A Fighters, A Scarecrow, A Dinosaur, and Something Else

Just like
EVERY.
SINGLE.
YEAR...
Halloween comes at the end of a ridiculously busy season for us, and it is so tempting to just skip it altogether. Fortunately, having four kids who won't LET me skip it, means that I push through all the overwhelming fatigue, and I have a great time! Last weekend, Allen took the kids to pick out their Halloween costumes after the trio received birthday money specifically to use on costumes. I put together a bit of a random, last-minute compilation of several costume pieces. I don't know what I was. Allen was a dinosaur (he was a Professional Dino earlier in the week for a work costume contest.) This year, Will decided NOT to trick-or-treat, but he stayed home and passed out the candy. He set himself up by the door like a scarecrow prop and started many who came for candy. He promised he didn't try to scare any of the little kids who came. When we came home after doing the neighborhood circuit, he told us it was funny how many people suspected he was a real person but still ended up startled. We got to witness a few of those -- he was right: it was pretty funny!

Cake Boss and Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Ben, Maddie, and Jon!...a day late. The boys were all camping, and Maddie and I were at a zoo overnight Friday evening through Saturday morning. Saturday was the triplets' birthday, but we wouldn't all be together until Sunday. Working on her cake decorating badge for scouts, Maddie followed the recipe to make a layered limeade cake with coconut-buttercream icing. I showed her a few cake decorating steps, and she took it from there. She was SO proud to present her brothers with a REALLY tasty and pretty cake for them to share. Happy NINTH Birthday to my three youngest kiddos! (I hope to get better pictures next year of them blowing out their candles -- oops!)

Fairly Fun Day

With Ben, Maddie, and Jon having a birthday next weekend, we have been trying to find a way to celebrate. Unfortunately, next weekend is already packed with our family going in two different directions with scouts. The guys are all going camping for the weekend, and Maddie and I are doing an overnight at the zoo.

Allen and I made a bit of a last-minute plan as we realized that this weekend had no plans and it was a three-day weekend (Allen used a vacation day so that he had a long weekend with us.) Maddie had a sleepover for Audrey's birthday party, but we picked her up early and we all headed north. We got to Allen's parents' around 11am, grabbed a quick lunch, then all of us went and got on the DART train and headed to the Texas State Fair. A first for the kids and me!

We were a bit loony to go on the day of the Texas and OU football game (at the Cotton Bowl at the fair grounds), but we knew that going in and went anyway. 

We spent most of the afternoon wandering through exhibits -- checking out the new cars and trucks, seeing product booths, and *I* loved the creative arts building. I was a bit jealous that other people can find time to quilt and paint, but I enjoyed looking at all their creations. We enjoyed a marionette show and found corndogs for the kids and burgers for the adults for dinner. Ben and Will had some of our burger -- my burger was half-the-height of Ben's face -- it was HUGE... and, surprisingly, pretty tasty. After dinner, we headed for the midway.

We stood in line for the Ferris wheel -- the tallest ride in the western hemisphere. Allen and I were in with Ben and Jon, while Maddie and Will rode with Randy and Shelley. We got to the top of the ride at dusk -- though my knees were trembling, seeing the colorful lights AND the rainbows of dusk behind the city were beautiful!

We had enough tickets left for the kids (and grandparents) to ride another ride. Will, Nana, and Papa headed for some sort of centrifuge that I couldn't even watch without getting dizzy. Ben, Maddie, and Jon headed for the swings. All of them enjoyed their rides and Allen and I enjoyed standing still in the "quiet" for a couple minutes. One last dessert and we headed out for a long train ride home. It was a late night, but we all had a really good time!

We went to church Sunday morning, then Jenn came to say hi and bye, but Jason and the boys stayed for lunch and birthday cake. All of that busyness, then we rushed home so our three little thespians would make it to musical practice by 5pm.

The Hide Story

Will is taking Texas History at Venture this year, and one of the first projects was to create his life-story on a "hide." Will chose to wrinkle and smooth and chalk and ink a piece of brown paper bag to create the hide on which he told his story. He also decided to look up real Native American symbols and tell his story using those pictures. HIS story... started with God creating the world and going through Noah's ark. He claims that is all part of his heritage so he insisted the teacher accept it. She did.

Studying and Playing

I have been reading to Ben about Native Americans and Will has studied Natives of Texas in history. Who knew that would lead to this kind of fun?