Shreveport Trip

The week after Christmas went to Shreveport for a few days.  Scott grew up there from 3rd grade on and the kids have never been.  We thought it'd be fun to go.  Scott's friend, Patrick, lives there, so we stayed with him.  It took about 7 hours and was the longest we have ever driven with the kids.  Usually an hour into the 3 hour drive to Houston, Molly wants to know how much longer and Tyler has to go the bathroom, so we were curious how this trip would be.  It went well.  They had their tablets with shows and games to watch, so that helped.  It was pretty chilly the whole time we were there-we wore heavy coats the whole time. 

At Patrick's, we played lots of Rock Band.  The kids loved it and now want it. 

They have some great restaurants there.  Monday night we ate at Superior Bar and Grill.  It's Mexican food that is so good.  I was jealous Scott went back Tuesday night with Patrick and two other friends.

Wednesday for lunch we went with Patrick, his mom, Jeff and his family and mom, and then Nathan to Monjuni's.  Again, so delicious!  It's Italian.  When Scott and I were dating, we'd go there when I'd fly into visit.

These shirts were Patrick's gift to the guys.  Jeff is on the end in the hat.  Some school's mascot is called the Jeffs.

 

Wednesday night we brought home a strawberry and chocolate pie from another place I can't remember right now, but they were amazing too!!

Patrick lives close to the elementary school they went to, so we walked over there and the kids played on the playground.  We drove by Scott's middle and high schools. We saw the house he grew up in too. We went by the country club they belonged to where Scott and Brett would golf all day.

Patrick's Dad owns a construction company, we went to one of the sites and the kids got to ride in a backhoe loader.  They thought that was fun.

 

 We went to McCary's Jewelers. Scott's friend, Lyn-her family owns it.  Scott used to play doubles tennis with her.  She's older than us, had kids that are 30.  She's super sweet and Scott has always bought my jewelry from her.  She had never met the kids, so we went by.  She was nice enough to let the kids look at several different gems under the microscope and ever let them pick one to take home. Scott let me pick out something for my birthday.  I got a new pearl bracelet.  I love it!!

We took the kids to a trampoline park to hopefully tire them out for Wednesday night.  They had a blast!

 

Thursday morning, we headed back home.  It was a fun trip and we all enjoyed it.  Friday-Sunday we took down Christmas decorations and did some cleaning.  Then Monday was back to work for Scott and school for Tyler.  It's nice now to be back on a schedule and have our routines down. 

Christmas Break

The first week off school, we were pretty busy leading up to Christmas.  Monday, we went hiking with our friends at Friedrich Park.  We hiked for about 2 hours and had a great time. 

 

  

Tuesday morning we went caroling at a nursing home with a group of friends from

church

That afternoon Molly had a playdate with her friend, Kaelyn from preschool.  She was beyond excited.  Tyler had to come with and he thought it'd be terrible, but he managed to have fun.  They have land and some fun things to do.

 

This kids ATV was neat, but super fast and a little tricky till you get the hang of it.  Tyler had fun, but after he ran into a bush, he mostly rode the jeep pictured behind him.  They also had a trampoline and big playset, so Tyler stayed occupied. 

Wednesday, we headed to Sea World to see all the lights.  We saw a few shows too and they played in the kids area for awhile. It was crazy, that two days before Christmas they were in shorts and I had to bring sunblock with!  We have had a cold front come in since Christmas and have been in long sleeves, pants, and jackets, and sometimes coats in the morning.

Thursday was Christmas Eve and then Friday Christmas.  It was a fun and busy week. 

Christmas 2015

I'm a little late, but here is our Christmas post.  Christmas was just our family here in TX.  The kids were up early ready to open gifts. 

Christmas Eve we went to our Christmas service at church, then to some friend,s for dinner.  When we got home, they each got to open one gift.  They got new pj's and a book.  Before bed we always sprinkle reindeer food on the yard and then Scott reads them The Night Before Christmas.

Their stockings were filled and presents left from Santa.

Tyler was excited to get his very own tool set

New rope and canteen

When I got Molly this horse, Scott said-do you really think she needs another stuffed animal? But look at her, the minute she opened her, she gave her a big hug and was so excited. 

Molly was also so excited to get Star Lily!

Tyler was thrilled to get this punching bag-it's actually stationary and is up in the game room

 

 We can't forget the dogs.  They love opening gifts too!

Molly also wanted a cowgirl hat, which she got.  Scott got her a ukulele, which she just loves.  Here she is with all her new animals around her playing for them.  By the end of the day, Tyler was about done with the ukulele.  Unfortunately for him, it also came with on the 7 hour drive to Shreveport a few days later.  I'll have a post about that trip soon.

Later in the day, my friend, Rachel and her family came over.  We had dinner, the kids roasted hot dogs and then we played games.  It was fun!

Molly is serenading everyone while the roast their hot dogs.

All in all it was a nice, relaxing Christmas.  

Elf on the Shelf

This is our first year having an Elf on the Shelf.  I hadn't planned on doing one either.  We have our Jesse Tree and our advent calendar with a special activity everyday.  Molly went to her friend, Evan's house back on the 9th and he has an elf named, Pretty.  Molly talked and talked about her the rest of the day and how she wished she had an elf.  I told Scott we had to get her one.  So I did and Tuesday when she came home from school, I told her when I was getting her laundry, something was different in her room.  She ran up to look and there was her elf sitting next to her little Christmas tree.  She had a note saying how Pretty reported to Santa that she didn't have an elf, but wanted one, so Santa sent her this elf.  The elf also brought her colored lights for her tree.  She had to name her elf.  She chose Holly and her full name is Holly Jolly Christmas.   Holly has done some silly things, which Molly just loves.  Every night she wonders where Holly will be the next day and every morning, she immediately looks for Holly.  She is just loving her. Here are some of the places she's been and things she's done. 

This is when she first found her elf.

 

 

 

 

Molly kept saying she hoped Holly would do something with their underwear.  Her friend's elf had and so had Kyla and Kaleb's elf.  So one Friday morning, Holly decorated the fan with their underwear.  Later that day we went to Houston.  I got them in the car then quick threw the underwear in the game cabinet since a dog sitter was coming over and grabbed Holly to take to Houston.  Molly was thrilled she showed up in Houston.  Monday Molly went to get a game for us to play and found the underwear in the cabinet and thought it was so funny that Holly thought that's where they went.  She laughed for a good 5 min.  When Scott called she had to tell him and it was the first thing she told Tyler. 

 

 

I don't like more focus on Santa, but it's been fun doing this with her.  She's at the perfect age to enjoy it. 

Silhouette Pictures

I have always wanted silhouette pictures of the kids.  I didn't know where to look to find them and Pinterest shows how to make them, but I didn't think they'd turn out too well.  I'm on this Alamo Ranch Moms Facebook page and someone posted about this guy, Karl Johnson, who is a Silhouette artist coming to San Antonio.  I looked it up and made an appointment.  Last week, we got them done.  He cut each child out in less than 2 min. and I love how they turned out.