Halloween

Hey, look what I found, lost in the posts list! Sorry it's late, but it's still cute!

This year, our church hosted a Trunk-or-Treat. We got the kids dressed up and went out for some fun with our church family. Lots of folks had decorated trunks/pickup beds, some even had games for the kids to play. Beth and Jacob had lots of fun, getting lots of candy and even slowed down long enough to hand out some candy (ok, Beth did, Jacob just ate his). Kevin and I enjoyed fellowshipping with friends.

Sugar the horse even came dressed up. Those fuzzy things didn't stay on long!

Jacob is the cutest Superman!

Beth had 3 possibilities for costumes, and this is what I found- a 50s girl. She already had saddle shoes for school- how perfect! And, like any girl, she was thrilled her skirt twirled!


Taking a break at the truck to hand out/eat candy

As soon as we got home, we checked out all the loot. There was more than enough! We grownups enjoyed the chocolate, Jacob loves dum-dum suckers and candy corn, Beth has discovered Laffy Taffy. They were deleriously tired and hopped up on sugar highs.

What a fun night!

Perfect Playdate

We have some friends that we rarely get to see anymore. Then, we had an ah-ha moment. Both of our kindergarteners go half-day, so we could have a morning playdate with our little ones. Plenty of playtime then off to pick up big kids. PERFECT! Of course, Jacob had to wear his ball cap for the day and put it on "all by myself".

Jacob was so interested in all the different toys they had. He and Clara played with a jump-it toy for a while, and John Michael played alone. Then Clara wanted a story. JM listened until he realized Jacob was playing with a toy he wanted.

Clara was in her girl-world most of the time. The boys played nicely together for the most part. The car was the only thing that caused some jealousy.

They made us chocolate- calorie free! What sweet boys!

More than the kids playing together, I really enjoyed catching up with my friend. Our lives are so busy in opposite directions that we don't often get time together. I think we'll have to plan more morning playdates!

Way back when, in Texas

We took a trip into Fort Worth to Log Cabin Village with our friends Kerry and Holly. It was hot, but thankfully there were trees. Log Cabin Village is a great collection of restored cabins from various places in Texas from the mid 1800s. Volunteers are dressed in period costume and available at most cabins to give visitors more information about what they see and about the time period. Seeing that both Kerry and I were once teachers, we turned this into an educational experience for the girls. On the village's website, we were able to download and print an activity booklet as well as detailed information about each of the cabins.

The girls' favorite cabin was the interactive one where they could really touch and experience things- rope bed, corn husk doll, grinding corn. What fascinated them most was that whole families- usually at least 8 kids plus parents- would sleep in that one room (a few had a loft) and that the parents usually got the only bed. They were grossed out by the bath bucket and that the dad (the dirtiest from working in the field) would go first down to the youngest.


Jacob loved the water pump. He would work so hard to pump it, having to stand tiptoe, then hurry around to touch the water just as it was done flowing. He also liked collecting eggs from the chicken coop (pretend eggs and hens).


I found the schoolhouse the most interesting. The tour guide in there was very knowledgable. His mother in law had been a teacher in a one room school house when she was 14. She had an 8th grade education, where most kids only reached 6th grade, so she was able to teach the rest of the kids in the class. Then, as was the norm, she was no longer allowed to teach when she got married (at age 17). The guide also told us that a favorite lunch mothers would send with their kids was raw potatoes. The kids would get to school and stack the potatoes on the pot-belly stove. By lunch time, they all had warm potatoes!


After a picnic lunch, the girls finished their learning packets, and we returned to the village for their certificates of completion. I think those packets really helped the girls benefit from and enjoy the village instead of it just being some boring old place to go. Beth couldn't really understand the time period difference, but she still learned to appreciate what modern convienences we have now. I look forward to going again!

Old friends are the best

While we were in Houston (I know, that was weeks ago, oh well), we got together with our old playgroup friends to celebrate their 5th birthdays and 5 years of friendship. This group formed friendships long ago, right after our babies were born (within a month of each other), after we'd all been in childbirth classes together. Every year, we've celebrated their birthdays with a big gathering, including the daddies. Over time, some have moved, new friends have joined, and of course more kiddos have been added to the families. Still, the friendships are so treasured!

Ruthann and her crew hosted a pool party. Despite having spent the day at the beach, we had a blast in the pool! Beth was quite busy swimming (with floaties) and playing with her friends. Jacob was in constant motion and discovered he liked jumping from the side (holding my hands).

Friends- While some things have changed, others certainly haven't. I love that we all know about each other, can catch up with each other in minutes, and enjoy each other's kids

Then, it was time for pizza!

Followed by the toughest choices of which toppings to put on ice cream sundaes. We couldn't see Marshall's ice cream under all the toppings! Oh, to be 5 again!

It was good to see everyone! Next time, we'll have to get together without the pool or without kids, so we can actually visit. I feel like I spent more time chasing Jacob than I did enjoying catching up. I love knowing that I can email that I'll be in town, and we all make plans to gather. I sure hope the other moved-away friends (Jeri and Angie!) can make it next summer!

Zoo trip, part 2

So, another trip to the zoo, in the heat. Sounds like fun, right? It was! This time, the kids and I went with some friends.

There was a volunteer by the elephants/rhinos/and such that had tusks and a rhino's horn for kids to see and touch. That was heavy!

Then, Jacob's favorite part of the zoo- feeding the turtles, fish and ducks. I don't think he ever noticed the giraffe's across the pond!

We went to the lions and tigers and bears (OH MY!) next. Then, the bird house. Last year, Beth went into the bird house and was scared to death with all those crazy birds flying around. This time, she was scared at first, but then loved feeding the bird from her stick. Jacob just wanted to catch them. Are you surprised at that? Not me!

After a picnic lunch in the air conditioned cafe, we looked around the Texas Wild exhibit- animals and plants found in Texas. It is just amazing to me what animals make it in- like horses and cows, but then I remember the zoo is in the "big city", and some people have never been outside of it. Kerry said she's tickled by prairie dogs in the zoo since where she grew up, they shot prarie dogs. Then, I had to ask myself if the zoo PAID for these animals or went out to catch them. Ok, like horned toads and roaches and bats and such. What do you think? One animal I'm sure they bought and had special permission for was the bald eagle. What a majestic animal to have as the national bird for America!

Silly kiddos- Holly, Jacob and Beth

Also part of Texas Wild is a show about the weather. We'd never been in this part, but Holly (Beth's friend) just had to go. Beth was scared of the loud storm sounds (followed by rain drops on all the people and ping-pong ball hail), so Holly held her hand. How precious!

We'd had enough. We were hot, sweaty and tired. It was time to go home. On the way out, literally the bridge that leads to the turnstyle exit, I was doing a double-take at a lady also walking out. I asked if she was who I thought, and she was! Lo and behold, her family was with her too! Who, you ask? My 5th grade teacher, her husband, their grown daughter (who I recognized), their grown son, and his 2 girls. What a surprise, especially since I haven't seen them in at least 8 years, and that was when we lived in the Houston area (them too)! I wish now that I'd gotten a picture with them.

Meeting baby Connor

My precious friend, Erica, and her family just welcomed Connor into their lives last month. I remember the early days of being a mom of 2 kids, needing to be at home to recover but needing the big one entertained. I volunteered to come over so the kids could play and we could visit, all while admiring the sweet new baby.

Beth was in love and didn't want her turn holding Connor to end. Jacob was curious but got over it fast. Poor Megan really wanted to play, not ooh and ahh over the baby. However, when it was time to change Connor's diaper and clothes, all the kids were curious.

The kids did get some play time. Never enough, for kids. But it wore me out, keeping Jacob from eating Barbie shoes and driving the mini-four-wheeler into the wall.

The kids did manage to enjoy snack time. Jacob and Megan shared goldfish. Then, Jeremy (Megan and Connor's dad, who was still at home helping), introduced my kids to oreos, or "Grandpa cookies" as Megan calls them, and milk. Thanks, Jeremy. Jacob was a mess. Beth declared it her favorite.

I did get a turn to hold that sweet baby. It was a good feeling, holding him, having no desire to have another baby. My family is perfectly complete with Beth and Jacob. I don't miss those early days of no sleep and constant neediness, all while recovering from birth and taking care of another kid too. I'm enjoying the more and more independence my kids gain every week. Connor was so precious, sleeping in the swing until Jacob "helped" swing it too hard. Connor only fussed when he was being changed. Such a good baby. Then again, if Jacob had been that good, maybe we'd consider another one. Um, nope! What am I thinking! I'm good. Seriously. I look forward to watching Erica on her journey to becoming that mom of two, handling it with the humor she does. Love ya girl!

I *heart* JBF

Have I mentioned that yet? JBF (Just Between Friends) is a FANTABULOUS consignment sale. I had too many late, last minute, nights getting my stuff ready to consign, but it was SOOOOOOOOOO worth it. I volunteered Monday, dropped off my stuff Tuesday morning (3 huge rubbermaid tubs, a couple big boxes and a few things by hand), then back again for shopping Tuesday night. As I was driving up, I was getting so excited, both for the thrill of the hunt and for the time with my friends.

Katherine hunting- this aisle is 4s and 5s, as far as you can see. Then Tracy, with her giant rack. She only has 2 kids. People kept asking her if this was a put-back rack. That girl is a hoot! However, she buys 99% of her kids' clothes/shoes at JBF.

Because my precious friend also have daughters the same age/size as Beth, I start in her section first. By the time I got done, my bucket of "things I like" was already full. Then, to Jacob's size(s). Boys stuff wasn't that great this round. I hardly found any Gymbo stuff, most of the stuff was worn out, lots of things with stains got past inspection. Don't let that fool you, I still found plenty. I walked around the toys and books and other stuff, though I didn't really need any of it. Ok, so I didn't feel like digging through those piles. Once I had done enough (at least for now) looking, I headed for a corner to search through things- do I really like it, is it a good price, is it stain free, is it long enough for my long-legged girl.

Here's our sorting corner. We go through our things, our JBF friends who sit by us every time also have girls the same size. So, as we go through our things, we pass our don't-wants on to each other to look through. Once I've narrowed things down, I add up to see if I stayed in my budget then make anymore decisions I might need to. We're usually the last people in there, and most of us started shopping at 6/6:30 (though Tracy started WAY before that).

Here's my narrowed down bucket full of great deals. I managed to get equal piles for both kids.

My friends and I, right before midnight :). Me, Tracy, Katherine, Alyssa

This thing is hundreds of people consigning gently (well, it's supposed to be) or never used baby and kid stuff. Furniture for babies and toddlers. Toys out the wazoo. Clothes from premie to kids size 14. Books and videos. Bedding, room decorations. Diapers and potty training stuff, diaper bags, ... shall I go on. Imagine 2 football fields filled with stuff. Seriously. It's huge. The prices are great- around 1/3 of the original cost. I got Gymboree outfits for less than $10! People will try to sell anything- used underwear, ugly adult type bathroom accessories, clothes I swear have been used for 20 years, and some horribly ugly stuff. I think this was the ugliest by far, and they expected full price for it (that's what the red star on the tag means). It was priced at $5.50. By the way, Beth saw the pic, and said it was so pretty. Yikes!

By tomorrow, they will have condensed into half the room. By Tuesday, pick up unsold stuff day, there will hardly be anything left. This sale happens twice a year- March and September. I look so forward to it. Hopefully next time I'll be better about spacing out my prep time, so I won't have too many late nights!

Girls Night Out

While on a bonus visit to my folks (Kevin had a conference in Houston all week), I got some grown up time. These are some of the mommies from the playgroup we were a part of when we still lived "down south". This is one super special playgroup. The original group met in childbirth class 5 years ago, when we were all preggo with our first babies. Those babies are about to turn 5. Boohoo! All the babies were due over about a two month time frame. Emma was first on March 6, and Ben was last on April 22 with lots of babies in between (a few even have the same birthday). When Beth was about 3 weeks old, we had out first gathering. We were all so lost at this motherhood thing, struggling with sleepless night, squishy bodies, nursing issues and then those nutty hormones. It was an akward meeting, but we formed the best, lasting friendships, helping each other with ideas and encouragement.

We met every week. Eventually, the babies even played with each other. Beth was known for crawling toward the boys and non-chalantly pulling their hair.

Over time, we added friends with babies. Some stopped coming because they went back to work. The original group mostly stayed together. We would have some gatherings so the daddies could be included too- pool party in June, Halloween party, Chirstmas party. We had a big celebration for their first birthday. This is the post-cupcake picture.

Another year gone by, we don't meet as often. Some have added baby #2. One family moved away (though mom was visiting without her kiddo for the party). My how they've changed!

Over the next year, 2 more families moved away, including us, and a few more familes joined in. We came to town to visit for party #3 but apparently I don't have pictures on the computer. We didn't make it into town for #4. Party #5 will be postponed until summer, and we'll make that one! It's amazing to see how much the kids have grown and changed over the years. So far, only Angie has added a baby #3.

Back to my night out with the girls. See what a treasure to spend time with these dear friends? We tried out some bar and grill place. Certainly bar food, but good drinks and great company. We talked and laughed for 3 hours. We all commented how nice it was to not have to cut up food or help. We just got to be ourselves for a while. After a few beers, Christie got the hiccups. Ruthann convinced her to stand against a wall and bed over to tie her shoes to make these hiccups go away. We laughed so hard! I tried to get a picture, but was laughing too hard. Then, Emily had her say "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon". I think she did something else to. So, one of those tricks worked, we're just not sure which one.