Fall Break 2018

Matt had to be in Baltimore for a conference so we used that as an excuse to go see Rusty and Beth and visit DC! I would say that John and Matthew almost were too young. I'd like to go back again when they have all had some more US History, too.

Our ininerary:
Day 1 - Capitol tour, Air and Space Museum, met Elliston's for dinner
Day 2 - Daddy at conference, take metro to DC with kids and Beth, go to Museum of the Bible (my favorite museum ever), got on Circulator to see the Monuments (awesome!)
Day 3 - White House tour with Rusty and Beth (Matt at conference) and then head to Mt Vernon (kids and I really liked this!), dinner with Bob/Ruth
Day 4 - National Aquarium in Baltimore, lunch at Inner Harbor

Things we didn't get to do or repeat next time:
go AGAIN to Museum of the Bible
Circulator to see Monuments
National Museum for pretty paintings
Museum of American History
Museum of Natural History (Hope diamond!)
Holocaust Museum - one of my favorites, but the kids were too little this time around

The first day we drove to DC with Daddy and had a Capitol tour with lunch in the Capitol Visitor Center Restaurant- very good!

Cute kids!

Air and Space Museum wasn't that great, was really crowded and overwhelming. I could skip next time. Or maybe take a highlight tour?

Riding the metro was a highlight for the kids!

I loved having Beth join us, too. I was thankful for another adult

Jefferson Memorial

Korean Memorial - one of my favorites

FDR Memorial - another favorite

Museum of the Bible was so good - I LOVED it

FDR Memorial

this view down the Mall never gets old

White House tour! I am so glad we were able to get tickets - sad Matt didn't get to come. The security is crazy

Leaving our tour

So fun having Rusty and Beth with us

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial - the kids overall did great with the walking - only one meltdown when we couldn't find a potty

Lunch at the Inner Harbor

Kids liked the Blue Crab more than I thought they would

National Aquarium was neat but crowded - I could skip this next time

I'm glad we got to see Bob and Ruth. It had been almost a year!

Fall 2018

 Fall is flying by - here are some highlights.
 Visit to Texas A & M for Alivia
Fall Ball for John
ACS Track for Will
Daddy weekend in Carrizo with John
Pulled teeth for Matthew
ACS Volleyball for Alivia

Alivia got to go see Texas A & M and go to a game with the Ellistons! Keith and Lauren both went there so I am sure it was fun to get a tour from them. This is a famous restaurant in College Station (I have no idea what it is)

The Corps at A & M is really cool.

All Ball for John! He played a on a great team with a great coach. It was a good introduction for him

He got the game ball for playing well one game

I have to admit ACS Cross Country has been a great experience for Will

Ascend Run with the Kampman

Josiah and Simon ran with Will as well

First Cross Country meet ever! It was amazing to see all the schools competing

This run was neat through this forest

Run Will Run!

I'm so glad he finished. Good job, Will

Some ACS folks came to cheer them on

John won the Big Buck contest at Los Cazadores so he and Daddy had a fun weekend together in Carrizo

Picking up his prizes from Los Cazadores - a trophy and a bag

They had a blast together in Carrizo

When I took Matthew to the dentist, I NEVER expected them to pull four teeth that day! He handled it like a champ.

Here's the after shot. He also had a weird rash (poison ivy) on his face that was causing his face to swell so he hardly looked like the same child from the day before.

ACS Volleyball was another fun sport to watch. The girls got so much better. Here is Alivia with Coach Loerch

What great group of girls

Labor Day 2018

Labor Day is always a mixed bag. We all go the lakehouse but it seems stressful for everyone. This year was no different. Dad had invited some friends to come out to Bertram so he was totally preoccupied with that. Mom can't be out in the sunlight because of her skin issues. I decided to go along with the crew to Bertram. It was HOT. The birds were not flying. John and Will like to be with Uncle Peyton because he's an excellent shot and they can get his birds for him. 

Headed out to go hunt

Sunflower field in Bertram

Peyton and Will

Matt and I sweating it out

I'd much rather be surfing than hunting anyway

John wake boarding