Homecoming Parade!

Kade signed up this year to be a part of the "Future Cub" program with the Brenham Cub Varsity Football team. The kids get to pick a player, and that player kind of takes them under their wing for the football season. They get to run out on the field with their players at the home football games before the game actually starts and then help them put up all their equipment when the game is over. They also get to participate in the Homecoming Parade with their player as well. So last Wednsday we packed up and headed downtown in the rainy, cool weather so Kade could ride with his player, Tanner Schmidt, in the parade. Luckily the rain held off until the parade was over. Kade and his buddy Ian Stelter got to ride on the same float; they really enjoyed that. Brady had his share of fun as well waving at all the floats and catching a bag full of candy. That was his highlight. The boys had a good time and that was all that mattered.

Kade on the float with #30 Tanner Schmidt

Kade riding in the parade

Kade and Ian hanging out before the parade started

Kade and Brady posing cute for a picture

Dane and Brady catching candy and watching the floats go by

Brady waving to everyone on the floats

Fair Fabulous!

What do you get with show animals, carinval rides, games, funnel cakes, cotton candy, rodeos, music and dancing? Yep, you guessed it; the Washington County Fair. We had a great time at the fair this year with the boys. This was Brady's first year to really understand what the fair was all about, and he couldn't get enough of it. He loved seeing and petting all of the animals.

Kade is finally old enough to start participating in some of the contests down at the fair. Wed. night at the bullriding he participated in the "muttin bustin." We practiced the day before on a sheep out at Great Granny's house, and he took one hard fall. He got a scratched eye and a doozy of a bruise on his thigh. I was sure there was no way he was going to get on a sheep the next night at the fair, but he proved me wrong. He was a little nervous about getting on, but he rode, and he did awesome. We were all very proud of him. After the "muttin bustin" we took the boys down to the carinval to ride a few rides. This was the first time Brady has ever ridden the rides, and he had a blast. He just laughed and giggled the whole time he rode. It was worth spending the money to see his reaction that night. It was priceless.
Saturday morning Kade and his cousin Maddie entered the "Little Wrangler Hay Haulin" contest. They didn't get a trophy, but they got a great prize bag full of goodies to take home. They did so good. First, second, and third place got trophies; Kade and Maddie ended up in fourth place out of about 12 or 14 teams.

After the hay hauling contest ended, the fair officials began setting up for the children's pet show contest. One of the contests was for "Tallest Dog." Dane felt Champ, our Great Dane, would win, so he signed Kade and Champ up and went home to get the dog. I wasn't so sure that was such a good idea, but what the heck. Champ surprised me by behaving really well, and Kade ended up winning first place with him getting a trophy, a blue ribbon, some money, and a couple of free passes to the movies. All in all, our fair experience this year was a great one. We look forward to more contests and fun next year.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today was Dane's 32nd birthday. We didn't do a whole lot to celebrate. When we got home from church, Dane got him a mixed whiskey drink and tuned into some Sunday football. This is the first weekend of Fantasy Football, so he was glued to the TV and computer all day. He is hoping for a birthday win. This evening we went to Dane's mom and dad's house for supper to celebrate both Dane and Papa Rau's birthdays. Papa had birthday this past Friday, Sept. 11th. We had ribeyes, baked scalloped potatoes, and spinach salad for dinner. We topped it off with buttermilk pie and Dr. Pepper cake. We hope you had a great birthday Daddy! We love you very much and wish you many, many more.

Expanding the Family by One More!

Dane and I found out we were going to have another baby at the beginning of August. We were quite shocked, but very excited. It wasn't something we were planning on quite yet. I have been feeling great; not sick at all, just tired and hungry. That is exactly how my last two pregnancies went. So, does this mean it is another boy, or could there be a little girl in our future? It doesn't matter one bit to us as long as this baby is healthy. We told the boys right before we went to the doctor last Friday. Kade was pretty quiet; he didn't have too much to say. He said he was happy though. Brady doesn't fully understand yet. He comes up to me and says "I want to see Mommy's baby. I hold it. I put it right back." Then he lifts up my shirt and pushes my belly. Kade was excited to tell everyone about the baby, but if you try to talk to him about it, he just kind of changes the subject. The doctor's appointment went good. The baby looks great, and we got to see the little heartbeat. That was reassurance for me that something was really there considering how well I have been feeling. The due date is April 11, 2010. Brady may be sharing a birthday; his is April 9. We feel very fortunate that God has blessed us with one more child. He or she will make our family complete for sure.

Opening Day of Dove Season!

This past Tuesday, Sept. 1 was the opening day of dove season, and my group of men in the house were excited and ready to hunt. By 6:50am Tuesday morning, Dane and the boys had eaten, were dressed, and out the door to do a little hunting before work and school. They got all set up in the front yard, and before I knew the shooting started. Brady and Kade had a blast going and getting the doves for Dadday. Brady would run holding a dove yelling "Here you go Dad. Good shot!" I am really glad I stayed home and didn't go to work early that morning, otherwise Brady would have gone to school wearing clothes splattered with dove blood, and Dane would have walked into the office with blood smeared all over the butt of his jeans. That afternoon, Popo Loewe, Uncle Joe, and Papa Rau came over to hunt as well. They had a good hunt. Brady hunted with Papa for a while. When I went to pick him up, Papa said he talked his ear off the entire time. Kade sat with Dane the whole time. Dane ended up getting his limit that day. Papa and Joe each got between 5-10 doves or so. Popo, well he didn't go home empty handed, he got ONE! Yeah Popo! The boys had a great time. Kade asks everyday if they can go dove hunting. Thanks Daddy, Popo, Papa, and Uncle Joe for making this a wonderful experience for Kade and Brady!