Our Maryland Vacation: Week 3 (Oct 11-17)

At the Kinder Farm Festival we went on a hay ride, and the kids picked out pumpkins and rode on mini-tractors. Brian's favorite part was the cotton candy. Monday we went through an endowment session with some family names at the D.C. temple. The next day we went duckpin bowling, and Wednesday we hit the Baltimore Aquarium (and watched a dolphin show). Thursday was the beach, then we drove down to Virginia to visit Brian's Uncle Robbie and Aunt Gail. The kids loved their new puppy Reese! We spent that night there; the next morning we drove back to MD, and then Dad and Brian drove back to Virginia to help Dustin and Kymry move apartments. It was a full week!

Pedal those tractors!


Kara's pumpkin (also notice the one on her arm)


waiting for our turn on the hay ride


at the beautiful Washington, D.C. Temple




the Granny bowl


Joshua's turn


at the Baltimore Aquarium


Bubbles!


Look at that sea turtle!


the beach


chasing seagulls


loving the sand



helping Daddy


a jellyfish!


rinsing off


getting ready to drive to VA


Reese and Kara

Our Maryland Vacation: Week 4 (Oct 18-22)

Saturday we walked a 5K with some members of the branch there. It was a bit chilly that morning (around 45 degrees). Then the kids decorated their pumpkins, and later that day we went to Crumland Farms where there was a corn maze and fun stuff for the kids (and yummy, hot, fresh sweet corn!). Tuesday we went to Chuck E. Cheese's, and Kara helped Grandma make sugar cookies. Wednesday morning we flew back home to San Antonio. We had a wonderful vacation!

the 5K


coloring pumpkins




Crumland Farms














She slid down all by herself!


We completed the maze.


kids


fun at Chuck E. Cheese's








making cookies








Joshua enjoying his last day at Grandma & Papa's

Happy Birthday, Greg!

My brother-in-law's birthday is today. He is such a great guy, and we love him. He's always so friendly and easy to talk to. I'm glad my big sister picked him; Greg is a wonderful addition to my extended family. Hope you have a terrific day!

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.