The Great Colorado Vacation Begins 12.17.10

For Christmas this year, we took a family vacation to Pagosa Springs, Colorado!  We had an absolutely wonderful time!!  We took so many pictures that I think it will take several posts to cover our journey.  Here are some on our way up there...

Stephen had planned before we left about how long and when we would travel.  He wanted to do most of the driving while the kids were sleeping, be it early morning before they woke up, or during naps, or in the evening when they went down for the night.  We stopped at parks during the time they were awake and played together, fixed meals, ate together, and played some more.  We had some fun times!

When we stopped for breakfast the first morning, we grabbed our bowls, spoons, cereal and milk and headed out the door.  We quickly realized we needed our jackets on.  We ate breakfast at the picnic table and shivered the whole time.  It was so cold!  We quickly finished and began playing, trying to expel some energy and get ourselves a little warmer.  We played at another park down the road from this one and taught the kids how to play freeze tag.  It was rather hilarious to watch them (and Stephen and I) as we were constantly over exaggerating the frozen and un-frozen moments.  I think that by the time we were done, they were just beginning to understand the game.

Lydia was snuggled up in a nice comfy blanket Mamageese made and gave to us before we left.  It was so fun and festive and nice and warm.  Thanks mom!

Martin, Millie, and Bella all ended up with quite a story to tell at another park we stopped at that evening.  It is a long story, but I'm sure they made a memory.  Here they are resting after their spills.

Papa, James and Lydia all chillin'. 

 Later on that night we dry camped at Wal Mart.  We usually stay in the Wal Mart parking lots on our route whenever we travel.  It is a free place to stay with no reservations that have to be made.  It works great for us.  Then in the morning when Stephen starts to drive again, we usually have what we call a "coffee date".  When he fills the camper up with gas, he will grab us a coffee and we talk and drive together in the still quite early morning.  Those are some of my favorite memories!  I am so blessed by the Lord to have such a loving, caring, visionary husband, who loves to share his dreams with me!  

Once we were in New Mexico, we were held up for a few hours due to some road closures.  It was kind of exciting, and mysterious all at the same time.  We made the best of it though.  The rest of the group who had been traveling all night, met up with us that morning at a fuel station.  I made pigs in a blanket for breakfast, and we had coffee and OJ and Christmas treats.  Everyone at different times joined us in our camper.  It was like a dream come true for Stephen and I to have everyone come in and visit with us and spend time together.  Stephen is always thanking the Lord for the provision of out camper.  It is such a blessing to us and to so many others as well.  What fun memories!!

I think we had every seat filled.  It was so fun just pausing and enjoying the excitement of our journey.  Down in Texas, we NEVER experience road closures due to snow, so it was different for us to just sit there and not be permitted to enter the freeway.  Time passed, the roads were cleared and eventually we were on our way again.

We picked up Jacob Burow in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  This is a sculpture of a horse he worked on while he was waiting for us to pick him up.

This was the kids first experience with snow, and of course, the first thing they wanted to do was eat it.  So PawPaw brought them a few hand-fulls to taste after throwing some snow balls at the camper.  It was quite exciting for them!

Stephen couldn't help but get out and play with anyone who was out there.  They tossed some snow balls around and wrestled a little in the snow.  The boys were entertaining the rest of us who were either in the camper or on the sidelines watching.

Looking at the countryside is something Stephen and I love to do as we travel.  Seeing God's creativity and diversity in so many ways is awing to us.  Just the beautiful hill sides and mountains and frozen ponds, covered in a blanket of snow are so new and different to us and are evidence of the Lord's handiwork in a whole new way.  We were blessed to experience all that we did while on this trip.

More to come later :)

Christmas at Aunt Gina's 12.8.10

This year we all got together at Aunt Gina's for Christmas.  We had a nice time of fellowship with family.  There were 13 little ones all 8 years old and younger.  It was quite a house full!  We had a nice time.  Granny bought each one of the grandkids a present and they all enjoyed opening them and playing together.  Thank you Aunt Gina for opening up you home and thank you Granny for the gifts for the kids.

Fire Station 26 - December 6, 2010

We recently had an opportunity to visit Stephen at the fire station.  He was at Station 26 that day.  The crew there was so nice!  I have heard Stephen talk about so many of the guys there and never have had the opportunity to meet them.  It was an honor to be so welcomed and taken care of by all of them.  Here are some of the things we did...Chief Martin gave the kids a serving of cake and ice cream.  Capt. Armstrong gave each of them a $2 bill.  Chief Martin and Capt. Armstrong played ball with them.  The kids sang for everyone in the lounge and quoted their verses.  Carter let them play in the ladder truck and let Martin set up the ladder.  Martin got to walk to the tip.  He was absolutely thrilled!  I am sure that will be a day he will never forget!  We would all like to say thank you for such a fun and memorable trip!

Here is the crew at Station 26:

Chief Martin, Capt. Armstrong, Capt. Sillman,

Shannon Rucker, Justin Gable, Jesse Hernandez,

Kirk Byrd, James Donnelly, Jeremiah Jones,
Donald Carter, Jose Murdock, Blane Manry

Merry Christmas from the Herzog Herd 12.5.10

End of November Beginning of December

Since I have not kept up with the blog very faithfully, I have a lot of catching up to do.  I will just post a few highlights of some of the events and such that have happened lately. 

 We drove over to visit Ryan and Katherine and the kids one afternoon.  Stephen has been missing Ryan and wanted to visit with him, so we headed over to their house for a few hours.  The kids all enjoyed playing together.  Thanks Ryan and Kat for letting us come over.  Love you!

We celebrated Thanksgiving over at Granny Smith's (Mrs. Herzog's side of the family) and got to be with some more cousins, aunts and uncles.

 When Stephen was growing up, this table (I imagine) used to be filled with him and his brothers and sisters and cousins.  Now it is filled with his children and his cousins children!  How special to think of everyone growing up and raising children of their own.

 We also celebrated Thanksgiving at the farm (Mr. Herzog's side of the family) and enjoyed lots of food and fellowship.  The boys all played "blood ball" in the garage (it is some sort of basket ball they made up).  They seemed to have a great time and attracted a good audience.

 At the end of the day we went to Mo and PawPaw's house to decorate for Christmas and spend some more time together.  We didn't leave until it was quite late and had some sleeping kids to tote home.  It is a good thing we are just right across the pasture.

There was a cool front that came through Thanksgiving day and it stayed cool or cold for quite a few days.  The kids love playing outside, but they don't last quite as long in the very cold days or the very hot days.  I packed a picnic lunch and we all headed to the hay barn.  We played hide and seek and ate lunch while Lydia took a nap on the palate we made for her.  We had such a FUN time.  When Martin prayed before we ate lunch, he told the Lord how much fun he was having playing with Mama and thanked Him for it.  It melted my heart!  Papa came a little later and played another round with us.  What fun memories.

Here are all the kids one afternoon while we were at the farm.  Notice the bare feet.  It is funny how you can go from jackets and socks and boots, to short sleeves and no shoes.

Huntsville State Park 11.22 - 11.23

Stephen has been so diligent studying for the Captain's test with the Fire Department and we have really missed him.  His test was November 17th and he is finally done studying!!  I wanted to get away where we could be together as a family and Papa wouldn't have to go study.  We went to Huntsville State Park for 2 nights.  For almost 2 years now we have used our camper as our every day vehicle, but we actually hadn't really been on to many camping trips in it.  For this trip we just went "as is" and forgot to bring so many things...firewood, chairs, lights and other things you just automatically bring on a camping trip that somehow we forgot.  Oh well.  We had a good time anyway.

Since Stephen had been reading nothing other than material for the Captain's test, we brought all kinds of books that we were hoping to read.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to open one book :(  We did have some great times with the kids though and that's what matters most :)

 Stephen with the kids as we were getting things ready for bed.

Me with the kids.  Thankfully they sleep pretty well all together.  We put the 3 big girls up top, and both boys on the fold down table.  Lydia sleeps on a palate on the floor in the back by Stephen and I.

We took a walk as a family and as usual ended up going a little further than originally planned.  The kids do great though.  We do all kinds of exploring and learning and singing and talking on our hikes.

Lydia and I as we sat and took a break on one of the little benches along the trail.

Below are some video's of the kids playing at the playground.  As you will see, each one of them has a unique way of sliding...and they are all a little bit different.  Millie and Martin both learned how to swing themselves on this trip- Yea!

 Stephen pulled out the bases, ball, and bat and we played a little ball after lunch.

 We cooked some grass fed beef steaks in the fire pit one evening.  They turned out very nice.  Stephen did a great job!

We really had a fun time.  Stephen and I both have so many fond memories of camping trips with our families as we were growing up.  We are so grateful to make camping memories with out own children now!  It is a dream come true for both of us!!

Keith and Karen's Engagement Party 11.20.10

Mr. & Mrs. Herzog hosted an Engagement party for Keith and Karen.  Karen's family drove up from Rockport, and we had friends and family from the area that all came.  There was a great turn out and it looked so festive!

I only got pictures of all the set-up.  I accidently left our camera at home during the party.  Dannye Petty was taking pictures though, and I asked if I could have some of hers.  She willingly said yes.  So maybe later I can post some pictures during the actual party.  For now, here are just a few of while we were setting up.

 The theme was a Mexican Fiesta.  Mrs. Herzog used the big glass bulb Christmas lights all around and sombrero's and poncho's and piñatas for decorations.  It turned out very nice!  Here is Martin trying on one of the sombrero's before we hunt it up for decoration.

 Sarah, Elaina and I visiting and decorating.

Mr. Egly who lives right down the road is always so generous.  Mr. & Mrs. Herzog made several trips over to his house with the truck and trailer and brought back loads of things to use.  Everything from this swinging bench, to all the glass bulb Christmas lights, to plants, to chairs and tables.  Parties around here usually have something from Mr. Egly in them.  Thanks so much Mr. Egly!!

Fun Times 11.2010

Here are a few pictures of some fun things that we have done lately...

Stephen took all the kids for a go-kart ride one afternoon.  The dirt piles in our back yard make for a great time on the go-kart.  They went flying around in circles and up and over the top of the pile sometimes catching air.  It looked like so much fun!

One afternoon I took all 6 kids out to Wal-Mart.  It was my first time to take them anywhere by myself.  I was proud of them all.  We took some time afterwards to ride the "buckin' bronco".  I never put a quarter in to make it go, but they all had a turn "riding" him. 

Almost every evening I play the piano for the kids after we have tucked them into bed for the night.  They love to listen to me "sing the piano" and always ask me to.  It is so sweet.  Stephen joined me as we both sang while I played that evening.  Those are precious times I hope to never forget.

This is quite a table of groceries!  We all went to HEB as a family.  It was quite a fun experience.  We went to a new HEB between Navasota and College Station.  It is so nice.  I wish I would have gotten a picture.  Stephen had a "race car" buggie with James and Lydia in it, Martin, Millie and Bella all had their own little basket with wheels that they could pull, and I had another buggie with Elaina in it.  We had quite a train!  We were grabbing things up and down each isle, and I was just praying for clarity of mind that way we wouldn't have to back-track any for things I forgot.  It took us about 3 hours to get everything we needed.  It was great.  We had so many cupons and the manager that was helping us check out said he had never seen anyone save that much!  I hope we can do it again :)