#10 and a Weekend With Friends

FRIDAY

I mentioned in my last post that this one would be dedicated to my #10 fall favorite which was/is the Fall Festival at Plano. My kids managed to attend three different school festivals last year. I'm not sure how many we'll attend this year, but Plano's was LOADS of fun. You would think by now I would remember to bring loot bag because by end of the night, I am usually carrying an armful of goodies. Karson's friend Emma came with us. Her big sister had a volleyball game at South Warren the same time as the festival so we invited her to come along with us.

The fish pond, face paint, candy wheel, basketball toss, Hillbilly golf, the grand prize game, digging for pirate treasure, you name it, we did it.




The KIDS especially ENJOY getting their hair spray painted. My tub was a variety of shades that night.

SATURDAY

Anyone who has traveled on I-65 around the Cave City area knows all about the giant T-Rex that towers over that area of the interstate. My kids squeal with glee when they see it. Fortunately for us Warren Countians, Dinosaur World has $1 day weekends in September for us locals. Don't even be trying to sneak in because they CARD you.

Isaac has a kindergarten buddy named Tommy that he has grown quite fond of. We invited his family to come along with us on Saturday. His mom Shelly and I went to BGHS together. It was nice getting reacquainted with her.

Isaac and Tommy cheesing in the gift shop.

Tommy has an older sister named Jessica who is in 3rd grade. She and Karson hit it off pretty well and have had some math classes together (Karson is familiar with many of the 3rd graders being in a split class).

Aaawww, Miles and Karson were swallowed by a T-REX!



Digging for fossils is always one of the highlights of DinoWorld.

The playground and giant sandbox also DOES NOT disappoint. I think the kids spent more time here than in the actual park. Saturday was one of the loveliest days on the fall thus far. I'm looking forward to many more of these days (please fall, stick around for a bit).

After Dinosaur World, Matt and I hooked up with some couples that evening for a group date night at O'Charley's. It was a DINOmyte day all around!

SUNDAY

We spent today with Karson's oldest and dearest friend CHASE. He celebrated his 8th birthday. If my computer hadn't crashed on two different occasions, I could've posted some of the cutest baby pictures of these two. We're so thankful for the DeVries family!




Karson was outnumbered by the boys, but you certainly couldn't convince her of that. They played basketball, football, and built a tee pee. I didn't snag a picture of the tee pee but managed to get a couple of shots like the one below. Thankfully the DeVries have a big ol' backyard where all the hooligans can play and carry on.

Fall Favs #'s: 1-9

I can guarantee that I have been to the BIG ORANGE Halloween tent more than any mother in this county. Those of you that live in BG know the tent I'm talking about. I can tell you exactly where everything is in the tent and probably its' price if you'd like to know. Miles cannot get enough of that smoldering hot place, and we usually make a weekly trip there. I convinced him to try out another place yesterday called the Halloween Bootique in the old Goodie's building. He consented and was not disappointed (although I was). The high notes, it's air conditioned and the prices are cheaper (not that we've ever bought anything from either place--although I could definitely use a severed arm with blood gushing out, who couldn't?). The low notes, the building is only a quarter full and the decor is pretty lame compared to BIG ORANGE. This post is titled my Fall Favs because BIG ORANGE is definitely #1 highlight of the season.

#2 Fall candy. We have gone through at least three bags of miniature Reese's peanut butter cups. Tell me if I'm wrong, but aren't the minis WAY better than the big one's??? DeeeLish! It makes my mouth water from upcoming Halloween candy. And, yes, I do raid my children's stash!
#3 While we are on the subject of food, I am completely addicted to Stacy's pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus. I've eaten it everyday for almost two weeks. It's getting a bit ridiculous, but I love it! Plus, I feel like I can eat as much as I want because it's healthy and all natural.

#4 HAIKU'S: My daughter did one (5)

It was on pet spiders, ugh (7)

Not for your birthday (5)

Do you all remember doing these?

I have to showcase Isaac's work too. He is such a creative little guy. He's doing well in school much like his sister. He's a little more sensitive about the introduction of new centers (centers are where the kids are engaged in the learning process such as literacy, listening skills, phonics, letter and sentence formation, etc.) at school, but he is a sharp little guy and catches on quickly. His teacher is so patient with him and is always telling us how much she adores him. We're so glad that Ms. Rather is his teacher and that he is adjusting to the school routine so well.

#5 the fall book fair at school. The kids emptied their piggy banks, and I added a couple of bucks so they could make some FINE purchases at the ol' fair. Karson came home with a Klutz build-your-own book and a Bad Kitty Chapter book. Isaac used his money to purchases a rubber, bendable pencil and a LEGO sticker book.

#6 Fall weddings are so nice. I love looking at these snapshots from Matt's cousin's wedding. We've had two family weddings this fall, and both were such fun events. We're also looking forward to some spring/summer weddings with more of Matt's cousins. Congratulations to Katie and Cooper -and- Lauren and Joey!

#7 Labor Day cookout at the Maglinger's pad in Richardsville. Isaac is absolutely SMITTEN with Abby Kate Garcia. I've never seen him so engaged in a little one before her. He wants to hold her all the time. She is quite irresistible and the sweetest little thang. I'm so grateful having, yet, another family like the Maglinger's to love and who love my family and kids.

#8 Fall Super Saturdays at WKU are back in October. I registered Karson for Junior Crime Fighters. She loves the A-Z Mystery Novels by Ron Roy. I figured this type of "Who Dunnit" class would be appealing to her.

#9 The kids have a new clubhouse. Our neighbors the Chapman's lost a nice swingset when poor weather attacked our area. Their swingset was turned over and messed up. I asked our neighbor Dave if he'd care to remove the legs and put it in the pine trees that connect our yards so the kids could have a clubhouse. He loved the idea and got to work quickly.

The fab FIVE minus Karson, she'd gone to a Spartans volleyball game with a friend. I don't think I have a picture of ALL five kids yet. Maybe Jennie snagged one last night when they came over? Sorry for the rambling, I'm thinking to myself here...

The kids loved decorating the clubhouse and leave notes for each other. It's such a blessing having wonderful neighbors. I just love our 'HOOD.

The Chapman's also have a hamster ball that the kids spend loads of time in.

#10 is the Plano Fall Festival, but it will require a post by itself =).

Oh What a Night, Or Weekend Rather

It's official, Andrew and MacKenzie are hitched, and I have a new sister in law!!! I had the privilege of being a part of the bridal party. The festivities began on Friday evening at our church (Community). The decorations were B-E-A-utiful. There were long cylindrical vases lining the aisle way with black and gray stones at the bottom and tall black sticks/twigs. The arrangements on the stage were similar but had dangling tea lights and red roses. There were also large black vases with red roses next to the first couple of rows. It's one those "you had to be there" moments to explain. I loved it though especially the traditional black and white wedding (with red roses).

After the rehearsal, we headed over to the Warehouse for dinner. Matt's aunt Michelle has been catering for years and decided to open up her own place. SO, the Warehouse was formed, and I believe we were the first people to use the facilities. Dinner was wonderful but short lived (we had the kids with us). I did manage to get a couple of got snapshots though.

MacKenzie is a stylist at Salon Panache which means we got to spend the entire day Saturday at the salon getting "all dolled up" compliments of her girlfriends and coworkers. It was SO fun!

I've never been much of a girlie girl. Make-up (aside from lipstick) never really interested me. In fact, I highly doubt I even wore make-up at my own wedding. I certainly didn't have my hair done--weird, eh? The extent of my make-up use now is a dab of mascara, bare minerals make-up and bronzer, and lipstick and that's on a "good" day. Most of the time, I wing it naturally. SOOO, I loved having my make-up professionally done by experienced gals. I even had FAKE eyelashes put on. WOW. I have to admit, I kind of felt like Tammy Faye after the whole experience but was told by many different people that I looked great.

After getting all glammed up, we headed to the church for pictures. I mean seriously, isn't MacKenzie the most beautiful bride EVER (even with Tammy Faye peering over her shoulder)?

I didn't think to ask anyone to take some snapshots with my camera during the ceremony, DUH! Oh well, I'm sure I will get to sort through all the wedding pictures at some point. THEN, I forgot to bring my camera into the reception and had to run back out to the car.
Isn't this this is the sweetest picture? One day these gals will have a fairy tale wedding like MacKenzie's. Sniff, sniff--those aren't my tears but Matt's. He will be a wreck. I'll be to stressed to be sad =)!

Our little dancing machines.

Miles really started connecting with his cousin Easton (Hayley, Matt's cousin's son). They had the best time together at the reception. At one point, they decided to play hide-n-seek. Why not, right? Miles hid right in front of the head table on the dance floor and right in front of Easton. Easton had his eyes covered and was counting. When he opened his eyes, OF COURSE, he saw Miles immediately and said "I found you." Miles got all huffy and said "No, you're supposed to look over there and over there before you find me." Doesn't Easton know how to play the game right? Apparently, Miles has his own version of "how it's done." I thought that was so funny and had to share.

We love Andrew. He asked Matt to be his best man. I can remember Andy when Matt and I first started dating and how smitten he was with his big brother Matt. He was always wanting to be with Matt and with us whatever we were doing. I have enjoyed watching all the boys grow up. I doubt Andrew and Ben have many memories without me simply because they were both so young when Matt and I dated.

I love these boys! Debbie and Colvin have raised some fine young men.

I spent most of the night on the dance floor rocking it out with my girls Larie and Shannon. We did the Cupid Shuffle and all the traditional wedding songs. Matt was a maniac on the floor. I had people coming up to me all night asking me where he learned to dance. It was seriously NEWS to me. He outlasted everyone.

We love you Andrew and MacKenzie and wish you many years of happiness!!! Thanks for letting us be a part of your most special day!