Family Vacation 2016 - Anderson Reunion

After the short camping trip, we headed out Monday morning to San Angelo TX, where Eric's sister Kimberly lives. We crashed there until Wednesday morning when we headed out to Fredericksburg for the reunion. The girls absolutely loved playing with Lydia, Hannah, and Emmalee.

The reunion itself was at an old farmhouse outside of Fredericksberg. There was the farmhouse, barn converted to bunkhouse, and two silos also converted to rooms. So all of us stayed spread out in those spots. We were in one of the silos, and it was so nice an comfy. Never thought I'd sleep in a silo!

Here are a couple pictures of the place:

The silos, we stayed in the one on the right.

Had lots of fun relaxing, swimming in the pool, and of course the kids ran around the whole time playing. It was fun to see how they all hit it off right away, even though they haven't seen each other in years.

At the pond out front. There were literally hundreds of frogs out there!

The kids loved to sit on the porch to eat and watch the deer. (You can see some in the yard in this pic)

Spent one day window shopping in Fredericksberg and another exploring a living history farm on the Lyndon B Johnson State Park. That's where all the blue shirt pictures are from.

All the cousins! Thats Hannah bawling up front. :)

 

Friday night we had a family talent show. Abby and Rua danced around in dress-up clothes with Lydia and Hannah while Eric played for them on a keyboard. They were adorable!

 

Grandpa playing a jews harp. The kids loved it.

What a fun reunion! Hope this becomes a tradition.

Family Vacation 2016 - New Mexico camping

Camping: July 20- Aug 1

After the caverns on Saturday we headed back to our campground at Pine Springs campground which is in the Guadalupe Mountaina National Park and about half an hour from the caverns. We had debated a long while about whether to go through with the camping since it was July in New Mexico and potentially very hot. But I really wanted to camp and we hadn't made it happen this year yet so after doing research we decided it shouldn't be too horrible. :)

And it wasn't! The nights were in the 80s so completely doable. Eric and I were extremely uncomfortable but we expected that. The girls, on the other hand, slept amazingly and Abby said it was so comfortable. We couldn't have a fire or coals which made the eating part of the camping less fun, but there were sure some amazing stars. The brightest I've ever seen, the Milky Way was so clear. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

We didn't get too many pictures as our phones were mostly dead, but here are the couple we did get. We camped two nights and did some hiking on Sunday.

Family Vacation - Carlsbad Caverns, July 30

The last week of July through the first week of August was our family vacation. We had a Anderson family reunion in Texas and so tried to make a fun trip  out of the long drive out there.

We made sure to plan a camping stop near Carlsbad Caverns on our way out to Texas. We had gone on our honeymoon and knew the girls would love it. It was so great to go back!

Getting ready to head down into the cave. Abby was very excited!

Eric tried taking some pics inside but they really don't do it justice! It is incredibly beautiful down there!

The plan was to hike down and then take the elevator back up, but there was a two hour line for the elevator so we hiked back out again. I was worried mostly for Abby since she had already walked that long way in and it was all uphill going back. But she did amazing! Did not complain once!

Coming up on the opening.

  

Made it out!

Had a picnic dinner while we waited to watch the bat flight. Beautiful views.

 

 

Such a fun day!!

Phoenix and Texas trip - Jan 2016

Finally going back through the year :)

Jan-Feb 2016 Phoenix/TX trip

We went to Phoenix end of Jan so I could do my marathon and then turned it into a family vacation to visit Eric's family in Texas as well.

After my marathon 

We first spent a couple of days in Phoenix with my sister Ruth and her family. A couple of relaxing days, recovering from the race. 

Abby and Rua got lots of fun cousin time!

Beautiful, isn't it!?

On our way to Texas Abby and Rua got to see and touch snow for the very first time! Just at a gas station, so really not too exciting, but it sure was for them!

In Texas we spent a couple of days with Eric's parents in San Antonio and then a couple days with his sister in Temple. More cousin time with Lydia, Hannah, and Emmalee!

Temple, TX - Kimberly and David's house:

Eric and his sister Kimberly

San Antonio, TX - Grandma and Grandpa Anderson (Eric's parents)

Rua and Grandpa!

On our way home, we stopped in El Paso where Eric's grandparents Anderson lived. They have since moved to Utah so we are glad we were able to see them on this trip!