Crow's Nest Farm fieldtrip

Last week Bri had her first school fieldtrip. I was glad to have the chance to chaperone and spend the time with her and her class...



They went to a place called Crow's Nest Farm. I think most of them would have been happy to just ride the bus though!!! They squeeled and carried on so you would have thought it wad a ride at Disney world! Brianna was happy to have her friends Ivy and Jaedon and Audrey close by as well.



While there they got to see a number of rescued wild animals as well as farm animals... Birds and llamas and pigs and peacocks and huge turtles. They got to see how a cow was milked. I explained to Briaana and her friends that this is what Papa used to do and told her about bottle feeding the baby calves and cleaning the lot. They thought cleaning the lot was pretty disgusting!


And what is a trip to the farm without a hayride! They loved seeing the baby emu at the end of it.




My favorite was the fairy garden and the butterfly house.







It was a great day spent with my princess!

Happy Birthday Papa!

In celebration of Papa's birthday, Bri made a little birthday cake just for him so that they could blow out a candle for him.



We love you Papa!

Halloween

We were so busy this year that somehow we never got pictures of the kids in their costumes. Ethan was Indiana Jones of course! He wore Helamans old cowboy jacket and Granny made him a bag that he was quite thrilled with. Brianna was a very pretty Tinkerbell. At the church party, though they hot plenty of candy, Ethan was upset that he did not have a whole bag. So TayTay and Jazzy made sure they got plenty on Halloween. Those little kids trick or treated their little hearts out and crashed before we made it home for the night!

Shelling peas

Granny and papa brought purple hull peas with them to shell on this trip. Brianna tried her hand at it and found not only did she enjoy it, but she was pretty good at it too!

Pumpkin traditions

Every year for about 10 years, we have gotten together wigh Kim and James and the girls to carve pumpkins just before Halloween. Though Brian and I did the work, the kids were proud of the designs they picked out. This year they even got to pick put their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch! Of course, Brian did cheat and used a power tool to carve Brianna's!













Vampire Mickey and Snow White

Nursery Rhyme Parade

On Friday Oct 30, Bri's Kindergarten hosted a Halloween Parade (in lieu of costumes for Halloween I'm sure!). Brianna really wanted to be Little Miss Muffet. So we came up with a great idea for the spider to hang (that later backfired because the string that he dangled from kept coming untied!), hunted up my old dress and made her a cap. She practiced and practiced her rhyme until she had it down. We got there and they started the parade early and daddy and papa almost missed her! Then because of technical difficulties with the spider, we missed her picture and because of over sleeping we forgot the good camera and her bowl! But despite the problems, Brianna looked great! It was also fun to see all of my other Ctr 5 kids as well!

Preschool Halloween fun

Last Thursday, Ethan's preschool hosted a little Halloween party for the kids complete with face painting, pumpkin walk, games and prizes. Ethan had a lot of fun and was especially excited that Granny got to come too!


Ethan's teacher Mrs. Kimmie

Yamboree

There are so many memories from the Yamboree. You get anywhere near the square and the lights, the squeals, the music, the smells... Any of them will trigger the nostalgia of times past. We have rarely missed a trip back for it. It's tradition! But more than that... It's tradition for everyone that grew up here. We always get to visit with someone, friends or family, that we have not seen in years.



We must go to the pageant on Thursday. Right now it is because Bri loves to see all the beautiful princesses and little kids. But also to check out the dresses. Mom usually has at least one that she made if not the queen's and the court and dancers too! We can always tell which one is hers because it is the one that fits, the one that doesn't drag the floor when they walk, and they don't have to lift it up to walk up the stairs... But at the same time it doesn't ride up so high that it shows off her shoes. And they are beautiful and tasteful, not gaudy and flashy. Mom has


been making dresses for the pageant for around 40 years!


Another yamboree tradition is Mema! We always say that Mema opens and closes the yamboree... It doesn't start without her there and she is always at the bandstand dancing untill it closes. She is our base. If you need to communicate with someone, sooner or later they will stop by to see her. And before Mema it was Granny.



There are so many memories there. Parades, sweet potato pie, turkey legs, working in the church or school booths selling hamburgers, dancing, band contests, fiddling contests, crafts, sweet potato people, rides... Just a part of who you are when you grow up in Gilmer!





-- Posted from my iPhone

Fun with Kailee

A little late, but I wanted to rewind and post up some pictures of our week with Kailee. It was such a busy summer that I did not post near as much as I wanted to and Kailee's stay here was one of the best parts so I have to share these photos!

She stayed with us for the week before the Lindsey Reunion. Unfortunately I had a severe ear infection that cut into the fun we could have had, but we did so much. The kids took her to their favorite FHE special treet... Dairy Queen on Monday.

On Tuesday, we went to Inner Space Caverns. It was really neat. The kids had fun and weren't near as scared as I thought they would be. We have lived here for 12 years and it took having Kailee here to get me there. Such a beautiful place so near by.

Later we went to the Texas History Museum. Kailee and I wished we had more time to ourselves to explore as it was a little much for the kids. But it was fun and educational.

I wish I had not waited so long to post these. My scattered brain has lost so many of the details (I had created this blog to avoid that right!)... But I do know it was a special time, the kids still talk about when Kailee was here and are already thinking of things to do for her next visit next year. We love you Kailee and wish we lived closer to you!

Words of Wisdom

I can't do a somersault on this day.... But maybe when I am 70!
-Ethan



-- Posted from my iPhone

Up a Tree

Brianna surprised us by climbing up a tree.... Finally! She told us that Max gave her lessons. Of course when she went to get down she was a little afraid.... She said that Max did not give her lessons on how to get down.... But with a little guidance she made it safe and sound! What a milestone!

Waiting for Sissy!

Today while we were waiting for Brianna to get out of school I saw an example of how Ethan is evolving and growing up. He is really starting to interact well with other kids and enjoy friends. Avery and Aiden usually wait with us for their big sisters as well. Today we were the first ones there. The others hot there shortly after at the same time.


Aiden came up and gave Ethan a big hug and then Avery joined in and they had a big group hug. It was so cute!


To see the excitement on their faces at seeing their friends! In the short 10 minutes we are there, they play chase, ring around the rosy and anything else they can think of!



Oh to be young and so easily entertained and so happy and carefree!

Playgroup buds

Here are a few of Ethan's playgroup buddies... Dillon Megerle and Avery Haynes. Yesterday we only had 4 at our house, but they were a great group! They played very well together. I am excited for this year with a mixed girl boy group! Others in the group are Ethan's best bud Aiden Chambers, Kylie Scott and Lizzie Mott. My favorite part of the day was when Ethan told Aiden to stay outside with him because he loved him! So cute! We took some time to read some Froggy books, sing the green and speckled Frog song, and then they made their own speckled frogs with bingo daubers which they were so proud of.

No tears!!!

No tears on the first day of preschool is always a good thing, especially when he was so clingy on Tuesday for orientation! He did great though. He was so proud of his race car mat that Mom made him that he had to carry it in all by himself. He put it up and sat down to paint with just a kiss goodbye. Such a big boy!