Twelfth

It has been awhile since Danith and I took a trip together or been on a real date. For quite some time, our dates have been to the end of the driveway to check the mail together, or through the crowded aisles of the grocery store. I'm sure most parents can relate to that!

Last weekend, we finally enjoyed a little getaway to Fredericksburg to celebrate  our 12 year anniversary, and it was so much fun! We did a few wine tours, climbed Enchanted Rock and just enjoyed each other's company.

After several stressful weeks at work, it was much needed and long overdue! 

I will say, however, coming home was the best. The boys surprised us with a clean house and an anniversary cake that they baked for us all by themselves (well, under my parents' supervision). Those boys, they AMAZE us. 

God is so great. SO great.

Spring Is In The Air!

Spring is in the air! Literally. Pollen is everywhere, as are the June bugs, spiders, ants (a pile in our mailbox!), blooming flowers, itchy eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose.... ok I've drifted. The bunnies have returned to our back yard, and so have the Cardinals in the trees, the herons in the pond behind our house, and a good size little ninja turtle!

Joseph wanted to keep him! It was adorable how excited he was about it! But, funny enough, that turtle made a surprisingly quick exit from our yard.

As busy as we are at work this week,that was probably the highlight of the boys' Spring break so far... we definitely have to make this up to them!

Four Years Later...

We have a teenager in the house! And a very rambunctious 8 year old! Two young men who make life so much fun. They have their dad's personality: quick witted and always cracking jokes. They have Danith and me laughing constantly.

We have moved in to a new home. Other than the 3 obnoxious boxes left in the garage to unpack and several bare walls, we have been settled in now for a year come late April.  

These days our lives are very routine and (thankfully) not too crazy. Work, school, Scouts and soccer, eat, pray, sleep. Start over. Low key and comfortable and exactly how I like it. 

Closing Day!

13th BDay. I adore this boy.

Mr. Joseph's 8th birthday (and 1 of 2 of his Minecraft birthday cakes. I can't help but spoil him!)

And a fun Keo Klaus picture for everyone from the Children's Christmas Party we threw for the kids on our street.

Spring Break Fever!

This week is Spring Break, and I finally took a whole week off from work to make it a fun one for Isaiah and Jojo. I planned to take them to the rodeo carnival (with friends one day and with his cousins on another), for another hike, to the movies, and anything else we could think of.


On Monday, the four of us were able to go to the rodeo carnival with some friends and had a really fun time. Jojo rode his very first ferris wheel, and he ate his very first sausage on a stick. Isaiah had a friend that he's known since they were babies to hang out with, and they had an awesome time together! Then later Isaiah and I watched the Zac Brown Band while Danith and Jojo hung out more at the carnival. It was great!

He loved the ferris wheel!

Wes talked him in to doing this - he went higher than I thought he would!

The Keo and Kompelien Kiddos :-)

Zac Brown Band!

But unfortunately, the Spring Break fun ended there. Tuesday morning Isaiah woke up with a high fever, the chills and a cough. Today is actually day four of fighting a fever of 104 degrees. It has gone up and down, but creeps it's way back up that high regularly.

So of course there have been no movies, no hikes, and no carnival day with his cousins. At least we got to go on Monday! Since then, we have only taken a trip to the doctor and CVS Pharmacy (where someone --who shall remain nameless --backed in to a BMW with my SUV, which is spending the next few days in the collision repair shop... then that nameless person got a ticket for speeding later the same day...) sigh...

This too shall pass --sooner than later I hope!!

Camping Weekend

We have been busy busy busy. It's been the usual work, school, scouting and swimming -- in no particular order and all very chaotic. And this weekend, being no exception, we took an awesome (scout) camping trip to Pedernales Falls State Park. Camping has to be our favorite part of Cub Scouting. I'm definitely going to miss it when he becomes a Boy Scout!

This trip was to introduce him to the skills he'll need to camp in Boy Scouts. He had to pitch the tent himself (with the help of another scout, but without his parents)...

He learned different outdoor cooking techniques. He helped to make eggs for breakfast, fajitas for dinner, and two different cobblers for dessert.

And I was so proud of him for doing a skit with his friend for the camp fire!

Saturday afternoon we took about a 4 mile hike, literally over the river and through the woods. The weather was perfect, and even Jojo endured the hike. I was so proud of him for making it - no griping or complaining - he hung in there like he was a 4th grade scout himself.

Jojo crossing the frigid river just like the big boys!

He loved it!

My big boy scout after crossing the river :-)

Den 15 plus siblings!

He walks alone.

Stopping for lunch midway through the hike - ham and cheese sandwiches never tasted so good!

Crossing back over at the end of the hike.

The cold water definitely put the kick back in our exhausted steps!

Does this picture not say, "aww Mom come on, my friends are way ahead of us by now!"

But they were good sports and let me be that mom.

Shortly after the hike, we went to Pedernales Falls, the actual Falls, and it was gorgeous!!

View from the top - the water is obviously a bit low this year.

Can you spot Isaiah in his Houston Texans jacket? :-)

Snake!

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Other than the frosty nights, it was the best camping trip yet!!