Christmas Eve

A BIG family debut at the Children's Christmas mass...

Mary kept her cool (even though I think this was her only smile at the alter.)

The boys sang their hearts out in the choir (back, left behind the tall kid in the suit.)

And our traditional PJ picture...

along with a silly shot!

Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a good night!

Tis the season - Round #3

They finally made it!  3rd time was a charm on visiting Austin's Trail of Lights, even though 3 out of 4 of them would NOT recommend it.  They got there 2 hours before opening, the wait time at nearby restaurants was too long, the rush of people was close to a stampede, and then returned to the parking lot only to find the truck blocked by other vehicles!  

But the videos of Fran and her excitement are priceless.

Tis the Season - Round #2

After choir practice we decided to attack Austin's Trail of Lights.  After being absent the past 2 years due to city budget cuts, the lights are back and supposedly better than ever.  After sitting in traffic for close to an hour only to see the line of 300+ people waiting to board a shuttle to then take you to the Trail of Lights, we circled the parking lot and drove home (it was already 7:00)...this was our Trail of Lights for the night!  

The kids were disappointed and we might try one more time.  This review on Yelp is a great warning:  

Do you love crowds? Screaming children? Lots of espanol? Having your heels clipped by agressive strollers? People who can't follow directions? Lots and lots and lots and lots and then a lot more people stopping to take pictures of displays they will never look at again? Traffic? You are in luck! The Trail of Lights is perfect for you!   Just keep in mind, you get what you pay for and the Trail of Lights is free.

Tis the Season - Round #1

Today we crammed in a Santa's lap visit and the Trail of Lights in Lakeway after school.  Tis the season for still believing!

Feeding our Friends

Last night we went downtown to the First Baptist Church for the Mobile Loaves & Fishes annual Christmas dinner.  Our family was in charge of passing out bread to all of our hungry, homeless neighbors while they enjoyed a warm meal.  

9 years

Happy Birthday to the greatest 9 year old I know!  May your music memories begin.

One of my Favorite Traditions!

7 years and still going...the lovely Gingerbread House Tradition!  With crazy warm temps we decided to go BIG this year and invite more friends.  19 gingerbread houses and 24 kids easily fit in our back yard.   As always, more candy and frosting were consumed than used but the kids had a blast and great memories were made!

FINALLY 5!

My baby girl is finally 5!  10 friends at a pottery painting party, too many gifts from family, and the most special day ever.  We love Fran!

Spreading Holiday Cheer

 Austin is notorious for "elves" showing up on the roadside and decorating the city's Evergreens Mountain Cedar Trees like they were a 60 ft Douglas Fir.  After sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with our favorite Texas cousins, they had the great idea to be elves ourselves!  

Tinsel and candy canes in hand and Santa hats on head, we headed to the largest roadside patch and found one of the last few trees remaining.  Uphill in flip flops, enjoying our neighboring tree's music, we decorated as well as rookies can for this spontaneous idea.  

Here is to a great Holiday Season and that these trees will treat us EXTRA nice in the allergy season they are about to decorate us with.

, 

Thankful...

I am thankful!  Happy Thanksgiving Day from ATX.

Our First Stitches

With 3 kids I have survived 21 years and 8 months (if  you tally their ages together) without stitches.  We had a close encounter with Will in 2011 but he made it out of the Urgent Care Canter with Dermabond on his forehead laceration.  

Poor Fran, 10 days shy of her 5th birthday and 3 stitches later AND the Plasma Car she fell off of was not even ours.  She did break my #1 rule and was riding without a helmet so I am very thankful this was our only injury.  She was as tough as nails during the procedure and fell asleep on the couch before 7:00.

Best Coach EVER!

After watching season after season of her dad coaching her brothers, Fran finally got her turn...and let me tell you, all 5 girls fell in love with this guy.  Today marked the end of an amazing soccer season and these SuperGirls ROCKED!

Free Range ~ Free Candy

First (and probably last) year ever my 3 kids dressed in sync!  It was a perfect evening, hanging out closer to the house while the kids "free ranged" it around the street and back.  It helps having many neighbors look out for each other's kids.  They all had a blast.  Candy buckets overflowing.  And we even hit up another street for the first visit ever to a real haunted house.  It was fun until the clown with a chainsaw jumped from the forest!  

And to end yet another perfect Halloween, my husband received the greatest compliment ever on our neighborhood message board "To many of you in the 'hood with elaborate decorations all over. I rode my bike and check then out end to end. I gotta say, i LOVE the house on Pointe View Drive in VIsta Canyon who has the special lights in their windows or movie screen thingy? I dont get how they do it. It makes the top floor ..all the windows...look like the house is an aquarium....full of water with sharks and fish swimming by. AMAZING. simple yet so creepy and amazing!"  

Pumpkin Patch

When the cutest 4 1/2 year old says "I have never been to a pumpkin patch Mommy!" you know it has been too long since her last visit.  We headed out today as soon as the boys went to school and she loved our 1-on-1 time...not to mention she is FAR from camera shy.  These are just a few :)