San Antonio Christmas

We celebrated the "real" Christmas at the townhouse in San Antonio. Santa found Samantha & Emily even though Samantha would not go up & tell him that they were not in Kuala Lumpur anymore - she says she is still a "scaredy cat." Santa is always too good to us. Samantha wanted a "mop & broom" and has been cleaning after us all. Emily got a little horse she loves to ride and both are busy playing with their new dolls from Tima.
We rode the new River Taxi down the newly expanded Riverwalk last night and actually ate dinner outside at County Line - a popular BBQ spot. The Riverwalk is always lovely with Christmas lights in all the trees and decorations all around. We are having fun just doing the ordinary - going to the park and playing with the kids and having "sleep overs." Samantha & I made a garland to decorate the tree and a gingerbread house and cookies. Emily isn't quiet ready for arts & crafts and cooking yet but she entertains herself well - busy exploring everything! They are such a joy!

We are all heading to Austin on Thursday. Meeting Dave & Marion there too. We will babysit while the kids enjoy New Year's Eve and then we need to prepare ourselves to say "good bye" on January 2nd when they fly home to Malaysia. We will then head to Brownsville for the winter.

Austin Christmas

We had a wonderful time with all my family in Austin last week-end. We started out by celebrating Samantha's 4th birthday on Thursday with dinner and a Princess cake and then we went to see the Christmas lights in Zilker Park. The girls got me a wheelchair so I could go without having to walk the long distance so Tima, Samantha & Emily were in our "strollers."

We ate Mexican food on Friday night and BBQ on Sunday - trying to eat all Texas specialties. Heather & Megan cooked lasagne & fettucine alfredo for Saturday night and Rachel made her familie's spicy sweet potatoes and a decadent bread pudding. So, as usual, we ate and drank ourselves into oblivion! Had fun playing cards and games and just being together. Wish Mom could have joined us.

The weather was beautiful - in the 60's - so they all got a break from winter and their travel was not interupted. Had to say "good bye" on Sunday & Monday and then we returned to San Antonio.

The desk we ordered for the motorhome arrived and we are finally really "settled in."

Samantha & I are excited - we are going to the "Nutcraker Ballet" this afternoon.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Samantha!

We are on our way to Austin to celebrate Samantha's 4th birthday at Aunt MeMe's. She is sooooo....excited because she is having a "Princess Party" but also because it is "Daddy Day." Kyle has been working in Houston this week but will be in Austin this evening.
I am excited because my family will be here for the week-end. Judy is flying in to Austin tonight. Joel, Rachel & Kirt are driving from Dallas tomorrow morning. Kelly, Mel & Ray fly in tomorrow night. Kyle drives from Sugarland after work tomorrow. It will be a quick long week-end but we will make the best of it. They all rented a big house about 1.3 miles from Megan and Carlos so we will probably hang out there. We are praying the "weather gods" will warm up the temperature a bit so we can enjoy some outside activities. Would love to be able to fly the Cub up to Austin.
Roger called the campground office the other morning and said "This is Roger in site 15D, can you please turn the heat up?" Unfortunately, the lady working didn't have much of a sense of humor!
Heather went to Austin Tuesday afternoon so we have had the girls with us - they are such a joy! We are enjoying every minute with them.

Anticipation

The first week of family time with Heather, Samantha & Emily has flown by! The weather has been cold, windy and rainy until yesterday when the sun finally came out and someone turned up the temperature to 73.
Emily has been sick with a sore throat. We took her to an Urgent Care Center on Friday night but even though she has been on an antibiotic for 3 days she is still fussy and not eating and running a fever. May take her back today if she isn't much better. Samantha & I made a construction paper garland and decorated the Christmas tree and she and Grandpa put lights on the fence in the front yard yesterday. We are enjoying just being with them. Samantha has an accent and talks "the Queen's English" - puts things in the "dust bin" not the trash!
My family are all coming to Austin this coming week-end. They rented a house about a mile from Carlos & Megan's and we'll take the motorhome up there. Joel & Rachel are coming from Dallas and Kyle from Sugarland. It will be a fun family time but the days will fly by!
Daddy Kyle arrived in Austin last night and is driving to Houston this morning to work for 3 days. He will be back in Austin on Thursday to celebrate Samantha's 4th birthday.

Homecoming

Heather, Samantha & Emily arrived late Monday night in Austin. We greeted them with balloons and a big sign. Samantha was excited because she can read her name. Emily cried with all us strangers trying to cuddle her - but she warmed up the next day. We ended up staying an extra night in Austin because Samantha's car seat and Emily's pak-n-play (that she sleeps in) did not make it to Los Angeles with them. They delivered them to Megan's the next day. Probably worked out best because Heather was "wiped out" - the girls slept on the plane but not at the same time. The extra day at Megan's gave her a chance to sleep more. We had to make a Target run because Samantha doesn't have any warm clothes and it is cold and windy here - in the 40's today. Emily has all of SK's hand me downs so she has long sleeved clothes. They are now settled into the townhouse. We are enjoying every minute with all 3 of them. Believe it or not, Samantha has an accent! Emily is the cutest - toddling around and exploring everything. She babbles alot - says "hi" - "bye" - "DaDa" - "MaMa" and sends "flying kisses" (that's what they call them in KL.) Trying to teach her to say "Tima." Samantha & I are making decorations for the Christmas tree today.

The Boomers

We had dinner with some couples from the Boomers RV camping club last night. Good friends and good food make for a good evening. We ate Mexican food and then went for desert and coffee - we were "stuffed" when we got home. So much for watching what we eat during the holidays - we flunked the first big test!
We talked with Heather this morning - the last time before they leave Malaysia. She's packed and ready for the ordeal with enough Benadryl for all three of them to sleep during the flight(s.) I pray the travel gods are with them! They don't arrive in Austin until 10:35pm Monday. Their bodies won't know whether it is day or night!
We put the Christmas tree up at the townhouse this morning - will wait until they arrive so Samantha can help us decorate it. I got rid of my ornaments so we are making construction paper garland and using candy canes.

We are going to Austin earlier in the day tomorrow. Roger wants to stop at a truck stop and weigh the new motorhome. Hopefully, we are not over the weight limit. If we are, we will really need to diet! Several items came with the RV that we did not want - grill, chairs, outdoor rugs, portable satellite disc etc. - so we have been having our own little garage sale here in the park. Roger learned last night that because of the new coaches' weight we need "Class B" drivers licenses to drive it in Texas. Gary said they made him parallel park theirs when he got his license! Can't quite see me doing that! One more item on Roger's "to do" list.

"Cracker Dance"

Samantha & I have tickets to see the "Nutcracker Ballet" - the matinee performance on Christmas Eve. I told her to remind her Mommy to pack a pretty dress for her to wear because it is "dress up." I talked with her yesterday on Skype and she told me she got a new red dress to wear to the "cracker dance!"  I told her only 6 more days until she comes to visit me and she said "No, Tima, only 5 days!" I forgot Malaysia is 14 hours ahead of us.
Heather reports little miss Emily has discovered the "emergency button" for their security system and has pushed it a few times - it sounds the house alarm and notifies the guards at the entry gate to the subdivision where they live! Think we will need to child proof more than we thought!
Roger & I finally finished our project at Boeing today. If there ends up being more to do he will have to hire another data entry assistant because I have formally resigned!
Would you believe 40 degree weather today? Calling for the 20's tomorrow and Saturday with snow flurries! I am really missing my fireplace now!

Less Than A Week!

It's less than a week until Heather and the girls arrive!!! It's cold (50's) and rainy here in SA - hope it warms up some before they get here - they are used to tropical temperatures. We are finally beginning to feel "settled" in our new motorhome. Loving it! We are going back to Boeing every day this week trying to finish our project - where were our heads, volunteering for this????