Home SWEET HOME!

After 6 flights, 17 hours of flight time, 43 hours of delays and layovers, the boys and I arrived home from our trip to Texas and Puerto Rico yesterday. Just a little later then expected but we made it, our luggage made it and the only thing busted was a bell pepper and a can of canned biscuits.... Not to bad for the amount of punishment it went through. Keith and I bought new luggage while in Puerto Rico and I must say it is no longer looking new. Oh well at least it didn't fall appart...yet!=) hahaha Hope not.

The trip was a great one. The boys and I went to Texas and spent 2 weeks visiting my brother, Grandparents, other family and many friends. It was a great time to see everyone. I think I have the best grandparents and I love to be able to see all of them as much as I can. I thought I was spoiled as a grand child but I must say the GREAT-Grandchildren are even MORE spoiled. Isaiah could always be found very close to or being held by granddad. I don't know if it was because granddad was always giving him snacks or letting him ride on the scooter. But He cried when we had to get in the car and leave. Kaden enjoyed wearing shorts and sandals and playing with Grandma and Granddad. I even let the kids stay with them while I ran some errands and of course they did not miss me at all!!! I think I know how my mom and dad felt now when we would go to Grandparents house and never miss them. sigh sigh tear.... hahahaha just kidding I am just so glad to have such a fun time.

We spent a weekend with my brother and his family. Josiah my nephew who is a week older then Isaiah had his FIRST birthday! He is such a cutie and it was great to celebrate his 1st birthday with him. Kaden and Eliana played and played. Isaiah and Josiah got into all kinds of fun trouble just like normal 1 year olds do! hehehe They both like to climb and were constantly keeping us all on our toes. It was fun having all the cousins together. Jesse bought some new Bluebell Ice cream Cookies and Creme Bars and we really enjoyed eating them every night after the kids went to bed. It was fun to hang out with Jesse and Renee and catch up on my much needed Mexican food!

When the boys and I went to Meema's house we got to see most of all my cousins and Aunts and Uncles in the area. We had a lot of fun together and it was nice to meet 2 new cousins that were born this year. Krystle and I took Kaden, Chloe, Laurel and Isaiah to the Texas State Aquarium and had a blast. Kaden and Chloe ran through it and reran through it. Kaden got to help with the Dolphin show and thought that was awesome. The water part was closed so instead of playing on cool slides and stuff I put the sprinkler out in the front yard at Meema's and let Kaden cool off playing in the water. He had no problem enjoying the water even out of a water hose. That is one thing we would never do here in Galena because we would use all our water and since we have a limited amount for the week wasting water is not something we do. But we enjoyed playing in the sprinkler and watering the grass tool Meema made me a whole bowl full of my favorite Jello Salad and even took us out for my favorite Millers BBQ ribs! Delicious!!!

We then returned to my Granddad and Grandmas house and celebrated my grandads 80th Birthday!!!!! It was a fun party with family and friends! And of course Cake and Bluebell Ice Cream! The cake was AMAZING! Grandma made it from a recipe from my great grandma. It was called a no name cake and might have to post the recipe later.... but it was so delicious I might just keep it as a secret family recipe.=) hahaha we will see. But is was delicious, it was like a chocolate spice cake. Wow! YUMMY!

My uncle Mark came down early to see us and celebrate Granddads birthday with us and that was fun. I haven't seen him in a few years. Mark is the one in charge of the history of the family. I know there is a word for that but right now I can't think of it. Anyways, we spent a few hours going through all the information he has collected about our family, all the way back to the 1300's i think!! IT WAS AWESOME! I figured out a lot about my family and saw many pictures of family. Even my Great-great-great grandmother who was full blooded Cherokee. I think if I remember correctly that her family were all named after the states that the Trail of Tears went through. How AWESOME is that to know about? And I found out that Kaden Michael Ramos who we named after my dad Michael Howard, also has a Great great great (not sure how many greats down) but he was actually the first Michael Howard of the family. It was pretty cool. Can't wait to download all the Cd's that Mark made for me to have all the pictures on record too! Thanks Mark for the Family History lesson!

We also got to be in Lake Jackson for the Festival of Lights and Parade. The Ketchands took us to enjoy some of the cool things like Jumping castles, rides, all kinds of fun things that Kaden enjoyed. Dave took Kaden on many trips through the lines like a nice grandpa would. Kaden had a blast! We then went and enjoyed some AMAZING Mexican food at La Casona with some dear friends the Leverons and Ketchands. We then returned to Dave's truck which was parked on the parade route and we watched the parade! We got to catch up with a lot of church friends at the parade so that was AWESOME! The boys had a blast!..... so did I!

Then Keith joined us to head to Puerto Rico to visit with his family. It was a great time! We saw most of his family and many friends. Isaiah celebrated his 1st birthday and his Abuela went all out with cool decorations and food! It was fun! We had fun in the warm weather and all the rain. having a rain storm in Galena is not a common thing so it was nice to listen to the storm blow over. We spent a day at the beach and the boys had a blast. Kaden loved playing in the sand.... Isaiah not so much but he loved the water. Isaiah wanted NOTHING to do with the sand. Thanksgiving was a fun family time. There was turkey, rice, potatoe salad, and delicious Flan and Carrot cake! How can you ever go wrong with Flan and Carrot cake?!? Kaden and Isaiah had fun playing nonstop with their cousins. By the end of the 2 weeks Kaden was speaking some Spanish to his cousins. We had a wonderful time enjoying family and Coconut Ice cream!

As I said before it was a LONG trip home but we made it and Keith returns on Friday from a meeting in Homer Alaska. I guess living in Alaska I need to get used to the idea or reason that a winter storm can delay your trip by a few days! Guess that teaches me to NEVER plan a trip close to Christmas or a holiday which i wouldn't want to spend in the airport. When Keith returns I will post pictures to my stories because he has the camera with all the pictures. It was a great trip but vacations can only last so long then it is great to get home. I am looking forward to baking Christmas goodies and drinking Cranberry wassail and enjoying the true meaning of Christmas!