Impromptu Family Getaway

 Long weekend. No plans. Great weather. Saturday I say to Neal, I think I'll take the kids out to Dinosaur State Park to do something on Monday. Neal: "I'm not working either." Me: Really?! Great lets go have some fun.

A couple hours later

Me: How about we just leave after church and stay in a hotel out there. It will be nice. Neal: Makes reservation.

We jumped in the car with our toothbrushes and clean underwear and headed out and 30 minutes later something dawns on me and I mention: I didn't pack any contact lenses...or glasses. 

So we added a little over an hour with that snafu but we still had a great time playing Rubberneckers trying to spot things on our drawn cards and listening to music. Also, at this time, I'd like to mention that this must me the first time ever that I have used the word snafu in my writings and I would like to thank spellcheck for being there for me.

We've done this trip before when the kids were toddlers. It was our first practice overnight trip with the kids. Close enough to home in case it all went wrong. It was new to the kids though because they remembered nothing.

We got into Grandbury and visited the shops on the square and ate German food-pretzels, cheese sauce, saurkraut, schnizel, German potoato salad--everything but beer. Back at the kids and Neal enjoyed the hotel swimming pool while I relaxed and watched HGTV.  

In the morning we did a driving tour of Fossil Rim Wildlife Reserve and got up close and personal with lots of animals. At the half way point we could get out of our cars and pet emus and goats. Neal was rather attached to one we named Elvis for it's cool "hair". Neal wanted to note he got bit by Elvis. I'd like to note that Neal touched the emu, then hugged the emu, twice. On the way out, we fed a giraffe which was a blast. 

 

 

Sophie eating a rhinoceros

Then to Dinosaur State Park where we looked at the footprints left by different breeds of what? Yes, dinosaurs. The long necks and the not-so-long necks. We walked near the river and waded across it. Then home. Get quick getaway!

Crafty

 Finished my second basket. This one with supervision also, but a lot more intricate. I also hit those sales on Christmas fabric after the holiday and made a tree skirt for next year. I am currently learning a new quilting method and I like the result quite a lot. Will post that one some day when it's finished.

Finally!

 Finally all the hens are laying! I thought a couple might be broken but turns out they just needed more time. Beautiful eggs!

Cozy

 It's 38 degrees outside and the heater is working fine.

Christmas

 Christmas Eve we joined the Hancocks in their family tradition of hiking. Short hike, confusing trails, and amazingly blue juniper berries.

Kids posing for their "weird" picture

Our first speckled egg, thanks to Willadean. The other two are still pondering laying.

Mexican Chocolate Cake baked and iced

Christmas Day

Fun opening gifts with family, cheering on Anjuli during her 20 mile training run (for upcoming marathon) as she passed nearby our home, games, food, good times.

Playing with the drone Rhys was gifted later that week.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

 I finished my Christmas quilt just in time!

Mom gifted us each Christmas ornaments this year. She found me this banjo while in WA and the chicken while visiting TX. Neal got a beekeeper ornament. Sophie got a "How many days I have to be good" countdown ornament. Rhys got a trombone. I am only showing mine because I am selfish.

A Star Trek related ornament to honor a fan, my Uncle Rick.

Fun with Oma and Opa seeing the lights! One street had was so traffic jammed we parked got out and walked and really enjoyed it.

A special request by Rhys was to make gingerbread houses this year. I let them go solo for this activity and provided everything but he wall and roof and moral support. Wailing and gnashing of teeth. Finally they took a break to let the icing dry and the emotions calm. They turned out pretty good in the end. I don't know if they will request this again but just wanted to prove it's not always fun and games at the van der Upwich home. We experience real life, baby!

Couple's Getaway Weekend

Neal and I planned a weekend with each other and were able to pull it off with the help of Opa! We headed down to San Antonio after dropping the kids off to school on Friday. Do you know how I know I married the best man in the world? He let me listen to Christmas music ALL THE WAY there. We stopped for breakfast in West for kolaches, and lunch in Austin for Interstellar BBQ (rated in the top 10 this year). We stayed at the Hilton San Antonio Hill Country for a relaxing spa weekend. We hit yummy restaurants, ran into Santa AND in reindeer but in two separate locations (go figure), walked, got massages, played cards, ping pong, and corn hole. Stopped in the historic market square for Mexican hot chocolate and baked goodies for the family.

Christmas Concert

 They played great and we have to say the trombone player in the green Santa hat is our favorite!

New Addition

 Mom gifted me this awesome addition to our Christmas lights display this year!

Fall

 What is she doing, you ask?  Being Sophie. We were racking and sacking the leaves. I left to get something from the garage and upon my return, I find my daughter arms crossed in her leaf bag chute casket. Don't worry. She was revived by shared laughter.

We took no Thanksgiving pictures with Oma and Opa or the Hancocks. But I got pictures of my chickens! They were curious about our Halloween pumpkins but they eat better when I make oat/seed/pumpkin balls for them.

But since I did not take any pictures here is a little story from a newpaper clipping many, many years ago, about turkeys featuring my paternal grandmother, Lena:

"Missing Fowl Indicates Some 'Foul Play'

At least two families will be having turkey for dinner tomorrow, but at the expense of one Colton family.

Mrs. Donald A. Percy, 430 East F St., bought a 12-pound turkey at a local market yesterday, but after she put the bird in the car it flew the coop or rather coup.--assisted by a thief.

Mrs. Percy stopped to have a hamburger at a drive-in restaurant with a friend.  She remarked to her friend while they were waiting to be served that she hoped no one would steal her turkey. The car was out of sight while the two women were eating their hamburgers. When they returned to the car the bird was gone. The other groceries in the car were not touched."
 

This is my favorite picture of me and my best girl, Willadean.