Flor's Country Store

Mark and I have found our spot. The Honky Tonk Cafe. We have driven by it a million times. When you drive by, it has a sign that says "Willie Nelson live every Saturday night." The bar is over 40 years old and he did indeed play there every Saturday night. My dad bought a really cool shirt that has the names of all the performers that have played there... everyone from Hank to Joe Nichols. The have some big names come play in their amphitheater but on Sunday nights, it's family night. Perfect! They have a life band, and we were pleasantly surprised with the food. Anywhere you can get fried pickles is fine by us! It's the perfect little Honky Tonk. Picnic benches, only bottled beer, good food, live music, cowboy boots and hat hanging from the ceiling, and a good dance floor. Now we just need some Two Steppin lessons...

Yummm...

I don't think anyone understands how much our kids LOVE ketchup!!!

Finally up and running

Soooo... our computer is up and running. I have tons of pictures to upload, but haven't yet! We had a fun Christmas, even though both kids were fighting ear infections and colds. We actually had to take Carter to the doctor on Christmas Eve. Carter now weighs 26 pounds 10 ounces!!!

It will take me awhile to get caught up on all my pictures but check back. I'm now wireless so it will be a lot easier:)

We would like to thank everyone for all of the presents and gifts that were given to our family. We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! We have had an amazing 2009, and can't wait to see what is in store for us in 2010. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... love the Cook's

New post soon

I am a little bit behind with my post but I will update soon. We have been extra busy with wrapping up CC's soccer season, and getting ready for Christmas. But I will post updates soon...

Flashback Friday

Gramps and Carter 7 month old Me, CC, Lala (my Mom), Gloria (my cousin), and Grandma Lois (my Mom's Mom)

Flashback Friday is from February 2008. There are two reasons for these two pictures as my flashback Friday. 1.) My grandparents are coming to San Antonio for Christmas and I could not be more thrilled!! It has been 10 months since we have seen them, and the kids have changed so much. (10 months ago Carter wasn't even crawling) AND 2.) How lucky are we to have four generations of Levandowski women? I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family that loves me and my kids!! I'm not sure if San Antonio is ready, but they will be here early next week:)

Family Photo 2009

Sneak Peek from our family photo shoot.

My little baby

Carter has always been very loving, but now he has discovered babies. He loves to hold them and rock them. This baby is his favorite. He loves to yell "help!" when the binkie falls out, and needs help putting it back in. Here he is sharing his apple with the baby.


Pulling the binkie out....


Carter thought the baby needed to go "nigh nigh".

Flashback Friday

I am so excited that Trent and Kara are coming next Friday. It's all CC and I can talk about!! It was only fitting that this flashback Friday be about them. Just about this time last year we were getting ready to fly to CA for Trent and Kara's wedding. They asked CC to be their flower girl, which was such a huge honor!! We spent weeks talking about the wedding, and all she could think about was dancing. She couldn't wait to get to the wedding and dance with her Prince!!
I can already see a wedding montage.....

Wildlife Ranch in Natural Bridge Texas

Mark finally had day off, and we were dying to get outside and do something. We went to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. I had seen some pictures online and thought the kids would have fun driving around a Safari like atmosphere, looking at animals. It was one of the most unique, amazing places I had ever experienced. Mark and I were in aw when we saw that the animals actually come up to your door for food. The kids had fun, but I think Mark and I were more impressed. Where I was sitting it was really easy to see the kids expressions in the mirror. I was tickled to see how thrilled and intrigued their faces got when animals would come up.

Carter when he saw his first deer. He was so excited he started pointing and looking around to make sure everyone else saw it too. CC wasn't too impressed with the deer.

Carter wondering "where'd they go?" A few deer walked right in front of the car, and he couldn't find them.

CC feeding the deer out the car window.

look how close these animals really came.

Longhorn!

This is one of my favorite things from the day. One, to get back at Mark because he made fun of me for screaming and "freaking out" with the Ostriches.

Mark is gently petting the Zebra.... um ya petting a Zebra!!

The Zebra started to get aggressive, and Mark put the death grip on Carter.

And then the window is closed! The Zebra were sticking their heads in the car, showing us all their lovely teeth. It was crazy. The huge Zebra which was almost as big as our car was sticking his head in the car looking for food. Good call with the window roll up!!

The same Zebra was still trying to get in our window while it was closed.

And now, the Ostrich. The freaking Ostrich scared the crap out of me!! I was sitting with Carter on my lap and it was one of the first big animals we had seen. I was throwing food out the window, wondering how close these animals really would get. When all of a sudden it charged our window! The window was down, and I screamed! I tried to roll up the window but the darn Ostrich wouldn't move its beak. I literally rolled my window up on his beak!! And then he proceeded to peek our window. I had a flash back of Jurassic Park, and I almost felt like we were in the movie. The next few pictures were of my jeans and the floor. I guess I did "freak out." Mark made fun of me until the Zebras! Ha!

Here is the Ostrich trying to eat Carter!

Here's a picture to help visualize how big these Ostriches really were. They were freaking huge!

Carter feeding the Donkeys. Notice the windows were never completely down again!

We took a break and enjoyed some lunch before the petting zoo. We did get to experience our first Diet Coke through well water, which was disgusting!! Mark really wants to live in the country, and I think drinking the soda that taste like you just flushed it through your toilet MAY have change his mind.

It was off to the petting zoo. Carter loved this baby goat. He chased him around, tried to feed him, and even picked him up!! He is pretty cute.

Hmmm... which one to feed?

Wildlife Ranch 2009

CC took this one!

The Wildlife Ranch was so much fun! It's one of those places everyone has to visit! When else will you get to touch Zebras, and get attacked by Ostriches?

Halloween

We were so lucky to spend Halloween in Kansas this year. We were even luckier to have awesome weather! We spent the day at the Great Plains Mall with Payton and Jack.

The gang outside the mall.

The girls had so much fun trick or treating from store to store, and the boys LOVED the endless supply of suckers we used to bribe them to sit.

The only picture Camden and I took, and she was pouting :(

After we left the mall we went to the Hargrave's house to treat or treat in our old neighborhood. It was SO good to see all the old Piper neighbors.

Carter, Dylan, and CC

And once again I use bribery to get Carter to sit in the wagon. This time it was a Ritz cracker, and it worked!!
We had so much fun! The kids had a blast and were so glad to be back in Kansas. The next day we had a play date with Dylan and Kellen. It had almost been a year since Carter had seen his little buddies. Dylan, Kellen and Carter were all born within 4 months of each other. That will always be one of my fondest memories of Kansas. Being pregnant the same time as so many amazing women!!

Carter (15 months) and Kellen (17 months)

Carter with Amy Poe CC and Gina Camden, Kellen, Carter and Dylan (November 09)

Flashback Friday

Carter's first airplane ride November 2008Carter's third airplane ride November 2009

Carter's 15 month Well

32.5 inches(90%) and 24.4 pounds (50%)

Halloween

We have decided that we are going to Kansas for Halloween. We have new renters moving in November 1st, and I really wanted to meet them and make sure everything went smoothly. It just so happened it is the same weekend as Halloween. We will all miss Mark, but the kids are going to have a blast! (he was going to work all day anyways.) I guess I better start shopping the highs are in the 50s.

Red River Shootout

This last week we made the LONG drive to Dallas on Friday. Mark didn't get off until 9PM, and by the time we finally got on the road we didn't get into Dallas until 3AM. We slept for 4 hours and then headed to the Texas OU game and Texas State Fair. It took us 2 1/2 hours to get into the stadium!! The Texas State Fair was inside the parking lot of the Cotton Bowl. To get to the game we had to enter the Fair, and then the stadium. It was like nothing I had ever seem before. The Cotton Bowl holds 90,000 people and the Fair had another few hundred thousand people. AND everyone was in Texas or OU gear. Mark got really good seats and the kids LOVED the game. CC was so into the game. She watched every snap, and was yelling at the Red Team. (OU) She quickly picked up the Texas cheers and was cheering right along side everyone else. The kids lasted half the game and then we headed to the fair. This was right after Carter and I ran into Leanne Rhymes and "Officer Jesse Cardoza!" The kids and I stayed outside the fair while Mark went back to the game. Carter LOVED the dog show, and CC participated in her very first Texas Rodeo!! There was a whole farming section that was sponsored by Oprah. The kids got to plant seeds, sell their vegees, milk a cow, sell the milk and buy something with all their cash. It was a really fun set up that the kids really enjoyed. We were really hoping to last until Miranda Lambert came on but with two kids, no naps, and going on 10 hours of fun, there was NO WAY. We settled for some fried catfish, fried shrimp, pizza, lemonade, cotton candy and a funnel cake!! We went home and left the next day. We stopped at UT Austin on the way home and saw the Longhorn Stadium. It was a LONG drive, but the kids really had fun. Now we know driving to Austin will be cake!

CC driving the tractor about to sell their vegges to make some cash.
Farmer Carter

The boys watching the "Rodeo"

CC about to ride her horse.

Cowgirl CC waiting for her ride

Number 672

By our seats in the Cotton Bowl

Hook'em Horns