Thanksgiving with Andersons - Brazos Bend State Park

The Andersons came from San Antonio to see us for Thanksgiving and we were very happy to have some company to enjoy the day with. The kids were really happy to see Sarah and be able to play with her rather than being with just us boring parents for the day. In addition, shortly after Thanksgiving the Andersons got confirmation that they will be moving to Germany so they will not be here in Texas with us for much longer. We were very happy we could spend some time with them before they leave the country and we will not be able to see them as often.

The Friday after Thanksgiving we went on a hike at Brazos Bend State Park. Both Brett and Jared needed to go on a hike for Cub Scouts and it was a great day to be outside. Here the kids are playing on a vine.

Sarah and Brett

Ryan and Jared.

It was a good day to see alligators as well. Lynn was a little nervous about it and did not seem to think hiking with the alligators out in the wild rather than behind a fence was a really great idea despite my assurances that we do this all the time. Lynn was really funny as he worried about what could happen and what my plans were if different scenarios were to happen, like "What if two alligators had the path blocked and cut off your escape?" I assured him that alligators were not that smart and if you left them alone, they would do likewise. He did not seem to think that was adequate and continue to worry and formulate potential scenarios. None of them happened and he did not have anything t0 worry about.

Sarah, Brett, Jared, Ryan and Lori by an alligator, although you cannot see him in this picture.

Lori, Ryan, Brett and Jared with an alligator in the background. I circled the alligator so you could see him in the small picture.

Lynn, Sarah and Debbie with the alligator. They are not as comfortable posing with the alligators as we are.

Ryan, Brett and Jared with another alligator. I circled the alligator so it would be easier to find in the picture.

Taking a break from the hike.

Lori, Sarah, Brett, Jared and Ryan with an alligator and turtles on a log in the background.

The alligator and turtles sunning on the log.

The kids on the big stump we regularly stop at. It is irresistible to climb.

Jared and Brett petting the baby alligator at the nature center.

Galveston Island after Hurricane Ike

In October while Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen were here, we took a little trip to Galveston Island to see the aftermath of Hurricane Ike there.

This is just off the freeway, one of the many boats that were left on land after the storm surge. The water level from the storm surge was impressive and the freeway was completely under water.

Stacks of garbage from one of the buildings that was under water. There was so much trash on the side of the roads as the houses and building have to be gutted to remove all the stuff that was damaged from the water. It was sad and the pictures really do not do justice to the reality. They also do not convey the smell.

This is the hotel that was out over the water off the sea wall.

A picture of a neighborhood just off from the sea wall. Again, the picture really does not show the damage.

A closer look at the hotel. You can see where the wall was torn off by the wind.

This is the entrance to the hotel.

A better look at the hole in the wall.

Ryan by the guardrail blocking the entrance to the hotel. Ryan came with us because he did not have school. Lori had to stay behind so she would be home when the kids got home from school.

The bridge to the parking lot.

This is where a souvenir shop used to be. The hotel looks really good compared to this place.

Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen with Ryan out on one of the piers.

Some of the trash out on one of the Piers. There was trash all over from the destroyed buildings.

Tide set-up some portable washing machines so the people could do laundry.

Looking back toward Galveston and the Sea Wall from the Pier.

The building that was completely gone.

Some of the beach houses along the way where there was not a sea wall with the trash stacked out by the road.

We decided to take the beach route home and found that we had to drive on the beach for miles because the road was completely destroyed. It was an amazing site. It will be years before Galveston recovers from Hurricane Ike.

Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen Visit

Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen came to visit us the first part of October and we had a great time. The kids were in school so we could not go and do as many things as normal, but Grandma and Grandpa probably appreciated that because they got to take a little break while there were here.

They were here over Conference Weekend and during that time we had the missionaries come over for dinner between the sessions on Sunday. One of the missionaries (Elder Aguirre, middle with the scriptures open) was in our Ward lived across the street from Sacha in Riveton and graduated from Riverton High School. The other one (Elder Simmons, also in the middle) is from Idaho and his doctor was my mission companion and best man at our wedding, Brett Zundel. One of the missionaries from the Richmond Ward who attends in our building is my 2nd cousin, Elder Hoyt (on the left), and my parents met him for the first time here in Houston. They know his parents, but they had not ever met him. Elder Northcroft is from Washington and we were never able to come-up with a connection to him. But, it really is a small world in the Church.

The Elders with our family.

Grandpa, Grandma, Ryan, Brett and Jared with Elder Hoyt.

Grandpa, Grandma, Ryan, Brett and Jared with Elder Aguirre.

We took Grandma and Grandpa to the "Turtle Park" to feed the turtles. The kids also needed to get outside and get some energy out.

The turtles going after some bread.

Everyone feeding the turtles.

Grandma and Grandpa looking at the feeding frenzy.

Happy Birthday to Brett

Eleven years ago today Brett was born. I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown! We are sure thankful that he came to join our family!

This is one of the pictures we sent out announcing his birth.

This is Brett on the day we blessed him. I cannot believe how big he has gotten!

Jared's Birthday, October 6th

I missed blogging about Jared's birthday so I am catching-up now. Jared celebrated his 9th birthday on October 6th and Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen were here to celebrate with us. We had a great time with them and we are so happy they were here for his birthday.

I took the day off from work and made pancakes for breakfast before the kids went to school. Jared is putting candles in his pancake with Grandma.

Half the fun is lighting the the candles.

The other half is blowing them out.

Since I took the day off from work, Jared was able to open his gifts in the morning before school.

He was excited to see what was in the big box!

He was excited to get a rip stick. He is really good at riding it.

He enjoyed opening all his gifts.

We all went to lunch at school with Jared, which is a rare thing for our kids.

It is not often we can all go to lunch with the kids. Lori and Ryan go have lunch with Jared and Brett on occasion, but have Grandma and Grandpa there was a real treat.

Jared enjoyed the cupcakes that we brought for his class.

In the evening we went to Incredible Pizza for dinner, but we did not go for the food. This is something Jared has wanted to do for a long time. This is Brett on the bumper cars.

Jared figuring out how to steer the bumper car.

Ryan also enjoyed the bumper cars.

Here Grandpa and I are ramming Jared.

Jared at the miniature golf course. He was born in Amarillo so we thought the Amarillo section of the course was an appropriate place to take his picture on his birthday. This is a replica of the Cadillac Ranch, which is one of the two place we took those few visitors that came to see us when we lived there. There is not much to see in the Panhandle of Texas.

Grandma and Ryan playing some golf.

Grandpa playing Brett in a game of air hockey.

Lori and Grandma watching all the fun.

Ryan riding on the little train.

Ryan on a little airplane.

After playing at Incredible Pizza we had an ice cream cake and Jared blew out some more candles.

Jared blowing out the candles.

Everyone enjoying some ice cream cake.

Ryan with Grandma.

We all had a great time celebrating Jared's birthday and it was extra-special to have Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen here with us to celebrate.