I Love Ice Cream!

We went downtown this year to Brenham's Annual Ice Cream Festival. Our intentions were to go watch Jenna and Leah dance, but needless to say we were a little late getting there and missed the show. We did enjoy the ice cream though. We all picked our favorite flavors and sat on the square to eat our cold treat. After we finished our ice cream we walked around and let the boys play a couple of games, and then we called it a morning and headed home for some lunch and much needed naps.

Happy Birthday Nana Rau!

Nana Rau celebrated her birthday back on April 2oth. Papa, the Hardy's, and we took her out to eat at JW's Steakhouse in Carmine. We were able to get the private party room, and boy was it worth it with the six little ones that tagged along with us. After we ate, we went back to Nana and Papa's house to give her her presents. We got her a gift certificate so she could go pick her out a new DVD player and some butterfly plants to plant in her butterfly garden. Happy Birthday Nana Rau! We all look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you.

Happy Birthday Brady!

Brady turned 3 years old back on April 9th. Because we had just come home from the hospital with Nate two days before, we had to hold off on having a party for a few weeks. We did have the immediate family over to our house for dinner on Brady's actual birthday. We got him a cookie cake, sang happy birthday, and had some presents for him to open. We wanted to make it his day and make sure all the attention was focused on him especially with the new baby just coming home. Mission accomplished!!
We still wanted to make sure he had an actual birthday party that he could invite all his little friends to. He made it clear to us that he wanted a bucking bull party at the park, and that is what he got. Well, on the bull riding end of things, we had a bull riding cake, decorations, and party favors. On Friday, April 30th we had a party at the park. Brady had a great turn out. Almost all of his friends from his "Frisky Frog" class came as well as many close family friends. Brady was all smiles from ear to ear. There was no erasing that smile off his face that day, except when he got mad and refused to blow out his candles (minor setback). All in all he had a great time at this party. We look forward to many many more birthdays with Brady.

Make a wish

Gotta love colored icing


Bull rider Brady


Look, I'm just like Jason Aldean


My bull rider birthday cake


I'm having a party at the park


Playing at the park


Happy Birthday dear Brady! Happy Birthday to you!

Introducing Nate Brandon Rau!

On Monday morning at around 1:15AM I woke up with some somewhat painful contractions. We waited a little over an hour and decided it was time to head to the hospital. We arrived at St. Joseph's Regional Health Center around 3:30AM, got checked in, and was taken into labor and delivery. My doctor, Shelia Bonds, happened to be the doctor on call so I knew we would have a baby shortly because she doesn't mess around. The labor process moved along quite well. By 9:00AM it was time to push. Five good pushes and Nate Brandon Rau made his grand arrival. With tears and complete joy, Dane and I welcomed him into our family with hearts full of love. Nate Brandon was born at 9:11AM weighing 8lbs. 10oz. and was 20 inches long. He checked out completely healthy with all the doctors and nurses. That is all they we could have hoped and prayed for; a healthy baby, and that is exactly what God blessed us with. Kade and Brady came up to the hospital that evening to meet their new baby brother, and they welcomed him with open arms, hugs, and kisses. Yes, even Brady did. His aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents were all there to meet him and welcome him into the family. He's perfect with his dimpled chin and all. Nate makes our family whole and complete. We are so thankful for all the many blessings that have been bestowed upon our family.

Easter Sunday!

Boy did we have one busy Easter this year. Our holiday started Saturday evening at Aunt Lolo and Uncle Joe's house. They had us over for burgers and an Easter egg for the boys. They got hula hoops and sidewalk chalk too. Sunday, Easter day, started off bright and early at 6:30AM with the boys waking up excited to see if the Easter Bunny had made a visit to our house, and sure enough he had been there. Their nests were full of goodies including a bug net and box, a water gun, jump ropes, and gumball machines. The Easter Bunny didn't stop there; he didn't leave without hiding some eggs out in the yard for the boys to hunt. After all the eggs were found and sifted through, we got ready for church. Sunday school consisted of an Easter egg hunt that Brady refused to participate in for whatever reason. After church, we went to Nana and Papa Rau's house for lunch and some Easter egg hunting fun as well. The boys got some money and huge coloring book from Nana and Papa. The Hardy's gave Kade some new swim trunks with some sand toys, and Brady got sand toys too with some new pj's. From there we made our last stop for the day at Great Granny's house with, you guessed it, one last Easter egg hunt. With baskets and tummy's full of candy, we headed home for some much needed R&R. We have gone from one full candy box to two. Thank you Mr. Easter Bunny!:)

Easter at Aunt Lolo & Uncle Joe's house

Easter morning at home

Easter church service

Easter at Nana & Papa's house

Easter at Great Granny Loewe's house

Good Friday Tradition!

For the past few years we have gotten together with Nana and Papa Rau and the Hardy family on Good Friday for some delicious potato pancakes. Stacy and Trey usually have us over to their home. This year we cooked potato pancakes, breakfast sausage links, and Stacy made a yummy breakfast quiche. The kids dyed some Easter eggs this year and just had fun playing together. It is always fun getting together with family. I hope this is another tradition that we continue for years to come.

Easter Egg Hunt!

For the past few years, the boys have been invited to an Easter Egg hunt at the Jasinski home. It is a hunt that they enjoy year after year. Each family brings a breakfast food for a mid-morning potluck brunch, and the kids get to hunt eggs afterwards. It's an enjoyable event for both the kids and the parents. Usually after the brunch, the kids all go out under the carport to work on some Easter crafts that Amy has gotten together for them. Meanwhile, the dads hide the eggs in the backyard. Once all the eggs are hidden, the kids are gathered on the back porch and let loose to gather up all the eggs. It looks like a ton of eggs out in the yard, but they are scooped up within five minutes flat. Thank you Jasinski family for the invite again this year and a great time as always.

Ready, set, HUNT!!

Brady found one.


Kade spotted some Easter eggs.


That was fun.


Check out our loot.