TEXAS!!! I love it! I had the opportunity to go back right before Christmas to attend my brothers wedding and...it. was heaven. It is so nice to get away sometimes. Just to reboot. My Mom is such a help. I miss her all the time. She has become my best friend and the person that I tell pretty much everything to. I counted down the days till I got to spend time with her and when I was there the days flew by too quickly.
One of the things that I love about going to Texas (even though I don't consider San Antonio "home") there are so many things in my parents new home that bring back a flood of emotions and memories for me. I couldn't help but remember so many things from when I was in High School or even when I would come home for the summer from college. They still use my green striped floral comforter from high school on the guest bed. I just stared at that comforter and remembered so many things...things that I had buried.
It was overwhelming. I even had a day all to myself (when my parents left for a cruise) and I was packing to come home to Colorado. I was checking different drawers and under the bed to make sure I wasn't leaving anything behind and found my old High School Yearbooks. I sat there and looked at old photos of friends, and read things people he written to me. It was so funny to look back at those. So funny to read what people wrote...people that were/are so important in my life. ...gotta love high school. Is it pathetic that I miss high school? Life was so simple. (Don't get me wrong...I love my life. I love my kids...couldn't be more blessed. It's just the simplicity of high school was the best. And the friendships were...awesome. Friendships with people who really knew you. They were real.
I have just been on autopilot lately...probably since Cic was born. Life is busy and crazy. I just don't really allow myself to think. It's not indifference, it's just mechanical. As silly as it sounds, I do feel like a machine sometimes. Go, go, go...so much to do. Deadlines to meet, schedules to keep. I DO care and it DOES matter, I am just....treading water. I wish I could say it was comical, but I can't.
I threw all the schedules and deadlines out the window in Texas. It was so refreshing to just let go for a week. So hard to get back into the hustle and bustle of autopilot mode again.
Thanks for letting us come and wreck your house, Mom. We had a blast.
No High Chair...No Problem.
My Mom doesn't have ANY child proof things in her house and I am happy to say that Kai didn't break anything during our 11 day stay. (At least nothing that I know of.) It was a miracle!
It was so funny when it came time for Kai to eat b/c all my parents have are these cow hide bar stools. They are so tall and so scary looking for Kai to be sitting on. He fell off twice (onto the tile floor) and luckily managed to escape without a serious injury. To better secure him, my Mom thought it would be a good idea to tie a towel (used like a rope) around the chair (like a seat belt). It looked horrible and I was sure he would still fall off and now that he was attached to the chair, bring the chair down with him (on top of him). Luckily, my Mom's "safety harness" somehow worked and there were no more falls.
Polar Express 3-D
We went to the movie "Christmas Carol" while we were in Texas. I thought that Kai might be afraid of the ghosts in the movie, but he fell asleep instead. At the movie they give you these glasses to wear. We thought they would be so much more comfortable than the paper ones when you watch a 3-D movie at home. The next night we watched "Polar Express 3-D" and thought we would wear our movie theater glasses.
Well, jokes on us...those glasses only work in the theater. We ended up having to wear the paper ones after all.
SAS Shoes
My Mom found this really cool place called SAS shoes. They have the coolest antique cars and old buildings. I loved it and Kai had a blast climbing into these old cars and pretending to drive them.
Kai and Cic were fascinated with this bull. I couldn't believe how big it was.
Uncle Quinton was so good at reading a book to Kai before bedtime some nights. My family is so good to my kids.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
My dad is the branch president of a singles branch in San Antonio and they had a ugly sweater party while I was there. I helped my Mom find and ugly sweater and shirt at Goodwill, but my Dad just pulled an ugly sweater out of his closet and wore it. Classic dad...doesn't even have to look for an ugly sweater.
New Braunfels, Texas
My parents are planning a family reunion to New Braunfels, Texas this coming July. They wanted to show me the water park and the fun things to do around there so we drove to New Braunfels. There is so much to see and so much to do! What a fun place. I can't wait to go back!
They have a huge train table that Kai wouldn't take his eyes off. He was so excited!
When the train went around the backside he would run around and watch it go through the tunnel.
I love that my parents are so hands on with my kids and so active. Our trip was definitely "go, go, go... and that is what was so fun about it.
Gruene, Texas
Cutest town ever! I loved this place so much I had my Mom take me there twice on the trip. I love old buildings and little craft/hobby stores so I was in heaven. This town is so...TEXAS. I loved it. I want to take our family pictures in Gruene, Texas next year. So much fun.
Kai loved these reindeer. He thought they were real b/c they moved.
I just love these old buildings. There was some big concert the night we were there and the line of people waiting for the doors to open was incredible.
When we went back the next day to take in more of the town, we stopped to eat lunch and Cic was all smiles. I got some pretty cute shots of her smile.
Kai loves Grandma Lundeen so much. She is his best friend.
Gingerbread Houses
We did gingerbread houses in Texas this year and had a blast. My folks and I competed for the best house against the engaged couple. I think it is pretty obvious who won.
I love these pictures.
Love this picture with my folks. I can't even describe how I feel about them. So loving and so much fun! I had an absolute blast in Texas and will always treasure the memories I have from spending time with them on this trip. I can't even write about them without getting emotional. Sure wish we lived closer to them. Love you guys!!!
Love this picture of Cic and my Mom. She is such a little bird and always just opens her mouth when she wants my Mom to give her some bread.
Boots
Ben hates when I take naked pictures of Kai. I can't help myself though. Have you ever seen a cuter bum than this one?
Wedded Bliss
The real reason for our trip to Texas was to attend my little brother's wedding. I can't believe that Quin is really married. It still doesn't seem real...
They wed in a small chapel in Comfort, Texas. It was the smallest, most intimate wedding I have ever attended and I was so stressed out the whole time b/c it was SOOOOOO quiet. I felt like my kids were stealing the show and making a ton of noise the whole time. (My family was a big help with taking turns holding my kiddos and including them in everything. Thanks guys!)
Kai was playing hide and seek before the ceremony and was loving life. I love this smile.
Quinton right before the ceremony. He was so excited and kept asking everyone if they had seen Jennifer (his bride) and wanted to know if she "looked good." So funny.
Kai inspected the flowers and wanted to smell ALL of them.
My brothers and Kai-man before the ceremony.
I. love. this. shot.
Yup, Cic wore her Christmas dress. We looked really hard for a purple dress but b/c it was so close to Christmas there were none.
Jennifer walking down the aisle with her step-father.
My dad married them.
Quin pulled these faces all throughout the ceremony. Not sure what they mean.
Love this shot.
Probably my favorite shot ever of my brother, Ryan. Handsome....
Can you tell that my kids were passed around all evening? :)
Kai really wanted to stand next to Jennifer in some of the pictures. It was adorable. I think he was jealous.
Love. it.
My new Sis In-Law
My family. Doesn't this picture look awkward? No one is touching. lol...a picture speaks a thousand words....
Everyone but Ben. (He had to work.)
This is the nicest couple ever! The Edgemon's. Cute story. They were High School Sweethearts...I always thought I would marry my High School sweetheart (even though I was too afraid to really commit to anyone. I was in love with the idea of it.) I don't think it gets more romantic than that. She was amazing with Cici and held her most of the reception and even let Cic nap on her chest. Lifesavor!
My and the handsome groom.
The garter.
Quin just joined the Navy and so the garter was a Navy garter...
He attempted to throw the garter twice and no one wanted to catch it so he eventually just picked it up and put it on Kai's head. (Kai gets kinda jealous that Cic gets to wear jewelry and headbands so he thought it was cool.
WAAAYYYYY past bedtime. Kai now has the "sleepy stare."
Fiesta Texas
My ticket to Fiesta Texas bought me a season pass for 2010. I guess we have yet another excuse/reason so go to San Antonio in 2010. We had a blast (and a few melt downs) while we were at the park and can't wait to go back.
This picture is funny. I look more excited than Kai to be on this ride.
(Krista and Riley) met up with us at Fiesta Texas and I just can't get enough of them. They are the best people I know. I am so lucky to be related to Krista. She is so talented and so so generous. They even took me to the airport when I left San Antonio (picked me up at 4:30 am to catch my flight on time) and I couldn't have done it (with all my bags, and both kids) without them. HUGE help. I love you guys! THANK YOU!
I am so sad that this picture isn't in focus.
Kai didn't really know what to think about Daffy and Bugs...
I'm so glad my Dad is willing to go on these rides with Kai. I have the best parents ever! They are so involved with everything and everyone.
It was kinda a chilly night. My kids both got a cold the next day and I think they got it from Fiesta Texas.
Santa
We saw a Santa almost everyday while in San Antonio. Kai would give them high fives, tell them "Ho, Ho, Ho" and then tell them he wanted a "Choo Choo". We practiced sitting on the lap of the Santa at the mall...practiced our smile...talked about how he wasn't scary. (I really wanted to get a good picture of the kids this year on Santa's lap. The only day I paid for a photo with Santa this is what happened. Kai wanted none of it. Oh well, guess we have another year of the crying Santa photo...
Cic was just fine though. She even tugged on his beard at one point.
In front of the tree with their new gifts.
I know this picture is so so out of focus. I just thought Cic was too cute not to include it.
Cic got a soft book which she loves (my mother gave it to her). She has already tasted each inch of the book and it is covered with her DNA.
Our little family...
Christmas Morning
love. this. shot. (with my whole heart) :)
Cic in front of all her Christmas presents this year.
She loves this doll and constantly give it kisses (eats the face).
Playing...
Still playing...
More playing...
Cic was there supervising.
Yup...still playing.
Out to hit up a couple of stores the day after Christmas. YAY!
