So my brother, Rob and my mom, Linda arrived yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with us. We've spent most of the day goofin' around, playing tennis, and enjoying the mild weather that is Texas in November. (Hee, hee, to all those freezing in the snowy cold!) Anyway, Mom's been snapping pics all day, of course. Here's a slideshow of the best so far. I'm sure there'll be more coming - I love what Mom sees with the camera!
Hilary and I picked the kids up from school and surprised them by saying we were going to Marble Falls. They didn't know we were going to the maze until we arrived. It's cool when these kind of surprises work out (which is rarely). When we got there we took a tractor-pulled hayride to the Texas-shaped maze. The kids got a kick out of all the hay on our bums and Dani made sure we all knew it was a bumpy ride. Above is a picture of what the maze looked liked (although I think this may have been a photo from a different year, the size and shape are the same.) 
Once we got to the maze, we checked out the map of Texas posted at the entrance and noted where all 10 of the cities that we were supposed to find were located -the maze was on about 4 acres. Then we set off. We started in pairs, each with a mom, but after about 15 minutes we found it to be more fun going around in a big group. After about an hour's worth of searching, we found all 10 cities. Surprisingly, we didn't happen across the same city more than twice, unless we were trying to because someone missed it. When we were all done, because we found all the cities, the farm rewarded us with a soda.
After the maze we headed back to pet the goats and pick out pumpkins in the farm's pumpkin patch. It's always fun to watch little kids get excited about petting animals. Dani was a little cautious at first but finally got her hand on patient goat. The pumpkin patch was a fun place for more pictures. The only downside was that Dani had had enough of pictures and wasn't about to smile for the camera anymore. But nevertheless, the moms perservered and got a few good Fall pictures.
The kids all had a great time. It's was a super alternative to going to the haunted house, especially for the "little" faint of heart. And, bonus, we got our pumpkins at the same time. (Beats running down the grocery store!) I can now pat myself on the back for doing something "cool" for Halloween with the kids, especially since this is a first. (Enjoy the slideshow of more pics above.)
We've been working with Dani to help her remember how old she will be on her birthday and when her birthday is. Today I randomly asked Dani when her birthday is. She said "I'm turning 3 in De-sunburn!"
Dani has recently taken up the pastime of singing. Today in the car she was randomly singing something and then asked me if I knew the song Dead Mommy. Dead Mommy?!" I repeated just to make sure I'd heard her right. She said, "Yep, the song goes Clink, Clink!" That was it. Guess the song doesn't have to be long if a person's dead!
Oh yeah, she did say it could be sung "Clunk, Clunk." I suppose which version you choose depends on the size of the Dead Mommy!
Keep on laughin' (or scratching your head)!
Of course, for Jeremy, that's the perfect costume! I have to admit that I can't stand the movie (it's soooooo dumb!!!) but I played along and found a nun costume I made over to be Nacho's forbidden love interest, Sister Incarnacion.
I found our costumes at a party store. When Jeremy first put on the one-piece "stretchy pants" outfit I was rolling on the floor with laughter. Not because he looked just like Nacho (which he did), but because the costume was a little short in the, um, mid-section. In order to get the top of the one-piecer over his shoulders it rode really high in the groin area. Jer couldn't raise his arms without raising his voice several octives. I remedied this situation with a few alterations and Nacho walked into the party very comfortable in his "stretchy pants".
On Thursday the 30th, we test drove the girls' costumes at the Vista Ridge High School's trunk-or-treat. They left with so much candy I wondered if we would really need to trick-or-treat the next night. But of course they just dumped out their candy from the night before and headed around the neighborhood on Halloween. Jeremy and Tim took the kids trick-or-treating, while Hilary and I held down the fort from our driveway. The girls had carved their pumpkins earlier that day and we lined the driveway with the spooky and cooky jack-o'-lanterns. And Jeremy lit a fire in our portable firepit and we handed out candy while enjoying the pleasant, almost cool, night. What a perfect Halloween!
So I've noticed that although I have every intention of posting the wacky things Dani is always spouting off, I tend to forget them within about an hour! I think I have permanent Drain Bramage (from an Emma-ism of long ago.)
Anyway, this evening on the way home from Grandma's and Grandpa's, Dani informs us very cheerfully from her car seat that she broke her leg. I play along saying how I bet that hurt. "No," she says, "It was a yak-ccident!"
I guess if you break your leg via yak it doesn't hurt!
