December

December went by in whirl wind. We tried to figure out fun things to do in San Antonio and to get some new Texas traditions started. 

We went to the Schertz Christmas parade. We've started bringing our own popcorn everywhere. The WhirlyPop has changed our little popcorn addicts lives!

 We visited several Santas. This one is in the neighborhood over with the most amazing lit up house.

 We had friends come help us put on a Nativity with a full cast for FHE one night!

 We went to the Christmas festival at the kids' elementary school. Santa was the PE teacher which I thought was a brilliant incentive to get the kids to stand in line.

 We went with friends to Sea World. Scotty wanted to touch the shark teeth like everyone else.

AND we went to the Nutcracker. I found $14 tickets on Groupon at the beginning of November. The kids were restless for about 40% of it. But I liked it! We also had the absolute worst seats in the house (like up against the very back wall!) but at least after the fact the girls dance around and still talk about it.

Then my parents came into town for the actual week of Christmas! I'm slowly catching up!

Family Pictures

I had to get these blogged before I post Christmas. My friend Kelley in our ward is an amazing photographer. I told her I wanted light and bright so we set an alarm and were out of the house at 7:45am one Saturday morning. I managed not to burn any of the girls this year with the curling wand. I love that Scotty is officially a member of the family now. His poor frame on the wall sat empty for 8 months. Poor 5th child.

Thanksgiving

We headed up to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with David's parents so I didn't post our grateful tree. I love that we do this every year and that the kids are getting better at thinking of their own blessings instead of various things we suggest to them.

We are so blessed. I am grateful for Jesus Christ because I know every blessing up on that tree came from Him and millions more.

7

We have a 7 year old! I am getting more sparse on my posts but birthdays are still important! Ashton partied with us at home and got a new bike and walkie talkes. He spends alot of time setting up battles with bases and army guys. He loves playing outside with friends. He loves his sisters and Scotty. He is a pretty clever and funny little guy. He is still known as "Bug" to the family and we have to translate to our new friends in San Antonio when the girls talk about "Bug". I hope that nickname never gets embarrassing for him. His Dad is still his very best friend and I couldn't imagine a better oldest boy!

So my parent sent Ashton some candy, sunglasses and money for his birthday. He thought he was pretty hot stuff and he kept saying stuff like, "I'm pretty much the most awesome kid!" It was hilarious. He loves money. He is always asking what he can do to earn more and counting how much he has in his piggy bank. He's up to almost $100. Sometimes I get a little worried he'll be a greedy little miser and then he'll say something like, "Don't worry Mom, I'll buy it for you!" Or he'll ask to send some dollars to some of his cousins or friends. Then I realize he'll be just fine because he has so much generosity in those little bones!

Halloween 2014

Without further ado...

6 years later! We can finally reuse the original Yoda costume we got for Ashton.

Lucy called herself a "pupperfly" all nigh. Oh the baby bangs that I can never keep out of her eyes. 

Mallie was a regular old princess with no Disney theme attached because it came from Costco, Lucy is convinced that it's Rapunzel.

Hannah was a generic Mermaid and would tell everyone she wasn't Ariel JUST a mermaid!

Ashton's is not so vague. He scared the heck out of all the girls and me with this mask. Next year I'm vetoing the masks for the sake of the other children. We'll see if I can hold to it!

That's Lucy's scared face because we originally had her sitting next to Bug! Yes it was 75 degrees on Halloween night. We're earning our perfect that's heading our way soon! 

Happy Halloween 2014! 

Padre Island

While my parents were here visiting we took an impromptu trip to the beach. The kids had never ever been to the ocean and because it's not peak season we got a great deal on the condo. We left Thursday at noon and David drove down after work and met us. It's only a 2.5 hour drive and it was incredibly reminiscent sitting in the back while my Mom read to my Dad up front. 

This was our condo that was made for families with a set of parents! There was one master bedroom with a king bed downstairs and then another master upstairs along with a kids room that had a bunk bed and two twins. It was PERFECT! We took advantage of having a kitchen and ate all our meals at the condo.

My favorite part was that off our balcony we had the pool and playground. We could nap Scotty and the baby monitor would reach out to the pool so we could all still be outside.

First night on the beach.

 

As I was writing all the kids' names in the sand Hannah went and wrote my name in the sand and took my picture. She's sentimental like that and doesn't want anyone to be left out.

You can drive your car right up to the beach where you play. It's so nice not to have to haul chairs, food and toys down the beach.

We originally thought the kids would last an hour at the beach before the wind got old for them. We were so wrong. The first night we got there they played until the sun went down and couldn't get enough.

They had no fear of the waves and built endless amounts of sand castles. Scotty crawled around ate the sand and seaweed and stayed so happy. It was amazing how everyone took to the beach like pros!

These two got a little too brave with the waves and we kept having to call them back closer to us.

Nana helping build sand castles.

My mom caught this picture of us trying to get settled to take a picture. We look like so many when we're all just gathered around. 

 Me with los Padres on Padre Island. It's only appropriate.

Fun little souvenir shop where we managed to get 3 shirts for $10 and break a snow globe.

Lucy is an adult trapped in a 2 year old's body. She does whatever the grown ups do.

I'm so grateful the top 3 can swim. My life is SO much easier around water!

Last day at the beach. 

Having the beach just 2.5 hours away that was not crowded and had super cheap accommodations made me love San Antonio even more!

San Antonio So far

I had to calculate how long we've been here three times. I can't believe it's been just a little less than 3 months. San Antonio already feels like home. I still feel like the newbie when someone references a street I don't know or when I don't recognize everyone in our ward but it feels like we've been here a year! School started for the kids and I and we got busy. 

I've been to school to eat lunch with these two a bunch and helped out in their classrooms. I love their elementary school. They have a leadership class each week where they learn the 7 Habits for Highly Effective kids and families are required to come up with a Family Motto, priorities etc. Texas understands the importance of the family and it makes me SO happy to be back in God's country!

 We've found amazing parks!

We've made towers (and messes!) in the playroom.

I dressed up four pirates for free donuts at Krispy Kreme.

This little boy has learned to crawl and take a bottle here! (And we've painted!)

We went to our neighbor pool at least a dozen times before it closed on October 1st.

 We live right in the middle of New Braunfels and San Antonio... actually a little closer to New Braunfels. So we've taken advantage of their smaller less busy children's museum. We have yet to venture to downtown San Antonio because life hit us so quickly but we have big plans!

The water area is a huge hit.

Playground area outside.

The painting area.

We've been to Sea World at least 10 times. We're groupies.

Mallie takes the bus to and from preschool, the kids are well ingrained in their elementary school and they've been invited to so many birthday parties I've had to start saying no. It's been so nice that they all have all already found buddies (even Lucy!) who they play with regularly. Even me, my neighbor and I run with our strollers every morning and I'm serving in YW again. We've been to dentists and doctors. We've had friends over for dinner. We've been to the temple lots and have great babysitters. Our street is full of kids and friends their ages and they spend hours riding bikes and cars up and down driveways. David is out the door early each morning but gets home by 3:30 so we have no complaints. See what I mean when I say I can't believe it hasn't even been 3 months?

 It is hot, and fall may never come, but we are so so happy!