Ethan and Bryant had a long weekend, so we decided to make a trip of it and head down to see some friends in Killeen and visit Austin. We couldn't leave on Saturday due to several events happening, so we got substitutes for Sunday and planned to attend church with our friends in Killeen.
I was a little nervous about traveling in church clothes, but didn't think we'd have time once we arrived to change clothes, so we all got gussied up and headed out. I had just bought Levi a new church shirt and tie, he looked so cute. There is something about a little boy dressed up like that that just makes me smile inside and out. The boys were all watching a church movie, Eliza was asleep. It was blissful road trip material. Well, I guess it was not meant to last because about an hour and a half into our drive Levi lost his breakfast. Argh! We had to stop and clean him up and then we realized that no pants had been packed for Levi. Luckily, a whole load of Jonas' clothes had been packed, so Levi got to wear some of big brother's clothes Sunday. We also realized about this time that we had forgotten the camera. At least we had my new phone which is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera. Better than nothing! When we stopped, Eliza woke up. She wasn't happy the entire remainder of our 3 hour trek. She cried, screamed, whimpered, whined. The only thing that would make her happy was this...
She would giggle every time Levi held her hand. It was adorable... and it stopped the crying, so double bonus!
When we got to Killeen, we arrived just in time for church. We sat in the back and hoped that we'd have no more drama. The kids did pretty well. Ethan ended up taking 2 kids out during the meeting and never returned, he'd found a friend in the foyer. I stayed and enjoyed listening to our friend from Oregon, Nathan, speak. It was a good meeting, I'm glad we made it in time.
After Sacrament, we weren't sure if we could send Levi to nursery, so Ethan took Eliza and Levi to our friend's house while I stayed and enjoyed Sunday School and Relief Society. Wow! Its been a long time since I've been able to sit through a Relief Society lesson. I loved every minute of it! Then we went to Becky and Nathan's house for some yummy dinner and catching up. It was such a blast to see them (I just wish I had a picture)! They are such a fabulous family. They wanted to take us to see the tanks, but the weather was too wet unfortunately. We did have a great time, nonetheless. Thanks guys for inviting us into your home!
Ethan still really wanted to go see Grant that evening, so we headed over there next. Grand and Ethan ran together in high school. The way Ethan describes it, "Grant was their star runner Ethan's junior year." He also is one of the people who introduced Ethan to playing the guitar, so he's got to be cool, right? Ethan and Grant jammed in Grant's "studio" all evening and Grant was kind enough to let the boys have a turn on his drum set (and his head, apparently). It was great getting to meet and know Grant and his family. And they were excellent host's, thanks guys!
Finally, way past bedtime, we headed to our hotel. It was more like an apartment. We had two actual bed rooms, two bathrooms, a living room with comfortable couch, chair, desk, etc., a formal dining room with seating for at least 8, a small kitchen and a laundry room with washer and dryer. It was by far the nicest TLF we've been in. Here's a picture of the length of our "room" with Ethan at the far end from me.
We got up Monday morning and went to see the tanks at the Great Place outdoor museum. The boys
loved it. They loved counting how many guns were on each one, Bryant loved reading where they were used or made, the loved pretending to fire weapons, it was boy heaven.
We even met up with Grant there. There was a map of Iraq near this monument and he showed us all the places he flew during his tour. Pretty incredible.
Oh, and he recently had surgery on his knee, hence the crutches.
After the outdoor tank museum we headed south to Austin. Grant was our guide and he led us to the Texas History Museum called The Story of Texas. I think it was right across the street from UT, hook 'em horns! It was a very cool museum that we didn't get to read/learn nearly as much as we would've like because we have 4 ragamuffins calling the shots. :) Also no pictures were allowed in the exhibit. But here are a few pics of the gang outside the exhibits.
After the museum I wanted to check out a thrift store I read about online, Texas Thrift Store (catchy, eh?) It was not what I was hoping for, but it was huge and they did have a lot of stuff, just not what I was looking for. On on the way out of the parking lot we got in a fender bender and dented our beautiful van. :(
Then we decided to just head to a park to let the kids run free. It was a great idea. We all had a blast!
For dinner, Grant took us to this super cool local favorite...
I had to get a picture of this for my brother Dave, even though the lighting was awful, it was just too perfect.
Levi was being so kind and sharing with his dear sister. These are the moments that just make my little mommy heart so happy.
Grant's family showed us a great time in Austin. His five year old made me smile so much. She was always coming to find one of us and saying, "I want to show you something." She really liked Bryant (not in
that way, just like a little girl likes a little friend) and was constantly by his side trying to hold his hand to pull him this way or that. He was willing to follow, but I don't think he ever caught onto the hand holding. It was cute. Their favorite thing to do together was race, I guess they have their daddies' genes. At one point she said to him, "I think you're getting to my friend!" It was so sweet! She was such a doll, she even made me feel special. At the end of our very long day we were parked down the street from one another. She had made it to her van and her dad was still talking to us at ours, she ran full speed and gave me a big hug, then turned and ran back to her car. It was the perfect way to end a fabulous weekend.
At the carnival they had a ton of booths, the kids loved the pie eating contest... Bryant won!
But they were really all winners. Go Levi, go!
Hmmm. Forbidden doughnut... on a string... (this is where I was all night, instead of with my family) :(
I don't know what all we'll do on Halloween night. Our street isn't very big. I'm thinking maybe we'll watch a movie and have a spooky dinner. Any suggestions?
Eliza was in heaven! She loved all the pumpkins that were just the right size for her to hold one in each hand.
Bryant chose the biggest pumpkin he could find. Our rule was, if you can carry it, you can have it. This isn't the one he actually took home, he found one that was even more difficult to carry.
Our attempt at a kid photo... "which way are we supposed to look?" Apparently, anywhere but at the camera...
She really loved this place.
Levi was pretty upset that this pumpkin wasn't where it was supposed to be. "Hey!" he shouted over and over until he moved it to its proper place.
Of course, our monkey had to find something to climb.
We went on the hayride.
Levi was a bit nervous it would be too loud.
She would pick up a pumpkin, then walk backward until she felt the rest of them and sat down with a little grin on her face. It was so funny.
And we're almost all looking in the right direction... I need to figure out how to cut people out of one photo and paste them into another, then we'd have a great family photo.
Seventeen dollars and seventy-five cents later we have 4 pumpkins ready to be carved. It was lots of fun!
Other Levi language things of note: 
We got up Monday morning and went to see the tanks at the Great Place outdoor museum. The boys loved it. They loved counting how many guns were on each one, Bryant loved reading where they were used or made, the loved pretending to fire weapons, it was boy heaven. 
We even met up with Grant there. There was a map of Iraq near this monument and he showed us all the places he flew during his tour. Pretty incredible. Oh, and he recently had surgery on his knee, hence the crutches.
After the outdoor tank museum we headed south to Austin. Grant was our guide and he led us to the Texas History Museum called The Story of Texas. I think it was right across the street from UT, hook 'em horns! It was a very cool museum that we didn't get to read/learn nearly as much as we would've like because we have 4 ragamuffins calling the shots. :) Also no pictures were allowed in the exhibit. But here are a few pics of the gang outside the exhibits.
After the museum I wanted to check out a thrift store I read about online, Texas Thrift Store (catchy, eh?) It was not what I was hoping for, but it was huge and they did have a lot of stuff, just not what I was looking for. On on the way out of the parking lot we got in a fender bender and dented our beautiful van. :( 
For dinner, Grant took us to this super cool local favorite...
I had to get a picture of this for my brother Dave, even though the lighting was awful, it was just too perfect.
Levi was being so kind and sharing with his dear sister. These are the moments that just make my little mommy heart so happy.
Grant's family showed us a great time in Austin. His five year old made me smile so much. She was always coming to find one of us and saying, "I want to show you something." She really liked Bryant (not in that way, just like a little girl likes a little friend) and was constantly by his side trying to hold his hand to pull him this way or that. He was willing to follow, but I don't think he ever caught onto the hand holding. It was cute. Their favorite thing to do together was race, I guess they have their daddies' genes. At one point she said to him, "I think you're getting to my friend!" It was so sweet! She was such a doll, she even made me feel special. At the end of our very long day we were parked down the street from one another. She had made it to her van and her dad was still talking to us at ours, she ran full speed and gave me a big hug, then turned and ran back to her car. It was the perfect way to end a fabulous weekend. 
Bryant asked if he could write his name on it, so we'd know who the Honor Roll Student was and now its hanging on his wall. He's pretty proud of it.
He brought home his report card today and he's got 100% in every subject! He felt so proud of himself, as he should, I might add. They also did a reading assessment on him too. Apparently, the goal for 1st graders for the middle of the year is 40 words per minute and the goal for the end of the year is 60 words per minute. Bryant scored 105 words per minute!!! 
