Trunk or Treat 2011

We had our Trunk or Treat last night and David was the MC and one of the people in charge of the event. He did a great job - the chili, cobbler, games and trunk or treating was a lot of fun. The best part is when you hear your child say "trick or treat" but then say "thank you" with even more gusto. Dilan and I won runner-up in the costume contest with me being a Strawberry in Strawberry Shortcake's strawberry patch! :)

Dilan picking a duck with a number out of the pond.

Drew after playing a game and getting some candy

Fishing for candy

Dilan getting her "big fish"

Drew with his primary teacher

Drew and Drake - Drake was so tired that the costume didn't last

David in his referee outfit with the kids

Me in my strawberry costume to match my little Strawberry Shortcake and the kiddos

Me and Drake at the end of the night

The rest of Mimi's Visit

We loved having David's mom here with us this week. I really enjoyed having her around as we always talk and talk. Also, I think the kids better behave when someone else is around and I seem to have more patience with them too. She was here for Drew's scare crow parade, Drake's 1st birthday, bought Drake's first pair of shoes and Drew a new bed, went to Drew's school for lunch, and stayed up really late to help me make my Halloween costume. We wish she was here longer but hopefully now that she is semi-retiring, we might see her even more!

Drew reading to Mimi

Mimi at Drew's school for lunch

David's oldest sister, Amy, flew into Dallas on Friday night and she helped Colleen drive to Utah this weekend. Colleen is moving into Amy's basement. It's been a plan in the works for a year now and it finally has come time to make it happen. Amy stayed up late with us and helped us make my costume too. With six kiddos, I can tell she's had so much practice making things and she was a pro with the glue gun! We loved having her here even just for one night and we sent them off with a southern breakfast done right at the Waffle House!

Happy 1st Birthday, Drake!

We had a small family party at Chick-fil-a for Drake's 1st birthday. David's mom was here to celebrate with us which made it even more special.

Mimi and Drake

We always do party hats for the kids' first birthday and now I remember why - they love them!

Cutest picture of the birthday boy!

Dilan trying on a party hat

Drew sporting a party hat too

Me and my birthday boy along with the other kiddos - I actually made Drake's cake because I had already bought one for the party in Houston and I thought I could pull off a number 1 cake. It turned out pretty cute.

David with the birthday boy and his mom

This time Drake ate the icing off the cake by using his pincer grasp. He was getting into it but never got into the actual cake part. And let's just say the icing did come back up after he was through eating it.

Then, he just took the whole thing and tried to eat it

Us with our little boy who is not so little anymore

Drake riding home in his new big boy seat!

The kids giving Drake a birthday present

Drew and Drake with his new helicopter

Drake also went to the doctor for his 1 yr checkup: Length was 75%tile, Weight was 51%tile and his head was in the 90th %tile! He is a happy and healthy boy - we love this kid so much!!!

Scare crow Parade

At Drew's school, the whole first grade dressed up like scare crows and put on a parade. We spent last Saturday making his costume from his plaid shirt, to the "hay" everywhere, the hat and what he loved the most was finding the crow to put on his shoulder.

Drew walking in the parade

David's mom, Colleen, has come for a visit before she moves to Utah so she was able to attend this fun day for Drew.

My kiddos on scare crow day (also Drake's 1st birthday)

Me and Drew

Library Halloween Storytime

I took another opportunity to take the kids to something fun for Halloween. The local library was having a special story time tonight so I took the two older kids in their costumes. There was singing, there were stories, games, crafts and candy! A great way to spend our evening.

Ring toss

Bean bag toss

My Strawberry Shortcake and Thomas the train made ghosts too

Dallas Arboretum

My best friend growing up lives here in Dallas and we try to get together with our girls as often as we can. So, today we went to the Dallas Arboretum and it was a beautiful day. The theme was Cinderella where they had different pumpkin houses like the fairy godmother's house, Cinderella's kitchen, and the castle. It was very creative and fun for the kids because they also had a lot of activities to do there.

Dilan and her friend in Cinderella's carriage.

A closer shot of the happy toddlers

Dilan climbed up on this hay stack and struck a pose for me! (notice the no-shoes)

Dilan and her friend on another haystack

In front of a pumpkin house

The petting zoo - these goats were babies and very cute

Petting every single one - not leaving any of them out

Chilling in the stroller

Now on to pet the bunny

I wasn't sure if Dilan would get her face painted or not. But when I asked her, she wanted to and we went for it. I suggested a butterfly and she chose the color pink. She literally sat there like the lady was doing her makeup for a special event. It was darling and so fun to watch.

And this reaction was priceless of her looking in the mirror.

Onto coloring a picture and gluing cotton balls as clouds on the paper.

The Texas Pioneer part of the Arboretum had a mud hut. Dilan is looking through the window.

A covered wagon with a tepee too - Dilan was scared when we walked into the tepee because of all the "skins" hanging there. I admit it was kind of creepy.

And to top the morning off with a special Kindermusik class outside. Dilan loved it! She's making her bird wings here.

OakFest 2011

Our community puts on a festival celebrating the big oak trees in our area and they call it OakFest. It is totally free but of course the lines are long to do any of the activities. But we went with good friends on a beautiful evening and it was well worth it. We first had to ride the train and then get balloon animals. David bought an old-fashioned root beer that tasted SO good, and it was a fun night!

Pistorius family at the OakFest

Drake and me on the train that went around the lake

Yummy old-fashioned root beer

We thought this coyote was pretty funny - definitely something you'd see in Texas!

Balloon animals for all!

Drew got a blue elephant, Dilan got a pink puppy dog, and Drake got an orange giraffe.