Second Annual Amazing Race

This is such a fun event that our church puts on every year. We paired up with Christy and Luke Schooler for a fast paced fun race through Northwest Austin. What a fun time! Next year Johnny-Cakes will come along too! 

CG Arena

Running with a football and sumo wrestling suit

Racing cars along a track

Finish line! We were sixth out of about 50 teams

Before the race started!

Christmas Card Pics

We met Erika on the UT campus right by the large Littlefield fountain. But then most of the shots were right around the Life Science Library. Such a neat location. Lots of interesting architecture there. On the way there is was pouring. I am so glad we were able to get these shots in before the rain started again.

Erika working her magic on a rainy day in November - a good picture of our family and each child every year is a priority for me. So glad Erika does this every year for our family.

PRECIOUS children

Gold! This is the one that we used for our card

Love

Love - he got braces!

Beautiful

Love

Didn't like this one as much - sort of awkward

My hair was looking less than perfect here - it had started to rain pretty hard at this point

Love these kiddos

My BOYS!

Will this kid ever ride a bike?

I'm posting this so we can laugh about it in years to come. This kid will NOT learn to ride a bike. Everyone has tried to teach him. Our last try was with patient Alivia - no success. As with everyone with this kiddo, he is on his own timing. There is no rushing him!

Halloween 2016

We mixed things up this year and had friends from ACS gather at our house. The invite was lead by Alivia who really wanted to trick or treat with her BFF's from school. So the Kinslows and Cragers came over on Halloween. 

Pumpkin carving!

Adam and Dusty Kinslow

Matthew was Marshall from Paw Patrol - he has LOVED this show for over a year now

Alivia and Lainie bough matching costumes - so cute

The group before heading out to trick or treat

Melissa Crager, me and Dusty

I think Halloween is fun in our 'hood - lots of kids come out

Zombie cheerleader and the precious Peachy Southern Belles

These two - sigh. . .They have a sweet friendship. Blair was also a member of the cast from Paw Patrol.

She walked alongside Matthew for most of the night!

Candy heaven

Mia Kinslow and Josie Crager

Ninja Warrior

Another Ninja Warrior

Final Lake Weekend for the season

We made one last trip out to the lake. The weather was perfect. You never know how it will be in October, but it was great! We invited the Mezgers and Marshalls. Anna Marshall was out of the country so Jeff came with only his boys and stayed for the day.

Luke helped John get up on two skis! Thanks Luke!!!

Luke and John in ready position

Crazy kids on the boat

Pokemon trading is a hot thing right now

Love this pic of the precious kids

Matthew (4 1/2 years old)

Dusty's Birthday Party

Dusty really has become one of my closest friends so celebrating her birthday with a bunch of her friends (who are mostly all my friends too!) was such a blast. We gathered at her house with hubbies and kids and just let them run wild while we talked and ate dinner. The weather was perfect and the company couldn't have been better. Love this woman so much!

From L-->R: Racheal Dagani, Melissa Mezger, Katie Foshea, me!, Erin Minor, Kim Rama, Dusty, Anna Marshall, and Cici Scott

The gang with our hubbies (Rachael and Kim's were missing!)

Fall Break 2016

Fall Break is one of my most favorite times of the year. The weather is beautiful. Everyone else is at school. We had a few adventures during our week off. First stop, Carrizo. Next the kids went to the pumpkin patch at Sweetberry Farms in Marble Falls. Then we went to Longhorn Cavern in Marble Falls and Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, Texas. 

Had a blast in Carrizo!

We did our first geo-cache which took us to a cemetery in Carrizo Springs.

Crazy enough there were several headstones for the "Risinger" family!

Alivia goofing off in Wal-Mart.

Matt shot a deer with Alivia by his side from a ground blind. Lots of excitement.

Spent quite a bit of time shooting at targets with various guns and weapons.

Day trip to Sweet Berry Farms with Mimi and Grandpa.

First view of Longhorn Cavern

The rock formations are neat

Entrance to Longhorn Cavern

Fossil Rim. The goats there are such a hoot. The kids loved petting them and brushing them.

Lunch picnic at Fossil Rim

Matthew fell asleep shortly after this and slept for most of the tour!

The guided tour was great! highly recommend. Our guide knew so much about all the animals

Back to the goats - they were quite patient

Absolute favorite pic from our time there. The giraffes would eat out of your hand. So beautiful and amazing!