Vegas Baby!!

I haven't been the best about posting pictures on our blog, I'm trying to do better.  I put everything on instagram since it's so much faster and easier for me.  A few weeks ago, Dan came home and said he needed to go to Barstow, CA for work and would the kids and I like to go too and see Mary and her family in Vegas? YES please!!!  We left 2 days later on a fun, HOT roadtrip.  We had so much fun with Mary, Kelly and all the kids, noone wanted to come home. 

 The first day they were able to swim in the backyard, they were in there 5 1/2 hours pausing only to shove a hotdog down their throat, than jumped back in.

 Mary has an amazing friend from Gold's Gym that teaches spin and sometimes makes his appearance as the Aquabat Spin Commander.  Dominic loves the Aquabats and so Tirso dressed up and went to the kids club to meet him.  Dominic was mesmerized. :)

 Dominic, Krew and Casen.. a bunch of cuties!

 Hanging little monkey's

 We went hiking one day out at Red Rock (I think that's what it was called).  It was so beautiful!  The kids went so high. 

 We took a little visit to the Mormon Fort.  Krew above and Dominic, Krew and Casen below.

Elsie's Baby Blessing

 So I may not have made the best first impression on my little niece Elsie.  I'm sure she really loves me though. :)

 After dinner at The Gateway in Salt Lake.  When we got home to my parents that night, Mary had come, surprising us all by coming with her 5 boys from Vegas. 

 Posing by the pond across from my parents after a little family picnic.

 My beautiful niece Hazel, Tyler and Mandolyn's little girl. 

After Elsie's baby blessing we went to go see Grandma Lois at her rehabilitation center.  She broke her hip and had surgery to remove some cancer from her throat all in the same week.  I hope I can be half as strong as this woman. 

Dan's Birthday Jan 25th

 The kids thought it would be a fantastic idea to move the kitchen table to the backyard for Dan's birthday dinner. 

 We had sweet and sour chicken legs and thighs (his favorite) .  After Jaeden led us in some games to play outside like sharks and mino's

 Cherry cheesecake for dessert.  Happy Birthday Dan!!

Home Depot

Dan took the kids to Home Depot to do their free Saturday class.  They made race cars :-)

Sea World

 At the Shamu show, my favorite

Dominic's first time on this ride.  He was so cute, so excited but a little nervous. 

Thanskgiving

 My parents came to Austin to spend Thanksgiving with Kellie and my family.  We went to eat lunch with the girls at school one day while they were here.

 Thanksgiving morning, the girls wanted to look like twiners in their new dresses they picked out.

 Our family has a little tradition where every Thanksgiving morning we go out to breakfast, ususally Kirby Lane.

So this is my popsy after our big dinner.  I love it. 

Literacy Night

Jaeden is in a readers theater group at school.  She was a narrator for a story they read at Murchison's literacy night. 

Date Night

Dan and I went to see the Twilight movie the Saturday it came out.  Very excited about it. 

October 27th

My friend Keri asked me back in June if I wanted to run a half marathon in October.  It seemed like a fantastic idea at the time.  I started to really train for it in August and towards the end of September I hurt my leg pretty bad.  The morning of the marathon was the first time I ran in 5 weeks.  I was prepared with biofreeze gel and lots of ibprofen.  I think the freezing temp helped too.  It really was so much fun.  Dan showed up with the kids 15 minutes before I crossed the finish line, made me happy.  I was pretty proud of all us ladies. :)

Right after the race, we raced off to San Antonio and went to Sea World with Dan's parents.  It was a fun long day.

Happy Halloween

 Our cute Captain America

 The Black Cat and Green Lantern Man

 We went trick our treating with the Megerle boys at the Round Rock Outlets a few hours before we took the kids around the neighborhood.  I love Rushell's shirt so I had to get a picture of it.

Happy 6th Birthday Avery

 Avery wanted to have her birthday party at Auntie Cakie's pool.  The kids had a lot of fun swimming and eating.  Here's Avery blowing out her pink barbie cupcake.  Thanks to all the fun friends that came to help celebrate!

 

 Alexis Montgomery, Lizza Mott, Brooke and Avery, Jaeden and Tyler Megerle

 Dominic, Katelynn Everts, Josie Aho, Alexis and Lizza

Avery's birthday fell on a Wednesday so we had a little family party first.  She wanted apple pie for her "cake".  Avery has been very big into Lalaloopsie's the past couple months.  I feel like she owns every thing ever made by them now. 

First Day of School

 Avery at her kindergarten desk.  She was so excited but so nervous, can you tell?? She has the sweetest teacher named Ms Peterson.  Its her first year teaching period.  She is great and enthusiastic and loves the kids.

 Jaeden is in 3rd grade this year.  She has Ms Thompson.  She was stopped in the hall and told that if she had Ms Thompson she was so lucky and was going to have the best year ever.  Jaeden loved that.

 Sisters holding hands... makes my heart happy :) 

I have these pictures from last to first, so start from the bottom and work your way up :)

Last Night in Utah

 me and Dan

 Dad, Mom and Ty

 Hazel, Dominic, Mandolyn, and Kaitie

Avery holding Hazel one last time.

We wanted to say goodbye to Tyler and Mandolyn before we headed back to Texas.  We met them at Red Robin for dinner and lots of talking.  Tyler always has funny stories to tell from work and Mandolyn is always so sweet and fun to talk to.  Hazel has the perfect consistency of squishiness.  All of our time in Utah was so fun and very memorable.  We left with a lot of happy memories.