Yeehaw!

Houston, Texas Ya'll!

So, in November we spent two weeks in Texas visiting my sister Angie and her family. We had some great times. :)

Cousins!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had two baby boys, two three year olds, two four year olds, and Eli the 7 year old, that's what I call a party. :)

With seven kids age 6 and under in one house, that's mostly what we did....take the kids to the park,

take them to the museum,

play games, have movie nights,

jump in the bounce house in the back yard

...and braid little girl's STATIC hair. :)

My brother-in-law Evan's parents came in town for a few days, and his sister Elena and her Andrew live in Houston as well so we got to see them too!

We got to be there to here the wonderful news...

Elena and Andrew announced they are being blessed with a baby!

They have been married 6 years, and are thrilled to be expecting,

Congrats Elena and Andrew! We are thrilled for you! We had a fun night out on the town with Daddy Rob on the weekend. We went to a neat, little story book park and rode a trolley all around downtown Woodlands.

This was great. Angie had to go pick up Evan, so Rob and I took six kids on the trolley! We sat in the back row, so everyone that gave us a curiously shocked expression. Three asked if they were all ours. I just had to say, "I should tell you yes so you have a good story to tell." It was even better when we told the trolley driver we were from Utah. He just laughed!

My Sister taught first grade, and now runs a Preschool in her home. So, in a house filled with books (and I'm not just saying that...) we read a lot!

We also got to see old friends that had moved from Arizona to Texas last year, Lisa Koenig and her daughters Kaylie and Alexandra. I was so glad it worked out to see them, as the old saying goes, friends truly are the greatest treasure.

HOORAY FOR TEXAS!!

While we were there Trevor picked up a new trick. When we say, "Hooray!" he puts both arms up in the air. We think it's precious.

That's Incredible!

While watching one of our favorite Disney movies a few months ago, Ellie realized our family was just like the Incredibles (one girl, two boys). So, the kids decided that's what we were going to be for Halloween.

Introducing the Incredibles....

She puts Force Fields around the van to protect us from oncoming monsters, she even disappears when you close your eyes....she's.... VIOLET

Better watch this doll face close, he's been known to spontaneously combust (with an odorous blowout)....he's....

JACK-JACK

What was that flash? A lightening bolt? No.

It's the one and only.....DASH!

Watch out villainous master minds, the world is safe in these little muscly hands.

Our Halloween day started with Ellie going as Violet to Preschool, and then all of us going to a Halloween party and lunch up at Grandma Jan's house. We got to play musical chairs, decorate cookies and of course...

Eat doughnuts off a string....go Ellie, go Ellie....yeah, yeah....go, Ellie....

We got to visit Grandma Gayle and Grandpa Soulier

I think they win the award for the most festive Halloween house!

Then we were off to see the mysterious monster hand at Rob's parents house. Trevor gave him a high five, and Ryan lost all his superhero courage and wouldn't go near it!

Then we got to Trick or Treat with ALL the Soulier cousins, in Belle and Benjamin's neighborhood. Lot's of tasty treats of course....yes!....(the bit about lots of treats had just an edge of sarcasm if you didn't catch it :).

We also had fun carving pumpkins (and gourds) and making homemade root beer this weekend. Ellie cast a spell on the root beer, so it was extremely scrumptious.