Bryan's Field Trip to Petit Farms

 I had so much fun with Bryan's Preschool Class at Petit Farms.  They are such a great group of 4 and 5 year olds....and his teachers, Ms. Cindy and Ms. Shannon are wonderful!  They are very good with the kids and he has learned so much since starting school in August. 

 Bryan touching a baby boa.  He is brave...I wouldn't touch it.  I don't do snakes. 

 Now this is a big snake...and it is only half the size it is going to get!!!  He feeds it chickens mostly...and once or twice a year he will feed it a whole pig.  Yep, that is gross!! Oh, and it lives in his living room. 

Kennedy....talking and squeaking!

Tyler Plays Soccer with the Big Boys

A team didn't show up on Saturday to play against Bryan's team so the coach split the team up and had them play each other.  However, he needed one more player - so he picked Tyler.  Who was so excited!!  He is one tough three year old.  His little legs ran so fast, he kicked the ball and passed it and even scored!!!  We can't wait to sign him up for soccer this Spring. 

Washington DC

I went with Chad to D.C. October 21 and 22.  He had to work for a little bit on Thursday and then the rest of the time was ours.  We stayed at the BEAUTIFUL Gaylord National Hotel - incredible. We were upgraded to a suite (we are lucky!!) since our room wasn't ready and it was gorgeous!!  The hotel is made up mostly of a atrium that looks out to the Potomac River. 

Friday we got up early, crossed over the Potomac and headed towards our Nations Capital.  Amazing.  Amazing.  The architect and history kept giving us goose bumps.  We only had four hours to see what we could before we had to head to the airport.  (Boys have soccer on Saturday mornings and we can't miss that)  After about 40 minutes we finally found a parking spot by the National Mall.  We went and saw the White House first.  Breathtaking...just thinking of all the history that has happened inside its walls.  (We are going to take a tour next time!!) 

We walked towards the Washington Monument (1884) and couldn't stop looking at.  It is made up of granite, marble and sandstone and was gorgeous against the blue sky. 

Next we walked towards the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial.  The pool is undergoing a renovation ($30.5 millions dollar renovation) so the water was being drained and it was very dirty.  It was still gorgeous in the way the Washington Monument reflects off of it. The pool when full holds 6.7 million gallons of water. 
We couldn't wait to walk up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (1922).  Chad has always wanted to sit on the steps - so of course we did!!  As you enter the Memorial there is a sign to "Please be quiet out of Respect".  Goosebumps, again!!  Lincoln changed the way we all live today...honor, I will!  Chad and I spent so much time looking at the statue and reading the  Gettysburg Address - we were in awe. 

We only had a little bit of time left before we had to leave for the airport ... so we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  It is humbling....58,267 names are etched into the black granite that is reflective. 

There is so much more we wanted to see - Jefferson Memorial, the Capital Building, Smithsonian and all the other Museums on the National Mall.  We could have spent a whole week there.  And we plan on it - with the kids next time.  Drew was so excited when we told him we were going to D.C....he started talking about all that he has learned in school.  Love it!!!  Chad and I were in such awe the whole time we were in D.C.  What an amazing city...we can't wait to go back! 

Kennedy is 4 Months Old

Kennedy is growing so fast!  She is 16.5 lbs and 25 inches of pure joy!!  She loves to giggle from her belly and smile from cheek to cheek.  She can roll from her back to her belly like a champ....but gets so mad when she is on her belly.  She has rolled over a couple times from her belly to back but she forgets she knows how.  She knows someone will roll her back over, so why learn, right!??!!

Trick or Treat Village

 We went to the Trick or Treat Village again this year.  The "small" town we live in, Dallas, always puts on a great event!  The boys and Kennedy had a fantastic time.  The Village always gets them ready for Halloween and we get to practice or "please and thank you's"! 
Many local business decorate booths and fill kids' Halloween buckets with treats and business flyers.  There are many games, a hayride in a spooky forests, costume contest, and much more. 

 I just LOVE her tutu!

Movie and Dinner

 The boys love to watch movies outside during the Fall.  They don't care how cold it is!  They have dinner, watch a movie and roast marshmellows - does it get any better?!?! 

No More Training Wheels

 Bryan has been begging us to take his training wheels off for the past six months.  Of course Chad and I kept telling him, "you aren't ready....we will soon".  It was Chad and I that weren't ready!!  We wanted to keep him "protected" for just a little longer.  On October 10th we took them off for him.  He hopped on his bike and road down the road!  Chad had a hard time keeping up with him incase he fell.  He didn't.  He was ready and he knew it.  Now he keeps trying to talk his older brother into trying his bike without "baby wheels".   He loves to challenge Drew. 

 And off he goes!!



A few random pics...

Rocky Top Tennessee

Chad and I took the boys to Knoxville Tennessee to watch a football game.  On our way up to the game we stopped and bought some Vol gear.  We are so glad we did...EVERYONE was wearing ORANGE.  The Vols fans are very loyal to their team.  Neyland Stadium is gorgeous and sits right by the Tennessee River.  There were lots of houseboats and tailgating going on.  Their were 90,000+  fans at the game and towards the end of the game we finally got to hear how LOUD Neyland Stadium can get.  The game with UAB went into overtime and the crowd started cheering - the place shook!  It was amazing.  We can't wait to go again next September and cheer the GRIZ on when they play the Vols. 

Kennedy is THREE months!

Wow, where is the time going?  I no longer have a newborn...Kennedy is an infant now!  She is such a good baby - who LOVES to watch her brothers and squeals in delight.  She is going to make sure she has a voice in the household!!  Her smile is amazing - the boys love to see who can make her smile and giggle.