Magical

So I have been keeping a BIG secret for over 3 months...D I S N E Y W O R L D!!!  I couldn't wait to tell the kids and this is how I did it - a treasure hunt!

Here are lots of pictures of them searching for, finding and reading clues.

And how did they react?  See for yourself:

https://youtu.be/NvQRUQCGKZ8

My favorite Paige quote, "Maybe Daddy can wear a Cinderella dress!!".
My favorite Trey quote, "Noooooooooo!" when I mentioned the princess room.

Counting down the days now!

Destin 2014

We just got back from another great fun filled family reunion trip to Destin, Florida.  This is how it started...M&D arrived early at our house, we transferred their bags and packed ours in my minivan.  We started on our way.  Two hours into our trip we stopped in Brenham for a potty break.  Great little place -McD's, Chevron, Quizno's all in one strip.  And feeling all refreshed, we jumped back in to the car and as I turned the key we heard "click click click click click" and nothing!  Oh boy.  After numerous phone calls to towers, mechanic places, rental car places,  my family and some tears (mostly from Trey!), we came up with a plan.  Dominique (who was at work as he was going to join us in Florida later - yeah, that's another story so keep reading) grabbed a friend to follow him in my parent's car two hours to get to us.  We had my car towed to a Honda dealer in Houston and then we sat outside/inside at our little favorite spot in Brenham for a total of 4 hours until Dominique got there.  Wasn't so bad...could have been way worse!  Yay! We were on our way again!  Then crack! A big rock chip right in front of my face on my parent's windshield.  Geesh!  We made it to our 1/2 way place a lot later than planned, but then we were on track again the next day.  As we made it to our rental house, we found out that one of our relatives had lice!  Okay, I was really freaking out, but it turned out it was a good thing we were aware of this so we could take a preventative stance on the issue!  (Knock on wood, no one was infected!).

Aahh, time to relax, enjoy the beach, the beautiful house and pool and most of all, spend quality time with my cousins and families, brother's family, parents, and aunt and uncle.  The kids surprised me by loving the beach on the first day.  But then it went down hill from there.  Oh well, I was happy to have them enjoy at least one full day of the beach!  They just preferred the pool - no sand, smell, seaweed or jellyfish!

Then Wednesday night, Dominique was scheduled to arrive at 10:00 pm at a nearby airport.  The kids and I couldn't wait for him to get there.  But he missed his flight.  And he had to stay in a hotel by the Dallas airport.  And then the next morning his flight was delayed due to bad weather/t-storms.  Think he sat on the runway for 1 1/2 hours!  Ugh!  So frustrating!  But he made it in the end and the kids' faces were priceless!  They were SO happy!

While we were in Florida, we were able to see our friends that moved away two years ago.  We had a lot of fun hanging out.  I miss them so much.  They are such a sweet, generous, fun, caring, beautiful family.

The rest of the week went pretty smoothly.  Had a rainy day (or two actually) which was fine.  The kids got to see a movie and we played lots of games.  Lots of laughs and smiles and memories were made.  We are so blessed to have my parents and aunt and uncle treat us and I have this great family that I love beyond words.

Okay, that's enough of me typing...here are some pics!

Stuck in Brenham

On the road again!

Fun waves!

Fun with cousins.

Meeting our wonderful friends.

Ryan and Paige

Trey and Kaitlyn

Daddy is so fun!

Cousins!

Aaargh Matey!

Oldest to youngest!

Easter 2014

We had a great 3 day weekend and a wonderful Easter this year.  The kids enjoyed the annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  It was a bit sad for Trey as he is at the cut off age of 10 this year so Paige will be running solo next year.  Then we had Easter Brunch with the family at the Longhorn Club.  It was delicious and relaxing, but sadly, there was an accident just as we finished our meal.  A golf cart that delivers food to golfers tipped over as it was going down a hill.  We heard the noise and sat stunned momentarily.  Dominique was the first one to run down to help.  He had to lift the long cart with the help of another man off of the poor girl trapped underneath.  Thankfully, the fire men arrived within a couple of minutes.  I am very proud of my husband.  He did a wonderful selfless thing for a stranger without thinking twice.

Neighborhood egg hunt

Is that a bunny hopping?

Easter morning treasures

I love this picture...Trey put his arm around Paige first and then she hugged onto him. XOXO

Camping 101

We took the kids "camping".  And why did I put that in quotes you ask?  Well, a typical definition of "camping" includes a tent, camp fires, cook outs, s'mores, lots of outdoor activities and basically, roughing it more or less.  We did not one of these things really, but we were on a camp site, enjoyed nature and our surroundings, used public bathrooms, and slept in a pretty nice air-conditioned camper with sleeping bags.  So close enough, right?  

Our camping experience started out as if we were filming a National Lampoon's Vacation movie.  First, the camper we borrowed had a padlock on the tow hitch...and the owner and key to that lock were far, far away on a fishing trip.  So the owner instructed us to break the lock off, which we did.  Yippee!  Our trip wasn't canceled and we still get to go "camping"!!  So then we get to the camp ground, pick our site and get settled.  First things first, connect the water line to the camper.  TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF!!  A pipe was broken and water flooding the cabinets beneath the sink ensued.  Okay, no water, no bathroom, no biggee.  Next, connect the electricity.  Or not.  Turns out we were missing a key for THAT also.  What?  No air conditioning?  No lights?  No refrigerator?  How will we survive!?!?!  The natives were getting hungry so next up, dinner.  No electricity and no camp fire?  Guess it is time for a fast food run!  Roughing it I tell you!  I kept calling Dominique "Sparky" just like Chevy Chase in the National Lampoon movies.  I went to pick up our food and borrow some lanterns from my real camping friends.  However, when I arrived back at the camp site with our fast food (which was quite embarrassing really), Dominique had managed to hook up the electricity, despite the lack of a key.  Yay for Sparky!!  Thank Heavens!!

We did take a walk, um I mean hike, or three around the camping ground loop and at each campsite I would say, "ooh, they are experienced campers" when I saw people with camp fires aglow, twinkling lights strung up above their picnic table covering, tents put up, lots of coolers, lanterns hung, etc.  We also learned on our brief trip that our kids are kind of loud.  And it is hard for them to keep quiet no matter how many shushes we gave them.  Sorry fellow campers.  Did I mention that our camp ground is like 2 miles from our house?

Over all, we had so much fun, lots of laughs and we can't wait to "camp" again!!  And I really would love to go with our real camping friends (that means YOU, Michelle and fam!), but I am a little nervous that they may laugh their @$$es off at us.  Although, perhaps they may be fighting over who gets to use our camper bathroom??

Setting up camp

Dinner time

Enjoying our site

Our view

Chillaxing

Until next time, CAMP ON!

Christmas 2013

Christmas morning and Santa delivered! (And Mommy & Daddy too of course).

Check out Trey's excitement!

Cheers to a Happy and Healthy 2014!!

New Braunfels Trip

Here are some pics of the fam and Grandma Mary on a weekend getaway in New Braunfels.  We stayed right next to the cool little town of Gruene.  Just relaxed and hung out by the pool.  Good times!

Famous Gruene Hall

Out to eat

Love these two

At the Gristmill

Cowgirl QT

In the Comal River

This place is insane!