Crawford Farms Fall Festival

We live in a fantastic neighborhood. Every year they put on several social activities, one of which is the Fall Festival. This year there was a petting zoo, bounce house, barrel train, and as much cotton candy as we could eat.

This baby goat was only three days old.

Mmmm cotton candy.

Irish vs. Panthers

Another loss.  Gavin seems to play well.  He is a good little (or should I say big) lineman. 

Gloved Piano Playing

It wasn't cold in our house, so it must be that the gloves have bone fingers on them. Gavin is so funny sometimes.

Pumpkin Patch

Every year I take the kids to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch.  There are bounce houses, a haze maze, a playground, tons of wagons, and of course pumpkins.  This year it was a struggle to find a time to take the kids.  Renée has horseback ridding on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Gavin has football.  Wednesday we have cub scouts.  We also have running club on Thursday. 
Sam was in Tennessee working and was gone all week, so I pulled the kids out of school 15 minutes early so we could make it to Flower Mound for a few hours before Gavin's practice.  We had a great time and ate our packed dinner on the drive back.  All this crazy scheduling makes me miss the times when none of the kids were in school and we could just come and spend a lazy day at the pumpkin patch, with nothing to rush back to.  Then again, I am really enjoying my days while they are all in school. 

Finding her way in the hay maze.

I love the three kids lined up with only Carter's head peeking up.

Picking their mini pumpkins.

Renée really got some air on this slide.

This was not how this bounce obstacle was supposed to be used.

And this is why.

On the hayride

Irish vs. Aggies

Gavin got to play his football game at the high school's practice field. It had turf! Another loss for the Irish. This is getting sad.

Eagle Ridge Elementary Tailgate Party

We spent our Friday evening at the ERE tailgate party. The kids had a blast.

Renée with the ERE Eagle

Gavin playing a game where you have to pull off other kids belts but not loose yours.

Carter enjoying the bounce house.

Renée won the award for the most spirited kid presented by the TCU cheerleaders.

BB

I went out for a bike ride and came home to five messages on my phone. All were regarding Gavin, who had a yellow plastic BB stuck in his ear. His story was that he was laying down on the ground at recess looking at the body of an ant and it just fell in there.  (Because that could really happen.)  After trying to contact me, the school nurse called my emergency contact, Alycia. Alycia wasn't willing to drive four hours to pick him up, so he just had to wait for me to get back. When I picked him up I took him over to Linsdey's house to use Mark's medical kit (he is a dentist). We tried three different tweezers until we finally found a pair that would work. Lindsey put lidocaine in his ear because we scratched him up a bit with the tweezers. Gavin was freaking out saying that he couldn't take it and that he just wanted to wait until he grew and it fell out.  The whole process probably took five minutes and he was completely fine after we pulled it out.  Hopefully it was a bad enough experience that he won't stick anything else in his ears. 

Irish vs. Warriors

Gavin is still loving football.  He still has no desire to touch the ball but he is becoming a good lineman.  Now he doesn't look around and try to protect his quarterback.  He just tackles the kid that is lined up directly in front of him.  The Irish lost to the Warriors.  Hopefully we will get a win next week.

Ward Campout

We went camping with some families from our church.  The entertainment was a man who had us all participate in a wash tub band.  The kids loved it and were really into it.  The burn ban is still in effect here in Texas so we could not make s'mores by the fire.  I brought s'more cookie bars and they were really good.  You can find the recipe here.  Jinx had a great time running around with the kids.  We even attached a glow stick to him so we could keep track of him.  We kept his leash on him until he ran into the lake.  No one wanted to hold onto a wet, muddy leash, so he just played with the kids after that.  My favorite part of the whole trip was watching Jinx steal Kristin Talbot's soccer ball while the kids were playing with it.  The kids were trying to catch him and he was having the greatest time being chased.  It was a windy night but I brought ear plugs (a must for camping) so I slept pretty well.  Our kids, FINALLY, sleep through the night while we camp. 

Sam playing the jug.

Renée is really getting into the tambourine. 

Gavin on the drum. 

Carter rocking out with maracas.

I love the tongue hanging out.

I am playing a rain stick.

Darren and Gavin playing in the sand with a very wet Jinx running by.

Coming Home

After playing for a few hours on the beach we headed home to Texas.  We stopped in Shrevesport again to visit John at his home, but we didn't stay long.  We didn't get in until 1:30am, but I didn't have to use the energy drink this time.  (I was afraid I would be awake until 7am again.)  Sunday was our General Conference meeting.  Thanks to DVR we were able to watch Saturday and Sunday's meetings all in one day.  It was really hard to come home a be scheduled again.  This was my Monday:

6:30 Get kids up for school, pack lunches, do hair, enforce piano practicing and teeth brushing.
7:30 Get kids out the door.
Grocery shopping and unpacking
12:45 Drop off Carter at Michalann's house
1:30-3:45 Museum Class
4:25 Pick up Carter (Class went long by 15 minutes, which made things really rushed)
4:30 Pick up Renée at Keith's house
4:35 Get Renée's riding clothes and helmet and get Gavin from the Angerbauers
4:45 Pick up Ainsley for ridding lessons
5:00-5:30 Renée's horseback riding lesson
5:45 Drop off Ainsley
6:00 Come home, make dinner, start on homework
7:00 Sam comes home (he is usually home at 4:30 but he has a class this week)
8:00 Get the Renée and Carter to bed.  Gavin is still working on homework.
9:00 meet Kris for a run
10:00 come home and try to get the house a little cleaned up
11:00 crash in my bed after stretching my feet according to my podiatrist's instructions.

This was a big change from laying on the beach all day.  I think I have post vacation blues.