New Years & Camping Trip

One thing that is totally different about Texas from anywhere else I've lived is their use of fireworks! I was totally surprised last 4th of July when I saw our $5 fireworks that we bought off the side of the road go up in the air and beautifully shoot out... just like the big ones you go and see! There is absolutely no need to go somewhere to watch fireworks. They're going up all over the place...It is SO FUN! (Although, the week prior to New Years,however, was a little annoying because neighbors would fire them late at night keeping the girls and I up. )

So around 10:30 a.m. at the gym I realized it was New Years Eve day (with no plans for that night...good sign I'm married with 3 kids, huh?) But, thanks to family and friends we were invited over to Joe & Nannette's house for some fireworks and Karen's for a party. We had such a fun night at both places. At Karen's we played Apples to Apples. Have you played? It was a really fun game. (I thought "Jennifer Lopez" for "explosive" was just SO hilarious.. it had me in tears!) Later we did a fake countdown for the kids at 10 p.m. They went outside on the trampoline and blew their horns and popped their confetti and fireworks were going off like crazy... they seriously got an amazing fireworks finale. They thought it was the real thing. I wish I would have brought my camera that night. We all had sooo much fun!

On New Years, we went out camping at Joe and Nannette's property in Conroe. I've been camping once since I was a little girl. It was when Emma was a baby. It got really cold and we headed home in the middle of the night! not so fun! Austin has been saying for a few weeks that we should go camping... ho hum! i don't know. But, we went and I was surprised at how RELAXING and fun it was. It really felt like a vacation day where I could just forget all about all the things that I have to do at home. We got there early. Austin put up the tent and the girls swung and fed the birds. A lot of family & friends were there. It was fun just sitting by the campfire. Austin stayed the night with the girls. I came home because our tent is too small for all of us. They didn't get home until like 4 p.m. the next day! They had a blast riding 4 wheelers, going around their island in a canoe, and just running around. They came home SO DIRTY AND STINKY, but they had a TOTAL BLAST! :)


William snug as a bug for camping.

Here's one of the birds we were feeding:

and another one.

Did I mention how BEAUTIFUL it is there. They have property on a lake with lots of trees.

This is Lily sad that cousin Ellie hasn't arrived yet.



Emma throwing the grahm crackers into the lake for the birds.

Emma and William

It was so fun for the kids to just be out and run and play without worrying too much about them.



William, as always, did so good. Such a fun baby boy he is!


Among many other fun things, they have a playset.

Adam, Lily, and Emma

Lily and Ellie


I didn't capture it, but William loves being thrown in the air. Austin will give him a 360 turn in the air. He loves it!






Austin helped out by gathering wood with the tractor. I think he really enjoys doing stuff like this. (although he feels bad that he kindof broke the tractor :{

There is this funky tree that grows horizontally into the water. I was a little nervous for Emma to go in.


But she made it there.


and back. Although, the next day, she did fall in, but she did good.
The next morning, they rode 4 wheelers. Emma was so excited to tell me that she rode it all by herself.

What a great experience it was! We talked about how fun it was all night and all the next day!