October visitors

October was a busy month for us, but we were thrilled to have Colby's parents and my dad come and visit us. Here are some highlights from their trips:

Galveston

We made a quick road trip with Frost's down to Galveston, the kids loved staying in a hotel and going to the beach. The first night we went to the hotel swimming pool.

The day we were in Galveston was a little chilly (well, for the beach it was chilly... it was still 65 or 70 degrees) so we didn't swim, but the kids still had fun wading in the water and playing in the sand.

Our family.

Colby and Abbi with Grandma and Grandpa.

The boys found some dead jelly fish. I'm not sure if they can sting you after they're dead, but if Finding Nemo taught me anything, it's that "the tops don't sting you."

Bike Riding

One day we went to the park and taught Carter how to ride his bike without training wheels... we were ALL so excited. (I was starting to think I was going to send the kid on a mission with training wheels). Colby and Grandma were great coaches.

We also did some teeter totter-ing, and Abbi did a lot of bossing Grandpa around. (go up Grandpa, now go down, now go up).

She even got him to go on the playground with her.

Houston

After our day in Galveston, we headed to Houston and took the kids to the NASA space center. They had a gigantic play place, huge rockets, fun movies and games and astronaut icecream!

Colby and the kids with one of the space shuttles.

Great food

Like any good Frost family vacation, this trip had lots of great food. We started out with a Mexican feast, and Grandma got to try out my onion goggles.

On our way to Galveston we stopped at the Fried Pie shop... it was just as good as it sounds.

In Galveston we ate at a great seafood restaurant right on the beach. It was called "The Spot," and true to it's name it really hit the spot. It was the perfect weather for sitting out on the balcony and enjoying the view.

The one thing that Temple has plenty of is Mexican restaurants. One morning while the kids were all at school we had breakfast at La Taqueria. For those of you who haven't had breakfast here, it is totally worth driving to temple for.... and while you're here you can stop by and visit us. :)

We finished the week off with a date night at Rudy's barbeque... also worth driving to temple for. Think brisket, creamed corn, shredded pork, ribs, banana pudding and giant smoked baked potatoes.

Girl Time

Abbi loved spending time with Grandma. Grandma fixed her hair and got her dressed every morning and....

Brought her earings!! Abbi is so pumped to be able to match her earings to her outfits. Yes, she is 100% girly girl.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the fun visit! We can't wait for next time. (hint, hint).

Grandpa Stewart

We were lucky enough to have Grandpa Stewart come and visit on his way home from a business trip. Grandpa Stewart flew in the same day that Grandma and Grandpa Frost went home. It was so fun to see Grandpa and get to spend the day with him. Saturday night we went to China cafe for the buffet and soft serve (for the little people) and sushi (for the big people). Grandpa was able to come to church with us Sunday and spend the day hanging out and enjoying the beautiful Texas weather. We had some unusual fog on Monday when Grandpa was supposed to fly home so his flight was cancelled and we got to spend an extra afternoon with him.

Abbi especially enjoyed all the extra attention she got from Grandpa.

Thanks dad for stopping by! Sorry for the mile long post. If you are still reading this, I am impressed!

Mancation

Over Labor day weekend, we were lucky enough to have some visitors. Somehow we tricked Colby's brother Dan and his son Logan into coming to Central Texas in late Summer (he,he,he). We all had a blast despite the HEAT and we were so glad that they came. The weekend was filled with all things MAN; lots of food, lots of football, lots of X-box, lots of football, lots of wrestling, lots of weapon making, more food, lots of testosterone and did I mention lots of football? Oh, and a little bit of flexing muscles in the mirror....

To kick off the football bonanza, we went to a Temple high football game. It was so fun to be able to go experience the "Friday night lights." The Temple high football stadium is about the size of a small University stadium (think Weber State, Weber State, great, great, great!) I'm telling you, Texans are serious about their high school football.

The boys were soo excited for the game and I think they all had a good time.... at least for the first half. Sometime during the second half Ammon told Dan, "I'd rather be doing chores than watching this game." We all got a good laugh out of that one. In his defense, it was about 103 outside, and it was WAY past bedtime.

The crew in front of the stadium.

Some of the "weapon making" that occured in the backyard. For those of you wondering; no,I did not photoshop this picture. My lawn really is that dead. I guess that's what happens when you're lucky enough to experience the hottest and driest Summer in the history of all Central Texas, ever. On the bright side, we don't have to mow very often....

And for the wrestling... I think I saw more wrestling this weekend than in a WWF ring. Notice how Abbi is getting in on the action too.

At some point in every family wrestling match, you go from "just playing" to "I am seriously miffed at you."

I don't think Carter is playing anymore.

Another benefit to having a drought; there are lots of dead twigs and sticks hanging around that you can fashion in to weapons.

After the fifth college football game and about the tenth tournament of Fifa Soccer on X-box, I talked these boys into going to New Braunfels. We even made a pit stop in San Marcos to hit the "biggest outlet mall in America," (although I tried to google this for verificaiton and couldn't find anything).

And what would a trip to Texas be without a little Rudy's? Best. BBQ. Ever.

The best part of the trip was watching these three cousins play together. My boys think Logan walks on water, and it was so fun for them to be able to spend some time together.

Another highlight was our trip to Schlitterbaun waterpark. The waterpark was GIGANTIC and we all had a blast swimming, sliding and playing.

Thanks Dan and Logan for the fun visit. Maybe next time Marcie and the girls can join us and we can do a little more shopping.... and watch a little less football!

Pre-Preschool

I knew that my little Abbers would be a lonely little soul when the boys started school, but I wasn't quite ready to send her to preschool. Sooooo, I organized a preschool co-op with six of Abbi's little friends. We will hold preschool one day a week and the moms will take turns teaching. Tuesday was Abbi's first day and she was super excited! I didn't get a great picture of her because we were having "sun in mys eyes" issues, but she looked cute as a bug. We are both so excited for Tuesday mornings.

Sooo big!!

We had a big milestone at our house this week.... Colby took the front off Abbi's crib and she is now sleeping in a BIG GIRL bed. Abbi was sooo excited (and it was time, she is coming up on the big 3). Mommy, on the other hand, shed a few tears. So far, Abbi has done great in her big bed. She hasn't gotten out of bed at night once. She has, however, given up napping.

Hurray for toddler beds!

Testing out the new bed.

Abbi gives her big girl bed "two thumbs up!"

Life is good.

Am I the only one who wishes I could keep my little ones little for just a little bit longer?

So long sweet Summer

Although school has started, and Summer is officially "over," it is 108 degrees outside... and will be for at least another month (and has been for the past 76 days). Not really your typical Fall weather. It feels very much like Summer here, but we still thought that the "end" of Summer needed some celebrating, and celebrate we did.

Up at the lake with some friends,

and our Summer hats,

with a couple of kayaks,

and a GIANT umbrella. (which I have been wanting for the past year, and have just been waiting for it to go on sale, or even better go on clearance, but apparently in Texas things like giant umbrellas never go on sale because you can use them all year long... so I bit the bullet and paid full price for it. It was worth every.single.penny. Can't wait to use it for soccer season!)

We spent the last "official" day of Summer vacation kayaking and swimming, and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,

and playing in the water with the sand between our toes...

(and between everywhere else imaginable.)

So long sweet Summer....

No seriously, get out of here. We are DONE with 100 degree plus weather.

We are ready for Fall.

And while we're making requests, can we get some rain too?

Back to School

We succesfully started a new year of school. This year, with a third grader and a first grader! The boys were very excited about the first day of school, except for the fact that they had to wake up at 6:30 a.m.... they were still a little groggy during breakfast.

My big first grader was actually embarassed of me when I walked him to his classroom. Isn't he too young to be embarrased of me? He still managed to have a great day.

Ammon also tried to tell me that he is "too old" for his mom to walk him to class. Despite all the protests, I walked both my boys to class, took pictures of them in the hallway and gave them GIANT hugs before leaving the school.... I know, I'm embarrassing.

Love those smiles. I was so ready and so excited for school to start until yesterday morning. Seeing these two smiling on my front porch made me want to keep them home with me.

Little sis is already telling me, "when I'm THREE I can go to school like the boys," because the boys both went to preschool when they were three. I haven't had the heart to tell her that she still has THREE years before she can start Kindergarten, which means we won't be going to preschool until next year... when she's almost four. She was pretty content that she got to be in the picture anyways.

After dropping the boys off, I had a "back to school brunch" at my house. We had a blast celebrating the first day of school with about 20 other moms and their non-school age kids, and lots of yummy food. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures during the party... but here's what it looked like after. I know my empty, dirty kitchen doesn't make it look like it was very fun, but it was. :)