Hello from NYC

I (Chris) got to New York today for a couple days of meetings. We went out to Times Square tonight to eat and then went out to look at the lights and enjoy the snow. I took this movie so Isabella and Zach can see where I was tonight. Liza will be joining me tomorrow and I'm looking forward to having her here!

In the video you can see Mary Beth, Richard, Tim, Karen and then me. We'll be meeting to talk about a new video we are doing for the campus ministry over the coming year that will be used to recruit students to come to this and many other cities in the US and the world to do ministry.

All out of hugs

This morning Isabella came in to wake us up at 7:10 or so. She and Liza were talking and Liza asked for a hug. She replied, "Sorry, I'm all out of hugs and I'm all out of kisses." I went and picked her up and gave her 10 hugs and 10 kisses and told her that now she had some she could give away. She looked at me seriously and said, "That's not the way it works, daddy. I have to grow them inside of me to give them away and I'm all out right now."  I had to laugh.

Later, while I was eating breakfast, she came in and asked if I could put on another Clifford for her to watch. I said, "Did you grow any more hugs yet?" "Yes! I grew lots of hugs and kisses! I grew 10-100-40 hugs and kisses so I can give them away!" (She hasn't figured out how to say big numbers yet, so she often comes up with numbers like that...)

Message to the Howett cousins

Here is a message that Isabella wanted to send to her cousins.

Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

After we got home from Tulsa, and the rain stopped on Sunday, we went out to look for our Christmas tree. It was only about 40 degrees, so we had to bundle up a bit. We went looking for one that would fit in our high ceiling living room and the first one we found was perfect.

Here Zach is looking around.

This one was perfect and about 9 feet tall.

We strapped it on top of the car and took it home.

Zach didn't know quite what to do with a tree in the living room.

He says something like "dit das dee" every time he sees it.

Here is a little video taken after we set up the tree. They were a little excited.

Isabella got to help put on the ornaments.

Here it is with all the ornaments on it. We have decided that we need to get a new angel for this tree. The one we had looks a little sad on top of such a big tree. :-)

Thanksgiving in Tulsa

We went up to Tulsa to my (Chris) dad's house for Thanksgiving. My sister Kim came too with her family and our brother Jeff and sister, Amanda, were there as well with their kids. We decided to have a "cousin's party" rather than buy gifts for all the kids. It really turned out to be a great time. It was in the 70's when we arrived at the start of the week, and Zach and Isabella had fun playing outside with their cousins.

Here is Zach playing on the swing.

Isabella and Zerick had fun swinging together.

All three of them had fun playing on the mini playscape.

Dad and Carla bought a new go-cart and we really had fun driving it around.

Here are Zach and I taking a spin and then he went later with Liza.

The next day we had the cousins party and it was a balmy 36 degrees. We all had to bundle up to play in the "bounce house" that we rented. We also had a fire in a portable fire pit and cooked hotdogs and smores. The cold weather made it feel more like the holidays I think.

Zach, Isabella and Zerick were having a blast.

That night they all got gift bags which were a big hit.

On Thanksgiving, we had a big family picture. We have quite a brood!

Fingerpainting or body painting?

Before thanksgiving, Liza set the kids up to do some finger painting. As you can see by the pictures, they had a lot of fun.

"No no, please, no pictures."

"Is this fun or what?"

Isabella had fun painting the paper.

Zach had more fun painting himself.

Isabella got in to the body painting too.

Camping Movie

Oh shoot!

While we were camping, Zach was watching Liza make eggs on the griddle over the open fire. She poured on the eggs and they started to run off one side. She said "Oh shoot!" and tried to stop them. After that, each time she would put something on the griddle, Zach would say, "Oh shoot!" We were laughing and glad that she didn't say anything else!

Camping

Last weekend we went camping at Ink's Lake- about an hour from Austin. I've been wanting to write about it all week, but didn't get a chance. We planned on going with Andy, Ashley and Katie, but that afternoon Andy got sick and couldn't come. Ashley decided to brave it and brought Katie along. We set up our camp just as the sun was going down then had fun cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows for smores.

Here is Zach checking out the fire.

Katie and Isabella were enjoying watching the fire and seeing all the stars in the sky.

When it was time for bed, Isabella had her story at the picnic table.

All the kids slept great. Zach actually slept in later than usual. Here are Zach and Liza just before we had our breakfast tacos.

The kids had fun doing sidewalk chalk by the picnic table.

Zach really had a great time.

Here they are sitting by the fire again.

After breakfast the kids decided they would "help" wash up. By the time they were done they were all totally soaked. I got Zach and changed him on the picnic table. He was laying there with a towel on and shivering. The he looked at me and said, "Cold!" He was right. We got him all bundled up in warm dry clothes.

Our tent splits in to 3 rooms. Here was Zach's.

And here was Belle's.

Here we are all together before packing up and heading home. We really had a great time.

Trick or Treat!

Last night the kids got dressed up and we went trick-or-treating. There were lots and lots of people out and the kids had a great time.

Isabella was Dorothy.

Zach was Pooh bear.

Here they were going up to a door on the next street over from us.
Belle would ring the bell, and Zach would say "Tick Teat!" He got a lot of candy.

He had to stop and inspect what he got after each house.

When we got back, they both had a sucker and showed off their red tongues.