Fall Picnic & Zip-Lining

Last Friday my niece and nephew spent the night with us.  I think this was the first time for them both to stay!  Everyone was excited!  Rhett had been invited to a birthday dinner for a friend, so we dropped him off at the pizza place then I took the others to Chick-fil-A to eat and play on the indoor playground.  They were all so sweet and seemed to have fun.  Everyone slept in sleeping bags in the playroom that night (Well, except for Rhett--that's him asleep on the couch.)  They were all awake by 6:45 Saturday morning, but that was fine because we had a busy day ahead and didn't have time to sleep in anyway.  We planned to leave at 8:45 to go meet my sister and Mario and ride to the fall family picnic together (2.5 hour away in Mountain View).

The weather forecast did not look promising for the day, but we went anyway.  We left home in the rain, but by the time we got there, the sun was shining!  I'm so glad we didn't cancel because we'd cancelled twice last year due to the weather, and by then it was too close to the holidays to find a weekend to go. 

On our way!  The road was VERY curvy, but no one got sick.  Thanks, Mario, for driving us!

We had originally planned to picnic at Blanchard Springs, but it was temporarily closed due to the government shutdown.  So...Plan B...Mom was able to make a last-minute reservation at the Sylamore Creek campground, which worked out fine.  It was a pretty place, and the kids loved the creek.  We met the group at the general store at the entrance to the campground.  

Sylamore Creek Picnic

Mountain View, AR

October 12, 2013

Back:  Mario, Dad, Rhett, Lance, Aunt Judy, Aunt Janice, Micaela
Front:  Jaiden, Jeryn, Mom, Alexee, Landon, me & Crosby

Of course Alexee found a caterpillar to bring home.  It is now in a bug box next to her bowl of tadpoles.

We had a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday to Mario and Dad (b-days this week).  Mom's birthday is actually in July, but she is in the birthday pic because the second part of our day--ZIP LINING--was what she wanted to do for her birthday LAST year, and we were finally able to do it!!

Happy Birthday to these very special people!

Dad, Jaiden & Rhett

Dad & Alexee

Sylamore Creek

Thankful for family and for the beautiful weather we had that day!

Landon (my cousin's little boy who is just three months older than Crosby), Rhett & Crosby

With Mom, Micaela, Aunt Judy & Aunt Janice

Dad with his sisters

Next we left the camp site and drove a short distance to LocoRopes for our zip lining adventure.  Rhett volunteered to go first and wasn't the least bit afraid.  This was not fun for me to watch at all.  Alexee said right off that she didn't want to do it, and Crosby said that he did but changed his mind as soon as we climbed to the top of the tower.  I thought I could do it, but I just couldn't make myself go once I got to the ramp.  It didn't look high from the ground below, but from the tower it seemed like a crazy thing to do!  I'm boring, I know.  Janice and Alexee watched from the benches below...and Crosby and I soon joined them...but everyone else zipped across!  

Way to go, Rhett!

Mic & Mario

Mom & Dad

Jaiden, Landon & Jeryn
(They looked so tiny going across!  I was a nervous wreck.)

Landon was having the best time.  He was laughing and cheering as his Dad zoomed across.  He turned around to the group and said, "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!"  We all thought it was so cute and funny!  

Lance & Judy

The kids all had fun doing the climbing wall!

Rhett was sweet to tell Crosby not to worry because he'd be there with him.

Top:  Crosby & Jaiden; Bottom:  Jeryn & Alexee

What a super fun day!  I love this time of year!

Fun Weekend: Soccer, Movie & Musical

Yesterday morning the "Sharks" had their team photo (in the rain).  I just think this is the cutest thing ever!  Crosby is loving the season, which makes it so fun to watch.  We really appreciate Coach Adam leading our team!

This picture of Crosby and his good buddy is actually from a previous week, but my friend just e-mailed it to me, and I had to include it--love their expressions!

After the game C ran over and sat on R's lap!  :)

Alexee & K had fun playing in the creek during the game.  We brought home three tadpoles in a plastic cup...she has checked them many times to see if they've grown.

We had a quiet afternoon at home.

Then I decided to take them to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 at 6:45.  It was a lot of fun.  Everyone sat still and stayed interested in the show!  We ate lots of popcorn and candy and enjoyed a night out together!  :)  They are growing up so fast.  I wish I could freeze time and keep them at these ages (9, 6 & 4)...feeling really really blessed.

And then one more fun event this afternoon:  Alexee and I went to see the musical Pinkalicious at the Arts Center.  We met friends there and had such a great time watching the show and then going out for frozen yogurt after!

Sweet girls!

Lost Tooth, Sweet Tooth

Alexee lost her other top front tooth on Sept. 28.  The tooth fairy didn't stop by that night, but I told her it was probably just because she was sleeping in her sleeping bag in Rhett's room so the crazy (forgetful) tooth fairy likely got confused.  Alexee wasn't worried about it--she said she'd just try again in her own room the next night.  But then she took the tooth out of the pillow to look at it and dropped it.  She came to tell me that it had disappeared, so we all searched and searched.  She finally found it between the mattress and bed frame!

***

October is my FAVORITE month!  So to celebrate the first day of the month, I made treat bags for the kids' lunch boxes:

-Polka dot treat bags from The Container Store.

-Fall lunchbox printables from here.

-Fall m&ms

-Ribbon

Baby Shower for Jack

I LOVE baby showers!  I was so happy to get to help out with Jillian's shower last Saturday morning.  We went to Crosby's soccer game then hurried home to change clothes and go to Jeannie's house.  Alexee went with me, which was fun.  She wasn't sure what to expect, but she was just excited about getting to see "Mrs. Jillian".  We first met Jillian when she worked in Crosby's nursery at church a few years ago.  She told us she liked to babysit, and she has been such a huge blessing to our family!  The kids love for her and her husband, Kyle to come over (click on the link to Kyle's website--he's a very talented photographer!).  And pretty soon we hope they will bring baby Jack, too--we can't wait to meet him!  They are going to be such wonderful parents.

His nursery is navy & white/nautical themed, so I made this burlap sailboat for the door

Doesn't Jillian look great!

I forgot to take a picture of the table once the food and decorations were all set up, but this is the red velvet cake that I took.  

It was fun to see all the sweet baby gifts--what a special season in their lives!  I'm so happy for them!