Vacation

We're leaving tomorrow to visit Brian's family in Maryland for almost a month! So... probably no new posts till we get back toward the end of October. I'm looking forward to relaxing and enjoying nice, cool weather and the changing leaves of autumn. Ta ta for now!

Joshua Can Snap

It's hard to hear it in the video, but you can see his little fingers goin'. He can only snap with his left hand; I love how sometimes he'll just start snapping as he's walking around. Cutie!

#3

is due in March.

Happy Birthday, Michael!

Today my baby brother is 17! I can't believe he's so grown up now. Michael is one of two kids still at home, but he'll be leaving the nest, too, in just a few years. I hope your birthday is awesome, Michael! Love ya!

Camping and Picnicking

Kara and I went on a Stake Mother/Daughter campout last weekend. We hitched a ride with my friend Amber and her little girl Lillian on Friday afternoon, set up camp, then took a dip in the Medina River. Next, we ate dinner, mingled with friends, put the kids to "bed," star-gazed, chatted, then turned in. After a long, sleepless night full of noises (including Kara talking in her sleep), we got up in the morning and ate breakfast, which was provided by the stake. Then we packed up and went home to get ready for the next activity of the day.

setting up the tent


ready to swim


Cheese!


Momma and Kara


breakfast


posing


our camping buddies Amber and Lillian


Later that day we went to a family picnic at Brian's work. Lunch was Rudy's Bar-B-Q (yum!), and the kids enjoyed the activities. Kara got her face painted and participated in a sponge relay race, and they both played on the playground and got helium balloons.

Kara requested a "brown-and-white duck."


playing in the gravel (so much fun!)


the race




playing a complex game of football and horseshoes :)

USAA always has deer and other wildlife roaming its campus. As we were leaving, we spotted a herd of them (I counted 15!) grazing by the road. It was neat to see so many so close.

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Brian's baby brother Thomas is 20 years old today. He is currently serving a mission in Brazil, and he's almost halfway through. We hope your day is great, Thomas! We love you!

The Newest Addition

We discovered this beauty on the wonderful world of craigslist last weekend. It was built around 1895, and we got it for a steal of a price ($225 plus the costs of a U-haul and tuning), considering all the work that had been done to it. I'm excited to practice on it (I can play very little) and to teach my children how to play this amazing instrument.