March

It is April 1st and I am blogging March~no joke! I love spring in Texas and we spent most of this one outside! Including discovering the alligator is back out sunning. We checked on him several times and saw him for a few times in a row before he went back to hiding.

ADS has a two week spring break and we kicked our off with camping at SFA St Park with the Kirkwood family. Lots of fires and food, bike rides, walks on the  nature trial behind our campsite. The place was pretty empty. The last night it rained so we were thankful for shelters to stay in, the first two nights the kids were in tents.

Fun with cousins.

Lydia and Gloria hardly had any issues during spring break, it was glorious!  Here they are just hanging out.

Nana and Kathy joined us at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center for bluebonnet pics, lunch and swinging.

Then we took Alina to Laguna Gloria-cool outside art and Mount Bonnell and

a picnic at Mayfield park with peacocks and a nature/wet walk.

Another fun park-All Abilities in Georgetown on a spring break day.

Then the Easter Season began with a friend egg hunt in the park.

It was cold and windy but a good time was had by all.

More sister hanging out.

The Birches joined us for Passover, a wonderful hands on time of celebrating Jesus.

Gloria's class had a field trip on Good friday (after we gave Easter lilies to all their teachers) to see James and the Giant peach live musical production. It was a fun day together.

For Easter  weekend we went to Salado along with Boyd cousins. Again lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

They love the tree house, Trooper and "Rockville"

He is Risen, we all went to church together on Easter morning.

Nothing says Jesus is risen like Rey's lightsaber and sticker on Easter eggs :)

Jan & Feb 2016

After a completely packed and crazy December it was great to slow down in 2016 and begin it with a Houston friend brunch.

Gloria's class had a talent show and she did magic tricks.  

I went on a few hikes at the school (and the end of Feb began subbing, first time in Lydia's class)

Lydia had a field trip to the zoo and both Caleb and I got to go. 

Caleb and I saw Star Wars over the break with his family, we weren't sure if the girls were ready to see it but first day back at school and almost everyone in Lydia's class had seen it and were talking about it. She really wanted to go so I took her to the IMAX 3D and she really liked it, she is obsessed with Rey, we love the music and discussing theories.  

Annual ADS campout with 150 friends, bike rides, fires and family ride the last morning. Then I got strep and poison ivy and survived a week of life/work.  

The day I was better Caleb and I finally used our silent auction purchase of a Food Tour in Austin, it was yummy and fun.  

Guess who is back to sunning himself since Spring came so early this year?

Last weekend in Feb, we had another CAJE get together in Belton at Dorothy's.  We walked and hot tubbed and mostly talked nonstop, so thankful for these sisters!

December 2015

We had a school friend playdate for Lydia's birthday with a piñata at a park. 

December, what a crazy month! Besides Christmas and traveling to see family, we had normal life and other special events like volunteering at school, Friendship International's party and hosting Fulbright visitors to Austin.  See fish fry above. 

Mom and Dad came to a rainy TPWD event on his birthday.

We went to Park Hills Christmas program.

The girls and I went to Austin Stone's Children Christmas party with a  petting zoo!

Alina's friend from Germany came for a visit so we hosted them in our home as well as going to a UT gingerbread house making party

Grandmama passed away so we had more time to visit family in Belton. 

Pretty great granddaughters.

Crazy crowded Trail of Lights and Zilker tree.

Visiting Santa at the TPWD party (while I was at work)

Back to Salado/Belton we had our annual Living nativity.

And Christmas Eve service.

We got together with Caleb's whole family the week after Christmas.  

November 2015

Due to bad weather, Dia de los Muertos celebration at ADS was postponed until November. But they got their faces painted, remembered Granddaddy and Lydia's class performed songs.

Hikes!

CAJE got together in DFW and enjoyed a red Starbucks holiday cup.

Gloria's class presented Stone Soup play and she helped create the backdrop. 

Yay our big girl, Lydia turned 9 and had a fun friend sleep over. 

Thanksgiving!

Last weekend in November and we got our tree up.