Merry Morning!

The jolly old man came and brought lots of joy and laughter and probably a future of stitches and a broken bone or 2!

Happy Eve!

You try getting these 3 super excited, not sleepy at all, "I want to see Santa" kids to sleep in the next hour.

Here is to a quiet Christmas Eve all around the world!

Austin's Lights!

We have been so busy this December, our Christmas adventures around town were placed on hold...until today.

First stop, Four Seasons Hotel to see their amazing gingerbread city display. It puts our annual creations to shame.



Second, a quick dinner at Blue Ribbon Barbecue, smoked in Taylor, TX and drove in fresh daily.

Third, Zilker Tree. We missed the lighting of the tree this year due to the cold and rain but it was nice to spin under the lights once again.



Fourth, 37th Street. Just a drive thru here but we were still in awe of all the lights displayed.



Fifth, Mozart's Coffee for some pricey hot cocoa but well worth it after seeing their 10 minute light show (and my kids dancing) next to Lake Austin.



And last but definitely not least, Pete's Trail of Lights. Since 2003, this man has been collecting "stuff." The display is on every inch of his yard. You even walk all in the back! Crazy, but my Griswold husband is up for the challenge.

12 Days of Christmas (my version)

12 hours driving
11 presents hauled (including a pink beach cruiser bike)
10 days of antibiotics (prescribed to Will for strep throat on Monday)
9 bottles of wine (we were with lots of family and friends...really!)
8 family/friend encounters
7 bags filled with toys brought home
6 nights away
5 State Football Championships in a row (Go Lake Travis!)
4 Christmas exchanges
3 Grandmas' houses
2 cars driven there and back (how else do you haul the gifts and bike and kids?)
and 1 happy family back in Austin!

Lab Rats

During the Turkey Trot the other week, we were approached by a desperate grad student looking for 4, 6, and 8 year olds to participate in a cycle study. It must have been her lucky day since those are now the exact ages of my kids. After hauling each kid downtown to campus for over 2 hours, we are hoping to help her research "improving physical therapy for the cerebral palsy patient."

Cookies for Christopher

There is the sweetest kid up at our elementary school that Alex has been in class with for the past 2 years. For his 7th birthday, his parents are hosting a walk in our neighborhood to raise awareness for the Hunter's Hope Foundation and Universal Newborn Screening. Since we are unable to walk, we decided to have a cookie sale this weekend and donate all the money to the Foundation. 170 homemade sugar cookies and 2 hours later, we raised $343.50! The boys and I were too busy to take photos during our bake sale, but here is my "sweet shop" in progress and the sign the boys made.

8 years!

Just a few more freckles and some big boy teeth...otherwise he looks the exact same! Here is to another 8 fantastic years and you my son will be driving!!

Chocolate Chess

My first try on chocolate molds and definitely need some practice. A little something special for our last day of Chess Club and a super sweet, freckle faced 8 year old!

6 years, 11 houses, 13 kids!

This year I KNOW more candy made in into mouths and on the floor rather than on the houses! A rainy, cold Sunday afternoon brought our guests inside for our annual Gingerbread House decorating party. A house full of sugar-filled, rowdy kids made it a successful Sunday and began the season of holiday cheer!

He found us!

While we were out doing some Christmas shopping, Santa found us! I left my kids on a bench outside while I was making a few purchases in a store (yes Mom, you read that correctly...ALONE!) This is what I saw when I came out. Nothing but huge grins ear-to-ear.

Only 6 more months...maybe?

I remember feeling the exact same way about 28 years ago...OUCH! Will got his expander placed yesterday. 28 nights of turning the key to widen his palate and then leaving it there for 5 more months (hopefully) while the palate fuses together. Anything to make a handsome smile.

Free Range ~ Adventure Mom & Dad

A very anticipated girls night turned into a mini-date night as a friend became sick and my husband gladly took her place and joined my friends. We (or at least I) have anxiously been waiting to trapeze for over a year! No, I am not joining the circus yet but this was the best 2 hours I have had in a long time!

Climbing up a 24 rung ladder, feeling your heart start to beat faster and faster, chalking your hands, hearing the harness clink, grabbing the bar, waiting for the READY...HEP!", jumping, finding first position, dropping your hands, grab the bar again, kick your legs 3 times, and back flip to your finale! Then we added a release/catch by an instructor on another trapeze.

We easily fit in 5 rounds and I think most of us will be back again. Each lesson they teach you a new trick or 2!

HK on Trapeze from Steven K on Vimeo.

Free Range ~ Christmas Decorating

I will admit it...I am overly OCD about our Christmas tree. It is tall, fat and beautiful and I have been collecting Christmas balls for years! I don't want anything on my tree except my collection and each year these homemade ornaments (by kids) take over.

This year I surrendered and bought a new tree for the game room upstairs. I handed over all the homemade ornaments and lots of beads to the kids. They were quiet for a good hour and here was their final product. Absolutely gorgeous!!

4 Years Old!

To the most special 4 year old in my world. What was supposed to be an intimate family birthday, turned into a house full of 18 people (all related!) and even more due to arrive today. A truly special day for a special girl.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We rushed downtown this GORGEOUS morning for the Turkey Trot. The kids ran a 1K (0.6 mile). It was Fran's first race ever and her first question this week was "Mommy, what tutu should I wear?" I wonder where she gets that from??

And as always, the best part of the race was the unlimited snacks at the finish line. Happy Thanksgiving!