Merry Christmas from the Wagner's
This post is meant to take the place of our letter this year. I am going to break the year down into sections and talk a little about each section. You will also have a chance to see many photos that have to do with that time of the year. Thanks to our resident photographer there were plenty of pictures to choose from. Thank you in advance to animoto.com for making this easier on me. Let us know what you think...
January...
...came in with some exciting news for Alayna. Her picture was selected as a blue ribbon winner on her campus for the Houston Livestock show and rodeo. It was displayed along with other winners from our district at a showing for the whole county to view. She loves to draw, paint, whatever she can get her hands on. She was super excited that her drawing received a ribbon.
February...
...saw our first visitor of the year. Grandma Hopi (Judy) came down to visit and watch the kids while Jen and I attended a conference in Austin for a few days. Not quite sure who was the most excited about this...Grandma, the kids, or the parents! She was able to stay for a couple weeks and we all enjoyed the time together very much.
March...
...brought even more visitors. My niece Jill and Kenton came down to visit during their Spring Break. Not quite sure who the bigger kids are but everyone seemed to have a blast while they were here. Took them to Brazos Bend State Park for a look at the alligators. We figured that was something they wouldn't see in SD very often!
For our Spring Break, Grandma Mae and Grandpa Bump (Lindy) traveled down for a visit. We made our way to Galveston for a day and got to walk the beach. Sad to see them leave so soon but very excited they had a chance to visit.
We were worried that the kids would be spoiled with all our visits and would soon grow tired of us, but all was well. Alayna had dance and soccer and Brayden played soccer as well. That kept them busy. We also found time to head toward Brenham, TX and get some pictures in the bluebonnets. We try to make that trip every year.
This post is meant to take the place of our letter this year. I am going to break the year down into sections and talk a little about each section. You will also have a chance to see many photos that have to do with that time of the year. Thanks to our resident photographer there were plenty of pictures to choose from. Thank you in advance to animoto.com for making this easier on me. Let us know what you think...
January...
...came in with some exciting news for Alayna. Her picture was selected as a blue ribbon winner on her campus for the Houston Livestock show and rodeo. It was displayed along with other winners from our district at a showing for the whole county to view. She loves to draw, paint, whatever she can get her hands on. She was super excited that her drawing received a ribbon.
February...
...saw our first visitor of the year. Grandma Hopi (Judy) came down to visit and watch the kids while Jen and I attended a conference in Austin for a few days. Not quite sure who was the most excited about this...Grandma, the kids, or the parents! She was able to stay for a couple weeks and we all enjoyed the time together very much.
March...
...brought even more visitors. My niece Jill and Kenton came down to visit during their Spring Break. Not quite sure who the bigger kids are but everyone seemed to have a blast while they were here. Took them to Brazos Bend State Park for a look at the alligators. We figured that was something they wouldn't see in SD very often!
For our Spring Break, Grandma Mae and Grandpa Bump (Lindy) traveled down for a visit. We made our way to Galveston for a day and got to walk the beach. Sad to see them leave so soon but very excited they had a chance to visit.
We were worried that the kids would be spoiled with all our visits and would soon grow tired of us, but all was well. Alayna had dance and soccer and Brayden played soccer as well. That kept them busy. We also found time to head toward Brenham, TX and get some pictures in the bluebonnets. We try to make that trip every year.
April...
...Brayden's birthday! It is hard to believe that boy is 4 already...Jen had a photo shoot for him for his birthday and then we went camping at Stephen F. Austin State Park for a weekend. Beautiful area with some great trails. It was an amazing weekend. We bought a new tent that we call the castle. It has to be twice as big as our other tent. Jen cannot reach the top of it when she is inside. It is nice because it has a porch area and then a main room with 2 bedrooms that "Y" off from it. Plenty of room for everyone and all our stuff.
May...
...brought the end to Alayna's dance season at Extreme Danz. She had a recital and did beautifully. She really enjoyed her dance class and is involved again this year. May also brought us to Kindergarten graduation. She had a speaking part in their skit. To mimic what you hear all the time...they grow up too fast!
...Brayden's birthday! It is hard to believe that boy is 4 already...Jen had a photo shoot for him for his birthday and then we went camping at Stephen F. Austin State Park for a weekend. Beautiful area with some great trails. It was an amazing weekend. We bought a new tent that we call the castle. It has to be twice as big as our other tent. Jen cannot reach the top of it when she is inside. It is nice because it has a porch area and then a main room with 2 bedrooms that "Y" off from it. Plenty of room for everyone and all our stuff.
May...
...brought the end to Alayna's dance season at Extreme Danz. She had a recital and did beautifully. She really enjoyed her dance class and is involved again this year. May also brought us to Kindergarten graduation. She had a speaking part in their skit. To mimic what you hear all the time...they grow up too fast!
June and July...
...brought us back to SD for quite a time. Our niece, Erin, and Jon were married June 5th. We had school until June 4th...and I had to be back to work on June 7th. It made for a quick trip home! The wedding on Saturday was beautiful. I hopped on a plane Sunday and flew back to Texas for one more week of work while Jen and the kids stayed up north. I then flew back on the 13th and we stayed another 3 weeks or so. We had a ball visiting with family and friends. We camped, fished, celebrated Czech Days, and got to see the fireworks on the 4th of July.
...brought us back to SD for quite a time. Our niece, Erin, and Jon were married June 5th. We had school until June 4th...and I had to be back to work on June 7th. It made for a quick trip home! The wedding on Saturday was beautiful. I hopped on a plane Sunday and flew back to Texas for one more week of work while Jen and the kids stayed up north. I then flew back on the 13th and we stayed another 3 weeks or so. We had a ball visiting with family and friends. We camped, fished, celebrated Czech Days, and got to see the fireworks on the 4th of July.
August...
...was the month for some family pictures. We set up all of Jen's photography stuff in our living room and went to town! They turned out well...but we soon bought a remote so she can snap pictures from anywhere. It was very time consuming and nerve-racking for her to have to get up, set the timer, and then rush back into position before time ran out!
School also started. Brayden is in his second year of Pegasus (PreK). He will be headed to Kindergarten next year. Alayna started 1st grade. They are both still going to Thomas Elementary, where Jen teaches. It is also one of 4 campuses I visit every week so I get to see them as well.
September...
...happy 7th birthday to Alayna! What did she get? You guessed it...another photo op. I thought we were at Glamor Shots or something. If you haven't seen them yet, I have included some of the pictures from the session. Don't worry...I have since gone out and purchased a pistol. I will be ready when the boys come to call...
We also had a weekend get away to Galveston. We stayed at a hotel across from the beach and enjoyed a day of surf and sun with our friends Epi and Julie. We have since decided that we should be taking a trip like this every year. Next year may be Corpus Christi...
...was the month for some family pictures. We set up all of Jen's photography stuff in our living room and went to town! They turned out well...but we soon bought a remote so she can snap pictures from anywhere. It was very time consuming and nerve-racking for her to have to get up, set the timer, and then rush back into position before time ran out!
School also started. Brayden is in his second year of Pegasus (PreK). He will be headed to Kindergarten next year. Alayna started 1st grade. They are both still going to Thomas Elementary, where Jen teaches. It is also one of 4 campuses I visit every week so I get to see them as well.
September...
...happy 7th birthday to Alayna! What did she get? You guessed it...another photo op. I thought we were at Glamor Shots or something. If you haven't seen them yet, I have included some of the pictures from the session. Don't worry...I have since gone out and purchased a pistol. I will be ready when the boys come to call...
We also had a weekend get away to Galveston. We stayed at a hotel across from the beach and enjoyed a day of surf and sun with our friends Epi and Julie. We have since decided that we should be taking a trip like this every year. Next year may be Corpus Christi...
October...
...bring on every possible activity you can think of for a 4 and 7 year old...dance, soccer, CCE...oh yeah and school! We had something it seemed every night. I can't wait to see what it's like when they are 14 and 17...
In between everything else we still found time to camp at Yogi Bear and celebrate Halloween. Brayden was a ninja this year and Alayna was Cleopatra.
November...
...brought an end to soccer for this season and finally some cooler weather. We found time to take (hard to believe I know) some more family pictures for our Christmas card. Jen has also been busy taking pictures of other families now as well. She has started to charge and was very excited to see her first couple of paying gigs come and go. Now the fun is trying to schedule everyone in a timely manner and hope the weather cooperates as many want outdoor shots.
For Thanksgiving this year we traveled to Llano, TX with Epi and Julie and spent the holiday with her father, Gerald. He was gracious enough (and crazy enough) to have us all at the house. It is a beautiful area there in the hill country. We climbed Enchanted Rock and visited Inks Lake State Park. That is an area we will be returning to so we can camp.
...bring on every possible activity you can think of for a 4 and 7 year old...dance, soccer, CCE...oh yeah and school! We had something it seemed every night. I can't wait to see what it's like when they are 14 and 17...
In between everything else we still found time to camp at Yogi Bear and celebrate Halloween. Brayden was a ninja this year and Alayna was Cleopatra.
November...
...brought an end to soccer for this season and finally some cooler weather. We found time to take (hard to believe I know) some more family pictures for our Christmas card. Jen has also been busy taking pictures of other families now as well. She has started to charge and was very excited to see her first couple of paying gigs come and go. Now the fun is trying to schedule everyone in a timely manner and hope the weather cooperates as many want outdoor shots.
For Thanksgiving this year we traveled to Llano, TX with Epi and Julie and spent the holiday with her father, Gerald. He was gracious enough (and crazy enough) to have us all at the house. It is a beautiful area there in the hill country. We climbed Enchanted Rock and visited Inks Lake State Park. That is an area we will be returning to so we can camp.
I wanted to add one more little video for you. It is of a few pictures Jen has taken in the last year. She is really getting good with that camera. These are just some nature pictures she has taken. She really has an eye for this.
Everyone have a wonderful holiday season. Hopefully we will have a chance to see many of you. If not, know that we are blessed to call you family and friends. Happy Holidays!
Everyone have a wonderful holiday season. Hopefully we will have a chance to see many of you. If not, know that we are blessed to call you family and friends. Happy Holidays!
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