Thanksgiving

I know, I'm sure lots of stuff happened between Halloween and Thanksgiving I just must not have pictures.

Oh yea the 3-Day walk, I have some pictures from that on my phone. I'll have to download those to my computer.

Anyway, as is the current tradition we went out to Sulphur Springs, TX for Thanksgiving at Ben's parents house. All of his sisters and their families come into town for this fun and festive ocassion.

We have food, fun and family. And lots of it for at least four whole days. Who could ask for more.

Here we all are at the annual family tree hunt where we look for a tree for the grandparents. The kids love to take their turn at cutting the tree down and make the great search for the best tree around.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!!

Every year I struggle with what my kids should be for Halloween, and whether or not I should make their costumes or let them buy costumes. Well for the older two I let them both be vampires, Bear's second turn, and we purchased their costumes. Cooper's was also purchased since I did not think I could do a very good job of making a Batman costume. Now Decllan was a reused costume that I had made Barrett just after he turned two, he was a pirate. Now all three of my boys have worn the same costume and they each look so cute. I just love it.



The only downer for Halloween this year was that Isabelle did not get to go trick or treating since she did not finish all of her homework as previously stated that she had. Silly girl, does she not know there are consequences for her actions. Either way, she unfortunately still had fun, handing out candy to the neighbor kids, with Oma and Grandpa Don. I did let her still dress up for the day as well.


The other three had a blast, and even Decllan made it up to a few door steps to get his treat. It was kind of cute. I think next year will be his year to shine and he will be ready to go.

Fall Fun

Each year our Mom's group goes out to a little "farm" in the country for the kids to visit and play with the animals as well as have some fun, doing different activities. Cooper was only interested in the animals and the hayride, so we left after we completed those activities.



Decllan really enjoyed the animals and had fun walking around the pumpkin patch. It's so much fun to see how fast they grow up and become interesed in different things.

Bear's Lost Tooth

Ok so somehow in the craziness that is our life I missed blogging about Bear's lost tooth. He was so excited to be able to use his tooth fairy pillow and for the fact that he lost some teeth, "finally" that I can't believe I missed this. Either way, here he is in all his toothless glory. Now he has only lost two teeth and I for sure see braces in this poor kids future. Let's hope our dental insurance is better than our medical insurance.

This kid is all about pulling out his own teeth too, it's pretty funny. I hope it stays that way. He used a string and the door to get this one out.

California

So we went to California and it was a lot of fun. The kids got to spend some time with their cousins, and be wild and crazy little people for a whole week with no school. Disney was a blast, and they are already asking when can we go back. The beach was nice and the weather was pretty good for most of the time that we were there. We even hit the Safari Park, as it is now known. Family pictures did not turn out as well as I would have liked. I think we'll have to redo those later.

Gifts from Favs

The kids are all so excited about our upcoming trip to California and Disneyland. To kick our trip off each of the kids received a special package from their favorite character. The three older kids also received special Mouse pens for their autograph books.

The most exciting part were the t-shirts that their favorite character sent them to kick off their trip to Disney. Included with their t-shirt was a note especially penned for them by said character. It was great fun to see their little faces light up with delight when they opened their packages and read their notes.

Isabelle and Barrett even sent a special shout out to their favorite characters thanking them for their shirts, and pens. Cooper's shirt came from none other than Mickey Mouse. Isabelle's came from Princess Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty.) Barrett's shirt came from none other than Phineas and Ferb. While Decllan's shirt came from Lighting McQueen.

They can hardly wait to wear their shirts to the park and see all of their Disney friends.

Cooper's First Day of School

Since I did not want to miss out on people not finding my dinners I have not updated in a long while. So here I go.

Cooper has started "school" or Mother's Day Out. He was pretty excited to get started and does pretty well most weeks. He goes two days a week to the same Preschool where Isabelle and Barrett went.

So far he has participated in a special visit from the Fire Department, and the Police Department. Ironcially those visits happened to be on the two days that he threw a fit.

He also has a chance to go to Tech Tykes, and play on computers with out having an older sibling get in the way, to "show him how to do it." He really seems to like that.

I hope that this year allows him to work out all his issues so that next year we can put him in for a few more days. Because after that he will be going to Kindergarden and won't have a choice.

Until then he will just have to adjust. Oh yea I make him carry in all of his stuff. None of the business of Mom carrying in or out for that matter, his nap mat and bag.

Dinner Auction Winners

Thanks you guys for your bids and donations for the 3-day walk.

Here are the results:

Fondue Dinner for 8 - Annette Agor

Bar-B-Que dinner for 20 - Ray & Kathy McGovern and Barry and Maria Seivert

Wine Paired Dinner for 6 - Gara Hill

Thanks again you guys for all that you do and your support. I have sent you each a message about making your donation. As well as how to redeem your dinner. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks Again,

Allison

Fondue for Eight (8)

Let this meal delight your taste buds and keep you coming back for more. While the food is cooked while you wait and watch, fondue for eight is a great way to have a relaxing night with friends at home.

Appetizer – Cheese course
Assorted veggies and bread to dip

Main Dish – broth or oil based cooking featuring
Fish, Chicken, Beef and Shrimp
Mushrooms, broccoli and other veggies

Dessert – chocolate fondue
Rice crispy, marshmallows, banana, strawberries and more

Minimum bid $100

Bar-B-Que for 20

Who does not like Texas Bar-B-Que? Well now is your chance to walk away with a great meal for up to 20 people. Your winning bid of this dinner will include:

Appetizers of Ribs and Sausage

Brisket

Coleslaw

Beans

Dessert

This is not going to be a meal you want to miss. Do you have a party coming up or a special ocassion you want to have a BBQ for, well this is the dinner for you. This meal will be delivered to your location of choice ready to serve.

Disclaimer: This meal cannot be redeemed before October 1, 2012.

Starting bid for this dinner is $100.

Italian Wine-Paired Dinner for 6

A four course, meal paired with wine along the way. You and five other people can take the night off from cooking to enjoy a wonderful meal fully prepared and severed to you. Here are the details:

First Course:
Creamy Rice with Lemon, herbs, and parmesan
Wine: Soave

Second Course:
Chicken with Prosciutto, Rosemary and White Wine Sautéed Broccoli Rabe, Cibatta
Wine: Barbera or Italian Chardonnay

Third Course:
A selection of cheese
Wine: Barbera

Fourth Course:
Poached Pears with Marsala, Cinnamon and Vanilla
Wine: Asti

You provide the kitchen and place settings while we do all the work.

Starting bid: $100

Dinner Auctions

Hello Friends and Family,

I will be hosting an on-line auction for three dinners over the course of the next two weeks. All of the proceeds will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation as I make my way to raise money for the 3-Day walk.

Starting on November 2 I will begin to walk 60-miles in three days. This will be my third year to participate in the 3-Day walk and I can hardly wait to start. Before I go I need to raise $2,300 to help in the fight against breast cancer.

Your donation will help me to fulfill this goal. Please take a moment to bid on the wonderful dinners that are available if you would rather just make a donation you can do that as well directly from this link:

Donate Now

Every dollar helps me make my way to the finish. Please take a look at each dinner to decide which one is right for you.

Italian Wine-Paired Dinner for 6

Bar-B-Que Dinner for 20

Fondue for Eight (8)

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my page and make a donation. Don't forget to bid on one of the dinners. You can make a bid by posting your name, e-mail address and amount in the comment section of each dinner's unique post. Each new bid needs to increase by $50. Don't forget to leave your contact information.

First Day of School

Wow, I can hardly believe it is already that time of the year for school to start again. I was ready for August in January but now that is here I think it is a little too early. Mostly because it is the middle of August and we still have some much to do. Oh well, I guess some of the fun will have to come later.

This year I have two kids going to school five days per week all day long. I cannot believe that Barrett is already in Kindergarten. I just know that he is going to love it and have a great time with school and making new friends.

Second grade will be awsome for Isabelle she will expand and grow as a student and make new friends and become reaquainted with old ones as the year goes by. I know she is excited to get started and see what the year has to hold.

I hope they enjoy going to school for a long as possible. So far so good. Bear is really excited about this new adventure.

The Aquarium

Fair Park has recently updated their aquarium so the plan was to check it out this summer. Well that almost did not happen because we were so busy and I was busy trying to "fly." But we finally made it and the kids had a blast. Each kid even had the chance to touch a ray. Bear made the commet that he got the chance to touch the tail, but I'm pretty sure they take out the barbs anyway so no one gets hurt.

It was a fun day and we even saw Aunt Jodi while we were there, after lunch. It really is a smaller world.

One Year already

I can hardly believe that a full year has gone by with Decllan. He is getting big so fast. Just this last week he started walking on his own. He steps off of whatever he had been walking around and just starts to go. Where did the time go?

We celebrated his birthday with a little family time going with a Peter Rabbit theme. No I did not go all out, because he really would not remember it all but I did at least make a super cute cake. I made him a carrot shaped carrot cake. And let me tell you it was yummy.

Then I had Isabelle read to the group the Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter. She did such a great job reading and I know the adults enjoyed the story. The kids, aka the boys, were just being silly and wanted to play.

I find out on Monday what his curent stats are, I'm sure they are pretty good since he does nothing but eat these days. I do hope he keeps up that good habbit. Either way, it was a great day, and I can hardly wait to see what the next year has to hold.