Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown This is a life like no other-this is the Great Adventure ---Steven Curtis Chapman
We were blessed to get to spend Christmas weekend in Minnesota with the Houges. Christmas Eve started with the gals getting a little outing while the guys took the kiddos to a sledding hill at St. Olaf. The kids (and adults) flew down the hill and really had a ball. We went to church, then had a delicious Christmas meal and Elli got to eat with her older cousins in the basement. She was so thrilled. Her older cousins took her in and like always, just played and played with her. Most pics of the weekend she is looking at her cousins, not the camera! We tried to put Elli to sleep after the kids' gift opening and that didn't work out....hours later we looked at the monitor and Elli was taking her clothes off, throwing them over the side of the crib...sleep was something she lacked :) I cracked up at the white elephant gift exchange...gifts ranged from laundry detergent to door handles to a coveted wood hand-made pen. Christmas was so fun as Sara and Nate's family slept over and we all enjoyed a lazy morning. Then the crew headed to Tim's house to see their new cool addition to the house. Then we drove to John and Sue's new home and loved our evening and woke up to Sue's famous chocolate pudding breakfast (it was a big hit in Elli's book). Then before we left, we got to see Mark and Anne's fam at their house! Whew! It was a fabulous weekend with an amazing family! I have to note, that this was Elli's first plane ride as an official passenger with her own seat and she did great...one time I looked over and her and Paul were dancing like crazy with airplane cookies in hand!! Later, she wanted a photo shoot of dolly and her...she cracks us up!
We had quite the celebrations the week the Yutzy's were in San Antonio! The Friday after Thanksgiving the kids decorated the tree and we started Christmas celebrations. We watched the San Antonio River Parade from the 12th floor of the Westin and came back to play another hilarious game of cards...making new rules and laughing so hard that well, no need for an ab workout. Saturday morning was "Christmas" and Grandma read the Jesus story and we opened presents. The kids thought all was done, when their grandparents pulled out HUGE bags and realized presents had just begun! They were soooo excited! Saturday afternoon the kids played and played and even ate our Christmas dinner outside! In the evening we played "Steal Sticks" where we steal each other's sticks and get back before caught. It was a great game of wit and agility. These are the family memories that are so sweet and remembered...thanks everyone for making it so special!
Fun filled memories flood my brain when I think of Thanksgiving week this year. My whole family came to Texas for Thanksgiving and we had a ball! We started out on Wednesday with the guys going to the Toyota tour and the gals and cousins going to Majik Theatre. Most of the kids enjoyed it, except for Elli who got frightened by all the entertainment and enjoyed the outdoor playground more! Elli cannot get enough of her cousins...she knows them well and remembers their names and they play and play with her!! I feel like I hardly see her when they are here...she wakes up saying their names and wants out of crib to see them. Wednesday evening we enjoyed with the Feldts and Yutzys playing outdoors while picnicking in our front yard with ribs. 
