Happy New Year

Maryn Day

With Kallie at Grandma and Grandpa's for a few day and a FULL day off for me we had a Maryn day all day.

We started with you helping me fix the plumbing.  You went through four wardrobe changes, but we found the broken valve.

And time to feed the cows.

Since you girls could speak we have made you order your own food and handle other small verbal tasks. Y'all both used to fight this and we would say you couldn't eat if you didn't order yourself. Our goal was to teach you to interact with people natural and to be responsible. Of course as little ones you didn't understand this and were mad at us many times for making you order.

Today we went to eat and they forgot your apples. You wanted to go explain the situation to the workers and you did NOT want me to come with you. I don't know what you said, but you came back with apples!

Not only did you ride in Kallie's car seat in the way back you also rode her bike.

Merry Christmas

Maryn: "Today Jesus was born. I'm happy for presents but I'm most happy for God and Jesus. Actually, God is half of Jesus and Jesus is half of God....I think... I'm still trying to figure that one out." 

Me too Maryn, me too.

South Padre 2015

Last summer (2015) we went on two trips to South Padre Island.  The first trip we went just our family and we had a great time.  We enjoyed it so much much we adjusted our schedules to go back with a group of firefighter families. The pictures are from the second trip. We hung out on the beach all day. The kids played while the adults relaxed and enjoyed the day. Here is a post from a small piece of the first trip.

We are currently planning the beach trip for 2016. I hope this becomes an annual trip for years to come.

Maryn and Meredith (Mer and Mer)

Captain Rae started a spit ball war at dinner that got a little out of hand.

Catching crabs with the Watson's

Procrastination

I have a group of pictures that I saved to make blog posts.  However, as I move through life I have not made the time to go back and make the meaningful posts that I planned. I decided to take the pictures and make one large post with just a few comments.  Here are several pictures from different events over the last couple of years.

(to be continued)

These are pictures from Austin City Limits music festival that we go to every year. We start out in the kid area and then venture out to other show.  I hope we continue to go every year. I will be sad when the day comes that y'all go on your own.

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This is our normal night time routine. Reading books, singing and guitar. Maryn brought out a harmonica this night.

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Swimming at Blue Hole in Wimberley, TX. Kallie you just jumped off a huge ledge and I was very proud of you for fighting your fears!

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Every summer we go to Blues on the Green to watch live music.  We always go with a big group of friends. We hang out before the show, go swimming and barbecue together. It always gets really crowded so we set up the monkey on a stick so everyone can find us.

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Just a fun picture from snuggling on movie night.

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Annual Daddy Daughter Dance.

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One day I was a work and you were really sick. I told Mom to take you to the doctor and you were not happy about it. You asked Mommy to send me these pictures to show your disapproval. I know our decisions don't make sense you, but we are always trying to the best for you.

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Family pictures always come out great and show a perfectly happy family. However, it is not always happy and perfect.  The second picture show you throwing a fit right before we left because you wanted to wear something else.  We were running behind as usual and you threw yourself on the floor in protest.  In the end we made it and all had a good time. 

The photographer was great. She could tell you girls just wanted to be in the water so she let you get in for a few pictures.

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A visit to the fire station.

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Nothing significant here. Just a picture of y'all folding clothes. Kallie, you are pretty good about doing this, but Maryn, you absolutely hate it!

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Just a few cute pictures...

Visiting James and Meredith and their chickens.

Mike Heeney came by to pick me up for a party and Maryn just snuggled up with him. 

Kallie, a while back you thought his name was "My Keeney." On the way to his house one day you asked, "Is he Your Keeney or My Keeney."

Hiking to a swimming hole.

Just a couple of cute pictures.

Maryn playing air hockey with Bubba.

Maryn's best friend from pre-school, Laralie (not sure how to spell it, pronounced "Laura-Lie")

Movie night.

Friends from down the street. They moved away after living near us for two years.

Kallie is always trying to make money selling things.

I am not sure why, but Kallie you always eat hot dogs and sub sandwiches from the side.

Just being sisters.

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This is from our annual tailgate for an A&M football game.  We rent an RV and meet up with friends and hang out for the weekend and go to the game.  You girls made a menu and were "selling" food through this window. On the menu Fruit was spelled Frots so everybody was ordering Frots all weekend. Now every year, our friends request Frots. 

This tradition started with Jason/Nicole and James/Meredith. It has grown every year and I hope it continues.

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This is from my promotional ceremony. I was so glad you girls got to be there because the promotional process had a huge impact on you.  I am sure as you read this you will have bad memories of me studying.  During the three months period it is non stop studying. At the time I was working a staff job on a regular 8-5 shift so I was working all week and then I would disappear on the weekends to study. I would leave for the library in the morning and y'all would meet me for lunch, but that's about as much as we'd see each other.  This was a tough time and I know you didn't understand but hopefully one day it will make sense.

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Bike ride at Town Lake.