Palmetto SP

After a few re-scheduled weekends we were finally able to make it camping! Its still a little hard to get over the fact that camping in Oct/Nov is optimal camping season in south Texas. I was a little nervous as we got a little cold spell and the forcast left me a little frightened, but we survived with all of our didgets :)

 

Rylee had a little bit of a difficult time falling asleep the first night as I didn't pack ALL of her blankets and stuffed animals and heaven forbid her dolls feet get uncovered!! (I wish I could say that doesn't happen regularly). And Kelsey isn't exactly a great age to camp with- she just wanted to crawl around and eat all the dirt in the park. We definately frustrated each other in that we didn't allow that to happen. 

 

I've decided that 3 nights would be perfect. Its a lot of work setting up and taking down so 2 full days of pure relaxation would help make up for it. :)  maybe next time

 Rylee had a great time.  We picked a site close to the park and she was in heaven! Here she is running for the play ground first thing in the morning.  Even before she had her milk, which shocked us all.

 Then, we all went back after breakfast:

 Did I mention how much fun Friday was?  not a care in the world.  It was great.  We went for a drive, read, snacked, napped, and chatted it up. It was great. Though it was colder than I'd hoped, it was nice to 'need' a fire.

 We were just a few miles from Gonzales, TX so we went into town to 'site see'.  The famous "come and take it" cannon is on display there. (in case you aren't as familiar with Texas history it was a Mexican Army cannon that they lost posession of on Texas land, they wanted it back and the Texans told them that if you want it back 'come and take it'. . . . . them's fightin words.)

 We packed a couple different tin-foil dinners so all the prep work for dinner was done.  It was great.

 The park had really great 'hike' paths.  They had gravel laid down and so we could take the stroller on them, which was awesome.  Rylee actually walked most of the way as well.

 especially the bridges.

 She had to stop and check out every "baby catepillar" we saw.  It was hilarious.  She'd bend down and then as the catepillar would crawl away she'd take a step closer.

 some the the palms that gave the park its name.

 I couldn't resist the penquin hat :)

Let the games begin!!!  We taught Rylee how to play Uno on our trip as well.  She loves it.

All snuggled up in her sleeping bag.

When I asked Rylee what her favorite part of camping was she said "the smells"  haha.  guess the girl likes to smell like smoke. It was good to get away for a few days - getting me in the right mindset for my new calling : Young Womens Co-Camp Director.

 

Utah (part 2)

I really couldn't get enough of the fall leaves while in Utah.  Its not so much that Texas doesn't have 'fall' but we don't really have 'fall'.  There are SOME trees that change, but due to the drought this year they are even fewer and farther between.  So we played in the church parking lot a little bit.

we were soon joined by some cousins for more fun.  Her giggle makes me smile.

 who likes candy?

 who wants to go for a four-wheeler ride?

 who has turned into the cutest chunkiest little thing in just 3 short months?

 We did take a mini trip up to BridalVeil Falls one afternoon.

 and got a photo of almost all the counsins.  One had a better offer :)

 and the other was asleep on the opposite side of the bridge.  for real.

This little girl tried her best to keep up with the older cousins.

 We were able to sneak in a quick visit with the Allsop Grandparents on our way back to the airport.

It was a whirl wind of a 3-day trip but I'm so glad we were able to make it! There was quite a bit of airport drama I hope I never have to repeat (3 of my 4 flights were delayed . . . . one 4 hours.  Let me tell you, flying while pregnant with a toddler is EXHAUSTING!! I'm still trying to recover)

Because of my late flight we went straight from the airport to our ward's trunk-or-treat party.  Fun, but again, not recommended.

Utah . . . .

Here's a few pictures after the funeral.

 Rylee with the Great-Grandmother bouquet/wreath.

 I actually think cemetaries are really beautiful.  I love all the flowers, add changing leaves and mountains to the backdrop and its sortof surreal and quite peaceful.

 Granny's house

Fall

A couple weekends ago we attended all sorts of 'fall' activities. We visited a 'pumpkin patch' Friday and then Saturday our HOA had a little festival. You know, the usual: overpriced food, craft booths, petting 'farm', train/hay rides, candy, random pumpkins in the dirt (apparantly this does not make it a pumpkin patch. . . . . I wouldn't know the difference :) )

I used the festivities as an excuse to put Rylee in her costume a couple more times this season. She's our little gnome. I laughed everytime I looked at her. The hat didn't stay on for too long but she looked adorable in it.

Rylee with her bff, her Mother and I insist.

Rylee and my (27 week) pregnant self feeding the llama.

You know, I used to worry if I was wearing enough layers for outdoor Halloween events, now, we buy Ice Cream (from none other that the schwann man who had a booth at the park).

All the booths at the park gave candy. Rylee would have a bag full of dumb-dumbs had Mom and Dad not interviened. We had to.