December 2017

We started the month off with the Rock n Roll San Antonio 1/2 marathon.  With both of us being pretty sick, pushing 2 kids, and not running over the last couple months we didn't do too bad- 2:01 I think?  We were supposed to meet some friends, but it was super crowded.  Sorry Fran and Nicole!

The girls went to BAMC for a children's Christmas Party.  There were booths throughout the medical mall where the girls could win prizes, eat candy, and make crafts.  It was fabulous!  Probably the best military function I have been to.

 Kate and Jane helped make sugar cookies to give to friends, teachers, and neighbors.  We assembled cookies, chocolates, and candies into these cute little Santa bags and delivered them before we headed to Salt Lake City, Utah for 6 days.

 We made the coolest gingerbread houses too! Thank you Costco.

We drove 22 hours from San Antonio, Texas to Lehi, Utah to visit family and go skiing.  It was a challenge splitting the time among our families with such a short stay.  On Sunday, we celebrated a cousin Christmas and had a special visitor- SANTA!   As usual, my children were spoiled rotten.  They got jewelry, jewelry boxes, chap stick, aprons, books, coloring books, markers, candy, watches, and so much more.

On Monday and Tuesday, Bryan and I went skiing.  We were able to go skiing with some of Bryan's family.  Monday we went skiing with Becky's family, Renae's family, Adams family, and Michael.  Tuesday we went skiing with Adam's family and Bryan's mother.  There was not a lot of snow, but it was a wonderful feeling being out on the mountains again. We even met Santa up there!

On Wednesday, we had a special breakfast at the Ahlborn's and then went swimming at the Provo Recreation Center.  Then we had to drive the 22 hours back to Texas! We are crazy- I already know that! I am not going to lie- the ride back home was a lot harder.

Christmas morning was a blast! The girls slept until 0730 and ran downstairs to open their stockings.  The girls got gymnastic rings, gymnastic mat, clothes, stickers, books, hungry hippo game, fingerling monkeys, candy, gum, matchbox cars and garage, bedding, underwear, earrings, and so much more!

Bryan got toys for his truck and Rebekah got toys for the kitchen.  I made the most delicious sweet rolls too! It's a tradition, of course.  Jane wouldn't eat anything, of course.  She was sleepy and ready for a nap by 9am- the little stinker. 

After organizing all the presents, we watched movies and played with our new toys.  It was a wonderful, relaxing day.

Merry Christmas 2017

2017 has brought about many changes. We now live in San Antonio, Texas. Bryan started an Optometry Residency in July.  He enjoys the different patient population and fitting scleral lenses.  He has taken an interest investing in real estate and building furniture.  Rebekah started working at Northeast Methodist in the intensive care unit.  It has involved lots of learning and re-learning after 3 years of not working while in Germany.  She has found joy in running, orange theory fitness, and shopping at Costco.  The girls are enrolled in preschool/daycare.  They enjoy their teachers, friends, and planned school activities.  Both girls were involved in swimming lessons this fall.  Kate loves arts and crafts, swimming, and gymnastics.  She is a loving older sister and a good listener.  Jane is our little stinker.  She loves to play hide and seek, run around the house naked, and steal Kate's toys or jewelry.  She is a good at snuggling and gives the best hugs and kisses.  We hope you have a

 MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

      

Photo credit: Angela Moore

Snow!

Can you believe it? It hasn't snowed in San Antonio since 1985!! The girls loved playing in the white wonderland at our friends house December 7, 2017.

November 2017

I went to a Yoga Convention with some friends up in Austin.  It was really fun and nice to get "away" for the day.

We went out with some friends to Oktoberfest in New Braunfels, Texas.  It was pretty close to the same thing, minus the language barrier.  

For Thanksgiving, we had 21 people over at our house.  Wendy and her family (7) drove all the way from Idaho to come visit.  Adam and his family (5) came from Oklahoma.  The Moore family (5) came locally.  We divided up the food, had an already cooked turkey, and ate way too much food.  Everything was amazing.  I made the best sweet potato dish and will probably make annually.  

The next day, Bryan's parents drove down and we all went to the San Antonio Aquarium and Sea World.  Yes, all in the same day.  

  Trying to capture Jane's sad face or pouty lip.  I just can't seem to get it!

   Touching the sting rays.

 Holding the birds.

 Being squished by snakes.

Riding the roller coasters at Sea World.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Kate got her tonsils and adenoids removed.  She was like a roller coaster of wellness and sickness.  I was so grateful to have Bryan's parents available to help on the day of her surgery. She is doing very well now.

 And then the December festivities began.  We do the 24 books of Christmas...

and the beloved Elf on the Shelf.  Her name is Dassie. 

October 2017

We LOVE Halloween! This year we took the girls to our yoga studio for "GLOWGA".  We painted their faces with blacklight paint, did yoga, danced underneath the blacklights, ate pizza, and then ate ice cream.  I think the girls had a fun time? Maybe Kate more than Jane. Haha!

Our first pumpkins were stolen from our front porch.  Dumb neighbor kids stealing $5 pumpkins to throw or smash.  Kate and Jane loved having me cut out their pumpkins.  Kate "designed" a happy face pumpkin and Jane asked for a "sad face pumpkin".  Both girls wanted eyelashes. 

We spent Halloween at our friends house.  We brought dry ice and made homemade root beer.  Next time, we will use carbonated water.  It was really fun to see the kids faces.   

Unfortunately, it rained right before we headed out.  The kids didn't mind too much, but the adults were less enthusiastic.  The neighborhood was not crowded with children because of the rain, so the houses gave out handfuls of candy to our children. 

This years theme was The Incredibles.  Our children have started to watch TV shows or movies that don't involve princesses and ponies.  It has been a good change!

Bryan's 35

I surprised Bryan with skydiving for his birthday.  It was his best birthday gift ever!

School Pictures Fall 2017

Both girls started preschool/daycare in September 2017.  They love it.  Below are their school pictures.  They are cute pictures, but I can't believe how much I paid for them!

September 2017

We are quickly adjusting to the changes San Antonio has sprung upon us.  I am enjoying the shopping and conveniences of a large city.  The girls call Target the "one eyed store", as we frequent there often.  The weather has been warm and sunny! Perfect for outdoor activities.  We went camping with our friends over Labor Day Weekend at Canyon Lake.  The days were hot and the nights were perfect.  Bryan bought me a paddle board for my birthday, so we got some use out of it at the lake doing SUP and paddle board yoga.  We also brought our kayaks and sand toys.  The kids enjoyed playing together and eating marshmallows.  This was there first time camping and they did OK? 

The girls are enrolled in preschool/daycare.  Kate loves doing homework assignments and bringing toys for show and tell.  Ms. Lorraine and Ms. Lynn are fabulous teachers for Kate.  Ms. Felicia is the perfect teacher for Jane.  Jane had a hard time warming up to daycare and being away from her mom, but after about a month she learned to kiss me goodbye and play with her friends. 

We found a wonderful library in Schertz that has story time 3 times a week.  The children's section of the library is organized well and there are little hand-on activities scattered about the area.  We have also found some great playgrounds near the library and our house. 

We have made a few friends in the area.  Some that we knew before coming to San Antonio and some from the Yoga studio we practice at.  The girls miss Germany and the friends they made there, but are quickly adapting to the changes. 

Bryan and I completed a triathlon in Kerrville, TX.  Bryan did a 1/2 Ironman and Rebekah did a sprint triathlon.  Our friends the Wilson's cam to cheer us on.

Rebekah found a job! After 3 years of living in Germany, it was time to go back.  It was difficult finding a job, oddly enough.  I am working at Northeast Methodist on the intensive care unit.  Orientation starts October 2, 2017. I bought work shoes to celebrate the occasion. 

My 100 year old grandmother, Wilma, passed away September 7, 2017.  I flew out for the weekend to attend her funeral service.  She was a very loved woman.  I always knew that, but it made me think about how I should treat others around me.  Often times, I feel like I am not a very nice person and I hope that when I pass away, I have friends and family that only have good things to say about me. I would like to adapt her love for everyone into my life.  Wilma was always serving others or doing kind acts for her neighbors and friends.  She kept up with everyone's lives and knew all the gossip.  I will miss her dearly.  I am so glad I was able to attend her 100th birthday party and that my children got to meet the "old, old grandma".