Big Bend Adventure

December 26th, we headed out early for the long drive to Big Bend. Let me explain a back story for those of you that might not know... when I was a kid my family went on a big family trip each summer. The summer I was 12, we were supposed to go to Big Bend, the McDonald Observatory, and Marfa Lights as a family... however, I got really sick with Tyfus... (who gets that?!) and was hospitalized for a week or so which inevitably meant no summer trip! Speed forward 16 years and I'm 28. My family plans a Christmas trip to Big Bend to see all of the above... when low and behold I end up in the hospital AGAIN! This time trying not to have Aubrie! So despite the apparent cosmic powers trying to keep us away, we once again planned a trip to Big Bend and this time --- WE MADE IT! Brandon and I had been on our own once in college, so we played tour guides for the rest of the family. Fun was had by all (except Courtney and Jason who had to stay home and work :( ) Here's a few of the shots from the trip!

Stop One: McDonald Observatory --- unfortunately - nothing to see there! :(

Stop Two: Marfa Lights - no photos and really nothing to see! (at least not the night we went!)

Stop Three: Lajitas -a nearly abandoned resort in the desert... it was really pretty!

Stop Four: Terlingua Ghost Town - Yummy food, cool things to see briefly

Big Bend - Ernst Tinaja - this was mine and Brandon's favorite place the first time we went to Big Bend

Big Bend - Santa Elena Canyon - this is a cool place with huge boulders and cold sand. The kids loved playing in the sand!

Big Bend - Balancing Rock - this was the only new thing Brandon and I hadn't done and we are so glad we made the vertical hike to see it. Very Worth It!

Big Bend - Lost Mine Trail - although we were all tired and didn't go all the way up, this was our venture into the mountainous terrain at Big Bend.

Pay close attention to Branson's face... he gets soooo tired of his mommy taking pictures!

Christmas 2010

Finally a moment to post some Christmas photos! I don't have access to my computer right now, so a few of the highlights will have to do!

Christmas was amazing this year. We enjoyed spending time first opening presents at our house with the kids then headed to my folks house for Christmas lunch. The kids were of course spoiled rotten, and Brandon and I didn't do too bad for ourselves either! I got a new fancy camera and Brandon got an Ipad (our big gifts)! We are so blessed!

A beautiful flower..

After getting this hat for Christmas from our friends, I couldn't help but snap a few photos to turn into color wonder!

Look what I made!!!

ok, so don't look too closely, and no it doesn't have button holes yet (help Mom!) but for my first attempt at an outfit for Aubrie I call this a success!

Marble Falls Trail of Lights

Its become a small family tradition to meet in Marble Falls for dinner and then a short stroll through their trail of lights. It is a beautiful display... next year we may have to find another small town trail of lights to enjoy!

Zilker Tree

With no Trail of Lights in Austin this year, we had to settle for just going to check out the tree! We had a great time with our friends! We came, we saw, we spun!

Another Santa...

we have seen our fair share of Santa's this year... here's another picture to share... you got to love the attitude you can see all over my little guy as he cuts his eyes over and grins!

Holiday Photos

Check out our family Christmas pictures! So blessed this year! I love my family.. enough said!

Baby Jesus?!?

Every year our church has a live nativity... when Branson was a baby we played the holy family... last year we opted out of participating... this year a friend asked us if we'd be the holy family again... of course I said yes... then as the day approached, I realized that baby Jesus was about 11 months too old, would be talking/babbling, have HER ears pierced, and would never consent to lying in a manager! And likely the littlest shepherd would need to be a cousin of the holy family since I didn't anticipate that he would do his part without us. I was pleasantly surprised with my children's performance last night... the first show Aubrie and Branson were so fascinated by the sheep and goats that they did perfectly... the second show was less perfect, but a wonderful account of the reason for the season!

Christmas Pictures...

Its Santa time again!!!
Here's the best ones of the kids... didn't get a great one of them together so this will have to suffice this year.

Hurst Family Photos

We also try to take a big family picture each year. This year we went with a dress code. I think it turned out great!

Thanksgiving Hurst Hike

Each year we try and visit a Texas State Park or natural area as a family. This is Brandon's first year as he usually has to work. The hike at Pedernales Falls was beautiful!

Tappan Thanksgiving

This weekend we went to the Tappans for Thanksgiving with the family. I didn't get the camera out much, but this was a cute sibling shot before we left.

TCU Game

With all our running around, we only made it to two TCU games this year. Maybe if we are lucky we will get to go to a bowl game!

Exotic Zoo

On the way home from camping, our friends and us stopped at the Exotic Zoo in Johnson City to feed the animals. We had a great time!

Camping

We have been so busy lately that I haven't had a lot of time for blogging. Here are some pics of our recent trip to Kerrville Schriener with our friends from church. We have been meeting with this group monthly for about 2 years now. Its amazing how much our kids have grown. 3 of the 4 families went from 1 kid to 2 during the time we have been meeting. This was our first camping excursion and from what I hear we will be making it an annual affair!

Trick-or-treat

We joined the Lovicotts for our third year of trick-or-treating... Its so much more fun with friends (not to mention a neighborhood without hills!) The kids had a blast but wore out fast and wanted to be pulled in the wagon!

I couldn't resist... I actually brought pjs for the kids to change into after trick-or-treating, but I realized I would miss the opportunity to have another sleeping picture! I guess trick-or-treating is hard work!

Saw online that you are supposed to use Lysol on carved pumpkins to prevent them from rotting... well it worked, but it was so hot that the pumpkins ended up just melting... couldn't resist posting since they look as tired as my kids! Doesn't Branson's pumpkin remind you of an old man with no teeth?

Pumpkin Carving

Check out our carvings for the year!!!

Virginia Vacation

This photo slideshow created with Smilebox

Full Day One: Sunday: We headed to Colonial Williamsburg to check out the sites. We didn't pay the tourist fee so we couldn't go into any of the colonial buildings but we got to see them all from the outside. We then headed out to Jamestown Settlement and got to go on some ships, the fort and the settlement. They were growing tobacco near the fort as they did in the olden days and Branson had to search for a horned worm because the eat the plants. Luckily for us one of the bigger kids found one and told us which plant they put it on so he could find it easily! Before heading home that evening, we went to this really cool wooden playscape near our complex. It was awesome and we all wished it was closer to Leander!

Day Two: Monday: We went to Virginia Beach and Newport News. We stopped for a quick go-kart ride then put our feet in the sand at the beach... we checked out the lighthouses at Fort Story before heading to the Virginia Living Museum.

Day Three: Tuesday: Checked out more of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.

Day Four: Wednesday: We drove up to Charlottsville to pick apples and see pumpkins. We went by Monticello but decided not to make the kids suffer through the tour... The apples and pumpkins were perfect!

Day Five: Thursday: More puttin around... we actually ended up spending 2 hours in the Yankee Candle Company flagship store... this store had everything including Santa and snow! We then went back to Virginia Beach to sail on a tall ship.

Day Six: Friday: Saved the biggest adventure for last... Busch Gardens! We had a great time! Branson rode all he could standing 38"tall. He wasn't afraid to try anything!

Day Seven: Saturday: SUpposed to be a quick trip home however our flight to Dallas was detoured to Memphis due to bad weather so instead of getting home at 5pm we stumbled in at 10pm... without our luggage! oh well!