The Driving Range

 

 We had a beautiful weather this weekend.  All of the snow finally melted and we enjoyed the warm weather by going to the driving range.  Just in time, too, since it snowed a few inches 2 days later.  The boys had a great time hitting golf balls onto the frozen pond.  Quite a few didn't make it past the rocks next to the tee - but both of them got several good shots off. 

 

 

 

Fortunately, there are no pictures of me attempting to swing.  I whiffed more than I actually hit,

End of Christmas Break

 Today is our last day of Christmas Break (or Winter Break as it has be referred to at school).  The boys and I had a good day.  We started by going to Target to pick out a couple of t-shirts (Pac-Man for Luke, Star Wars Angry Birds for Ryan), lunch at Chik-fil-a, riding new scooters at the park, and then a few hours at the pool.  The boys were thoroughly exhausted by bedtime, and a tad bit too grumpy.  But overall, an excellent day.     
We've had a good break overall - it even included the boys' first sleep-over at our house with their friend Henry.  All 3 boys got along and played lots of Beyblades, Legos, Star Wars Angry Birds Jenga Death Star, Creationary, and other games with their stuffed animals.  The best part was that they fell asleep within minutes of going to bed.  Greg and I thought for sure that we would have to go into their bedroom every couple of minutes for at least an hour to get them to be quiet.  The sleepover ended the next morning with breakfast at IHOP.  I can't believe that my babies are now old enough to have sleepovers.

Ryan and Luke each got a new Razor scooter for Christmas.  It has been too cold and snowy for them to try them out - but today ended up being a beautiful day and we took advantage of the melting snow and warming temperatures to scooter around the lake.  I think they had a great time.  Ryan thanked me again for getting him a scooter on our way home.

 There were lots of prairie dogs in one area of the lake.  I love prairie dogs - I know they are rodents- but I think they are so cute, especially when they stand up.  We had a good time watching them watch a dog that was desperately trying to get off its leash to run after them.

After a quick trip home to change clothes, we headed to the pool.  Luke loved going down the giant slide.  Ryan wouldn't try it because he didn't want to take off his goggles, but both boys had a great time in the lazy river.  They also practiced their free-style stroke with the hope that they'll be ready for the swim team this summer.  They both swam the full length of the pool (25M) at least twice (Ryan 3 times) without stopping.  Luke even was somewhat successful with swimming the breaststroke.  We finally got home around dinner time and headed out to Macaroni Grill for dinner.  They had worked up quite an appetite, but ended up being too tired to eat much. 

Our weekend plans include Greg working the boys on their Pinewood Derby cars (complete with the new Dremel Greg bought for that purpose).  I am hoping to sneak out long enough to see Les Mis. 

Ranching Heritage Center

 While we were in Lubbock during Thanksgiving week, my mom and I took the 4 kids to the Ranching Heritage Museum.  It is a really neat center with farm/ranch buildings from mid 1800s to the early 1900s that had once been on various ranches and farms throughout West Texas.  It is a great way to learn about life on the Plains and what it took for early settlers to make it on their own in pretty desolate country.  The kids had a great time and it was a beautiful day.  They had fun running from house to house and they obliged me for many pictures.

 My sweet boys.

 Luke, Jacob and Ryan - these 3 boys will grow up together and even graduate from high school and head to college at the same time - I hope they will always be great friends.

 The Ranching Center includes a train station from a nearby farm town complete with a train and cattle cars.  The kids had a great time playing on the caboose and climbing on the engine.  We also went into the train station's ticket office.  It is the same station that my Uncle Charlie played in when he was a little boy growing up on a nearby cotton farm.

 Texas Tech's campus is home to hundreds (at least) of Jackrabbits.  They have always been one of my favorite things to see around Lubbock growing up.  The Ranching Heritage Center had quite a few running around that day.  If you've never seen a Jackrabbit - they are huge and I love their big kangaroo-like ears.

 My beautiful niece, Olivia.  I can't believe she that she will be 10 in March.

West Texas lacks classical landscape beauty.  It is hard to beat seeing the snow-capped mountains and rolling foothills on my way to work every day.  But West Texas has its own unique beauty, as well.  I have always loved flying into the area - the cotton fields have always reminded me of a patchwork quilt.  The sky is huge and the view goes on forever.  I truly can't imagine living on the Plains during the Dust Bowl or even before air conditioning and running water - but I do love the area and what it has provided for my own family's history.