February 2021

A beautiful ride at Dana Peak Park. I had no idea Texas would be hit by a crazy snow storm in a week.  

It took me 45 minutes to defrost my Jeep after work. 

We used our fireplace every day to help keep the furnace from running constantly.  Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows helps keep away the cold. 

Our street. 

One of my friends took my girls in when I got called into work.  I work in the surgery department at Seton Medical Center, and basically everyone in our area decided to venture out on the iced snow and break their foot or ankle or hip. 

My friend Rebecca brought her family out to visit us for Kate's birthday.  They are saints for enduring the car rides to and from El Paso, Texas to celebrate Kate's birthday with us.  

Jane's favorite part of Kalahari resort was the wave pool.  We could always find her there if the waves were going.  

Happy birthday to Kate! I had to make both of her birthday cakes because most of the stores were closed or had nothing on the shelves.  Quite the birthday to remember!  Luckily, Kate is similar to Bryan and I, and prefers homemade cooking. 

Kate and her American Girl doll with skates on from grandma Koplin.  Grandma is the best at giving gifts the girls love.  

Jane looking good in her new tie shoes! She is my determined child.  I am always wanting to hold her back, but she knows when she is ready to conquer a new skill.  We bought her new shoes and she was able to tie them by herself within 3 days!

Kate loves crafting and she loves to "work out" with me in our garage gym. 

Bryan went to the Best Medic International Competition at the end of January.  I am so proud of his accomplishment of winning 2nd running up.  He got a coin from the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army and people joke he could probably sign up for Ranger School and get accepted into the school as the only Army Optometrist!  Good work babe!

 

Jane has become really good and sneaky at playing "Cover Your Assets".  Watch out! She will manipulate you with her facial features and emotional tactics.  

 

Kate turns 8

Kate had quite the eventful birthday this year.  We had no clue Texas would be suffering from snow, ice, and freezing weather- shutting most places down.  Even so, she had an incredible weekend.  She invited a few friends from school for a movie night at our house and played in her new bedroom.  

Kate has been asking for over a year now, when she can move out of the room with Jane.  So, that was her big gift.  A new room reveal...

Her friends Avery, Abigail, Jane, Alise, Hadassah, and Samantha watched Big Hero 6,  

enjoyed some pizza, fruit, and popcorn for dinner,  

opened birthday presents, 

and ate birthday cake. 

Happy Birthday Kate!

And after everyone left, a surprise rang the doorbell.  

We love the Webster family and were so glad they made it safely.  I couldn't believe they decided to weather the storm from El Paso, Texas to hang out with us.  Our next big adventure was to drive an hour south to Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, Texas.  

 The white out from our hotel room.  We weren't going to let this snow stop us from enjoying the indoor waterslides and pools.  In fact, there were very limited amounts of people and restaurants to choose from, so we didn't need to travel out of the resort.

Eating at the Mexican restaurant within the hotel because everything shut down around the resort.  We only discovered that as we were driving down the main road and no one was out!

Luckily, our friends made it safely back to El Paso.  I am not sure they ever want to go on an adventure with us again. Haha! Texas does not have snow plow machines or salt.  This storm really shut down the state for about a week.  The temperatures dropped below freezing and pipes burst in peoples houses.  It was another manifestation to me, that 2021 was going to be another crazy year.  

Card My Yard couldn't come on the day I had planned due to very poor road conditions, but we did end up with 2 day with a birthday sign.  

Happy Birthday Kate!

Kate is kind and feels every emotion I did as a child.  She loves with her whole heart and wants what is best for everyone. She still loves to dress up and make believe.  She likes to put on make-up and act like characters from movies or shows she has seen.  She loves to play with her American Girl doll and all the accessories that comes with them.  She has really started to enjoy reading chapter books.  She loves the color blue.  She absolutely adores her second grade teacher Ms. Brinson.  Her best friend at school is Hadassah, but her best friend of all times is Emily Webster.  She is great at swimming and science is her favorite subject.  She excels in math.  She is extraordinary at memorizing songs and words/lines to movies and shows.  She would be excellent in the drama department.  She loves her grandma Koplin.  Kate is great!