Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
So it has come to this...quarterly updates. What started as weekly updates has now been reduced to this. It is what it is, so I will just take it.
The last post left off around Halloween, so we will pick up from then. Grandma and Grandpa came into town to visit, so we went to check out a fall festival at Dripping Springs. They had lots of fun activities for the kids to do. Hannah didn't go because she had her Lego Robotics meeting.
A giant corn pit was a highlight for Hailey.
And throwing balls is always appealing to Nathan.
On the Saturday before Halloween, we went to our school's fall carnival and also had a blast there. Hannah loves animals of all kinds.
I remember last time Hailey got into one of these petting ponds, she asked for a rabbit or chick, but instead got a lizard and was not happy at all. You were also like 3 years old.
There were a lot of fun trunks decorated for the trunk or treat.
We also carved pumpkins, but for some reason I only got a picture of Hailey's. I have videos of Nathan and Hannah's pumpkin, but for some reason, videos don't show up sometimes on the blog.
This year was the coldest Halloween on record for our family. Usually we are parading around dripping sweat, but this year started out a bit cold, but once we got our blood flowing, it felt quite nice. Our theme was Greek Gods, Goddesses, and Medusa.
Amphitrite
Flora
Apollo
Medusa
Poseidon
Hannah really wants a pet dog. You beg for one almost each week. But when I bring home a bunch of balloons, you decorated them all like a pack of puppies and drag them around the house like you are taking them on a walk, but then you hang them off the banister...so, still no dog for you.
We were at our favorite hamburger place and we decided to try out their pumpkin pie shake. It was fun to watch you guys all slurp from the same cup.
Sometimes I go into witch mode and brew up a batch of potion. This especially happens after I receive my special ingredients by delivery and they usually pack the cold items with dry ice.
We had another round of belt promotions right before Thanksgiving. Hailey is now a solid orange belt! Nathan is a 7th level red belt.
For Thanksgiving, we made lots of pecan pies for teachers and for us to eat. Hailey did a great job decorating the one for us.
We went to watch the 5th grade musical. Nathan was a Narrator who started the whole show. We had a lot of fun watching the play and seeing how big these kids have grown up since they were in Kindergarten may have squeezed a few tears out of me.
One day we met up with Hannah's godmother and kids. We went roller skating at a rink for the first time. (Although Hailey swears she's been skating at this place before).
Bedhead is still a thing for Hailey. Very much a thing.
For Thanksgiving, Dad flew us to Dallas in a 6 seater airplane. It was surprisingly a smooth ride, except when we flew over Towne Lake and it got a little bumpy for a bit.
Before Take-off, kids getting cozy.
While in the DFW area, we went to Meow Wolf and had fun exploring the art/fun house.
Auntie Momo also had you guys make your own signature essential oil scents.
We took a walk one afternoon and came across some gorgeous fall colors.
The flight back home, we avoided the lake, so it was much smoother. Steve tried flying a bit higher and faster than he did on the way to the Dallas area, but that made us a little bit uncomfortable.
At one point, Hailey fell asleep and so we checked her blook oxygen levels to make sure she fell asleep and didn't just pass out because of the altitude.
When we came home, the kids put up the Christmas decorations and our elf, Bubby, came back.
One evening, we went to go visit the Maywald family lights. This is an amazing light display put on by a kid who wanted to make a difference. Every year for the past like 10 years, he sets up these lights and collects donations for Make a wish foundation. Last year they were able to fulfill 9 wishes and over the years, I think he's fulfilled like almost 30 wishes! I get teary eyed every time.
Hailey, you were just entranced with the lights. Twirling and enjoying yourself as we walked through the light displays. I tried to capture you dancing.
We didn't get to decorate gingerbread houses with the usual gang, but we did invite one of our favorite families over to decorate gingerbread houses. You all came up with drawings and prototypes of your dream gingerbread [insert structure] and I made cookie versions of them for you.
Hailey had a Christmas party at school and I was able to join in to help build a mini gingerbread house.
You all got to attend Texas Rollergirls' 20th anniversary party. There was dancing, food, skating and even live karaoke. Hailey you were not afraid to strut your stuff and got out and started to dance with some of the O.G.s!
Hannah also performed at a gymnastics Christmas show. This is a practice run for the upcoming competition season. Your form looks great and you are feeling pretty confident during your events.
After all these years of avoiding Austin's Trail of Lights, we finally bit the bullet and decided to take you guys downtown to view one of Austin's oldest holiday traditions. We went on a weeknight, and arrived right when the parking lot opened. We had to wait in line for about 45 minutes before the gate opened, but it ended up being a good choice because we walked through the lights with very little crowds around us. I know sometimes it can be extremely crowded. Dad and the girls went on the Ferris wheel and Nathan, you and I went to go buy kettle corn. We also got an order of fried oreos, which were a much better deal than the state fair and just as yummy.
Nathan's team competed in the first qualifier lego league event of the season. Since we had to sign up for that particular one, we ended up having 3 less weeks than we had last year to prepare. You guys placed this year and earned 2nd place in the robotics design category.
Hailey was student of the week and got to take home Corduroy for a week.
Dad went to Hannah's class party because I had to work.
Our church also had a winter festival with a live Nativity, camels, blow up slides and more!
We are off to Chicago to spend the holidays with family, so we will make a quick update afterwards!
Until next year,
Love,
Mom (though I prefer, Mommy)
