DALLAS ARBORETUM

Every year we visit the Dallas Arboretum during the fall. They have the best activities for the kids. This year we brought a couple of friends with us and the kids had even more fun.

Dade was by far the fastest of all the runners...perhaps because none of the other kids thought it was a race.

This year the arboretum had storybook houses all over. AZ liked this house and just kept walking in and out the doors.

Treasure Island... who doesn't love that story? Dade had a great time "exploring".

The pumpkins are my favorite part and I can't get enough pictures. Aislyn was a little overwhelmed and wasn't sure she wanted to touch them.

Dade on the other hand dove right in.

She looks so sad.

Can you believe he turned 4 two days after this picture?

I love being able to stay home with these two beautiful kids. I am so blessed.

TEXAS STATE FAIR

This was my first visit to the Texas State Fair and I certainly hope it's not the last. Dade loved learning how to be a farmer. Have you ever seen such a cute farmer?

After planting seeds, watering them and harvesting them Dade was able to ride the tractor to the market.

He is definitely thinking farming is a pretty exciting career option.

AZ was too little to be a farmer so she went across the way with Dad to shoot some hoops.

After that we went to see the animals and it didn't take more than a minute before Dade was begging to feed the animals. I have tons of pictures of him feeding sheep, cows, goats, donkeys, etc., but the best was the baby giraffe.

AZ wasn't so sure of the animals. She stayed in Dad's arms the whole time.

My two cute little farmers.

Thank you Texas State Fair. We will see you next year!

PUMPKIN PATCH

We are really blessed to live in a fabulous town that still has a lot of small town charm. One of our very favorite things to do every year is go to the Pumpkin Patch. We have already been two times and will be going again tomorrow. They have fields of pumpkins...

a hay maze decorated with Disney like characters...

and one of these things that spin around and I'm sure knocks out a kids tooth every year.

We went with our ward play group and by the time we were done the boys had moved every single pumpkin to a new place.

AZ took her turn while Mom watched holding her breath.

I love this picture because her eyes are closed and of course you have no idea how tall she really is.

She took a turn rolling the pumpkins, just like brother.

After awhile she had to take a break and thought she might try sitting on one.

Halloween really is the BEST!!!

FHE - HALLOWEEN COOKIES

I have to admit that it might be more for my own enjoyment than for the kids, but I love to decorate sugar cookies. It seems that I can make up any occasion to make a batch of sugar cookies. This year Dade "helped me"... notice all the flour on his arm.

On to the decorating part. I think I passed on my love to this little guy.

I still have high hopes for this little one. Not bad for her first time.

Fingers work much better.

On to the best part...eating the cookies. Look at his mouth.

We had such a fun time. Fall is the best season. Next month...Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies and the month after that...Christmas Sugar Cookies. I can keep this going forever.

AN ASSORTMENT

I'm not exactly sure the point of this game, but the outcome...

made us all laugh.

These pictures are from a cold, rainy day. I love Halloween.

Her shirt is a pretty good representation of the little girl in it.

This picture made the blog because I love the fact that Aislyn is holding a purse in one hand, while pulling the lawn mover in the other...she's already a Mom.

He is getting so big. Did you notice the, shall we call "messenger bag" he is wearing? If one of them has a toy, the other one has to too.

Rainy days can be just as fun as sunny days.

LAST DAY OF SUMMER

As always I seem to be a month behind. These pictures were from the last day of Summer. The kids and I were outside playing, waiting for Daddy to come home from work. Look closely can you tell what they are doing?

They are trying to pick up all the acorns that are falling from the tree. The sad part is that the acorns were falling faster then the kids could pick them up.

Beautiful...

Dare Devil. He scares the pants off of me sometimes.

More pictures and updates coming soon. Our laptop is up and running again so I should be able to get caught up pretty quickly.

BYE-BYE ELDER GARRETT

Our day has typically been starting out like this...playing in the garage. We have had rainy weather for what seems like a solid month. Luckily, the kids still think it's a treat.

Dade wanted a passenger in his stroller. Mr. Peanut. The story behind Mr. Peanut...back when we lived in Virginia, so Dade was probably 10 months old, we went yard saleing. We bought this fabulous grill, but while we were there paying the man and loading it into the 4-Runner is started to pour, I mean pour. Dade and I stayed in the mans garage while he and Dain put the grill in the car. Dade was starting to lose it so the mans wife gave Dade Mr. Peanut...he has been a part of our family since.
Now, this is Elder Garrett. Dade has loved having him serve his mission here in Flower Mound with us. He was being transferred in the morning and since Dain is the Ward Mission Leader we have a close relationship with the missionaries. They are over at our house most every week. We have made it a tradition to have the missionaries over for a Korean dinner before they are transferred.


To give you a true picture of how much Dade loves Elder Garrett...about a month ago Dade ran up to him after Sacrament Meeting and said (rather loudly) "I love you , Elder Garrett".

Goodbye Elder Garrett....thanks for all the laughs and smiles.