Nice Little Sunday Balloon Chasing

Today:
Tyler: What do you want to do today?
Me: I don't know. Any ideas?
Tyler: How about Buffalo Gap? We didn't really explore there last time.
Me: Sounds good, let's go.

Another 2 hours later, after we finished hanging out and gathering things for the excursion... we weren't sure if we were excited about it or not... 

Heading off base, we spot a hot air balloon. We tried to guess it's colors and what not. And luck would have it, we headed towards it! Then in front of us is a truck with gear in it, and on the side says some sort balloon chaser on it, and they turn into a parking lot... so we do to. We watch the balloon in amazement (it was really close), and we ask the "chasers" if they are going to land soon. They said sure thing, and they ask, "Do you guys want to help bring it in?"

We look at each other, not really knowing how to react, or if it is something we really want to do... They we say "Sure!"

So we follow.

It was a test of patience.

They thought they would land in one spot, and then they couldn't for one reason or another.

So we followed.

Then finally, it happened! So we stayed back, then they invited us up close, and Colton and Ayla both got a turn to get inside of the basket and PULL the lever that makes the fire! They were scared, but pretty amazed at the same time! It was so fun.

Then Tyler helped get the air out and roll it all up, and it fit in a bag the size of a small coffee table. It was pretty cool.

This was Soren's job the whole time!

Yeah, it was an hour out of our other excursion, but it was SO cool. I am so happy we said "Sure" to balloon chasing. If you ever get the chance, you won't regret!

Halloween

I had so much fun making the kids costumes this year! Admittedly, they are all the same basic pattern (I made it up) with some details added to each. Ayla's unicorn costume probably took the longest because of the mane, but Kellen's adorable chipmunk one took about all of 20 minutes to complete! We had so much fun doing this photo shoot with Ashley here in Abilene. The kids were so cute and she got a ton of great pictures with great lighting.
I love these kids.
When I have a bad day and reflect after they have gone to bed.... I realize how lucky I am. 

Sometimes I make the wrong choice and yell at them when I really shouldn't. But overall, we all get along fabulously!

We invited the Wicked Witch into our house after Halloween this year, and it worked out great! The kids get just way too much candy, and I end up eating it over and over again... so we started inviting the WW. The kids pick out 15-20 of their favorite pieces of candy, and the rest goes into one bag. They hide it somewhere, and leave a note for the WW. She has to find it and takes it with her, and then she leaves a little gift. This year she left walkie talkies (or Honkey tonkies as Colton calls them!). And a note... it was fun!

A day in the rain

The kids having some fun during a rain storm last week. Or maybe the week before that? They all seem to run together after a while... They were having so much fun! I am not sure why they laid down in the water, but it sure looked like they had a bunch of fun. Oh, to be a kid again.

One of my Favorite Days

Where do I begin... this man that I love so deeply... it is our 7th Anniversary today (well, yesterday... i didn't have time to finish this yesterday!). It is hard to fathom that 7 years ago, we had our beautiful wedding. And now, I still find myself terribly in love with him. Everyday.

For one, he makes adorable children.


And I mean look... he lets the kids dress him up.

One of my favorite pictures, but when our family was only 5 people strong.

He is our rock. Or at least mine.

He is the kids play toy. Seriously. They never stop asking him to play. Even Soren with his little chubby finger points and giggles. Adorable, I tell you.

This is an old gem from our days in North Carolina/Maryland days. Our first stay at a bed & breakfast... and it was fabulous!

In Japan, our first camping trip on Mt. Hakkota. We ended up camping next to a sulfur creek. It was seriously stinky, but memorable.

Doesn't he look pretty much the same? This was 8 years ago!

 And look.at.that.cute.baby.

Did I already say he makes adorable children? His half of the chromosomes definitely shine through (I'm taking biology, so ...)

He still make me laugh on a daily basis. Our world revolves on laughter. Ourselves and the kids are all sarcastic, and it makes us happy.
Life is so good. (except it is just okay when we have sicknesses, like right now. Soren has been letting me get maybe 3-4 hrs a night of B-R-O-K-E-N sleep for the past couple nights...)

Can you get any better than that for wedding day weather? In October???

This is in Japan, at the Oriasi Gorge... so pretty. We got to go behind waterfalls and such. So many good memories of our times together.

And of course, all the camping.

And...
he let me get a dog!

Even if the puppy has been definitely being a puppy, I think it was a good idea!
Oh, and he got a tattoo for our anniversary! It was such a good surprise... a ring on his finger (he doesn't get to wear his ring at work)

Now he is branded!

Austin: Part 2

We had such fun at the Tough Mudder! It was one of the hardest and most fun things I have done in a while. Tyler and his buddies from work set out at the same time me and my friends did, but they finished a bit before us... but I would say we ran/jogged 8 of the 12 miles on the course; we went through some ice cold water, climbed muddy hills, jumped off a 2 (?) tower into water, and over a HUGE pile of those round hay bales.. and some went through the electrodes.... which I did not because of the crazy heart stuff I have had going on in the last two weeks. My back felt great, I was covered with mud, and got to eat a HUGE bbq meal later with a milkshake. Oh, and the next morning we got really expensive yummy doughnuts at Gordough's in Austin (I had the flying pig! YUMMY), and they were worth the 30 minute wait!

We are hoping to run another Tough Mudder next year... who's in?

It was SO much fun.

The headbands are what you get at the end of the race for finishing, and the boys just love them!

More pictures HERE.

Part of our Austin trip

This is the house we stayed at while in Austin.

It was beyond AWESOME!

This was one of the doors on the front porch that led to the living room.... I would say that this house is a place I dream about someday living in. It was that nice. A dream house, I say.

How sweet are these two?

These stairs led to our family bedroom... which was so cozy. There were old double doors on each end of the long room, and opened they let in a wonderful breeze.
Awesome, I tell you.

Here is the upstairs "family room" with the two models. The huge windows let in SO much light.

So throughout the whole house, beadboard (what you might think of as the boards that go halfway up a wall) was on the ceilings.... it looked fantastic.

In this right hand corner of the pic is a chaise lounge... Kellen slept there and LOVED it!

The most awesome old bathroom sink! I really want one in our future house in the "kids" bathroom. I loved that it had three spouts for the kids and one drain. It was perfect.

Looking from the bathroom into the bedroom.

Oh, and the beds were VERY comfy. Even with being super sore from the Tough Mudder, we slept like rocks!

Off the back part of the wrap around porch. The kids had a fabulous time running around the whole house over and OVER again.

Even Soren was loving it. Which was tiresome.

Tyler really wanted to fish... too bad we left the poles at home.

The master bedroom, and its wonderful antiques.

My parents said it was very comfy, and the only complaint was on the last night, and the wind was howling... they said it was pretty noisy.

Something I would be willing to live with. Promise.

Part of the living room.

There was a TV here, along with a DVD player... but no cable and no WiFi, much to my father's dismay!

Here is the rascally crowd! Kellen was not wanting to have his picture taken at all.

And it was cold.

If you can see... Colton is wearing Tyler's special Tough Mudder headband... the kids loved them.

Plus they kept their ears warm!

On the back stairs of the house.

We had a couple people over for dinner the night we got into town, and had a great time bbqing up some chicken and enjoying the beautiful sunset.

The front of the Pond House....

Absolutely beautiful.

Even with the scorpion we found, the mud daubers (we think), and the dead mouse under the sink (in a trap). Those are just things that occur out in the country.

We loved every minute of it!

More to come on the Tough Mudder and how much fun that was (and the week working up to it!)!!!

Soren's first birthday

My boy is getting too big. Just this morning he was deleting pictures from our computer... the little turd. Luckily I found them in the recycle bin! We had a quiet birthday celebration, with Papa and Granna and the Lucas's, our friends here on base. He loved his cake (decoration inspired by Pinterest!) and it was yummy. He also loved our spagetti dinner (I roasted veggies: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and such) and added them to the sauce. It was delicious! He turned one the day before we headed to Austin for the Tough Mudder (more on that later!) and he is walking, signing, and getting his 6th and 7th tooth!! Stop growing!!