Trunk or Treat

This morning the boy's school had Trunk or Treat.  I am one of the Room Moms for the Toddler Class (Joshua's class) and we decided to decorate my trunk to look like a giant Cookie Monster face!  One of the other room moms, Laci, was really the brains behind the whole operation.  She came up with the idea to build a frame out of 1/2 inch PVC pipe to make Cookie's face.  We then stretched fabric around it and secured it to the frame with zip ties, velcro and duct tape... you know, sophisticated craft tools!! We cut a 10 inch styrofoam ball in half to make his eyes and I made cookies out of card board to put in his mouth.  We also put our trunk or treat candy in his mouth instead of using bowls to hand out candy. I dressed up as Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street and Laci was Big Bird.  We had a lot of fun making our Cookie Monster and he was a big hit at Trunk or Treat.  Don't be surprised if he makes a repeat appearance at Joshua's 2nd birthday party in the spring!

And now for picture overload!!

Caleb posing in his Aggie Band costume before school

He's wearing his own khaki pants, belt & shoes

The shirt is a modified Boy Scout shirt w/ free patches from the Corps uniform store and a homemade name tag & cording on his shoulder

The hat came from the local Military Depot

His toy trumpet is decorated with a felt flag I made myself!

Front & side view of Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster in action

Caleb's class doing Trunk or Treat

Resting in between classes

Here comes Joshua's class!

Joshua loved putting candy in his bucket

Abby Cadabby & Cookie Monster

My sweet blue eyed baby in his costume

Best shot of the whole class

I made all of the kids matching candy buckets from the Dollar Spot @ Target

Look Mom!!  Two suckers!!

Class Party after Trunk or Treat

Laci & her son Garner

Fall Open House & Art Show

On Tuesday night the boy's school had a Fall Open House and Art Show.  My Mom & Dad came up to see their school and artwork, and also so they could join us for Halloween fun the next day.  We love their school! It was fun to see the things they have worked on and to let the boys show off their work!

Caleb at the school entrance

Caleb posing with his artwork based on a monster book they read in class

Joshua posing with the artwork display from his class

Bryan's Birthday

We spent the weekend celebrating Bryan's 32nd birthday.  His actual birthday was on Saturday so we started off the morning bright and early before Caleb's 8:30 flag football game.  We made cinnamon rolls & coffee for Daddy and then he opened his presents.

Caleb wrote "DAD" on the card and signed his name inside.  He has been working so hard on his handwriting at school and has made a lot of progress.  I know it makes us both smile to see his scribbly handwriting on paper!  Caleb had already told Bryan that he & Joshua got him new pajamas several days before but Bryan still acted surprised and excited.  They got him tall sized pajamas since most pajama pants look like capris on him :)  I got Bryan a tv to put in the garage.  He hopes to start working out in the garage on our elliptical and doing P90X as well.

After Caleb's flag football game (which we watched in 44 degree weather!) we brought Joshua home for a nap since he woke up at 5am.  We packed up our things for my cousin's wedding that evening and headed to eat lunch at one of Bryan's favorite places, C&J's BBQ before heading out of town.

On Sunday we had Bryan's birthday party.  Bryan had been somewhat ambivalent about having a birthday celebration but I am so glad we did because Caleb was really, really excited about it.  He reminded Bryan no less than 30 times that he was having a party.  Both of our parents and Bryan's sister Carolyn, husband Billy & son Will joined us in College Station for a birthday lunch.  We missed Craig & Michelle who were flying home from watching the Aggies BTHO Auburn.  Whoop!

I made Pioneer Woman's Chicken Parmigiana for lunch and it was delicious!  I will never go back to my old way of making it.   Here is her awesome recipe:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/chicken-parmigiana/

For dessert I went the easy route and picked up a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and white chocolate covered strawberries from HEB.  It was a yummy meal and we had such a good time visiting with our families.

The boys at the kid table

Bryan blowing out his candles with the help of the boys

Bryan, I hope you had a special birthday!  I am so grateful that God chose me to be your wife.  You are an incredible leader, husband, father, physician and friend.  You are a true servant in our family and a such a source of fun, love, and encouragement for our boys.  You are my very best friend who has stood by me at my best and my worst.  I can think of no other person I'd rather spend my life with!  I am grateful for how God has used you in my life and how He continues to grow you as a husband and father.  I pray that the year to come is full of many blessings and opportunities to grow closer to our savior.  I love you! Happy Birthday!

Taylor & Courtney's Wedding

 This weekend my cousin Taylor married Courtney, his high school sweetheart.  They are both originally from Corsicana (my parents hometown) and were married at a beautiful camp/ranch in nearby Kerens, TX.  We drove out with the boys on Saturday afternoon, got changed in my parents' room at the camp and went to the wedding in the small white chapel on the grounds there.  I wish I could say our boys were showing model behavior but I'd probably get struck down by lightning.  They could have been worse, and we did the best we could - but still ended up outside the church by the time Taylor & Courtney got to their vows.

After the ceremony we had time to take a family photo while we all looked clean and before anybody spilled something on their nice clothes.  By some miracle we managed to get the best family photo we have taken in a long time.  Everybody is smiling - and with a normal smile!  Everyone is looking at the camera!  The lighting is good - no shadows on our faces!  Seriously, it is a family with small children photo miracle.  People, don't be shocked if you see this picture on our Christmas card in your mailbox in the next couple months.  I'm not sure it is worth the stress of trying to get a better picture than this one!

We also managed to get a sweet picture of my parents, who will celebrate 40 years of marriage in December!

The boys enjoyed running around in the grass and visiting the candy station while we waited for the reception to start.  It was a great way to burn off energy (and sugar up to get more energy) while we waited.

Once we were inside the reception tent I saw this cute decoration that was on the head table.  Too funny!

It was great to see my Dad's side of the family who we don't get to visit with as often as we'd like.  Caleb had never met my Dad's brother Billy and he took a special liking to him!  He wanted to follow him around the tent and have him sit with us for dinner.  It was pretty cute and funny.  Caleb also decided that he wanted to wear the baby hat I found in my coat pocket along with Bryan's scarf.  What can I say, he is his own person!  He looked like kind of a nut but he was warm.

My Dad, Caleb and his Great Uncle Billy

After dinner was over we changed the boys into their pajamas, loaded up in the truck and made the almost 3 hour drive back home.  We made it back safely around 11pm and were able to easily transfer the boys to their beds for the rest of the night.  It was a long day but well worth it to celebrate my cousin & his new bride!  Congratulations, Taylor & Courtney!

A Visit from the Campbells

Last weekend one of my very best friends from college, Jamie, and her husband Nick and oldest daughter Lainey came to College Station.  Nick and his college buddies have an annual "brew-b-que" tailgate and we were happy to have them stay with us now that we live here in God's country, aka Aggieland.  Jamie & Nick's youngest daughter Lucy stayed in Dallas with grandparents since tailgating is not exactly conducive to naptime!

We had a great visit! It was so fun to see Caleb & Lainey play together.  Caleb is only 5 months older than Lainey.  Luckily Lainey enjoyed playing outside in the dirt, building water towers and building houses with wooden blocks.  I am looking forward to Lucy visiting in the future because she and Joshua are only 2 months apart in age.

Caleb and Lainey had fun being silly on the guest bed downstairs.

It was all fun and games until Lainey fell :(

Luckily she was ok!

Caleb, Joshua & Lainey enjoying a snack

 Jamie helped me get dinner ready on Friday night.

I wish we could team up every night! 

It is much more fun to cook and clean up the kitchen with a friend!

On Saturday morning Caleb had a flag football game.  Although I wouldn't say he loves the sport, he does enjoy being a part of the team and is participating more and more.  At this game he even agreed to play running back, something he had previously refused to do.  I wouldn't say there was a lot of running involved but we are just proud of him for making progress in his own way.  Lainey cheered for Caleb from the sidelines!

Caleb (#7) in the team huddle

Caleb playing quarterback and handing off the ball

This is classic Caleb during the game.  Every other boy ready for the play, and he's turned around looking the opposite direction :)

Caleb clapping and playing with the football on the sidelines with one of his coaches.

The coaches are so encouraging and kind to Caleb and 

have made this a very positive experience for him!

My parents were also in town for Caleb's game as they had been on their anniversary trip during the previous games.  Caleb was thrilled to see them and have them as a playmate when we got home while Lainey & Jamie went to tailgate and explore campus. 

On both Friday & Saturday night Jamie and I had the gift of uninterrupted conversation while our kids were in bed!  Nobody asked us to go potty, get them a sippy cup or if they could go outside.  It was such a treat to have face-to-face time with one of my dearest friends.  I've been blessed by wonderful friendships with girls I have known since college.  We have all seen each other through many ups and downs.  Time talking with them is always an encouragement and blessing to me, and was by far the best part of our visit!

Thanks for staying with us, Jamie, Nick & Lainey!  We hope you will book your next Aggieland visit at Hotel Pickett!!