March came and went faster than a bull out of the chute, and just like that, another rodeo season is in the books. We wrapped it up with an incredible Post Malone show—shoutout to him for absolutely killing it! This year’s lineup was stacked with talent, and we made it to more shows than ever before. It was one of the busiest seasons we’ve had, and while we love seeing the event grow (it’s great for the kids and the school!), there’s a small part of us that misses the quieter days when you didn’t have to dodge massive crowds. But hey, growth is good, right?

Spring break was another highlight of the month! We took a quick trip down to Galveston and spent our time exploring historical sites. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend checking them out. It’s wild how much history is packed into that little island! Even after living in Texas for over 25 years, I learned so much that I had no clue about. The weather wasn’t on our side—rainy and a little too chilly for much beach time—but we made the most of it, and even Preston was able to sneak away for a night to join us for some fun on The Strand.

One unexpected realization hit me when we got home—I had gone nose blind. Walking into our house after a few days away, I was hit with the realization that our home actually smells good. Like, hotel-lobby good. I had to pause and ask myself, Did Preston clean while I was gone?! Because, let’s be honest, with five dogs, I usually just assume our house smells like, well… dogs. But apparently, guests aren’t just being polite when they say our house smells nice. Who knew? Of course, after a few days back home, I was already immune to it again, but it was a refreshing (and funny) moment while it lasted!

Now that we’re settling into spring, it’s time to tackle yard work and all the seasonal projects. Our teeny girl (who, by the way, just turned 17—how?!) got selected to do the calf scramble at the County Fair, which means it’s time for some barn renovations. She still wants to show goats for her senior year, but now we might need to make space for a calf, too. Preston and I have been brainstorming the best way to rework things so all the animals have enough space. It’s a project, for sure, but it’s exciting to see her taking on more responsibility.

Parenting a teenager—especially one that isn’t biologically yours—is such a delicate balance. You want them to enjoy their youth, but you also want to teach them life skills and responsibility. It’s a learning experience for all of us, but our biggest focus is making sure she knows she has our trust and support. No matter what, we always want her to feel comfortable coming to us with anything. That’s something I think all parents, guardians, aunts, uncles—anyone who plays a role in a child’s life—can relate to. It’s a journey, and we’re just figuring it out as we go.