Mother's Day 2014

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year - I got to spend time with my mom, and Robert & the kids made me feel really special and loved.  :)

Will's school had "Muffins with Mom" on May 13th, and I loved getting to spend some time with him in his classroom.


My parents joined us for church and for lunch afterwards.  We planned to go to the Grist Mill, but when we got there at 11, the wait was already an hour and 15 minutes (!) so we ended up at a Mexican food restaurant down the road.  It's not our favorite place, but it was fine and better than trying to put off two hungry kids for over an hour.


Claire is reading and writing so well now, and she enjoyed drawing a picture and writing a note to Nana for Mother's Day (and seeing Nana's reaction!).

2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt

For the second year, we hosted an Easter party for our friends.  Egg hunt, bounce house, wagon rides, snacks, fellowship with friends - we thought it was a success!
















Checking out the loot






We had the bounce house for the day, so after naps, the kids and I went out for more jumping.  It was such a nice day.

A nature walk

The week of Thanksgiving was wonderful, but it was also hectic.  Robert was gone from Saturday to Tuesday before the holiday on a mission trip to Reynosa with a group from our church.  The church works closely with Strategic Alliance, and they regularly coordinate trips to build houses, meet children people sponsor through Escuela Viva, and just love on people in the Colonia and tell them about Jesus.  Robert was able to meet the two kids we sponsor and work on completing a house for a family.  The kids and I missed him, but we were so glad he got to go this time!

On Thursday we hosted Thanksgiving lunch at our house for my family.  My parents made the main courses and desserts, and we did the sides.  I can't believe I didn't take any photos!  My sister (Sheila), her husband (Robert), and her son (Paul), and my brother (Curtis) and his two kids (Kristin and Chris) were able to join us.  On Friday, Dad, Curtis, Kristin, Chris, Robert, the kids and I went to the new Briscoe Western Art Museum.  It was really nice - Claire and Will especially loved all of the interactive iPads, the stagecoach, and the Alamo diorama.

Saturday was open with no plans, and Robert suggested taking the kids for a hike.  We were all due for some exercise and fresh air!  We decided to try Eisenhower Park - it has several trails that looked to be good options for young children, and we had so much fun exploring and just being together.



Classic Claire face!








Examining flowers with their magnifying glasses

We were BOOed!

Early in October, we were finishing up the kids' baths, and our doorbell rang.  Claire was already dressed, so she and Daddy ran to the door and were surprised to find a plastic pumpkin filled with goodies, a sign and a poem - we'd been BOOed!


It's a fun tradition in our neighborhood - you put a sign on your door to alert everyone that you've received a Halloween treat, and you leave something for another neighbor who hasn't already been BOOed.

The next day we did some shopping and prepared two baskets to leave for neighbors.  We all got a lot of laughs - especially when Will got excited and started to run off still carrying basket after we'd already rung a neighbor's doorbell.


We had a good time participating this year and enjoyed seeing so many "You've been BOOed!" signs appear on houses in our neighborhood!

Pumpkin Patch 2013

Our family (including my mom & dad) traveled to Medina to visit Love Creek Orchard's annual Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch.  This was the second year the kids and I have been - we have some photos from last year on our digital photo frame, and they regularly ask when it is time to return to the patch.

We got there close to opening and first did the activities that we knew would have long lines later.  First up was the barrel train, and we got the first ride of the season.




It took a few tries, but finally - a cute photo in a pumpkin patch!


Petting one of the ponies - they were so gentle.


Pony rides!  Will asks at least once a week if he can go ride a horse - he was thrilled.








Hayride through the orchard with the Roberts (we were so excited that we picked the same day to visit!)




Petting zoo - Will's favorite animal was the rabbit.  He tried to feed it some hay - so thoughtful, but I'm not sure the rabbit appreciated it.


Hard day's work on the hay bale tractor


There was a sand art station, and Claire was really excited to make one (although that isn't obvious from the photo - she was wiped out by this point).


Last stop - pumpkin painting!


The kids also did several runs through the hay bale maze.  We tried to get a few treats, but it was too close to lunch/naptime, and they both started to melt down.  We made our exit and stopped for barbecue in Bandera, then home where we all had a nice long nap.  Looking forward to going back next year!

Summer 2013: July 4th Weekend

Our July 4th weekend was full of family time - and food!

On the 4th, Will got his first experience seeing a movie in a theater when we saw Monsters University at Alamo Drafthouse.  We all enjoyed the movie, but I think the highlight for the kids might have been the pretzels we ordered.


That evening we tried a new barbecue place down at The Pearl - The Granary 'Cue & Brew.  Claire loved the sausage - Will just ate the house made buttermilk bread.


Friday we played outside, and then Robert and I had a date night - dinner at The Luxury, another newish restaurant.  It's an interesting concept - two shipping containers set up for the restaurant and the bar, with outdoor seating by the river.

Playing with the new slip and slide - they didn't exactly grasp the concept.


My mom's birthday is on the 6th, so we took my parents to The Dodging Duck in Boerne (one of our favorite places) for lunch.  The tables are covered with butcher table, and they give the kids crayons to decorate the table.  We were all impressed with Robert's rendering of Claire's Peter Pan and Wendy figurines!


The final event of our weekend was our neighbors' birthday party.  Jump house, balloon artist, and the highlight - a giant water slide.  Claire was a little nervous at first, but after one time down the slide, that was all she wanted to do.  It was great!

Mother's Day 2013

We enjoyed celebrating our moms - lunch with Grandmommy at the Grist Mill and dinner with Nana at our house.  Lots of cards and lots of smiles!

Easter 2013: Part 3

Easter Sunday - I was determined to get a photo of the kids before we left for church.  My silly goofies were not interested in posing for me, but I was happy with what I got.





Our church had an outdoor service, and it was a really special time of worship and testimony.

And for comparison - Easter 2012

Easter 2013: Part 2

On Saturday of Easter weekend, we hosted an Easter egg hunt for several of our friends and neighbors with small children.  Besides being a good motivator for spring cleaning our backyard, it was So. Much. Fun.

Each child brought a dozen filled eggs, and while Robert and some of the other daddies hid the eggs, we had a simple little craft for the kids - decorating a foam egg with stickers.


We managed to get a shot of most of the kids together...


...and then the hunt began!








Enjoying the spoils


Love this shot of Kate & Claire!


And with Elliot


Everything went so smoothly, and we had a blast.  This may have been the first annual egg hunt at our home. :)