Let's Party!

We had our 2nd annual Halloween party this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. Halloween is our favorite holiday, and we love to have our friends over for a few hours. We have lots of trashy food and games for the children. This year the children made their daddies (or mommies or sisters) into mummies, beat a pinata, and decorated pumpkins. It's a lot of work, but we really enjoy it.

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Evan's friends Kassi and Bailee spent a few hours with us Sunday afternoon. We made a birthday cake for their mom and decorated leftover cupcakes. The girls loved putting sprinkles on the cupcakes, but I think they got more on the table and floor! I'm actually amazed any of the sprinkles came out because they kept dipping it in their icing and plogging up the holes. We put a candle on each one, and they got to blow it out! They had a great time being bakers.

Training Wheels Have Been Thrown Away!

It's official! Evan has learned how to keep her balance and steer without training wheels. She went on a bike ride without them yesterday and did a fantastic job! We are so proud of her!

TAG!

My friend Julie tagged me earlier in the week with a great, truly revealing tag, but I will NEVER get to it. THIS one I can do, though. You are supposed to post the 4th picture from your 4th picture album.

This picture was taken March 12, 2005. I love that smile and rosy cheeks. We had been home from China less than a week. The shoes she is wearing were purchased in Guanzhou and had sqeakers in them. We always knew where she was!! I have loved each age, but I sure am glad she's 4 (almost 5).

TAG! It's your turn!

Day at the Red River Revel

The Revel is a huge week long arts, crafts, and food festival held along the Red River every year. Mike and I used to go mainly for the food because it is trashy fair-type food. We also used to look at every booth and observe the photographs, paintings, stained glass pieces, jewelry, and just about anything you can imagine! The past few years we have spent more time at the huge children's area. They have so many things for children to make and participate in. We even watched a magic show that Evan loved! I just couldn't believe it is the first part of October and we were sweating! We ran into an artist who had all kinds of photographs from China. Of course, we had to buy several.

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Bagpiping Daddy

Mike was part of the PioneerHeritage Festival this past weekend. He and his teacher and a few other people played the pipes off and on almost all day. It took some coaxing, but he finally let me record him. Take a listen!

BMX Racer in Training

Evan is still trying to get comfortable on her bike. We told her if she would start from the end of the driveway, we would post a video of her. A few crashes later (she ran into Mike's car), she made her goal!

The Maze

We've never braved the maze before because I'm afraid I will get claustrophobic when I can't find the exit. This time we ran into one of the 'Corn Cops', Spencer, who is the son of some friends of ours. He encouraged us to go, so I told him we would go if he would come guide us out after about 10 minutes. He would give the girls true/false questions to guide them. About 20 minutes into the maze, Julie and I were ready to make our own path out!! We had been there for 3 hours and were ready to go home. Finally!! 25 minutes after entering the maze, we made it out (with Spencer's help)! I think they need a sign at the exit you can take a picture by (of course, for all those bloggers) that says "I survived the Corn Maize"!

The Cow Train and Oscar Hinkledinkle

We finally distracted the girls long enough to leave the poor ducks alone and take a ride on the Cow Train. No matter how many times Evan rides it, she always is excited to go again. Our local clown, Oscar Hinkledinkle, showed up to entertain. Evan is usually somewhat frightened of him, but this time she couldn't get enough. (He is a member of our church, but I don't think she really puts 2 and 2 together.) He made balloon shapes and kept them laughing! He even went on the hayride with us!

Evan picked out a baby pumpkin and a mommy pumpkin to take home. I came out of the pumpkin patch so dusty that it looked like I'd overdosed on QT.

The Corn Maize

Julie and I decided to take the girls to the Corn Maize this afternoon for some fun. Other than several mazes made out of corn stalks, they have ducks, a big pit full of corn kernels, water pump duck races, the famous cow train, face painting, hayride that takes you to a firld where you can pick your own pumpkin, and much more!

We spent a lot of time chasing, catching, and releasing the ducks. The girls had so much fun! They would chase the ducks so much the ducks would take cover under a building or a car. After a while the ducks got brave, and we would start the whole process all over again!