Family Time

In the midst of lots of deadlines and busy stuff, I have been enjoying some plain ole fun family time. No agenda, just outside togetherness. Maddie works on her leadership routine for Colorguard tryouts, Lexi shoots baskets and Kylie rides her bike, roller skates, or scooters!

I sit and watch, take pictures, "help" with the routine, get in Lexi's way, and chalk with Kylie. Kylie even learned how to fly a kite by herself this week!

Last weekend, Kylie and I went down to the trail and she rode her bike while I ran with/behind her. She made it the entire 3 miles! I was so impressed! And she didn't even have to stop and rest for awhile at the halfway point.

Doug was out riding his bike and met us on the trail for a photo op. :)

Kylie rode faster with her daddy. I ran faster trying to keep up! 

By the time we made it back to the starting point, we were hot and tired! It was an 80+ degree day.

We have also started playing in our backyard again! Three cheers for our new gardener (retired neighbor) who has made our yard incredible! It is so nice having a place to play. 

And yes, that is a hay bale on the ground in the middle of the yard. That is our "chia pet." It is Lexi's roping dummy, but the hay bale got left in one spot too long and is now part of the yard!

And that is what I have been doing in my free time. Nothing! This is the perfect time of year in Texas. We have to enjoy these high 70's/low 80's afternoons while we have them!

An October Recap

Halloween has come and gone. Thank goodness. I've never been a fan of Halloween, but we participate in some of the fun stuff so that our girls will have memories.

Cause I really think that is one of the greatest gifts of childhood. The memories of family events... whatever those family events are, it doesn't even matter... just DOING things together and laughing along the way.

And so, here is a recap of some of this year's October memories.

1. Family pictures with a grumpy Kylie.

Isn't that hysterical?! I love it! That is soo her! But she did smile for some of the pictures.

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2. We carved pumpkins.

3. We had family time while Doug recovered from knee surgery.

4. We joined thousands of other families on our town square for trick or treating.

 

I'm not even kidding. The town shuts down the square and people line the sidewalks trick or treating. My girls don't as no way am I going to stand in a line for a couple of hours to get candy. But we don't have to as three churches have events at the same time on the square. So you start at one side with one churches "trunk or treat" go to the middle and play games and jump in the bounce houses at another churches event and then finish off on the other side of the square with a "fall festival." 

It is insane. But really fun for the kids.

And since the streets are closed, and the police are at the street barricades, it's really great and safe event! And if I had to guess, I am sure that it is the city's most popular and well attended event of the year. It is so crowded it feels like Disney World!

5. Maddie went to a school dance (and even dressed up!)

6. Lexi went to a school dance and of course she dressed up!

7. Kylie had "Book Character Day" at school.

She went as Lady Bug Girl. It's one of our favorite books.

8. And finally we went trick or treating.

And in the midst of all of that.. we had band contests. In case you aren't familiar with the world of marching band.. October is a very busy month. Actually from August 1 to the end of football season is pretty hard core, but October it is insane.

This is pretty much how we saw of Maddie the last few months.

But the hard work paid off. Yesterday the band won lots of awards and are now finished with their contest season!

And there you have our October.

Did you notice that Kylie wore three different costumes... that is so Kylie! 

10th Anniversary of the Lakehouse

We just got home from the family lakehouse trip. It was our 10th annual trip! And I can say hands-down it was the BEST ONE YET!!

We had so much fun and the kids were great!

Here are a "few" pictures.

I love how in these first pictures of the little girls you can see why this was such a great trip. Aspen and Dillon were fishing. Kylie wanted too, but there weren't any more fishing poles. Watch the progression... LOVE!

1. Kylie watching.

3. Kylie touching the pole.

 4. Aspen moving the pole between them so they can fish together!

Makes me tear up. :)

Now on to the photo overload!

 

I realized that as usual, I was taking all of the pictures and not in any.. so I asked Maddie to take some. Here is her picture of one of my sisters. 

Awesome!!

And the picture of me. thanks. I'm the one under the umbrella. One of my other sisters is laying on the island. Thanks, Maddie. :/  

Guess I should have requested the glamorous shot!

And back to more pictures.... 

My mom on the jet ski.

One night there was an air show. It was really cool to watch it from the dock! 

And I can't finally, the family picture escapade! Don't you just love how I set up my camera!! It only took two cameras on timers and a few tries to get a decent picture.

And that is a quick recap of the lakehouse adventure!