Uncle Lee

It's been 3 years, but finally Lee came to visit for the weekend.  Ella was over the moon to spend a weekend with her uncle and Ron, I'm sure, was happy to have his little brother around to watch the football games.  At one point they had Ella squawking and cheering too.  We did the ritual River Walk and took a drive around San Antonio, but mostly it involved the guys watching football, either here or at BJ's bar & grill.

Color Me Rad

I hate running, that is no surprise to anyone who knows me.  But I found this fun 5K 'run' that sounded too fun to pass up.  Throughout the route, they color bomb you with dyed corn starch.  You are also given packets of it and everyone is color bombing everyone.  We started out in white and ended color-tastic!  If one comes to your city, I highly recommend it!  We went with a few of our girl scout friends....

Princess Room

We upgraded to a king size bed and gave Ella our queen bed frame and the guest bed.  Add a mosquito net, some refurbished letters and you have a bed fit for a princess.  It's huge for her but she loves it and it gives her her own little reading nook....

Halloween

Halloween is always a great holiday for Ella and I.   It's so much fun to dress up and go trick-or-treating.  This year we had a full social calendar.  Our first stop was a party with the girl scouts and then it was off to a friend's to trick-or-treat before heading home to hand out candy.

Pumpkin Patch Cowgirl

We headed out to the pumpkin patch and little miss decided to roll like a cowgirl... we also did some location scouting and she's more than happy to pose for me ...

Devine Acres Farm

Ella and I headed south to Devine Acres Farm with our friends.  This ranch had a ton of stuff for the kids to do: a petting zoo, a fishing pond, tractor and hay rides, water games, a playground and acres of exploring.  Ella tried her hand at fishing but was too impatient to just stay still and wait, so she handed the bamboo rod to me... and we caught a fish...

School Portraits

As usual, I did Ella's school portraits outdoors and with one of her friends.

The company our school uses is terrible and has the ugliest backdrops.  I always buy them though as what childhood is complete without the traditional ugly school photo.  She is gorgeous... the background? Not so much... 

Fall Soccer

Soccer season started again... Next level, bigger field, bigger ball, bigger goal and penalty kicks ... but still a lot of fun!

Girl Scouts

We joined another troop this year.  My friend, Andreia is our troop leader and this year has been awesome!  The girls have done so much and with little cost and it's always a learning adventure.  They celebrated National Peace Day with a tour of the Girl Scout Headquarters and placed windmills in the peace garden....

They went to the local grocery store, HEB, and had a tour, learning about healthy choices and where the food on their tables comes from.  The froze in the freezers, went back in the bakery, seafood counter, produce department and the meat department.  Having worked in a grocery store for 8 years in high school and college, I am very impressed with HEB.  I think had our grocery store offered tours, it would have long been shut down by the health department!  At the end of the tour, they each paired up with a cashier and checked out a real customer.  She thought it was awesome!

Halloween Party....

Going to a UTSA (University of Texas San Antonio) game and meeting the cheerleaders...

Build-A-Bear....

Rain

It never, and I mean never rains here.  So when it does, we rush outside to enjoy it!

Fall Portraits

This fall I took a job as a preschool photographer and did a bit of practice on Ella.  I'm quite certain I really dislike fake backgrounds... I'll take my natural light outdoors any day...

Safe Travels My Friends

Our Hawaii friends have been stationed in Mississippi since before we arrived in Texas.  And, they've been the perfect stop over between here and Atlanta on our road trips home... not to mention, the friends Ella and I go see throughout the summer when we just need some time on an adventure.  Ella calls our girls' road trips adventures and is always asking when the next 'adventure' is going to be.
In September, they spent the weekend here on their way through to California.  Instead of an 8 hour adventure, they have moved 22 hours away... no more road trips to see Sara, Wyatt & Miles... and no more pit stops on our way to Georgia.  I did Mapquest it and it's about 41 hours to Vancouver, Jeff & Sara and now about half way....hummmm......

First Grade

It's hard to believe how quickly time flies!  Ella started first grade at the end of August and I took on a job as a preschool photographer.  Monday was the first day for us both.  I had training in Houston for two weeks, but was able to see her off on the bus - another first for her.  With our work schedules, it's easier to have her catch the bus in the morning and after school.  I miss being able to take her, but it is quite convenient.   I'm not sure which she was more excited about, the first day of school, or the bus!  We really lucked out with her teacher again this year.   Mrs. Haidin is a friend of ours from soccer and we've known her for about a year.  She's wonderful and we're so happy to have another kind and warm teacher like last year.

Canada - Part 5 - Sprout Lake

Our last day on the island, we went to Sprout Lake with Suzanne, Jason and the kids.  A little hike and boating on the lake was the best way to end our vacation.  Ella and Ron went tubing and Ella had the best time... even after being flipped off the tube.  Love her sense of adventure!

Canada - Part 4 Parksville & Up Island in August

We headed up the island to explore and meet old friends for a wedding... These beaches, this island is truly where my heart is...

And this is how I feel when I'm home.....

Canada - Part 3 Victoria in August

One of the best parts of coming home is that I get to relive my childhood through the eyes of my daughter.  We stopped at Hatley Park Gardens to visit my mom...

And then went to Hatley Castle, played at my elementary school, spent time feeding the horse on the street I grew up on, and enjoyed the waves and driftwood at the beach of my childhood...

And spent time with great friends and Uncle Andrew...

One of the best things to do on the island is to hike.  We headed to Goldstream with Erin & Derek ...

And then spent a night downtown enjoying the inner harbour and Beacon Hill Ice Cream...

No visit would be complete without a trip to the potholes with my oldest and dearest friend...

And finally, an evening picnic with my other family... A Ruff family picnic... Ella made quick friends with all the girls....