Texas, part 4 (Fredericksburg and the zoo)

After we went to the Pearl Harbor museum we stopped in the town square to see the Christmas decorations.  The city is a German city, so there was lots of cute German decorations.

 Parker, Easton, and Keagan in front of the nativity

 It was a little cold that day, but the kids wanted to stop at the park on the way back to the car.

 Driving out of town we saw this and had to stop to get a picture with our Opa.

 One day we went to the zoo.  It was a little cold, but warmed up and we had the zoo almost to ourselves.  It was great.

Oma, Opa, Parker, Easton

 Me and Keagan

 Parker wrestling the Komodo dragon

 my little butterflies

 As we were walking towards the exit to leave, a zookeeper told us they were just about to do the hippo training and feeding.  So we went to the hippo house and the kids actually got to help do the training.  It was so cool.  They would hold a colored shape up to the window and the hippo would come and touch it's nose to the shape and then get a treat from the trainer on top of the building.  In the picture below, the hippos are begging for their treat from the trainer.

 Easton got to hold the yellow square.

 Keagan did the blue circle.

Texas, part 3 (mini Christmas, Texas white house, Pearl Harbor museum)

We did a mini Christmas while we were in Texas.  The kids were so excited!  Oma and Opa spoiled them with gifts and surprises.

 Easton in his new robe.

 Keagan showing off her new tutu and Fancy Nancy slippers, which she calls, "Fancy Dancy slippers."

 The kids got little notebooks and I was looking through Easton's....Carpe Diem.  He had copied a sign that Oma has.

 One day we went to a farm that was from the early 1900's.  Easton's chore would have been getting water from the well with this...

 We went to the Texas White House.  Lyndon Johnson's old home.

There was a press room in an airplane hanger.

 Air Force One.

 On the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, we went to the Pearl Harbor museum in Fredericksburg.

Easton was excited to take a picture with these "soldiers."

 outside the museum

texas, part 2 (children's museum, Santa)

We went to the Children's Museum while we were there.  It is such a fun museum.  Easton loved the airplane.  He got to be a pilot.

 In the basement they had a grocery store, complete with checkout lines that the kids could scan their purchases and they would come up on the little computer.  Too cute.  Keagan loved going shopping.

 They had a really cool science section.  There was an earthquake table, where you build a house out of blocks, push the button and the table shakes and you see if your house was built strong enough to withstand an earthquake.  

Easton liked this skyscraper building part.  He built it and the light on the side would light up the higher he got.

 One day Oma was getting her hair cut, so we walked around the mall and got a cupcake at the "Build Your Own Cupcake" stand.  As we were sitting down with our cupcakes a woman with her kids was on the next table.  She looked over and said, "They are really messy.  Do you need some wipes?"  She gave me a bunch, and I am so grateful she did, we would have been such a mess!  But, the cupcakes were so good.

 Santa had called Opa to ask if he would help him because he is so busy this time of year.  Opa got to dress up as Santa for the neighborhood kids.  We had told the kids they couldn't tell the other kids that it was their Opa.  We went and saw him and the kids were so cute, they kept looking at me like, "I know a secret..."

 Easton, Opa Santa, Keagan

 The day after Parker got there we went to Bass Pro Fishing and walked around.  They have a big aquarium that the kids thought was cool.  They also had a whole section made up to be Santa's Village.  It was so cute.  They got to get a free picture with Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

 The Santa's Village had a carousel, and a train, and because it was a fishing and hunting store, a Nerf bow and arrow shooting game for the kids.  (Easton LOVED that part.)

Texas, part 1 (park, girl time)

We went to Texas for 10 days.  Parker came 4 days after us because of work.  The kids had so much fun being spoiled by their Oma and Opa.

While we were in Texas, Oma found her doll from when she was little.  Keagan loved playing with her and dressing her in all of the little clothes.

 Easton playing with the "Schlumps and Bullies"--toys from when Parker was little from Europe. (little plastic figurines.)

 At the beginning of our trip the weather was beautiful and warm.  (at the tail-end of the trip the weather was cold and rainy.)  So, we got in a park day while it was nice.  We were the only ones there and the kids loved it.

 One night the girls took a trip to the accessory shop, Versona.  AWESOME.  Color-coded, pretty, love, love, love.

 As you can guess, Keagan loved it.

family time....texas style

We went and visited Oma and Opa in Texas at the beginning of this month.  They had just moved there, so this was our first time visiting Texas.  Easton was obsessed with cowboys while we were there.  Oma found Parker's old costume from when he was in "Annie Get Your Gun" in high school, and Easton loved it.

 She then found some of her stuff for Keagan.

(I will post more vacation pictures soon.)

curious.....

I am curious to see how long this Halloween balloon lasts....it is now December and still floating.  I know I should just pop it, but I am holding out to see how long it will float.

we bleed BLUE!

At the beginning of the basketball season, I took Easton on a date to one of the BYU games.  Daddy and Keagan were home and having Daddy/daughter time.  We were sitting by my dad and Cosmo came up to our section.  He usually never comes to that section, which I understand now.  As soon as he did, a huge line formed of kids to go up and talk to him.  It took him a while to leave and go back down to the student section.  He was standing right by our seats, so Easton snuck in a picture. 

Go BLUE!

the lighting of the tree....

We put up our Christmas stuff the day after Thanksgiving, as per our tradition.  It was Keagan's turn to do the star.  She was so excited.

 I love doing our Christmas stuff, and every year am glad I don't have a ton.  Granted, our house couldn't fit a ton of stuff.  :)

Also every year I wonder if our little tree will last one more year.  It is getting pretty scraggly, and every year I think it might be the last year.  We will see next year....

random

We did family pictures yesterday and I had to laugh at Keagan the whole time.  She posed for every picture.  Not just a smile, but the whole body, cock the hip, cock the head, posing.  Some included holding the hem of her dress, some included a hand on the hip, but all were posed and, in my opinion, adorable.  I can't wait to get them back and see how they turned out.

Parker talks in his sleep.  He always has.  Sometimes it is just gibberish that I can't understand, sometimes he blurts out random sentences, but last night was interesting.  He said, "Julie, Mitt Romney is coming over for hot chocolate.  He is campaigning and he wants hot chocolate."  OKAY.....

Also, Keagan sings in her sleep.  Yes, sings.  It is cute, unless it is in the middle of the night and startles me awake.  Easton, on the other hand, when he is asleep, he is dead to the world.