once. So I was looking forward to practicing. Paul informed me that I did not look all that intimidating.......I was shocked! Maybe it was the hot pink hat.....or the pink bathing suit sticking out of the cover up, or maybe even the flip flops that took the intimidation factor down a notch or two. Regardless, I really enjoyed shooting.


There are always beautiful sunsets out there, we were trying to snap a pic before it went down. Tyson was SO tired. He had been in the sun all day and him and Ethan had been playing like wild boys since Friday.



My birthday breakfast. Mike made blueberry and chocolate chip waffles, sausage, and skillet potatoes........and he even made birthday cupcakes. We are lucky to have such great friends!!!



We past these guys on the way out today.........this after we saw a huge black wild boar running from the truck . I tried to get a picture, but he was pretty fast.

Can't wait to go back.........in the fall.

"Mommy, maybe you're dehydrated?"

Is this the face of a health expert? I think not-- however, this small person felt the need to give me some unsolicited advice today. This morning looked the same as the last two mornings: me running around trying to get both kids dressed, fed, teeth brushed and out the door in time for VBS. While doing all of this, I mentioned that I was very hot, I didn't feel good and Tyson needed to be a big boy and cooperate. "Mommy, maybe you're dehydrated? Have you drinked enough water today?" My first thought, what has Daddy been telling you (Paul's always on me to drink more water)? My next thought, it's only 8 am- does coffee count? Turns out, Paul is not telling him anything. Seriously?!? Where does he get this stuff? He must be turning on the TV at night when everyone is asleep and watching CNN or the Discovery Health channel.

I can't believe this my baby boy!!! Sometimes he looks so old to me. Before we left this morning, I just hugged him tightly and said, "tomorrow Mommy is dressing you in a onesie!" He just giggled and said he was too big to wear a onesie............precisely my point. Sigh.

They really DO love one another....who knew?

Tyson has had vacation bible school this week, and I think they have actually missed each other. It's not even midsummer and they had already begun to bicker. BUT today I was putting clothes away and as I strolled through the living room I found this:



These two were loving on each other and playing TOGETHER. Who knew that three hours apart could do this. I am so glad I had one of my cameras sitting on the kitchen counter. Paul may not have believed that this tender loving moment ever happened without visual proof.

Father's Day

Father's Day began awfully early this morning; 5:30 to be precise. Paul began his day with a kayak trip on the Guadalupe with his buddy Mike. While they fished, the kids and I met Wendy and her boys at McDonald's for breakfast and playtime.

Happy Father's Day to my hunky hubby. You are still every bit as good looking as you were the day I met you at the gym 12 years ago. I couldn't ask for a more loving and caring father to our kids, they are lucky to have you!!!

We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the pool. Obviously, what else do you do when it's 140 degrees outside.

Hats are back!!!

Tacky tourist.....all she needs to complete her look is a fanny pack!

santaclause@northpole.com?????

Tyson just came in our room to tell me, "Mommy get off the computer so I can send Santa Clause an email?" There are a couple of things wrong with this picture.

A: the delivery was a little abrupt, demanding that I "get off the computer"

B: It's June! Isn't Santa on vacation and not responding to emails

and C: you're 5, what do you know about email? Tyson then informed me I could text him if I knew his number. Really.... text??? How old are you?

So my response....."go ask Daddy."

and to my surprise.....Daddy typed as Tyson recited his letter. He CCed me of course.

Dear Santa,

Thank you for giving me so much fun presents. I enjoyed them.
Thank you for watching over me, and giving me that Optimus Prime.
Thank you for giving me all stuff you gave me.
When it gets closer to winter I'll send you a letter.
I hope you're not too cold up there in the North Pole.
Tell Rudolph and all your reindeer's to trust me, because I'll put out
reindeer food for you on that night.
So, tell all your reindeer's to come eat it up.

Santa,
If I get up during the night, don't run away, because it's just me, because
I'm not scary and I'm not spooky.
So don't run away, because we want lots of presents.

Dear Santa.

Santa,
What I want for Christmas, I think you might not see this, but it's at Toys
R Us.
They have a Bat Man castle, with a Joker on the car, and a Bat Man on a
car.

Santa,
If you see a possum out there, scare it away. Because those are kinda
scary.
Bring all your presents with us.
I wonder, how do you get in the house without a key, or a chimney.

Love,
Tyson

Pool Hopping

Week 3 of summer vacation is almost over. The kids and I have spent the ENTIRE week at a pool.....someone's pool. Tyson is finally getting pretty comfortable with the water, thanks to the swim mask. Emmy has still attached herself to the edge of the pool, as long as she has her bucket and squirt toys, she is quite content.


The kids swimming with Keller and Kyle.....note Emmy has her bucket. The big boys are in the assumed "surfer" pose.

Emmy is hanging with boys. Quick side note, these are Jill's boys. Jill and I went to high school together in Arlington and ran into each other one day at Pei Wei a few years ago. Turned out we both had boys that were 2 years old and lived here in San Antonio. Now we each have an other kiddo. Small world?!?!?!? We always enjoy getting together with them.

Here the kids are swimming at Mary's house (Mary is Tyson's very best friend....refer to lots of earlier posts to read more about Mary). See those lovely hot pink floaties Em is wearing....let me be the first to say, "They don't work!!!!" I turned my back to Em for a millisecond, "Splash!" I turned around and Em and her hot pink floaties were under water. What happened to the floatie? I snatched her up......long story short, she was fine just a little scared, cried for about 45 seconds. I probably lost a few years of my life.


Today we swam with the Moilanen Crew. It totally rained for the first 30 minutes we were there. Did I mention it rained????? It hasn't rained in months. Anyway, the kids didn't seem to mind at all. They had a blast! As always, Wendy and I covered the kids in SPF 50.......why is every body still so TAN???????

There's the red bucket again.

40 Years of Bliss

40 years ago today my parents were married!!!!! That is a LONG time! That's almost half a century! I can only hope that Paul and I can have 40 happy and healthy years together. Look at these two, they look so young!!!!


This was taken back in February. It's rare that they get dressed up and go out. I had to get a picture. They look great!!!!! 40 years later!!!!! I am so proud to call them my parents. Love you Mom and Dad!!!!!

Doesn't all "day labor" wear pink polka dots?

On account of the success of our container veggies, we've decide to give real gardening a whirl. Paul worked most of the morning clearing out a space for my second garden. I planted more cantaloupe, cucumbers and okra seeds. This should give us a late summer crop of fruit and veggies. I also transplanted my cantaloupe from their pot to the ground. They had taken over the patio and needed more space. I think they will like their new home.

And did I mention Emerson was pretty handy with the shovel?

No, I didn't; because she had some difficulty getting the dirt actually in the wheelbarrow.

But she looked pretty darn cute trying. Just look at that focus.

Tyson spent the time doing his own thing, collecting rocks and playing in piles of dirt. These are his pumpkins he planted on Mother's Day. They are getting big, but still no blooms.

Produce update.....

I took this picture of Tyson doing his morning ritual, doesn't everyone pick vegetables in their jammies? Needless to say this week's dinner menu has many dishes with cherry tomatoes on it. I'm thinking Tyson and Paul should sell tomatoes out of the back of Paul's truck on the side of the road.

Hello baby cantaloupe, welcome to our backyard!

F is for French Fry........and Frozen Custard

When I decided to take the kids for a healthy post swim snack, I didn't tell them about the French Fries. I said we were going to get ice cream or frozen custard. Truth be told I had a taste for something salty. The lady brought the fries to to the table before the custard came and my children's eyes literally popped out of their little heads. "Mommy, you didn't tell us there would be french fries too!" I am now mother of the year. Just look at the level of concentration going on in this booth.


These two little munchkins managed to take out that entire basket of fries (sparing only a few for their loving mother) and finish their frozen treat. Guess swimming does work up an appetite.

I should also note that this would be Emmy's first meal out not sitting in a highchair. Good Bye highchair, you WILL BE MISSED!!! Hello standing in the booth, annoying the innocent people behind us, and a constant getting in and off the chair. Good times ahead!!!!!

Lemon Cake, Oh My!

There is something about Lemon Cake that just says "Summertime!" I had a lemon cake craving this morning. So, I called Nora at 8:45 to find out what the lemon cake she had made before was. Let me be clear, there are only about three people I would call at that hour, especially when it's a food question. She told me it was Barefoot Contessa's recipe, so I looked it up on line. And it does not disappoint. Other than calling for what seemed like 47 lemons it was a fairly simple cake to make. Thank god for my Pampered Chef "Citrus Press." (Nora, that plug's for you!)

Tyson had been waiting by the oven for this cake to finish. He didn't understand why were taking some to our next door neighbors. I explained that we (the 4 of us) did not need to eat two whole lemon cakes and that is was a nice thing to do. He reluctantly agreed.

He doesn't always dine shirtless, however we were at the pool again today and he's been hot ever since we got home. He told me this cake was his favorite one for this week. This is the only cake I've baked this week.

100 degrees.....but who's counting?

I'm pretty sure the high today in San Antonio is 100 degrees. Oh my, that is HOT!!!! Wendy and I had planned to take the kids to the zoo before it got too hot.....clearly we missed that boat. We did manage to ride the train before we made our way into the zoo. Tyson was psyched for the train ride, Em on the other hand wasn't too sure about the train ride. "Det down, Emmy det down train....all done train," was her only comment about the whole situation.

Just waiting on Wendy and the boys to arrive so we can ride the train.

The kids playing in one of the best attractions the San Antonio Zoo has to offer......the Riverbank kids play area. It's like a giant kiddie pool with sand. Since we are expert zoo goers we know to pack the swimsuits and sun screen. Some of those tourists aren't so savvy. You often see kids running around in wet clothes.

This is Max, him and Emmy have been friends since the womb. He's a few months older. We actually used to have play dates for them when the big boys were in school. It looked sort of like this: two 3 month old babies lying on blankets looking at each other while Wendy and I watched the View and drank coffee. Then it progressed to two five month old babies sitting in the Bumbo looking at each other, also while Wendy and I drank coffee and anxiously waited for a cat fight to breakout between Rosie O'Donnel and Elisabeth Hassleback. Man, I miss those days.

Welcome Bambi.....and all of the others

Every year in early June the babies are born. We have lived here for over five years and I never tire of this picture. Tyson had just said he hadn't seen any babies yet, this morning we saw out first two. I took this picture from our back patio, (through our fence) they are actually in the lot behind our backyard, about seventy feet or so from me. This is just one of the reasons we are not avid hunters. Look at these guys, they are so adorable!

I guess I forgive them for always eating anything I plant with a bloom on it in the front yard.

Refreshing!!!!!

Sometimes I wish Em would just run through the sprinkler like other kids, instead she insists on standing over it with her mouth open.

Go Fish

This morning Paul and I slept in (and by slept in I mean 7:45). Tyson usually wakes up between 6:30 and 7. Imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes and saw sunlight peaking through the blinds and no Tyson. However, I did hear talking in the kitchen. Turned over, and yup Paul was still asleep. What was going on in the kitchen? Could Tyson be making us breakfast and putting the coffee on. Really....had the day finally come? Not quite. He was sitting at the table with his stuffed duck sitting in the chair next to him. And there was one intense game of "go fish" being played. He had cards in his hand and Mikey (the duck) had cards sitting in front of him. "Good morning Mommy, me and Mikey are just playing a game, hope we didn't wake you." My heart melted.

Bowl of Cherries

HEB had cherries on sale for $2.99 a lb and I just couldn't pass that up. Aren't they pretty? I wasn't sure what I was going to create with them, I just knew I had to make something. By the way, pitting cherries is not an easy or clean task. It took me over a day to get the red stain off my fingers.


I'm not crazy about making homemade pie crust. So I opted for a Cherry Crisp. It's much easier than pie crust and even yummier. I just used a few things I already had in my pantry and just like that Tyson had a new favorite dessert (topped with vanilla ice cream of course).

Valerie asked for the recipe. Here you go Val:

the filling:
5 c or so of fresh pitted cherries (a little more or a little less will work)
1 1/2 c sugar (I know, I know that's a lot of sugar....it's worth it)
4 T flour
1 t almond extract

mix all these together and set aside

now for the yummy part, the crumb topping:
1 1/2 c flour
1 c old fashioned oatmeal
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c sugar
1 stick of COLD butter, diced

Place everything in a bowl and mix on low speed til combined and sort of crumbly (use paddle attachment).

Pour cherry mixture into a 2 1/2 qt casserole dish or 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with crumb topping. Bake for 50 minutes or until bubbly in a preheated 350 degree oven.
****HINT: place dish on a foil lined pan, just in case some of the yumminess bubbles over, I hate cleaning burnt sugar from my oven.

Enjoy!!!! Don't forget the vanilla ice cream!

Fun in the Sun

If this isn't an add for "Floaties", then I don't know what is!

I took the kids to the neighborhood pool this afternoon. I would say for our first pool outing, we did OK. Nobody fell in, nobody swallowed too much water, and most importantly I would go back again. Tyson was his usual cautious self, and Emmy her usual fearless self. Our hope is to get Tyson comfortable with the water this summer and maybe give up the floaties. Em may be swimming before my Buddy this summer. Nothing scares her, and that's not always a good thing.

I will say one thing about going to the pool, it's not just going to the pool.....it's an EVENT. First, everyone has to get sun screened up and that alone is a task. Then there's all of the stuff: towels, sunglasses, floaties, sippy cup, juice boxes, snacks and whatever else my darling kids want to carry with them. All of that aside, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back tomorrow.......with Paul!!!

"get this hood off of me!"

Squash recipes needed.....

When we got back from a long weekend at my parents, we came home to lots of ripe veggies. Tyson couldn't wait to pick 'em. He has become quite proficient with tomato picking, but he has been patiently waiting for some squash. And low and behold there were three waiting for him.

I am so glad that I planted the vegetables this spring. It has become "our" thing. Tyson and I water them every night together. We also check for critters, and prune any leaves that aren't doing so well. Paul and Tyson have lots of things they do together; they fish, they kayak, and they do other "boy" things. So this is "our" thing! And I love it!

Now, I just need some more squash recipes.

"Sip" and Slide

She's thinking about it......

time for a sip......

"more!"