Halloween at the Heard

We tried to go to the Heard Museum last week but it was raining and we couldn't go. So this morning we met up with Grandma and Grandpa Mullin to let the kids do a little pre-Halloween night trick or treating. Then after a quick clothes change we were off to hunt for the Dinosaurs. It has been something I have wanted to do since last year, but the exhibit travels and just came back. For the locals with little boys it is worth doing.Brody as Captain HookElla as a Fairy (My favorite part is that the wings are almost as tall as she is!)Daddy and Brody with the real T-Rex skullOn the trail hunting for dinos...

These are life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar just like you'd think in real life. Brody was a little shocked at first, but I think he enjoyed himself. Ella was Ella - she laughed and jumped back and said "dinosaurs" over and over.

Daddy trying to show Brody that the dinosaurs weren't going to eat us.I was trying to get Ella to put her whole head in the dinosaurs mouth when my dad took this picture - so it looks like I am feeding my daughter to the dinosaur.

Carving Pumpkins

First we picked them...then we carved them. Brody wanted a spooky face and a happy face. He wanted nothing to do with getting goopy pumpkin seeds on him. He did contribute and pulled out three seeds - one at a time. Ella loved watching and she even ate a little bit of pumpkin.

Making up for it...

Brandon told me this story at 11:00pm on Thursday the 29th (it had happened that morning)...

Brody: Hi dad...what are we going to do today?

Dad: I don't know Brody, I have to go to work, you'll have to ask mommy.

Brody: Ahhhh....that means we are doing nothing.

So congratulations go out to me...Most Boring Mother of the Year.

In hopes of changing his mind and relinquishing my award, I immediatly began planning a fun Friday. We got up and did our morning routine and headed first to the library. I became official at the Aubrey library and got my own library card (up until now we had been going to a bigger library further away).

Ella had a great time. She chased crickets all around the library laughing and squealing and yelling "fly" "fly" We have ALOT of crickets here, especially this time of year. It is really gross to me, but what do you do? Ella doesn't seem to mind them. We got our books and headed back to the car.

Next we went to the pumpkin patch...I tried and tried to get a picture where the two of them are looking at the camera but I had no luck. We took a hayride, picked out our pumpkins and explored the pumpkin patch. They played in the mud, Brody played on the trains, Ella chased some kittens that even let her pet them. Im pretty sure they had a great time, at least he had something to say when Daddy asked "What did you do today"

Brody and Ella on the hayride

Looking for pumpkins (in two different directions -- pretty indicative of their lives)

At home, out of the muddy shoes, and still all smiles.

Preschool Halloween Party

We had the preschool Halloween Party at our house this week. We played pin the nose on the pumpkin and halloween bingo and decorated sugar cookies. The kids were so cute - hopefully it helped them all get more excited about halloween.

Grandma and Grandpa Burton

We got to spend a fun weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Burton last weekend. We went shopping and saw Astro Boy (Brody loved it) and indulged in many treats. BUT, I depended on Grandpa for pictures and forgot to upload them before they left...so the pictures will have to come later!

Haunted House FHE

A couple of weeks ago we made haunted houses as our activity for Family Home Evening...the kids loved decorating them but after a few tastes of the nasty marshmallow "sauce" that the kit provided we never ate any more. Lesson learned...in future years make my own rice krispie treats (a talent I pride myself on)

Ella and Daddy were a team

Brody and I worked together - although he did just about the whole thing himself

Brody's finished house (notice how the jelly beans were placed with all the same color groupings - he is very much aware of order and patterns)

Ella's finished house

Family Get Together

My Cousin Heather and her family came up from Houston for a short visit. It was a weekend of late nights, early mornings and getting spanked by the Anderson's in bowling (even though they claimed to be not very good). We all had a blast...its always fun to see them and get the kids together to play. Emily and Brody and Ella and Erica are only a few months apart in age so their interactions are especially fun to watch.

From left to right: Emily, Brody, Erica, Ella, Cameron, and Brayden.

Other Fair Fun..

we didn't just eat...We watched a Pirate Diving Show. Pretty cute...anything pirates at our house is a must-do right now.The Before...

The During...The after...He saw this ride and really wanted to go on it. So, Daddy and Brody boarded the ship (he was only tall enough because Daddy did the measuring and its been awhile since his last hair cut) I can't believe how small he looked from down below. He enjoyed the ride, but Brandon said before hand Brody's heart was beating really fast. He is a brave little guy. I watched from below and saw the ride was resting on wood pallets....not the most sturdy construction. We didn't do any other rides...

Big Tex

The kids and I meeting Elsie the Borden's Milk cow and her calf

The Mullins & Burtons

Our Clan