Trick or Sleep

We got home the day before Halloween, late at night.  I didn't have time before the trip, or then to work on a homemade costume.  I ran to the store Halloween and bought him a cowboy one, and he wore the boots he already had.

He loved it!

Without the duster

Well he still had an hour before it was Trick or Treat time.  He fell asleep!  We even tried to wake him up, but he was out.

Kyle still had a few days off.  So I met my sister at Ikea.  We shopped around, then loaded my car with a lot of Billy Bookcases.  The whole next day Kyle and I put them together and installed them.  It was a LONG day.  But looks awesome and can hold a lot of Kyle's books. Mine aren't on it yet.

Adding in shelf brackets for the overhead shelf.

Texas Trip - Part 3 - Deep in the Heart of Texas!

Visiting all the family was now done.  Time to visit Austin and see how it's weird!

Thumbs up on the BBQ.

One reason for stopping off at parks and eating sandwiches during the drive was to save money for all the good eating to do in Austin!  We got to try a BBQ and then got some awesome ice cream.

It was good.  BBQ Brisket is now a favorite.

After some delicious lunch we headed to the Texas State Capitol.  We took the tour.  Dex stayed occupied by pointing out all the stars.  They're everywhere in there.  Railings, chairs, door knobs.  He didn't mind finding them all to stay entertained.

There's even an 8 foot star on the ceiling!

Kyle carried Ellie around.

State Capitol

An old fashioned drinking fountain that still worked

Taking a break at Barton Springs/Zilke Park

We got to ride on the Zilke Zephyr

In motion!

Ellie kind of enjoyed it.

Uncle Jake helping out tired Dexter.

Well it was time to drive home after all that excitement.  Actually...took a brief nap first and then went.

We again drove back to Trevor & Danielle's.  Then the next morning we were off back to Albuquerque.  This time we took a different route, and drove through Lubbock.  We stopped off at the mini-Temple there.

Lubbock LDS Temple

Our little family in front of it now.

The kids did great the WHOLE time!

What scenery was like most the time.  Flat and we saw many sunsets.

Uncle Jake with his nephew and new niece!  He hadn't seen them in 2 years.

Storm clouds? 

Hit some snowstorms on the way back.  And somehow always got in front of the plows, so it was scary driving for a bit.

But it ended in Moab with a pretty rainbow.

All tired after an awesome trip!

Texas Trip - Part 2 - Reunion & Bro's Ranch

Family Reunion time!!  

Friday night started with just hanging our waiting for people to arrive.  And then a HoeDown!

Playing on the dance floor while other stuff was being set up.

Kyle getting his Boot Scooting Boogie on.

Everyone else joining in.

The kids loved playing on the train track.  Aunt Jana built this masterpiece.

Dexter love the playground in the back.

Saturday, was the main event.  We all got together and had pictures.

Everyone!

After all the travelling and such, then with no naps and late nights at the reunion.  He was pretty exhausted and towards night was subject to meltdowns.  But for all he was going through I didn't blame him and just tried to help him best I could.

A moment of pondering

The Hansen clan that could come

Nub Nub and all her babies!

Our little family.
And that would be Dex's new smile.  He's not yawning, that's on purpose.

A pull pinata

Kids grabbing all the candy!

Later in the evening we had a talent show.  There were some amazing talents and skits.

Waiting for the talent show!

The "Originals" did a renactment of their night dinners from growing up.

There were many acts.  Such as raindrop soldiers.  Acting out modes of transportation. The "Originals" did a skit of their dinner time.  It was like a million inside jokes all going on.  They were all cracking up at these while doing it themselves.
We had Dexter recite the ABC Star Wars.  He did a great job.

Everyone was always holding Ellie for me.

So my brother lives just outside of Austin, and so we went to visit him.  We hadn't ever seen their place down there.  He lives on house on his in-laws ranch where they take have some chickens and sheep.

Walking to the chickens.

He got to feed the huge group of them.

Jane showing him how it's done.

Petting "Pretty Boy."  He was a nice and soft sheep.

Hanging with his cousin

There's Dot!

Jane loved seeing her cousins.  And meeting Ellie too!

She loved holding Ellie!

Nate and Jane playing "No Escape."  Dexter was attempting it with his monkey too.

Dex's turn!  Uncle Nate was really strong.

Cousins unite!