Thanksgiving 2011

We spent Thanksgiving 2011 in Pawnee.  The kids and I went down there on Tuesday afternoon (as well as Brett, Stephanie and Gregory) and Dustin joined us on Wednesday evening. We spent a quiet couple of days there, eating way too much yummy food, playing and watching football. 

 Peyton playing with Gregory.

Grandma brushing the dust off of Reagan after an after a couple of hours of playing in the dirt!

On Friday, Dustin and I came back to San Antonio while the kids stayed in Pawnee.  We took advantage of the kid-free time to decorate our house for Christmas as a surprise for the kids.  On Saturday morning, we returned to Pawnee to pick up the kids and then headed to Rockport to spend the afternoon with Jackie, Georgia and Lasca who had rented a house down there for the month.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch at The Boiling Pot and then went to check out the vacation house.  Peyton and Reagan were thrilled to discover that the two story home had it's very own elevator!  We left mid-afternoon to return to San Antonio. 

Surprising the kids with the Christmas decorations was awesome!  They couldn't believe what they had walked into!  Reagan thought either Comet or some friends had decorated our house.  Peyton decided that the decorations were a Christmas miracle! :)  

Reagan's Thanksgiving Feast

Last Tuesday, Reagan's school hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for the kids and their families.  I picked up Peyton a little early from his school, and we headed to Reagan's school.

 The kids were decked out in their Pilgrim and Indian costumes and sang a few songs.  

 Reagan with her teacher, Ms. Dana.

Super cute Pilgrim with her super cute turkey cupcakes!

 Reagan's crafts.

Peyton and Reagan "feasting".

Making Money

Peyton: "What can I do to earn some money?"

Mommy and Daddy give Peyton ideas of things he can do at home to earn his own money.

Daddy: "Why do you want to earn money Peyton?  Is there something specific you want to buy?"

Peyton: "No.  I just want a lot of money.  I want to make a billion dollars.  Actually, a kajillion dollars."

Daddy: "What would you do with all that money?"

Peyton: "I would just have it."

Fall Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, we had a little family photo shoot with a friend who is starting a photography business.  Below are a few of the pics....  the rest are on the Fall Photo Shoot link on the right.

Koyote Ranch

This weekend we went "camping" with a group of friends (including some very new friends!) at Koyote Ranch in the Hill Country.  We drove up after Dustin finished working on Friday evening. 

 Our cabin had a loft with two beds, where the kids slept.

 More of our cabin, which also included a futon, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a small bedroom with a double bed.

 View from our cabin.

 Our cabin "row".

 One of Peyton's favorite activities of the weekend was climbing this tree in the playground/rec center area.  He fearlessly climbed very high!  And got himself down!

 Boys exploring by the spillway - exploring all over was another favorite activity of Peyton's!

 Playing on the spillway.

 Another tree climbing adventure!

 Remote control boat on the extremely low lake!

 Reagan was also fearless and very skilled at tree climbing this weekend!

 Fishing for the first time, while standing on what was once the lake bottom!

 Sharing her fishing rod with friends.

 Fishing from the spillway.

 Hiking.  Some of the dads went ahead of the group and distributed left over Halloween candy for the kids to collect along the trail.

 One of the dads helping Peyton pick up a piece of candy he spotted beside the trail.

 Trading candy.

 Preparing for the scavenger hunt.

 Peyton wore his headlight as soon as the sun went down!  He could see where he was going, and we could easily keep track of him!

It was warm enough for the kids to go swimming on Saturday afternoon.  On Saturday evening, the group gathered in the rec center for a pot-luck dinner.  Reagan was so exhausted from all the days activities that she fell asleep in Mommy's arms!  Daddy took her back to the cabin to go to bed and Peyton and Mommy played Quesstures.  Peyton loved getting to act out his words for the boys' team to guess!  

Everyone left on Sunday morning.  It was such a fun weekend!  Peyton's principal and her son (who also attends Specht Elem) were on the trip as well, and it was neat for Peyton to get to hang out with her some outside of school!  In fact, when he first saw her there on Friday night, his face broke out into the biggest grin!  

Both kids were so sad to leave.  Peyton even asked us if we could just buy our cabin and move to Koyote Ranch.  "But," he said, "we would have to sell most of our stuff.  And probably just keep our computers.  Because the cabin is much smaller than our house!"  

Soccer Season Finales

 Reagan's team with their medals after their last game.

 Reagan's team with their trophies following their final practice and ice cream party.

 Peyton's team with their trophies and medals at their Double Dave's pizza party.