Across Texas and look, there's Mexico, kids!

Leaving Texas is never easy to do.  We have such mixed feelings.  Although we are excited to begin our journey back to Idaho, we never like the feeling of leaving our Texas family.  Tearful goodbyes on a cold, blustery day, and we were on our way.  We made a stop in San Antonio to pick up our jackets left behind and met up with our good friends, the Dillingers, for lunch, and we were on our way across the wide, wide range of northwest Texas. It’s such a BIG state that it’ll take us two days to cross into New Mexico.  Luckily for us, we are never in too big of a hurry and can stop as we want.   Our first stop after a long days drive was in Fort Stockton, TX.  The kids wanted to spend some Walmart money they had gotten for Christmas, so they counted the hours between San Antonio and Fort Stockton (about 6).  Once we got to the Walmart, we were surprised to see many empty shelves (food and toys). The kids had to forgo any new toys, which Matt was secretly happy with. We are way too packed in as it is! We had wanted to see McDonald Observatory for quite some time, but couldn’t fit it in, so this time, we decided to stop.  We camped at Davis State Park just 13 miles south of the observatory.

A rest after the hike.  Beautiful view

Elise on our hike up Skyline trail in the Davis Mountains

You wonder who the kids get climbing fever from



Seriously, do we need to climb every structure? 

Alex mastered the sling shot

The trail up Skyline

Upon arriving to the state park, we saw many families, which is always such a welcome sight to our kids.  Right next to us, we noticed a boy about 13, who was hiding out and pointing his nerf gun at the RV.  The kids voted Elise to go out and talk to him.  Of course, she took them up on it and established a immediate friendship.  Turns out, this family had brought new Nerf guns, enough for all kids and two moms to play.  We spent hours shooting at each other.  They were a fun family from Houston who camps every year during the week between Christmas and New Years.  It’s interesting to us that families living in these hot southern states camp have opposite camping seasons from us northerners.  It’s just too hot in the summer.  However, we were quite impressed with their tent camping in these cold, cold nights (and mornings).  We felt slightly guilty having our heater on, cooking our warm breakfast and looking out at them shivering in the cold. We even invited them to use the RV when we left to the observatory one night, but I guess that was too soon for friends we just met and they did not take us up on it.  Matt looks at me like I’m crazy when I do stuff like that. 

A rare treat to play Xbox at camp!

Miss Raggedy Ann keeping occupied on the road making bracelets

Alex has gotten good at a few songs

We drove up to the Observatory all ready to see these massive telescopes and study the skies, and found…….no one.  The doors were open, we were able to watch a short video, but literally, saw no one.  I wonder what security cameras we were on the next day as this family walking around the million dollar observatory by ourselves.  We were bummed not to be able to learn more about the telescopes and see Mars.  Never did find out where everyone was. 

The telescopes are housed in these rotating spheres which open nightly for data

The next night, we ventured out to see the Marfa lights.  They are these inexplicable blinking lights that are seen nightly over the hills of a small town of Marfa, TX.  There are all sorts of stories about where they come from (ghosts from past wars, UFO’s, reflections of the stars), but no hypothesis/theory has been proven.  The area where they appear has no town, no roads, no reason for blinking random lights all over the hills.  It is quite strange, but a neat phenomenon to experience. 

Waiting until dusk to watch the lights

Beautiful sunset where we stared at the blinking lights

Today, we leave Davis State Park and plan to make it north into New Mexico to another state park called City of Rocks.  Long day on the road and the kids are not happy to have a list of school work to do along the way.  They have it so rough.  Matt and I spent our gift cards on a new CD/IPod player for the RV, so today we are listening to music and it feels quite cozy in Big Mama as I type.  Simple days like this are what I hope to remember along with the exciting ones we’ve had. 

El Paso, as it turns out, is quite the big city!  We were surprised at how vast it stretched and how cool certain parts were.  It definitely has a Mexican flair in architecture with very unique new apartment buildings going up. 

Lots of traffic with hills all around

As we drove, we noticed such a contrast looking out the drivers side window literally gaining a glimpse into Mexico and then the passengers side, El Paso, USA.  It was a picture of poverty versus prosperity.  Gives me such mixed feelings, as I see the rundown homes packed in.  What blessed lives we live simply because we were born into such an amazing country. The kids were curious about the difference between borders.  We also got to go through a border checkpoint inspection area as we drove through New Mexico.

Reality of a closed border



Typical Texas farewell

Elise working on tally marks as we drive (not many motorcycles on the road)

Christmas Joy

What a fun time we had celebrating Jesus in Texas this year!  The kids had a visit from Santa at Mimi and Granpa's church, which was a great surprise, as he knew them by name!  We opened all gifts on Christmas Eve after church, and then Santa left three gifts and full stockings on Christmas morning. 

Money boxes that just kept spilling our dollar bills!

She wanted a bird. This one we know she can care for.

I love this shot of mama and son

Three generations

The apron says it all.....fried turkey master



Willow and Jae in the kitchen Christmas day

Sharing the feast.  Alex gladly snapped shots

Family tradition to make the crystal sing

Friends, friends and family in weird Austin

On Sunday, we were invited to attend the Oak Hills Christian church where Max Lucado is the pastor. It was a great service with unbelievable music. Afterwards we met up with our good friends Mike and Mandy Dillinger and their family for some breakfast tacos and catch up time.  It's so fun to see our "couples days" friends as parents. We love this family and miss them in Boise. 

We headed out from Boerne, TX to Kyle where we were very excited to see our old pastor Bill and Molly from LHBC. We finally got to eat a home cooked meal which we appreciated SO much. We laughed, cried and prayed with them. 

Zane is an loving great kid playing with the kids all night. 

Seth grew his hair out and we hardly recognized him. He headed out to his job at Whataburger. 

As we were leaving, Bill hastily slipped into his office and emerged a few minutes later with three chosen gifts for the kids. Tanner was given a pro wrestler action figure that Bill had collected along with this book. 

How did he know Tanner would scour this book to discover how to choke hold effectively?  For Alex, some binoculars which he kept on him all night and the next day in Austin. For Elise, a creepy talking doll with extraordinarily large feet

The doll repeats funny sayings like "it's okay, honey, I'll clean the garage today. Go golfing with your friends" and "my friends think you are hot". Although Elise doesn't understand her, she still enjoys pushing her talk button over and over. She carried creepy doll all over Austin the next day. Molly says that the local "weirdos" of Austin may think Elise is cool kookoo, and they will accept her.  Weird is a good thing here. We are all still giggling at the sweet gifts that Bill parted with. He's such a sentimental man and we love him!

We stayed at the Sheridian near the Capitol in Austin, enjoying some more pool time and conversation with a cowboy church pastor. He was an interesting character on fire for Jesus!  The south is much more overt and outspoken about their faith than us northerners.  I speak personally, as I wish I were more forth right about how much faith plays a role in our lives.  It's quite refreshing and very alive here. 

Our hotel blocks from the Mondays adventure, "Tuba Christmas" on the Capitol steps. Our cousin, Willow is an extremely talented musician and she joined the other 200 tuba players for a wonderful concert of Christmas songs.  

Elise sled down the Capitol lawn!  A tradition with kids and cardboard. 

A fountain similar to one we drank from in Barcelona. Drink and you will return one day. Sadly, I took no photos of Uncle Russ, Aunt Jae or Willow. The weather was near 80 degrees. Crazy for us Idaho kids the week of Christmas. I took my sweater off and wore my tank top during the concert!

Big crowds on the steps of the Capitol. 

Austin reminded all of us of a bigger Boise in many ways. It does have some interesting characters, easily spotted on their famous sixth street.  The kids loved the Batman building too. It's a great downtown area. 

Headed back to Kingsland now, minus a sweatshirt and two down jackets. That's the trouble with this crazy cold then hot weather. Boo. On a good note, only 3 days til Christmas!!

A trip to the river walk in San Antonio

We decided to splurge and take our parents to the Riverwalk downtown in San Antonio. We got a room at the Courtyard Marriott and enjoyed the famous boat ride down the river, as well as, take in the beautiful Christmas lights at night. Uncle Brian, Matt's brother, joined us for true Texan dinner barbecue style. Elise even had her first bite of barbecue ribs.

Mimi and her grandboy, Tanner. 

A cool tree growing out of the rocks. 

BBQ at the County Line on the river. 

Brothers. 

Beautiful lights that are never as good on camera. At least with this photographer.

Maybe a Christmas family photo? At least four out of five of us are smiling.

It really was a fantastic couple of days by the river. We also got to see more family that weekend. One of our favorite cousins, Julia, came to meet us for lunch with her new baby, Marlee.  Also Aunt Vivlene was able to join.  How blessed are we?!