Little Miss Muffet

A couple of weeks ago the kindergarten classes at Olivia's school participated in an annual Nursery Rhyme Hoedown. They were celebrating all the nursery rhymes they had learned the following month. They were told to dress-up as a character from their favorite nursery rhyme and there would be fun activities awaiting them at school.

Olivia chose the nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet! Shame on me for not getting on top of this before Halloween when there were actually costumes still left, but I did not! So thankfully a dear friend let us borrow her daughter's costume. The dress is adorable and all we had to do was attach a spider and we were set!

There were some really cute costumes and I got some great ideas for Jack in 5 years when he goes to school! ;) The first year is such a learning experience... I can't wait to have at least one year under my belt! But I digress.... The kids seemed to have a great time and Olivia loved wearing that dress all day! I was so glad when she came home and it was all in one piece!

And here is just a random picture of Jack I thought I would include! He is in a trance because Neighborhood Animals is playing!

He is also mixing tea and playing with a Thumbelina brush. Poor boy! I hope Santa brings some rough and tough presents for this little one for Christmas!

Boosterthon Fun Run

I am really digging back in the archives for this post! Way back in the beginning of October Olivia's school did their annual Boosterthon Fun Run to raise money for the school. Each child was asked to raise pledges in the form of dollars per lap. They said the average child runs 25 laps, with 35 being the most. So I was just praying that she wouldn't be the last to cross the finish line, or the one with the least amount of laps!

Olivia with her friend Payton - they even held hands at one point, it was so cute!
Jack being silly and trying to escape the dreaded stroller!

Olivia is not really what I would consider an athlete, much less a runner. However, she ran 33 laps! I will say that most of her class ran the full 35 and then some, but I was super impressed and very proud of her. I think she ran all but one of those laps. And it was really so much fun! I look forward to this yearly event and so does she! When I picked her up from school that afternoon, the first thing she asked me was, "Mommy, when is the next Boosterthon?"

Finishing up Halloween

Before the next holiday approaches I figured I had better wrap up the last one. I realize it was two weeks ago and by this point no one really cares about Halloween anymore, but I just felt the need to post!

A week before Halloween we went up to our church's annual Fall Festival. Of course Kennedy and Olivia were stuck together like glue and had a lot of fun!

As Jack watched from his stroller!

On Halloween some women from our street, including myself, although I did not contribute much, threw a Halloween bash at a neighbor's house! It was so much fun! There were tons of activities for the kids including a haunted house, hay maze, hay ride, crafts, games, etc... We played, had dinner and then hit the streets for the trick-or-treating!

Here are the "Witches of Waycross"

(I have no idea why the picture is so small...)

Here is our little mouse, Gus!

And two beautiful Cinderellas!

I am so ashamed that I did not get one picture of our kids together considering I planned their costumes to go together! Bad mommy!

It was a late night and someone was worn out! But I loved every minute of that little mouse snuzzling up on me!

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Olivia had her first field trip last month. The entire Kindergarten bussed on over to a local pumpkin patch and spent most of the day there! They had different centers for math, science, social studies etc... They made a craft, rode a hay ride and ate a picnic lunch. I was fortunate to get to participate and be a part of all the fun! A big thank you to Carrie who watched Jack for me ALL morning! I was so glad to be able to be there for Olivia!

Olivia's class - she is on the far right.

On the hayride next to her new buddy Lauren.

Killing some time with ring-around-the-rosie!

Happy Eight Years!

Denny and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary yesterday and what a special day it was!!! I don't brag on Denny as much as I should, but I am making up for it today! We had told each other NO gifts! Instead we were going to spend the night away in Dallas at a nice hotel - NO KIDS! So, the horrible wife that I am stuck to my end of the bargain! However, Denny, being the wonderfully, thoughtful husband that he is, did not! But I as you will see below, I really can't complain!!! He surprised me with this gorgeous ring!

And yes, I am wearing on my ring finger on my left hand only so I could take a picture of it on! I attempted to do it with the other hand and that does not work!

I typically don't like getting jewelry as a gift... I know, this is not the norm for women, but it is true! I think this is the first piece of jewelry Denny has ever gotten for me other than my engagement ring! However, this ring has so much significance, it is not just a pretty ring! He got me my dad's birthstone, a blue topaz! I had been wanting a similar ring but thinking it would be way down the road and in no way anticipated getting it for our anniversary! So, it was a complete surprise to say the least! I know every time I look at it, I will think of my dad and all the fond memories I have of him... and I will think of how generous and thoughtful Denny is to design this ring for me! I honestly have never been so touched! I feel so blessed to have such amazing men in my life! Like I've said before Mr. Jack has a lot to live up to! :)

Our anniversary evening included dinner as a family at Mattito's ,and then we had a sitter come so Denny and I could go to a movie! We saw This Is It ,the Michael Jackson movie and it was amazing! (I highly recommend it, but you'd better hurry it's only out for one more week!)

Denny, thank you for eight wonderful years and making this celebration so very special!

Happy Halloween

A few pics from our annual pumpkin farm trip!

I guess someone should have been He-man for halloween!

Jack is very excited, he's telling us something and pointing to the animals! He is in love with all animals these days!

I hope everyone enjoys a safe and fun halloween! We are looking forward to our evening and I'm sure there will be many more pictures to come!!!

Where'd Daddy Go?

A couple of weeks ago Denny was out mowing the yard and these two were looking for him....

I am so glad my camera was close by so I could catch them! Aren't they cute?!

And here is this beauty queen... or drama queen... depends on the day! ;)

What Jack's been up to

Jack has been a busy boy! It seems like he is learning or doing something new every day! He is embarking on the age I love! I have always thought from like one and a half to 3 years is such a fun age! I know he is only 14 months old, but I can see what we have in store for us already! He is "talking" a lot. Most of the time I cannot understand a single word he says, but it is PRECIOUS! Love that baby language! He does have a number of words that we do understand, his favorite being "hi", as anyone that has seem him lately can attest to! He is very flirtatious and outgoing, he will say hi and smile at anyone and everyone! It makes taking him out so fun! He also loves giving kisses! They are the big open mouthed kind! So sweet!

One way Jack is polar opposite from his sister... he LOVES to climb! Here he is trying to get onto the fireplace via the dumptruck! And he was successful, but by the time he did it the camera was put away!

And he enjoys trying to get up the stairs... often on the outside of them on the risers.
He finally got up on the fireplace without the use of props! I often walk into the room and find him up on the fireplace. I guess we will postpone getting logs this winter!

And perhaps his most favorite thing to do is watch Baby Einstein's Neighborhood Animals. He is completely addicted. Anytime we walk into the family room, he points at the TV and grunts and then cries if I don't put it on.

In a deep trance

He always points to something on the TV and then spits out this long chinese sounding sentence. He is so into it!

Barking at the dog and ducks on the show! Another favorite thing to do is bark! Anytime we see or hear a dog it's an immediate response!

And finally..... he is taking STEPS! YEA!

But don't think for a second his eyes came off that TV! :)

Hopefully soon I can get a video of him doing something fun like barking, saying hi, speaking chinese or WALKING!

Campout Rainout

The first weekend of October was to be Olivia's first campout with her Adventure Girls tribe (aka Indian Princess - we must be politically correct these days you know!). I can't even tell you how excited she was for this campout. She was going to be reunited with all her friends from pre-school and she couldn't wait! It turned out to be quite a busy weekend on the social calendar so Olivia missed the first night of the campout for her BFF's (Kennedy) birthday party!

So early Saturday morning we got up and got she and Denny packed and ready to go!

My little "Loving Heart"

Front of tribe shirt

...and back!

Their tribe's name is Friends of a Feather and Olivia's adventure name is "Loving Heart".

By the way, she came up with that on her own!

Finally they arrived at their cabin... lovely isn't it?!

And their flag hanging in front of their cabin!

Friends of a Feather

On a hike in the woods

Yikes! I really hope there was a railing there! ;)

"Hey kids, look, a deer!"

(for all my Christmas Vacation fans out there!)

(Hopefully there was no flipping of the bird by any daddies!)

Getting situated inside the cabin... ultra luxurious accomodations!

The campfire, which is what they came home smelling like!

All the dads and their girls!

Unfortunately for these sweet girls their campout was cut short due to mother nature! We have seen crazy amounts of rainfall this fall and so many things have been canceled or rescheduled, and sadly, this was one of them! Olivia was devastated to have to come home without ever actually staying the night at her campout, but she had a great time while they were there and is looking forward to their next one!