Jack's first day of MDO

Jack was super excited to get back to school this year! He likes his new classroom and his new teachers, Ms. Michelle & Ms. Lynn. He is also making some new friends! His favorite toys in the class are a blue & yellow car (you can see the yellow one in the picture above) and everyday he walks into his classroom and finds those cars. It is too cute!

My Birthday!

I had a great birthday celebration with my family! Ryan and Jack sent me the beautiful yellow roses (when I thanked Jack for the roses, he said, "I didn't give those to you. The lady in the pink shirt did (the delivery lady)." It made me laugh!). Ryan and I enjoyed a nice dinner out at one of our favorite restaurants, Brenner's. He and Jack picked out a beautiful ring for me, which I LOVE! They also picked out an oreo ice cream cake (my favorite!). It was so HUGE that we had to clear out some freezer space just to get it to fit! Jack and I enjoyed some of the cake the day after we celebrated, and Jack insisted on putting birthday candles on it and singing happy birthday again before we cut ourselves a slice. It was so sweet! It was a great birthday, and it was so fun receiving birthday wishes from friends and family too!

Take me out to the ball game!

Ryan has been able to enjoy 2 weeks of vacation after a summer of craziness! The first week of August we spent at home and then went to Sonora for the weekend for the fiesta shower. And now he has off this week too! It has been so special to have him home. Both Jack and I have had a blast with him! We have gone to 2 Astro's baseball games together, which has been so much fun. Jack loves going to the ball game! Ryan downloaded the Alabama song "Cheap Seats" and Jack insists on listening to it over and over on our way down to the game.

Fiesta for Baby Girl Malone!

Grandma Texas and her friend, Lenora, hosted a beautiful fiesta celebration for Baby girl Malone in Sonora. It was so sweet and thoughtful of them to think of us and the arrival of our little girl. The idea started on the day we told Ryan's mom that we were having a little girl. She went into a shop that day and saw the precious pink elephant pinata in the picture below, and she decided to host a fiesta in honor of the baby girl to come!

My mom and sister, Lisa, surprised us! We had no idea that they were coming and all of the sudden on Friday afternoon, they walked into the door of the ranch house. It was so special to have them there for the weekend!

We received so many adorable things for baby girl Malone! We can't wait for her to enjoy them all!

Jack even enjoyed a big brother toy!

The fiesta was decorated so beautifully despite the rain that moved the decorations inside.

July Indy visit

Jack and I were able to head up to Indiana in July for a visit. It was great seeing everyone and catching up with friends and family!


Jack had fun running through the tunnels at the park by Grandma Indiana's "Red" house. He also loved the clock towers in the park and listening to the bells chiming.


Jack with Grandma & Grandpa Indiana and all of his cousins on the porch in front of the Red house.

Jack and David ready to head to the pool! We spent a lot of time splashing at the pool with all the cousins.

Jack and Rachel playing at the Children's museum.

Jack and Gretchen playing with the trains. This visit in particular was so much fun now that Jack is at an age where he is really enjoying playing with his cousins. It was so special to all be together!

Summer time!

After the centennial celebration, my parents came back to Houston to visit for a few days. We took Jack to a baseball game, and he had a blast cheering on the Astros! He wanted so badly for the baseball players to throw the ball to him. My dad felt bad for him and went down to the gift shop and found a baseball just for Jack! He was so happy!

In July Ryan's parents came to Houston to visit. We enjoyed spending time with them, and Ryan's mom helped me get Jack adjusted to his new big boy bed. Grandma and Grandpa Texas bought this special bed for him, and it has allowed the adjustment of changing beds to go smooth. Jack loves his baseball bed and shows it off to anyone who comes by the house!

Dinner at Babins with Grandma & Grandpa Texas. A tradition every time they come to town.

Despite the hectic summer and work schedule for Ryan this summer, we were able to enjoy some days here and there together as a family. Jack loved going to the neighborhood pool with daddy....he does so many more cool things than mommy does at the pool! =)

Centennial Celebration!

In June, my dad's side of the family gathered in West Texas to celebrate 100 years of ranching in Texas--a centennial celebration! My great-great grandfather started ranching the land known as the Hayter ranch 100 years ago, and we celebrated with a weekend full of fun activities and good times with family. All of my sisters and their husbands and children came too...it was so great for us all to be down there together. Below are some pictures from the weekend:



Packing up the truck! Since Ryan was unable to travel with us, my mom flew into Houston and drove with Jack and I out to West Texas. We packed up the truck with all sorts of snacks, water, toys, beach towels and more!


Me with all of my Kenley cousins and Hayter second cousins.

My dad with his siblings, Hayter cousins and great Aunt Margaret.

The Kenley Clan!

We stayed at Balmorhea state park for the weekend and had so much fun splashing around the natural, spring pool in the middle of the desert.

Jack and I at the entrance of the Hayter ranch. A legendary photo spot as I have had many a photo taken there.

Jack with his cousins. We are at Ft. Davis getting ready to explore the fort and museum there.

After a yummy bbq at the Hayter ranch, Bob hooked up his horses Mike & Ike and took the kids for a wagon ride on the ranch.

My sisters and our children at the entrance of the ranch.

Jack and I.

The Kenley girls with my parents and Katie's new baby, Max.

Jack and I outside of my great-grandparents home. Joe Bob and his wife, Amanda, now live there and have done some amazing work on the house and ranch!

Joe Bob and Amanda hosted a ranch rodeo and Jack even got to participate in the stick horse race. It was so cute watching him run to the barrel! We also enjoyed the other rodeo events earlier that day....team roping, barrel racing, goat tying and more!

Ryan was able to fly in for the day and take a little time off from the oil well for the ranch rodeo. It was so good to see him and spend time with him at the ranch! It was also so sweet of him to make the trip with all that is going on!

Jack at the ranch rodeo! That hat not only made him easy to spot in the crowd but also provided much needed relief from that hot, Texas sun!

My parents with the grandkids at the entrance of the ranch.

Jack and his cousin Gretchen.