New Mexico

We left Friday night to head to New Mexico with Wes' family. There are five small boys, so we are in for lots of fun! We got to Ruidoso, New Mexico Saturday morning and all we saw was a beautiful white blanket all over everything. It was so beautiful! But...it was all melted by noon. So much for snow while we are here. Oh well. We have found lots of other things to do. Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon we took the boys for a hike. They love being outside and the weather is perfect! Here are a few pictures. 

This is Esan Ray. 

At one point in the hike we stopped to rest and the boys wanted to tell stories.

Corban is a great story teller. 

My sweet Micah James

Isn't this hat awesome?

GiGi being loved by her boys

Sam, leading the pack

Micah and GiGi

Teagan Race

All 5 cousins

Tonya and Corban

Just love them in their hats

Which way should we go next?

Stay tuned for more adventures from the Fikes Fam

Heavy Heart

I have started this post several times, that is why I am so late in posting this because I just can't seem to find the right words. One of Wes' friends from college passed away last week. I never meet him or his wife, but I just feel like I have known them for years. Brad was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. At the end of his life he was really suffering. He left behind two small children, and a wonderful wife Jenny. I had the honor of meeting Jenny last week at the funeral and she is amazing! It was a strange feeling to cry so much for someone that I had never met, but I cried almost everyday last week. I am posting about this because I know that many of your are prayer warriors and Jenny needs your prayers. Here is her blog: Faith, Family, & Friendships 

Please take the time to read her blog and say a special prayer for her. I am making a comment to pray for her everyday for a year and I wish you would join me in doing this for her. When I stop and think and losing Wes...and being alone with the boys...I can't even imagine! My heart just hurts for her. I can't find the words to describe my feelings right now, but I know that we need to pull together to support Jenny. Thank you so much! 

I also have another friend that needs our prayers. I went to college with Randi and she has the most precious mom you will ever meet. Her name is Sharon and she has just been diagnosed with caner. I am having such a hard understanding why allows this to happen to great people, but I know that he has plans much greater than my understanding. Here is Randi's blog: Randi's Reality and here is Sharon's blog: Sweets' Surrender. If you have time to also post an encouraging note on their blog or just say a prayer for them today...that would be great! 

I thank God for you today! 

A Day in the Country

Wes has been working for mom and dad at their place in Roundtop. We decided to ride up with mom to see him. On the way mom stopped and got the boys a horse to ride on. (sorry about the pictures)

The boys really wanted to help Daddy work. 

But I think they were making more work for Daddy. 

But Wes is so good with them, he just smiles and let them help. 

This was the back room of the big house and they decided to make it into

a small cottage so they would have somewhere to stay while they 

worked on the big house. Isn't it cute?

Pop Pop is starting to paint the big house and the boys wanted to help.

They are pretend painting, of course. But man, it was fun! 

(notice the tongue)

It was a great day in the country. Thanks BeBop and Pop Pop! 

It might be a while before you hear from us again. We leave Friday night to drive through the night to Ruidoso. We are going with Wes' family for a whole week. We are pretty excited! Chris (Wes' brother) and Tonya leave in May for Thailand so this might be our last big trip with them for a while. You know I will have lots of pictures when we get back. 

Hope you have a great spring break too. 

Bluebonnets

 I have a kinda funny story about bluebonnets. When I was a freshman at ACU I was in this geology class. Yes, geology class. We took a field trip to Enchanted Rock and their were tons of bluebonnets. Being from Louisiana I knew nothing about bluebonnets, so I decided to pick some. I had not idea that it was against the law to pick bluebonnets. Lets just say that my professor was not too happy with me. 

So, Monday I got to practice what I learned in college and explain to the boys that we don't pick bluebonnets. They didn't understand but they did as they were told. Here are some pretty cute pictures of the boys in the flowers. We were on our way to mom and dad's place in Roundtop, Mom and I just had to stop. 

I think Sam was a little bored! 

There were so many that you could smell their fragrance in the air! 

Round Two

So we had to go back to the rodeo. We just love it too much. Plus Wes is working all week for the church because we have our big garage sale this weekend at Traders Village and then next week we are headed back to New Mexico with Wes' family. So...here are more rodeo pictures. It was much better without all the school groups. We went around 3 in the afternoon. 

Wes and his boys

Barn Fun

Milking the pretend cow

Micah loving the tractor ride

Checking out the new piglets

There were LOTS! 

Just being boys

We got to go in the petting zoo this time and the boys loved it! 

We had another great trip! 

Thanks Wes for going with us! We love you! 

It's Rodeo Time!!!

The rodeo is in town here in Houston and we LOVE the rodeo! Wes took the day off and we went to the rodeo with BeBop, Pop Pop, and Aunt Audrey. We had a blast!! 

Here is Sam riding his first horse. He was too scared last year. 

He did need mommy to walk next to him while he rode the horse, 

but don't tell anyone! 

Our Little Cowboy

My kids have a problem looking at the camera these days. 

They say "cheese" and then look the other way. 

Not funny! 

Here is Micah and BeBop

Sam and Aunt Audrey

Daddy and Micah (still not looking at the camera)

Mom and Aud

Micah loved getting to touch the animals

BeBop and Sam

Sam and Pop Pop 

(still not looking...it is quite frustrating! )

Daddy and Sam

We went to the pig races and Sam was so excited! 

Here we are waiting for them to start. 

Sam got to be the cheer leader for our section and his pig won! 

This is what Sam got because his pig won. 

They have a new section at the rodeo this year called Farm Fun...I think. 

Anyway, it was really cool and Sam loved learning about the farm. 

The rodeo was a little hard on Micah

Sam and Mommy

We had a great day! If you live in the Houston you should really go...it is worth it! In the morning they have a lot of school groups, but it isn't too bad...much better than the weekends. If you go during the week you can park in the lot at Kirby and Westridge and stay from 9 to 3. If you tell the attendant that you have kids they will let you park in the close lot too. 

Happy Rodeo!!!