a new year

I can't believe we are almost a full month into 2016! I have really fallen behind on my blog. Here are a few random photos from the end of 2015.

The day after Thanksgiving we had a really fun park day with the cousins. We played on the playground and went on some walking trails.

Christmas day was an unusually warm 80 degrees. The kids played at the park at the end of Grammy and Grandpa's street. Kyla tried out her new skateboard she got for a Christmas present.

All Evan wanted for Christmas was Minecraft stuff. He is obsessed with that game! He loves his new Minecraft interchangeable sword and pickaxe.

Hopefully this year I can get back to posting on a more regular schedule :)

Pedernales Falls

The day after the wedding was the most beautiful day with bright blue, sunny sky and crisp autumn air. A perfect day to do some exploring and visit Pedernales Falls State Park. Admission was free because it was the Sunday before Veteran's Day! We also wanted to visit Hamilton Pool, but it was closed because of the recent heavy rains.

The newlyweds joined us for a bit before heading on to their honeymoon destination.

Wedding weekend

At the beginning of November we attended my younger sister's beautiful hill country wedding in Austin. This was the first time in 15 years that all 8 siblings have been together. We rented a gorgeous home that was large enough to accommodate all of us. We spent the weekend hiking, exploring, eating fabulous BBQ at the Salt Lick and doing lots of dancing and eating at the wedding. Unfortunately it was rainy, cloudy and chilly on Saturday, the day of the wedding. But the rain did let up for the wedding ceremony, thankfully. Cameron's cousin was the main photographer of the ceremony and reception, but I did get a few right before the wedding started.

the ceremony was at the lovely Chapel Dulcinea, high on a hill

Evan and his cousin Colby, who lives all the way in Minnesota. We were so happy they made it down for the wedding! Wish they lived closer!

My brother Andy and his wife Kaylynn and son Emmett (and baby girl on the way). They live in Utah and we don't get to see them very often. So fun to spend the weekend with them too!

all five of my younger brothers with dad

so nice to see Aunt Sharon and Bree!

we also took a few photos the day before at the Austin State Capitol building

Halloween

This Halloween was especially fun because of all the family in town for my sister Jessica's wedding. All 16 cousins were together for trick or treating! The only bad part was the horrible rainy weather, but that didn't stop any of us from going out.

Benjamin's costume was part of a group costume with his three baby cousins. They all dressed as characters from Wizard of Oz and Ben was the Tin Man

Elsa

army guy

ninja

fox. Kyla put her costume together all by herself and made the fox ears!

deer

the baby cousins in their wizard of oz costumes. i wish we could have taken some better photos of them when it was light out. they looked so cute!!

group shot of the cousins at grammy and grandpa's house right before trick or treating. sadly, Ava and Dahlia are missing from the photo :(

sneak peek

I am so behind on my blog! The past couple of weeks have been crazy busy with Halloween, lots of family in town, and my baby sister's wedding. I have a ton to post, after I get done cleaning up all the vomit and diarrhea from the kids. We have been hit hard with stomach viruses the past month. In the mean time here's a sneak peek of the bride and groom photos we took at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. My sister sure made a beautiful bride!