Cool - Crazy - Cousins

Recently, we have had lots of visitors at our home in Texas.   In fact, our friends are joking that we have been running a B&B and they in order to come see us, they need a reservation.   Of course, we are just so happy to be back where we are close to our family and can visit more often.  In July, it was the month of cousins.    For the first time ever, all of the first cousins on the Rahm (Jessica, Ryan, Emerson & Hadley) side were together.  Cousin Ryan (Uncle Steve's son) traveled all the way from Georgia for a visit.   We learned lots about cousin Ryan and his boy scout, life guard, and gaming skills.   Cousin Jessica took Ryan around most of central Texas and opened up his eyes to possibly attending college in Texas :-).  Cousin Jessica (Uncle Mike's daughter) goes to college just down the road.  Whenever Mommy and Daddy need a night out, cousin Jessica is always nice enough to hang out with us while Mommy and Daddy get a break.    Cousin Jessica stays super busy though and now works three jobs and goes to school.  We had so much fun visiting with them and hope that we can do it more often than not!

Around mid-July, Cousin Lynda (Grams's first cousin... so I think she would be Hadley and my first cousin twice removed) lived in Austin for years and recently moved to Chicago to be with her son Bryan.  Cousin Lynda comes back for visits often to catch up with old friends and get her tex-mex fix.  We don't care the reason, we just love seeing her!    Cousin Katie, (Grams's first cousin, twice removed... so I think she would be Hadley and my first cousin three times removed) lives in Austin too with her husband Rob and daughters Claire, Sydney and very soon to be Harper :-).   Claire and I are very close in age and Hadley and Sydney are similar in age as well.  We had a blast swimming, playing and hanging out.   We cannot wait until next time! 

Here are a few snapshots to mark the occasion, check 'em out.

Love,

Emerson & Hadley

(Jessica, Hadley, Ryan, Emerson)

 "Crazy kids acting a fool"

 "No, no.... it's not time for bed yet"

 "Claire the super star"

 ".... and on the drums ladies and gentlemen, Emax"

 Sweet Sydney

 (Top: Brian, Lynda, Katie  

Bottom: Emerson, Hadley, Sydney, Claire)

(Top: Brian, Lynda, Katie

Bottom: Emerson, Hadley, Sydney, Claire)

Snip Snip

Mommy finally broke down and got my hair cut... well trimmed a little.   Daddy was a little nervous especially after my first hair cut given that PaSa gave me bangs last time.   Needless to say, it's been almost a year since my last haircut.   Here's a few shots of the ocassion:

Love,

Hadley

"Beep Beep" 

 "I'm not sure these clips really do anything for me"

"Tell me you aren't done... that's not my natural part"

Happy Camper

Last night was official "National Camp Out Night" and Daddy and I took advantage of the holiday.   Mom made us smores,Dad made sure that we had sleeping bags and a ceiling fan (yes folks, we live in Texas and it's already in the 100's) and I made sure that we had books for story time.  

"This is going to be so yummy!"

"A ceiling fan in a tent, that's CRAZY (but really a good thing :-)"

"Mom, you comin?"

"Dad thought ahead and brought the iPad"

"Our little campground"

Mick Jaggar, you think you have moves...

Well, you haven't seen anything until you've seen mine. Although, Mommy and Daddy keep mumbling something about an "Elaine from Seinfeld" whatever that means. Check it out for yourself... I think I have a future with moves like this! Love, Emerson

Just a Buckaroo

On Friday of last week our class got to go on our very first field trip to the Little Buckaroo Ranch (http://www.littlebuckarooranch.com/).   Mom also got to go with my class although she was too big to ride the bus so she had to follow behind in her car.   Mom said she didn't mind though and even said that she was excited about getting to go to a real live "dude" ranch.    I on the other hand, think Mom was most excited about not having to go to work :-).   Anyways, we had so much fun.  We started off singing "Old MacDonald" with Cowboy Timmy and Cowgirl Marion and then hiked off to get fish kisses. From there we watered horses, hopped like bunnies, petted a bunny, petted a rooster, groomed a pony, feed some goats, pet a pig (except I got kicked out of the pig pen for trying to feed the pig - only Cowgirl Marion feeds the pig), watched a horse jump and roll around, ate lunch and then roasted marsh mellows!  Whew,that was a mouth full! I can't even believe we got all that done within a couple of hours.    Of course Mom brought the camera to mark the occasion.  Check 'em out and see what you think.  


Love,
Emerson

 "Look Mom, I can keep my bubble in my mouth and my duck hands behind my back"

 "My very first bus ride!"

 "Trust me, you don't want to mess with Cowgirl Marion... she'll take you out if you don't follow the rules"

 "Ms. Cara was so nice to help me learn how to do fish kisses" "Really I just wanted to stick my entire hand in the bucket"

 "We worked hard to pull the watering hose for Cowgirl Marion to water the horses"

 "Gentle, Gentle...."

 "I think she likes me... well maybe"

 "Cowboy Timmy helped me so that I could groom the pony" "I scratched her wings like Nana taught me"

 "She sure was hungry, this is like her sixth helping"

 "And this was right before Cowgirl Marion kicked me out of the pig pen"

 "What a great show!"

 "Anyone have a Hershey bar and a graham cracker?"

 "Oh yeah, that hit the spot"

"And now it's time to say goodbye :-(" "Until I next time Cowboy Timmy and Cowgirl Marion"  "Thanks for the memories"

Summer Fun!

Typically summer officially starts towards the end of June but not in our new home of Austin,Texas!  We've been swimming for the past month however, this past weekend Hadley and I felt like summer already got started.   Our good friends the O'bannions came over (P.S. Haddie hearts Liam :-) and Uncle Scott, Aunt Mandy and cousin Issac drove all the way from Tulsa for a visit.   It was so much fun and as you can see below, Haddie is no longer about prancing around the pool in her bikini.   

On Wednesday of this week, Mom and Dad were finally jumping for joy as I had my first Dentist cleaning without jumping up and running out the door.    They have been trying for three years to get me to sit still for a dental cleaning.   Hadley hopped up in the chair too and Dr. Babot checked out her teeth too..... let's be honest, she still learning and not as a pro like me but she'll get the hang of it soon.

Here's to a great summer everyone!

Love,
Emerson & Hadley

 "Mama, check out my boyfriend"  "Isn't he cute!"

 "What's a girl gotta do to get some sun around here"

 "Issac, I want to be just like you when I grow up"

 "Uncle Scott, bring me my crown, please"

 "Haddie Cakes come back" "Don't leave me with these crazy people" says Liam

 "A rare moment... family picture"

 "Ms. Carol is really cool"

"Mommy and Daddy were jealous... they have over ten flavors for cleaning teeth now"

I Finally Got It!

After several attempts of fleeing from holding my parents hands while in the parking lot, crossing the street, and navigating thru large crowds.... I think the message finally sunk in and here's proof:

My mission now is to make sure that my baby sister learns the same lesson.  Remember everyone, stop, look and listen when crossing the street and always hold hands :-).

This safety message was brought to you by Emerson Maxwell Barr.