Free Time

Though it's scarce, free time is a blessing.  I try not to glue myself to a TV during this time but I'm not going to lie and say that doesn't happen.  When I'm feeling a bit more energetic, photography and editing is something I enjoy dabbling in.  Now, I'm not saying I'm good at it by any means--it's just therapeutic for me.  Plus, nowadays I have a cute little subject. 

Since it was so nice out a few weekends ago, I snapped a few pictures of Lyla outside before we made a trip to Austin.  All I can say is, thank God for Picassa.  These pictures were pretty awful (not the subjects but the lighting).  I just updated Picassa on my computer and they have so many cool tools to utilize.  After tampering with them a while, some of them were worth saving.  Photoshop who? 

I wanted to try out the new tricks so the picture styles are kind of random.  Don't judge.

Here is the newest little member of the Rackel Family.  Chase is such a doll!

Looks so much like Caleb....

Expecting one of her own...

Chase's Mommy...

Man to Man talk with Mr. Jiggles...

Sneaking a snack to Buster.  Classic.

Avery and her "fraayand" Caleb...

Caleb showing Lyla and Livvy how it's done...

Oops!

I feel awful that I didn't get to make note of Lyla's 10th month on the blog.  March was a whirlwind and around the 9th we were planning for our trip to Cabo.  I feel like a bad Mom as I type this.  A few pictures of Lyla around 10 months are soon to come.  Stay posted!

Tune in for my 11 month post around April 9th.  It was a BIG month for her and my favorite one yet (not that they weren't all blissful : ) ).

As promised: (these are more like Lyla right at 10 months--all of my other pictures of her 10th month are on my phone so these will have to suffice)

Off to Cabo!

Lyla is 9 months!

As always, you are the light of our lives.  You make us smile
constantly and keep us entertained.  Crawling comes easy to

you now and you are trying to free stand.  You love to pull
up on everything and bounce up and down while you're standing.

Your smile still lights up a room.  Babababa is still your favorite

word.  When you get excited you squeal a high-pitched sound-
so very funny.  You also breath in and out through your nose

quickly and scrunch up your entire face when you think

something is funny.

Waving is your favorite thing and you do it with both hands
sometimes.  You also like to clap along to Pat A Cake. 

Although you will eat mostly anything, your

favorite things to eat are carrots and yogurt.  You are

very persistent and will do things over and over again until

you figure it out.  Lastly, you love kids!  You watch them

like a hawk and always want to be where they are.

I know in no time at all you will be 10 months and again,
I won't know where the time has gone.  I guess time flies when
you are having fun!

Birthday Buddy!

Happy birthday, Livvy Lou!  I'm so glad we share the same birth date.  I'll always feel that special bond with you.
We celebrated Liv's birthday last weekend  at The Austin Children's Museum.  What a fun place!  Mandy's decoration choices were super cute as was the birthday girl herself!  Good times....

The girls catching up

What?!?! I'm one???

Nom Nom Nom

Nana, Livvy, Papa

Aunt Hill & Ly

Ooooo, fire!

Wardrobe Malfunction

Called in the backup

I like to party

First taste

Don't let that look on A's face fool  you--she devoured that cake!

Phooey! No cake for me. 

Thrilled beyond belief

It's good!

Are you sure, Livvy?

Sisterly love

aftermath

Keeping an eye on the cake

How dare you eat my cake, GG! (Matt shares the sentiment as well)

Lyla drove us home after the party.

Reflecting On My 20's, Moving On With My 30's

It easy to get sentimental and emotional when a milestone birthday approaches and I, admittedly, have experienced these feelings lately.  Although, yesterday as I was reflecting on my 20's, I realized how many positive life changing events I have encountered and how many wonderful experiences I have had during these last 10 years.  I made a visual list of these things (since I'm such a visual person) to help me cope with the departure of my 20's.  It is as follows (in no specific order because I really didn't feel like thinking about the year they happened):
-Graduated from college
-Went to California to be a part of a dear college friend's wedding
-Moved to Houston
-Received a 4th grade teaching position
-Met the love of my life
-Witnessed my older sister's marriage in Hawaii
-Took a first grade teacher position in Dime Box
-Bear joined our family
-Met my first neice, Kelby
-Bought our first house
-Traveled to Puerto Vallarta where Matt and I got engaged
-Zip lined (which is crazy for me if you know how afraid of heights I am)
-Met my second neice, Avery
-Married the love of my life and gained a new family in my in-laws
-Traveled to Jamaica
-Climbed Dunn's Falls
-Met my third neice, Kevyn
-Accepted a position as a Kindergarten teacher in Mumford
-Visited my dear friend in New Orleans after she moved back from Japan, during another dear friend's bachelorette party
-Was able to be a part of my best friend's wedding
-Met my fourth neice, Olivia, on my birthday!!!!
-Sold our first house
-Bought another house which is now our home
-Became pregnant
-Lyla entered our lives

These things, while some of them not so major and several not even listed, remind me that my 20's were just a stepping stone on the path that is my future and a building block of many great things yet to come. 

A day at the park...

I was a little over zealous with my camera but because it was such a nice day, I couldn't help myself.

 Didn't know I would be in pictures-sigh.