Fredericksburg, TX

August 18th-20th we went with Michael to Fredericksburg, TX where he had a little one day conference to attend. He has been acting as the intermin HR director while the city hired a new one so he got to attend this HR conference. Which was nice for us since we got to tag along! It was a quick trip but we made sure to plan some fun. Thursday we left after lunch with the hopes of the boys napping in the car. Which sort of worked. We took a slightly longer route so that we could stop at our favorite Salt Lick BBQ near Austin. This is by far our favorite BBQ we have had in TX. And this time we tried their berry and peach cobbler. Oh my goodness it was delicious!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

 A couple firsts on this car ride- Derrick upgraded to a bigger car seat. (Thank you Amazon Prime day for the awesome deal!)

 

The other first was Collin finally discovered what the little box on the ceiling in the car does and boy was he in heaven!! We had had the van for nearly a year and we were happy to have made it so long before using it! And I love Derrick's little face in the mirror in this picture! 

 

 

 

Check out that pit!! You pass it as you come in the door. It smelled so good!

 

We made it to the hotel right around bedtime. I have to document that bedtime is not that great when we stay in hotels. We had a divided room with a pull out couch for Collin and the pack and play for Derrick. The boys were together and then we had doors to our bed. Well Collin kept purposely disturbing/scaring Derrick so he ended up in bed with us (thankfully it was a king!) I actually think he slept with us the whole night. The second night went slightly better. At least he made it to his own bed that night.

Friday Michael was in his conference all day. The boys and I had a relaxing day. We had breakfast at the hotel then headed back to our room to get ready. Around lunch we headed out. We opted to get sandwiches at HEB and then picnic at a fun little park in the downtown area. We played and enjoyed some "cooler then Lake Jackson, but still really hot and humid" weather. Then we walked around a little bit. I told Collin that we could get a treat, but the sidewalks and shops through town are not really double stroller friendly and the pie place that was recommended to us was closed. So thankfully we had oreos back in our room.

So we headed back for afternoon naps. Collin and I hung out on our bed while Derrick napped in his little part of the room- which was great since there were no windows and we had the white noise machine. I had great intentions of Collin taking a nap, but it just turned into Netflix time. He watched Winnie the Pooh for the first time had he thought it was HILARIOUS! It was so cute to hear him giggling. By the time Derrick woke up Michael was "home". We picked a German restaurant for dinner which was yummy and then hit up a candy store on our walk home. It was a nice evening together.

The next morning we headed back home. We stopped for a picnic lunch at the Lyndon B Johnson farm. It was pouring, but thankfully they had some covered tables. But it definitely looked like a place we would like to go back to in better weather. After eating and playing in the rain (Collin and Michael). We hit the road again. We made our monthly Costco stop on our way home and finished our trip with dinner there. I also have to record that Collin had his first peeing in a bush experience. Michael said that he was giggling the whole time! Boys! He came back to the van so excited. We were all laughing.

   

A family selfie where everyone was looking....its a miracle! 

The Coon family Visits!

Michael's brother got married on July 3 in Houston. Which was great for us...very little travel time! All 11 of his siblings and his parents decided to come for the event and stay for the 4th of July. Which was also great since we don't get to see them that often.

Some flew in a few days early and stayed with us. Collin had had a fever and no appetite all week, so he wasn't the most social. But on Thursday June 30th Michael took the day off and  we went to Galveston for lunch and took them on the Galveston Ferry ride- which is always a fun, free thing to do! And the ride out to Galveston along the coast is beautiful! Then Friday the siblings headed up to Houston to meet the group that had done a road trip out and to pick up some others from the airport.

 

On Saturday we met up with them in the Sugarland area where they had rented a condo for a couple days. The girls got their nails done while the boys played and babysat. We went to a BBQ place for lunch and then went bowling.

 

 

 

The next day was the wedding. We were able to go to church since it wasn't until the afternoon. And then we headed to the wedding that afternoon. And it wouldn't be a Coon get together without someone having car problems- the large van they had driven from Utah broke down that morning. Thankfully Thomas is a mechanic and came to the rescue. Thankfully we squeezed people in the few operating cars, called a taxi for the rest and made it to the ceremony right on time. Swati is from India so it was a traditional Indian ceremony which was very neat to experience. And I still can't believe that I didn't take any pictures! But here is a link to the photographer's website with some highlights. I got a traditional Indian outfit, but again didn't take any pictures. It was so hot and a little stressful keeping the boys happy right during what was normally nap time. And then there was a reception at a country club. We had a great time dancing, spending time with family, tasting some Indian food (a little spicy for us) and meeting some of Swati's family and friends. Collin loved the cake and even left a cute little finger mark on it. Good thing his Aunt Swati and Uncle Dennis love him (and the photographer had already gotten pictures of it)

 I also made some favors for the wedding. They had some chocolates inside that Swati had gotten from Erie where they live. It was fun to come up with something to disguise the packaging. 

Monday was the 4th of July. Michael's parents were staying with us for a couple nights. That morning our ward had a pancake breakfast. Michael had to help serve food at it so we went there for breakfast and then headed straight out to the beach for the day. The rest of the group met us there. We brought a little grill and cooked hot dogs for lunch. Shortly after lunch I headed home with some very tired boys (too many late nights!) for baths and naps. On the way out our van got stuck in some sand at the exit. Thankfully it was a busy day and a kind (and very strong looking) man showed up in a big truck with a huge American flag waving in the back and said "Darlin' do you need some help?" All in a southern accent ;) It made me laugh but I was so grateful! He pulled a HUGE rope, at least as big as my arm, out and hooked it to the back of the van and walked me through what to do to get out. Then told me how to get out the next exit to avoid getting stuck again. I was so grateful for his help and from what it sounded like he pretty much goes around helping people get out of the sand because he said he had already helped a few people that day. Made me so grateful for kind people out there in the world! Last minute it was decided to move dinner to our house that night instead of the beach house they had rented. It ended up working out and I had to do very little work! (I am so glad I insisted on cleaning up the house Saturday night even though we were exhausted) Then we watched fireworks from the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Another late night but it was a fun 4th of July (although I always miss celebrating at home with my family and their big celebration!) Collin LOVED the fireworks and talked about them for days afterward.

Tuesday we go to spend some time with Michael's parents. We took them to story time and then visited Michael at work. Then we had lunch before they got picked up to do some things with the other siblings. The boys and I opted for a quiet afternoon at home....we needed that after a busy weekend! Collin was taking a much needed nap so he missed out on our traditional pictures on our bench, but Derrick was all smiles! 

 
That was the last we saw of the family since they hit the road early Wednesday  morning. Its always a little crazy and overwhelming for me when everyone is together, but we had a great time and I am so glad that the boys got some time with their Coon family. It doesn't happen that often. Come visit us in Texas again soon! 

Huntsville Camping Trip

There is a big group of members from our ward that go on a traditional camping trip before Easter every year. We went for our first time this year (March 24-26) and it will definitely be one of our new traditions too!

The boys did great and we all had such a great time hanging out with friends, playing, fishing, riding bikes, canoed, enjoyed the beautiful nature, and some quality family time (this was our first trip since Derrick was born)

We got there Thursday afternoon and set up camp. It was a bit breezy and chilly. A little colder then we were anticipating. I did not sleep well that night because I was so worried about Derrick. But I am pretty sure he slept the best that night! And I have to add overall he did great for camping at 4 months old!

Friday the weather was perfect! We played and had fun with friends. Derrick hung out most the day in the Beco or napped in my arms. Collin was too distracted to nap, but he did sleep fairly well in the tent at night. That evening there was a big group dinner and some fun skits. Everyone brought dessert to share- Michael of course had to make a dutch oven cobbler. It was delicious!

 They had a fun rope bridge they set up for the kids. Collin loved it. He also loved the pink helmet that he borrowed from a friend- he had it on most of the afternoon.

 Our view at dinner...I'm telling you this is a BIG group! 

Saturday morning there was a big Easter egg hunt for all the kiddos and then we took down camp, and were on the road again right after lunch.

 I LOVE this picture! It just perfectly captures camping- pj's, sweatshirt, dirty face, hot coco! 

We all camp home exhausted and dirty- signs of a successful camping trip!

Derrick's Blessing Day

Derrick was blessed on February 27th here in the Lake Jackson Ward. Michael gave him a sweet blessing. We are so grateful that my dad was able to stand in the circle as well as some friends in the ward. The rest of the day was fairly quiet and a welcome day of rest after several long days of painting and house projects. We did do a little photos shoot of Derrick. Tried to recreate some that my friend Becca had taken of Collin. I think we did a pretty good job with just my trusty iPhone. We are going to count these as his 3 month pictures too. That night Casie and baby Tanner joined us for dinner (Joe stayed home with a sick Ashton) Michael grilled some yummy chicken, turned out pretty yummy for Michael's first time grilling. We are so grateful to have sweet Derrick in our family forever!

 

And a little flashback to Collin in his blessing outfit! Same quilt as the backdrop, about the same age, different outfits, and both as cute as can be!