Trick-or-treating

S'mores in the Backyard

Fun Family Night Just Before Halloween

Traditionally, the Monday before Halloween I give into the wishes of the rest of the family and we dig out pumpkins, make a huge mess and laugh alot. This year we got a special treat and Glenn got a firepit to put on our piddly porch. Glenn and I were out "escaping" and came across this very Texas pit. Rationalized with the thought...if we don't have power we could always go dutch oven and hunker-down in the backyard...heck, we could sleep in the "shed". Not planning on that anytime soon. Anyway, we threw in some logs, dug out the marshmallow roasters and had s'mores for dessert. Appropriately it was the night of the first freeze of the season! We'll probably be doing that alot throughout the next few months.

Pumpkin Carving 101

Fun at the Flowermound Pumpkin Patch

The reason merry-go-rounds are disapearing from playgrounds!

David and Benjamin are having too much fun! 'Nuf said!

Fun at the Flowermound Pumpkin Patch

What a weekend! Ben and Rachel drove from Midland with kiddos in tow to see a football game not worth driving 300+ miles to see so....to hopefully make it up we rounded everyone up and headed to the Flowermound pumpkin patch. Dave and Gillian joined along and all the local cousins had fun playing in the hay...eye-balling the perfect pumpkin and in general just horsing around. Missed the Manning clan and the "other" Ashton's! We love and miss you all! It's fun to watch some of our "big kids" never quite grow out of certain things.

Last Saturday in September

One of the things I love about Texas is we finally get to be outside more after HOT AUGUST! Emma and her friends set up a lemonade stand and Emma dressed the part, I guess :). If people didn't notice the lemonade, they noticed Emma. (She has her mom's fashion sense!) Caleb regresses to sidewalk chalk in the middle of the street and creates a ripstick obstacle course along with several other creative directions. Ethan just loves being outside with his friends and "Mom, take a picture of me!"

Oops, I did it again!

I suppose it is a bit cliche and I'm not sure if it's just a being "40" thing to add to my list but after about 8 years of patiently striving for long blonde flowing locks, today, I gave up! Decided I was tired of hair everywhere and my children were starting to complain when they kept finding hair in their food. So, it's back to what works for me and I'm loving it, (Jake just informed me he wants the old hair back, don't think that's going to happen! Sorry Jake!) I apologize for the vain update but those who love me will understand!

Julie Get's a Haircut

Caleb is a Star and Jake is not far behind...

Caleb and Jacob continue to work hard on scouting. This month Caleb earned his Star rank and several merit badges including First Aid, Wilderness Survival and Enviromental Science. Jacob is following close behind earning Fishing, Cycling and currently one merit badge away from Star. Mom is thinking about a double Eagle Court of Honor within a year or two. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. We are so proud of our boys!

Julie Takes off Again!

On September 17th I boarded a plane to New York City to spend a wild weekend with the Frandsen women. I was lucky enough to have Candace as a travel partner leaving from Texas. Hooked up with Cortney and spent Wednesday getting the lay of the land before Mom, Kristen, Karen, and Kaitlin arrived. From that point it was non stop, late nights, early mornings, shopping, siteseeing, shopping, eating, shopping, walking and did I mention eating. So many things to see and so little time. This is the first slideshow I have one more coming when I get pictures from Candace and Cortney. Had a wonderful time. Am up for it again as soon as I replenish the funds. (That could take a while) :)!

New York, New York!