The Big Bend of Texas
8:31 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments


Ok... never been to Big Bend?
That doesn't really surprise me since it is WAY out in the middle of nowhere...
Please tell me you've at least heard of this amazing place!


My dad's white water rafting company has been taking trips there for YEARS... my dad founded the company back in 1975 after a trip with college friends to Big Bend to raft the Rio Grande. After a boring, calm first day on the water, the second day was met with flash floods where several boats flipped and rapids raged. Apparently he was hooked and the rest is history...

The company is now headquartered in Big Bend and does more than just rafting... The Far Flung Outdoor Center is a place for the one with an adventurous spirit to the one that just enjoys beautiful scenery! Some of the things to do with Far Flung or on you own include:

Rafting
Canoeing
Camping
Hiking
Backpacking
ATVing
Jeep Tours
Mountain Biking
Dining at The Starlight Theatre
Cactus Viewing
And Much More...

We were lucky enough to stay for several nights at the Casitas that Far Flung recently built with my folks, and Julie and Jason. Julie posted some pictures from the trip on her blog... and here are some of my favs!


Big sister snuggling with the baby sister.

Acting like airplanes... what else?


Don't touch! That would hurt!



Santa Elena Canyon

Hi guys!


Let us know if you're up for a trip! We're always looking for a reason to go back...





Park Day
7:38 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments
So, I must say that our Christmas break was awesome! I took almost two full weeks off with Rob and Taylor and REALLY enjoyed the time.
I needed this time badly!

I'll share pictures of our pre-Christmas trip to Big Bend later... a blast with my folks and The Clarkes!

All the Christmas prep... baking and wrapping and singing carols and just soaking up the season... was a definite highlight for me. Starting new traditions and resurrecting old ones always make the holidays fun!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the Day After Christmas are all holidays in our book and we did our best to savor each moment spent with our families - both our little family and our extended families.

Butterfly Exhibit at the museum was also a hit! I think Rob and I were more in awe than Taylor, but we were sure to share some of our nerdy observations with her and the rest of the family that dared brave the trip with us.

We slept in daily... well... my family slept in, and I was up right around 7am each morning. Not sure if that's thanks to the beautiful baby girl in my belly or thanks to the Lord urging me to spend time with Him. Either way, I felt rested and rejuvenated and am thankful for the peaceful time in the mornings.

Our days were also filled with chores, movies, finger paints, play doh, singing, furniture rearranging, snuggling, reading books... thinking of these things I find myself in the midst of such contentment. Sigh.

Warm fuzzies? No Doubt.

Complete humility at God's unfathomable grace? Definitely.

I think one of my favorite days included an impromptu walk to the park.
I happened to grab my camera... here are some of my favorite shots...













Away in a Manger
9:10 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments
Introducing... Taylor Rose singing Away in a Manger




Apple Pie
9:53 PM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments
Taylor talks about apple pie all the time... and I'm not exaggerating.

Not that she's ever had it or anything... but anytime she "prepares" food for us it's always apple pie. Delivered with such enthusiasm, it seems a shame to keep her in the dark any longer.
And as her "Mud-door" it's my responsibility to expose her to the art of making a mostly home-made apple pie.

My mom's got a killer recipe for the crust... and with our sparkly shoes (thanks for the hand-me-down Churchills!) we were ready to get started!


Stir, stir, stir.

Here's the bottom crust... and you'll notice we used canned apples for the filling...

But we added lots of yummy stuff like cinnamon and sugar and butter!


Taylor helped spread the flour for rolling out the crusts...

And then proceeded to lick so much flour off her hands that she didn't want dinner later.

Here's the finished product - before baking!
That's supposed to be an artistic touch of a turkey on top... really it's just a creative way to make vents in the top of the pie.

All done! Let's eat some pie!!
Throughout the process, Taylor took off her shoes and put on her "apron!"
And we ate apple pie for breakfast for a few days... shhh... our little secret.



In Case You Didn't Know Yet...
6:56 PM - Posted by Erin - 1 comments

I'm almost 15 weeks along... due April 27th, 2012 with little Willi #2.

More on the COMPLETE blessing and gift from God some other time.


Fairy Princess
8:18 PM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments
Yep.
Just about the cutest little fairy princess EVER!

"Aren't I beautiful, Daddy?!"

"And these are my wings..."

"So I wear my costume and get candy? Okay!!!"


Happy Halloween!



Stop Loving Me!
7:59 AM - Posted by Erin - 0 comments
One morning while carrying Taylor down the stairs I kept telling her how much I loved her while snuggling a bit.

She stuck her arm straight out with her hand against my shoulder, looked at me with a stern expression and said, "Stop loving me!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her straight-forwardness and told her, "Sorry sweetheart, I'll never stop loving you."

In the moment, the idea just seemed crazy - that she would refuse my genuine, pure love for her. And maybe you can see where I'm going with this... but how often have I done this with God? How often do my actions speak as clearly as Taylor's extended arm and furrowed brow?

Praise the Lord that God's love for me isn't based on anything I have any control over.
Eternal love.

Think on that for a while.