Halloween, Colorado & Leaf Piles

Two flappers and a pirate!

Claire getting her face painted.

Will and half of Claire at a trunk-or-treat. They really liked this blow-up thing. Will asked if the bats inside were real. I think he was disappointed that they weren't!

The day after Halloween, Scott and the kids drove to Colorado for vacation with his parents and grandmother. They stopped for a play break at Lake Abeque (sp??) in New Mexico.

Nov. 2nd was Papa's birthday. Here is the crew waiting for cake!

On an excursion to Lemon Reservoir (I think!) up by Durango, CO.

Hiking up Treasure Falls in Pagosa Springs (Claire, Will, Grandma Connie and Papa).

At Treasure Falls

Pic of the waterfall

Scott and the kids at the falls.

Scott at the falls.

Cute pic of Will...not sure where? Still at the falls, probably!

The kids with Grammy, Papa, and Grandma Connie on a bridge at the falls.

On the way home...I think they were tired!!!

Our pecan trees started REALLY dropping their leaves this week. We have raked about four times and our yard is still covered! This was the initial pile of leaves on Monday.

Jumping in the leaves...so much fun!

Cute kiddos!

Throwing them back in the air is almost as fun as jumping in the pile!

Kids and Mom (with no make-up!)

Sept. & Oct. Pics and Update

Okay, so I lied. Evidently I do not have all the pictures from my mom. So, here are a few from the last couple of weeks that we have taken with our new camera. I don't have many pics from the Pumpkin Patch because my mom was with us and she did most of the picture taking (and has all the really good ones).

In September my mom had surgery, so Claire and I went down there for a couple of weeks to help out. She took a lot of really great pictures then, so hopefully I will get them and post them eventually. Mom came back up with us and stayed for another week. While I was gone, Will's class at school started the color behavioral system and he wasn't doing so hot. He's a very willful and spirited kid! He likes to talk. A lot. So we started a reward system that he can pick something from a clear plastic tub if he gets one of the top colors (we put those little colored garage sale stickers on the prizes to coordinate with the color he gets at school). Since we started that, he hasn't gotten a bottom color. He's even gotten green a couple of times (the best!), so we are very excited about that.

Before and after my trip to Houston, I have been busy at work with homecoming mums and garters. Thankfully, last week was the last one, so we are done with that for the year! However, Christmas Open House is right around the corner and our shop has not one Christmas thing out! So, I will be quite busy with that coming up.

We are looking forward to Halloween this weekend. The kids have dress-up day and parties at school tomorrow and we'll go to a little festival on Saturday night. Claire is going as a flapper and Will hasn't quite decided yet. He has a great pirate costume, but if it's anything like last year, he'll change his mind at the last minute!

The only pics I got of when we went to Katy in September are of the kids swimming (it was still plenty warm enough!)

Scott tossing Will into the air.

Watching a movie after their swim. I just love how Claire perched herself on the arm of the couch.

I stole these of Mom's Facebook...Claire lying in my great-aunt Rutie's hammock at Lake Livingston.

Beautiful sunset at the Marina at Lake Livingston.

Lego fort that Will and Scott built

Sweet boy

Pretty eyes

Scott and Will at the Pumpkin Patch

Will showing off a prize he got (from us) for being good at school.

Cutie Claire

Claire dressed in Halloween shirt, skirt and leggings

Halloween arrangement I made at work...it's a cat ^~^

Finally!: July Trip to Katy

Okay, so...I finally got all the pictures from my mom from this summer, we finally got a new camera, and I finally have time to actually post them! So, please, if anyone is still out there, keep coming back because hopefully in the next few days I will be posting several catch-up blogs! I have so much to share! :) For now, here are a few pictures from our trip to Nana and Grandpa's in July:

Nana painting Claire's nails

Look how long her hair was!!

Claire helping Grandpa play guitar. (I think she ended up putting the pick in the hole!)

We went to the circus and met up with our friends, Reuben and Shannon Chance who used to live in Big Spring.

The kids got ridiculously expensive whirly toys.

Will's favorite part was the motorcycles going around in the cage.

Claire's favorite part was the ladies hanging from the rings and scarves.

My favorite were the elephants.

The finale.

Claire loves her some ice cream.

The kids playing in the pop-up fountains at La Centerra.

We went to an Astros game (in which they were defeated quite horribly), but it was fun. Here we are in front of Left Field at Minute Maid Park.

Claire really enjoyed the clapping, music, etc. Will didn't like the loud noises as much.

Me and my boy.

Some pictures to share!

Thanks to my mom and some others, I have a few pictures to share from this summer!

Claire opening her birthday gift from Nana and Grandpa.

Princess night gowns!!

Getting ready for a swim. I have no idea what that look on her face is!

The kids and I in the pool...yeah, I've got a dorky hat on. ;)

Dad and Will having a water war.

Will at his CDO water day a few weeks ago.

Scott shooting at people at a friend's swim party in June.

And last, but certainly not least...my favorite pic of the summer. This was captured by a friend of ours at a swim/birthday party. It's priceless. I will cherish this always. (And yes, he had permission to do this by the homeowners!) ;)

Claire's First (Real) Haircut

I say "real" haircut because I have trimmed a teeny bit off the ends in the past, but this time I actually took her to the hairdresser and she cut quite a lot off. Claire had some natural layers going on and I wanted to even it up a bit. She looks a LOT older :( , but I think it's very cute. And of course, it will grow! :) (By the way, these pics were taken with my webcam since we don't have a camera; that's why they're a little weird!)

From the front...

...and the back. It's a little kooky, we didn't style it or anything...I will do that later tonight after her bath and take more "styled" pictures.

...And Mom got her hair cut and colored, too! Fun times. :)

Breaking the Silence

I thought I should at least explain why I haven't posted in two months. Our camera was stolen on June 15, out of our car. It was partly my fault, as I forgot to lock the car, but I'm still blaming the thieves, too! I like to post pictures along with the text, so this is why I haven't posted. We have had a busy summer, though. Here are the highlights:

June 15-June 17 -- VBS. I taught 2nd grade with my friend Callie and it was great!

June 28-July 3 -- Mountain View Christian Camp. We had a great time visiting with old friends and making new ones. Scott taught classes and the kids and I found lots to do. I even learned a new card game that I am looking forward to playing again soon!

July 7 -- Area-wide youth devotional hosted by our church, with Scott as the emcee and speaker.

July 8 -- Claire's 2nd birthday!!! Poor kid didn't get a party because of all the craziness going on, but she did get brownies and some sweet gifts!

July 9-20 -- Scott on Wilderness Trek in CO, the kids and I in Katy, to visit Nana and Grandpa. Scott got to climb one of the tallest mountains in CO, sleep in a tent and not bathe for 5 days (he he) and the kids and I got to do lots of fun things including an Astros game, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and swim every day! The three of us came back with nice tans ;) My mom took lots of pictures while we were there, but alas, I don't have them. (Hint, hint, Mom!!)

July 21-22 -- Scott and Will went to Arlington with the youth group kids to see a Rangers game and go to Six Flags. Well, Will didn't go to Six Flags. He got to play with his pal, Raylee all day instead!

Since then, we have tried to rest! There have been a few little events here and there, but mostly we've just been working and enjoying family time.

Sorry I don't have much interesting news or pictures! Hopefully I'll have some next time!

Big Girl Bed

Claire now has a big girl bed! The actual bed is my old day-bed (it's almost an antique!), but the mattress and bedding are new. She seems to like it, but is still making the nightly trip to our room right now.

The kids decided to get in the picture. I tried to get them to pose to no avail :)

In other news, we have been trying to potty train Claire, but she is not very interested. She will sit on the potty if she has clothes on, but the minute you take off the diaper, she stiffens up and freaks out! I have tried buying her "pretty" panties to entice her but that didn't work either. She is ready in the sense that she is showing all the signs, but she just doesn't want to make that transition. Any suggestions?

Our lives are taking on that busy summer schedule that comes with being a youth minister. Scott is having service week this week, VBS is next week, then camp is two weeks after that. July is just as packed with activity, if not busier. However, we are enjoying the summer--playing in the pool, sprinkler, etc. We took the kids to see UP the other night and that was lots of fun. They both sat quietly through the whole thing. I was pretty amazed! I recommend the movie if you haven't seen it already. But bring tissue!