Palo Duro Day 1

We pulled the kids out of school on Thursday and Friday so we could spend four days at Palo Duro Canyon. The first day there we spent the evening hiking.

Photo taken by Gavin.

Apple Orchard Field Trip

I was able to help out at Renée’s field trip to the apple orchard. Apples don’t grow very well in Texas, so there is only one orchard in the DFW area. It was fun for the kids to see where apples come from.

Renée and her friend Emily.

They had some beautiful landscaping.

Emily, Renée, and Ashley after they picked their apples.

Renée's kindergarten class.

Yummy!

Mash Up by Carter

‎"B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, I smell the blood of an Englishman." - Carter

Halloween Table Runner

My mom surprised me with this quilted Halloween table runner. Now my dinning room is festive.

Time Out for Women

I went to Time Out for Women with a bunch of girlfriends. It is a two day event with motivational speakers and musical entertainment. It was very uplifting and a much needed break. We all slept at our friend Amy’s house, who moved to McKinney from our ward. She was so sweet and even made up snack bags for Saturday. We camped out in her media room with a room full of air mattresses. We stayed up way to late talking but it was so much fun. My favorite lessons:
Comparison is the fast track to misery.
Develop righteous patterns.
Don’t try to feel happy. Try to feel grateful.

Alycia, Jayne, and me enjoying the sleepover.

Me, Michalann, and Jen.

Michalann, Jen, me, Kelli, Alycia, and Jayne.

Gymnastics

Gavin and Renée finished another session of gymnastics. They both kept hollering at me the whole time to take their picture. They both seem to really enjoy the sport. Carter was also enrolled in a day time class. He refused to go in on the last day, so he was not enrolled in the next session.

Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

It was a teacher work day, so we took our annual trip to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. It is a really fun place. There are bounce houses, a hayride, hay to jump in, old playground equipment, and tons of pumpkins. Everyone had a blast.

Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

They don't grow here, but they sure are beautiful.

Carter in the bounce house slide.

Gavin on the bounce house slide.

Alycia, Trey, Me, and Carter on the hay ride.

Carter on the hay.

Sliding down the hay.

Hay all over.

Renée on some pumpkins.

Carter found a John Deer tractor.  He was very excited about it.

Playing on a merry go round. 

Carter’s Home Depot Party

We had Carter’s birthday party at the Home Depot. They do a kid’s craft once a month, which happened to be the weekend after Carter’s birthday. His friends Nolan, Mason, Coen, Preston, and Trey came to celebrate with us. After the boys finished their projects, we went back to our house for dirt cake.

Hiking at Eagle Mountain

The kid’s had a half day at school, so Alycia and I took our kids hiking at Eagle Mountain. Sam got the kids camelbacks which meant that they had to pee about every five minutes. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.