Halloween Festivities

Keira, Campbell, Ava, & Peyton
(Ariel, Kitty, Queen & Barbie)

Friday was full of Halloween celebrating.  Spicewood Country School held its first Halloween parade & sing along. Campbell & her friends looked so precious marching around, holding hands, singing & making all the hand motions.  Mrs. Bird was dressed as Little Miss Muffitt. All the kids had memorized the nursery rhyme and said it as one of the kids acted like a spider sneaking up on Mrs. Bird. It was very cute.

Silly boys playing charades.

Our good friends, the Schultz hosted a Halloween get together after elementary school.  The kids wore their costumes and there were all sorts of activities, games & food.  Boys are crazy when they get together, in case you didn't know that already.

Conleigh & Campbell held tight during the shrinking islands game.

Then last evening our neighbors hosted our occasional neighborhood happy hour. I was just too pooped though, so I layed in bed and the rest of the family went over and enjoyed the fellowship. I hear more games were played to celebrate the season.

Thankfully, we were able to have a relaxing morning before hitting the soccer fields. A shout out to Conleigh & Campbell for their support of Alex on the soccer field. They have been so good about going to the games and hanging out on the sideline. Alex & his team did a great job today, and stomped the competition.


 

It was great to not have anything else we had to do today. We went & got Alex his bike that we gave him for his birthday. He chose orange, no surprise. Then we loaded up all our bikes and went to the school to practice riding, run and play on the playground equipment.  Everyone got some exercise.  Campbell was beyond exhausted at the end and almost impossible to reason with. She promptly fell asleep on the couch.  Conleigh & I went by the bookstore and she chose a few chapter books to get involved in.  Since then, we've been hanging around the house. I'm enjoying flipping between the World Series (go Rangers!) and the Baylor/UT game (go Baylor!).  Alex is continuin to build with all his Legos, Campbell & Conleigh are taking turns on the computer & it is a great evening.

Tomorrow, we're hosting Halloween pre-trick or treating activities at our house. 11 kiddos and all the adults that go with them. :)

Happy Birthday Alex!

My Dear Alex.

I love you so much. Your skin is almost as soft as the day your were born six short years ago; that is hard to believe considering that you are defiitely a boys boy. You get dirty, play rough and smell like...a boy!  You have a caring and sweet demeanor. If one of your sisters is hurting, you will offer to trade places with her to make the pain go away.  You love your friends and have many of them that you love to play with often. I'm listening to you now play make believe with your new Legos with one of your buddies. 
Last night you determined that you do not like cake. I kind of knew that already because you don't ever choose cake, but last night when you were to get the last piece of your birthday cake, you announced to your dad that you just don't like it.  We'll have to get creative next year, maybe pumpkin pie.
I love that you still ask if I will cuddle with you.  I want to do that every chance we get. 
You are also a sports guy.  Soccer is your game right now, but you also enjoy basketball, riding your bike and baseball. I hope I can steer you clear of football for a long, long time.
You are enjoying kindergarten, both the academic and the recess time.  You also like your teacher a lot. You even wanted to invte her to your birthday party. I love to hear you tell me the things that you have learned,  and I like to help you when you are working hard to learn more.
I'm thankful that the 'i love you's' flow freely from you Alex. You are a grateful little boy and I am beyond thankful to be your mommy!

Love, Mama

Meow! Campbell the Kitty - Take Two

Campbell got to wear her Halloween costume to dance class today.  She chose to be a kitty againthis year.  She is one darn, cute kitty.  She even did her make up all by herself.           Ignore the leaky pumpkin on the step. He is now a goner.

Campbell has loved this scarecrow since the day we put him out. I think it must be because he is about her size and she can look him in the eye. This scarecrow has gotten lots of love & attention from Campbell.

 Below are the cute girls from Campbell's dance class.  The teacher was dressed as Big Bird.

Jedi Training - Success!

We celebrated Alex's 6th birthday today (a few days early).  We had a Jedi Training Academy and Peter did a fantastic job!  He dressed as a Jedi with a borrowed monk fleece (can you say hot?) robe. He wrapped his waist and legs with ACE bandage and wore boots. It was a great costume.  It is amazing to me how the little boys in our neighborhood listen to him.  Granted, he has been most of their sports coach for one sport or another, but they all listen to him and do what he says.  He had them line up multiple times and 'deactivate' their light sabers.
Our first training activity was with water balloons.   The trainees tossed water balloons between each other.  A few were able to catch them, but mostly they popped. It was cute.  Then, Peter had chalked three big X's on to our new sidewalk  & the kids stood pretty far back & had to toss them & try to hit the X.  They all enjoyed it.

Alex launching a water balloon at the bullseye.

 Young Padawans & Master Jedi take aim at the bad side of the force.

Next was the dart throw.  When we were at Six Flags a few weeks ago, Alex really wanted to do the toss the dart at the balloon game. Our compromise was we would try to mimick that game at his party & saved our $ at Six Flags.  I was a little nervous about the real, steel darts, but it worked out fine. All the kids eventually popped a balloon, and many on the first try.

Next came the Jedi training in the front yard.  Peter had the boys spread across the yard learning light saber moves.  I was cracking up with all the video cameras and photos being taken.  After the young padawan's were trained,  The Jedi Master felt a disturbance in the force, the trainees walked to the backyard where they met Darth Maul & Darth Vader. Each trainee took their turn fighting the dark side.  In the end, the good guys won! I think all the kids had a ball, and we really appreciate all the help from our friends especially Eric (Darth Maul) and Mr. Boyce (Darth Vader).

Above, Conleigh & Emma take on the dark side.
Below - Time for cake!

Alex got to open his presents with his friends swarming him. It was just a great party. I can't believe my baby boy is six! He is so sweet. I hope it stays that way for a long, long time.

Mommy with the Yoda Soda (green hawaiian punch, vanilla ice cream & a dash of sprite).

We love you very much Alex!



Principal's Pride Friday

Conleigh & Alex both received the Principal's Pride Award at school yesterday. 

 Alex & his bud Matthew exiting the ceremony.  Alex received his award for cooperation. He comes home each day to tell me what kind of compliment bracelet he received that day & usually reports that he got a purple (the best behavior) that day.

Conleigh received the recognition for Creativity which is perfectly representative of our girl!

Look what we splurged on...

 We bought a golf cart!  We had a great time cruising the 'hood today!

It is all decked out with lights, seatbelts & is 'lifted' -- that's golf cart lingo for big tires and really high.

Impromptu Rock Concert

The kids are really enjoying our new patio. Alex goes out there unprompted and shoots hoops. We've all been enjoying this fall weather, and tonight the kids found three brooms and started lip synching to the radio. So cute, and so funny! I named their group, "The Sweepers."

Alex decided to be the spotlight guy.