Trip to see the Texas Ramptons!!

The kids and I got back last Saturday from a week long trip to see my brother Marcus and his family in Texas. We had so much fun! Becca is such an awesome, fun, inspiring sister-in-law. She and I have so much in common and we had a blast catching up and chatting the days away.

Jack is 6 years old and was so sweet and kind to Jasper, who followed him around for 6 days straight. Jack is SUCH a good singer! I can't get his voice out of my head. Becca had Wicked playing in the car and Jack hit every single note of Popular and One Short Day totally on pitch :)



Eliza was a little mini mommy, helping out with Gid, studying as he nursed and while I changed his diapers, helping hold his hand and sharing hugs whenever he was sad. She is also sort of sassy, likes to put on pretend makeup, carry around a purse, and make up her own little songs about boys and love which totally cracked me up :)




And we got to see MARCUS!

We actually got to see him quite a bit! I was all prepared for only getting to see him for a few minutes a day, but he had a lighter load the week we visiting (granted he had to be up at 4 am everyday to get to work and I was keeping him up till midnight wanting to play games, watch movies, and chat with he and Becca so he was pretty tired all week) :) What are little sisters for, anyway? Marcus is finishing up his anesthesiology residency in San Antonio. Come June, they will be moving to a new base somewhere for another three years (I believe).

I've just gotta say how much I LOVE this family! Marcus and Becca are doing an incredible job raising their kids to love and respect one another and to be considerate of other people. Eliza and Jack are so well behaved! It was so great for my kids to see their examples.

Jasper and Jack were up every morning by 7 am to play legos. Since coming home, Jasper is building some pretty awesome lego creations. He learned alot from Jack during that week. Becca is homeschooling Jack which gave our days tons of flexibility while we visited. They still did their school each day, but we were able to go an play together each morning for a few hours. Jasper and Eliza and Gid were also able to participate for certain parts of the lessons, so we got to spend lots of time playing together.

Sunday, we watched Conference and had a nice, lazy day re cooperating from our travels the day before. Monday, we went to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Wow!!! These were incredible!

Gid with an acorn


Checking out a little pond


Our cute cousins


Bath time after a day of running around and playing outside was in order

We went to see the airplanes on the base Marcus works on. These were awesome! The kids had a really good time climbing on the wings of fighter jets and cargo planes.









Becca being buff mama, lifting each kids up to see inside this window!

We also went on this great field trip to a local bakery with a bunch of moms from Becca's ward. I spoiled the kids and bought them each a HUGE frosted cookie :)


Gosh! Texas is so cool! The Rampton's have this neighborhood swimming pool just a few blocks from their house! We sure had fun cooling off there on a couple of the really hot afternoons (not that hot for Texas, but hot from us Seattlites)




On Friday, our last full day there, we went to this cute Children's Theater to see fun version of Little Red Riding Hood called Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. Jasper was a little scared of the crocodile, but the kids did great and everyone really enjoyed it. We then took a walk down by the river. This "River Walk" was beyond anything I could have imagined! It was so neat! There were little bridges every hundred yards or so over the river, cobblestone walkway, old brick restaurants all along the way. I felt like I was in Europe.




And we saw the Alamo!



The kids looking a bit pooped, sitting on a cannon.

Thanks, Ramptons, for your love and hospitality!! We had such a great time! We sure love all of you and miss you tons already.