Fun in Dallas

In October, the kids and I got to head to Texas for some fall fun. We always have a good time visiting our families, but we just love visiting in the fall! I suspect it has to do with the state fair, because Fletchers corny dogs are the way to my heart. And fried cheese curds. And fried...well...you get the point. The fair with my family was our first stop of the week, and it was SO HOT but also SO FUN.

We started out with some fun at the petting zoo. The Air Force was playing in the cotton bowl next door, and while we were in there a fly over came by. It was SO loud, and the animals lost their minds.  I've never seen baby goats move that fast.

Hanging out with Big Tex!

 Food Court with Aunt E

 Emmie

 Addie

This is one of my favorite exhibits every year. The kids get to plant the food, pick the food, take it and sell it at the market, and then use the cash to buy groceries {aka: a bag of chips or animal crackers}. They have so much fun!

Edible Cups for the win!

 Emmie

The next day we headed out to the Dallas Arboretum with my mom and Aunt Amy. It is so beautiful out there, and it's a great place for the kids to run around. Fall out there means the kids area is transformed into a pumpkin village, which is always one of my favorites.

 Addie

 Emmie

Sometimes you just can't get them all to look at the same time.
Addie left, Emmie right

 Addie, Aunt Amy, and Emmie

My middle guy and me

Hey There 2016...I'm Late to the Party

And just like that...the first two months of 2016 are gone! We have been living life as usual, and although I thought I was done with blogging...apparently I just can't quit. The normal half of my brain tells me that I post most of the photos I love in Instagram these days, and I don't really post anything all that interesting the majority of the time. The OCD part of my brain tells me that if I quit, I'll only have a few years of my life documented here, and I'll regret it someday. So what I'm saying is, despite the fact that approximately 4 people read this besides me, I will be blogging until I am old and gray. Or I guess I should just say old, because I already have the gray hair thing on lock.

Anyhow, business around here as usual. Last time I wrote, we hadn't even finished the Christmas season yet. The kids had a great time, and Santa even managed to squeeze in a visit on the 24th before we headed to Texas on the 25th to see our families. He's such an accommodating guy.

They weren't excited or anything.

It was great this year...no flu in sight! We had a great time in Texas with our families, and then it was time to head back home and start packing for...Walt Disney World! WDW is pretty much my favorite place every in the history of the world (I mean not that I'm crazy or anything), and it had been 8 years since I had been. I was nervous to take four kids with us, but luckily we had enough adults to go around (my mom and sister went too), and we rocked the two double strollers like a boss.You haven't lived until you've loaded up 8 people and 2 giant strollers onto a crowded bus while people try to push around you. We literally had strangers holding our kids on the bus at one point, because it was either that or leave them behind. I mean, those strollers are pricey to replace. And after all...everyone at Disney World is a friend. Just go with me on that one.



If you feel the need to see our entire trip rolled into 20 minutes, Mike created a fabulous video of the week, and you can view it here. It seriously went so much better than I could have ever imagined, and I can't wait to go back!

In February, we had fun getting back to "normal" around here after Christmas and our big trip.


We got back to school with a little Veggie Visitor homework.


We celebrated Mardi Gras with the Hammonds and our annual King Cake making extravaganza.










And we celebrated Valentine's Day in style...


And with some candy and math. Candy is my favorite...the math I'm working on.

Here's to a great 2016!

Wacky Waco

After Great Wolf Lodge in November, we packed the boys off to grandpa's house for the day while the girls took a day trip to Waco. I went back to Waco for homecoming the year after I graduated from Baylor (2004 if anyone is counting), but other than that I really haven't been back. I always wanted to, but I just never got the chance. Living in another state will do that to you! 

I was anxious to go back and see the campus and how much Waco had changed, but getting to visit the new Magnolia Silos was what really pushed it over the edge. We definitely had to go check it out. We had a blast, and I can't wait to go back!

 NINFAS...aka...the best Mexican food there ever was.

I dream about this green sauce.

 Hailey (my sister), Me, and Amy (my sister-in-law) at Spice.

 At Spice with my girls. They were super into pictures.

 Sweet girls at Spice

 We made it to the Silos!

 My mom and me...it was crowded for sure.

 The actual store was pretty small, so my sister hung out outside with the girls.

 We had to go see Harp Design Co. too of course.

Checking out the bear pit on campus with Emmie

 Cheering in the Baylor Bookstore

 The BEST coffee

 One last stop at Collins Street Bakery

 Emmie is a fan.

Addie too.