Okay, Okay I know

I am the worst blogger ever!!! To my defense of two weeks without blogging there has been a long(ish) trip to San Antonio and illness in our household. Not that this prevents dear Angela from blogging but it is my excuse and I am sticking with it. Generally by goal is once every couple days but I am happy with once a week these days.

Start most recent and work my way back. Yesterday Ian wrote a letter to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. I have included the letter because it is so cute. The gist of it is that he wants to run for president but as he is restricted by laws that require you to be older than 6. Rather than be defeated he has set out to change the law. :) He is also writing a letter to President Bush thanking him for being president because "someone should do it and he is almost not president anymore"

Now our trip. We went to San Antonio. It was a ton of fun. We stayed with Jody and Jack and enjoyed some of the touristy things to do in the area. We got to see the family much more often than we usually do (so much to the chagrin of Jody and Jack we may stay there more often).

Our first days involved a lot of park time, some letterboxing (google it because it is SOO much fun), quality time with Aunt Jody and dinners with the rest of the family. Very laid back, nothing planned out and tons'o'fun.

Out, hiking around, letterboxing- Darren and Daniel.
Aunt Jody, Ian and Alex

Look- Alex, Ian and Daddy found a box.
Now mommy and Ian and Alex found a box
Alex and Daniel- such love
Jody and Ian
ANOTHER BOX. Just don't put your hand in without looking for snakes first, boys.

We went to the Alamo. They had a reenactment of the battles and events leading up to the main battle. It was very interesting. Everyone really enjoyed it, except for the brief moment that Daniel wondered off to get into the bags'o'fire and darn near burned down the Alamo.

Now on to more letterboxing- The Missions of San Antonio. Actually very interesting and informative.

Daniel, we know you like sticks but that one is just too big!
The family ready to try their hand at it and learn a little about the city they have lived in for so long (left to right: Esther, Bernie, Jody, Ian, Alex, Darren and Daniel)

Mission San Juan, ready or not- hear we come.
Darren explaining something (that must have been big)
Ian, doing a jig. Yes, sometimes he just does that.
The aqueducts. Very interesting but this letterbox was missing.

Darren took the boys to the Alamo Bowl. They enjoyed themselves on the Man's Night Out, unless Darren DARED leave Daniel with anyone else then he freaked out.

Feel free to check out http://markandtrent.blogspot.com/ for additional pictures, fabulous video and a different view of our visit. This is Darren's brothers blog.

Here is Darren with the boys. Daniel even has his own seat.
Cousin James with Ian.
OMG- Darren dared leave Daniel for a moment to take someone to the bathroom.
Ian, Uncle Jack and Daniel- trying to make a get-away.
Poppy and Daniel
Ian (who wouldn't leave James' side ) and Alex with cousin Paul

During the festivity of the boys, Mommy got the wonderful opportunity to go to a nice dinner, followed by a play with the gals. It was luxurious, Thanks Jody for putting that together. And of course the company was beautiful, interesting with Witty conversation :)

Now we are on to Enchanted Rock. This was so fabulous. I highly recommend a trip and I hope to go back camping some time soon. We didn't allow near enough time or pack the correct supplies to hike the entire thing but we did make a good dent in it. This was followed by fabulous German food, a quick trip to Luckenbach (for some more letterboxing) and then an exhausted drive home.

Jack, Alex, Darren, Jody (you can barely see her), Daniel and Ian, getting ready to begin our trek.
Ian, resting. As you may see later, it was warm and he stripped.
Ian and Jody, one layer off.
Darren and Daniel. Darren's entire purpose was just to keep the tiny rocks out of his mouth.
Ian, Alex and Jack

We are starting to get pooped out.

On to Luckenbach - yes this is where Waylen, Willie and the boys are located :)


Very excited to be here and enjoying the company -here are my sweet boys.

Now we are on to New Years Eve, spent with Darren's grandmother. A day at the park followed by an evening of dinner and games. She woke the next morning to make a fabulous home made breakfast and play additional games with the boys. They had her undivided attention which is heaven in their eyes.

A park in New Braunfels.



Doesn't she look fabulous for 92?

This is the "style" that Daniel took the entire trip. One arm out. Don't know what that was about.
A little more letterboxing in Landa Park.
New Years celebrations. Thanks to Jody, Jack, Bernie and Esther for the annoying noise makers.
Here they are doing their "performance" you can view on trents blog

OK. I am done