"All Better" Outing

After spending almost a week and half avoiding the outside world due to swine flu, the kids were finally starting to feel better.  Not 100%, but their fevers had all broke for the mandatory 24 hours and were no longer contagious so Ken and I decided we needed to get out of the house for some low key fun.  We chose Kiddie Acres, a mini kid carnival full of old fashioned rides.  I hadn't taken the kids in a while and it was Ken's first trip there.

Kade on the carosel. He had to do it all by himself, and wouldn't let us stand with him.  Luckily, there was no major incident to report!

Kacey's favorite color is purple and Kade's is red.  They were color coordinted for almost every ride.  Ken's thoughts: "This amusement park for kids had really old school rides. Why do I say that? These propellers are spinning fast enough to easily chew through a couple of kids. When the ride started and the propellers started flying I was thinking....hmmm that looks a bit dangerous."

I have plenty of pictures of Kambry sitting in her stroller happily watching the older kids have all the fun.  This time I caught her making a funny face and it makes me want to go and squeeze her cuteness!

The proud parents

Fashion forward

I really hope that Kacey and Kade are not starting a new fashion trend!  I know other mom's who have told me funny stories about their kids and their clothing choices, and I have seen many of them...princess dresses at the grocery store, crowns and magic wands at storytime, the same outfit everyday for weeks, my nephew wore his clothing inside out and backwards for a while (it was only because he insisted he dress himself...so cute!)  Anyway, mine have never really tested that.  They usually wear what I tell them.  Done.  Case closed.  One less thing I've had to fight.  Lately however, they are really into wearing underwear on the outside of their clothes.  Kade went to the grocery store like this the other day...I have decided to pick my battles.  Besides, it will make GREAT blackmail opportunities when they are teenagers!

Careful...they bite!

GeeGee had a couple days off work towards the beginning of the month and we decided to take the kids to do something fun.  I found a drive-thru safari in New Braunsfels.  On our way, we stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in San Marcos.  Yummmm, their biscuits are the best!

Kade waiting for lunch.

Kacey with her ginormous lollipop!

When you arrive at the Wildlife Ranch, they have food for you to purchase at the gate and you roll the windows down and make your way onto the road.  It was a beautiful day and we were lucky to see animals right away!  The animals walked right up to the car and most of them were very polite and would just wait for you to put your hand out, some were a little pushier and would stick their heads in the car...scary! 

We mostly had the kids throw the food on the ground, but Kade was getting very brave by the time we got to the zebras (you all know where this is going don't you?).  We are all having a great time feeding the zebras when Kade started crying.  He turned to me and showed me his hand...it was covered in zebra slobber!  "Zeba bite da pinger, zeba bite da pinger!"  Sure enough, his ring finger had a definite bite mark on the nail and first knuckle.  Luckily the zebra seemed to have realized his error and didn't chomp all the way down!  Kade recovered quickly and we continued on, only from there on out we threw the food on the ground, just to be safe.

Super happy Kambry!

Up close and personal

Washing up!

We finished up by feeding goats and checking out a few animals on the grounds.  It was a super fun day!

Behind, again...

October was a very busy month at our house. In addition to the usual fall festivities, birthdays, and Halloween events, we had the displeasure of welcoming H1N1 into our home for a little over a week. Right when I thought I was starting to get caught up again, Kambry came down with a different virus that gave her 103.8 fever for 4 days (no other symptoms...strange). She made a full recovery the day before her birthday. One of my goals this week is to get the blog caught up, so please hang in there while we take a trip back in time for the month of October!

Spooktacular PJ's

I was a little jealous when everyone posted their super cool glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas.  When I went to the store to get them, they were gone...so sad!  But then my mom showed up with these super cute ones for the kids!  They don't glow in the dark, but I think they are adorable!

Hands

Everyone at our house is sick, except me...for now.  At 4:30am I heard a soft cry come from Kade's room asking for Mama.  When I walked in his room he whispered his request.  "You lay down me, Mama".  How could I possibly say no?  I soon realized what had woken him, and got him the medicine he needed in order to drift back to sleep.  It was in those moments between wakefulness and slumber that he reached out and held my hand, gently but with determination.  It was such a tender moment it caused me to hold my breath and say a prayer of gratitude.  At once I had a strong impression to memorize that moment and his little hand.


Once he was back to sleep I made my way back to my room, haunted by the simplicity of his gesture.  His little hand, so tiny, so tender, so soft.  One day they will grow, they will be strong and thick.  When they reach out, it will be to his own family.  They will become the hands of a man.  


Kade Edward, I love you.  You are my fiery, active ball of energy that can turn on the charm and the tenderness in the most special moments.  I cannot wait to watch you grow, to witness the man you are to become.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Daddy's Day

One Saturday that Kambry was a little under the weather, Ken took Kacey and Kade to Old Settler's Park (our favorite!) to release the wiggles.  They stumbled upon a motor home show and got to walk through them all.  Ken said some of them were pretty amazing.  Kacey even took her turn at the wheel!

They made it over to the park and played and played, then decided to feed the ducks.  Kacey said they scared her, but Kade was fearless and he scared them!  Ha!  Totally sounds like my kids :)

They worked up quite the appetite and made their way to a little burger dive that is actually quite yummy!  

All in all it was a fun day, and Kambry and I enjoyed our snuggle time together!

The Big Game!

Kacey with Daddy, he was quite the proud dad!

Kacey's first soccer game was a hit!  She had the best time and had quite the audience!  All the grandparents were in attendance too.  I have not laughed that hard in a long time, it was hilarious yet endearing as they would run in the wrong direction, trip, and celebrate when they scored...too cute for words!  Kacey scored 3 or 4 goals.  

She is #4, when I asked why she picked that number she said, "Because I'm 4".  Of course, I should have known!

Towards the end of the game I noticed that she wasn't getting in on all the action as much as when the game first started.  When I asked her about it she said that she wanted to make sure everyone had a turn to kick the ball and score.  We are going to have to teach her to be a warrior...there is a time and a place for sharing, but the soccer field is not one of them!

Look at the focus!

Lullaby...

This is how Kade fell asleep for his nap the other day...

Don't you wish your life was this easy?

Peter and the Wolf

A couple Saturday's ago Kacey and I had a very special Mommy-Daughter date!  We met up with some of her friends and their moms (my friends too) to go see the Austin Ballet perform Peter and the Wolf.  It was a children's theater version, and the girls were all in heaven!  Afterwards we were able to meet the ballerinas and even snapped a few pictures.

Once we were done taking pictures we all decided it was time to feed the crew, so we headed to Kirby Lane Cafe.  Seriously yummy! We are still talking about how good everything was and planning our next trip back!

It was a wonderful time.  Kacey and I really enjoyed being together and soaking up each other's undivided attention.

Live Music Galore!

We have decided it is time for us to start taking advantage of living in/around the wonderful city of Austin, "The Live Music Capitol of the World".  On Tuesday Ken and I went to see Jason Mraz, and on Friday we went to see Pat Green.  Yippee!  Two date nights in one week!  

We kept Friday simple and didn't do dinner or anything, just the concert, and no big group, just the two of us.  We thought we were getting there in time for the opening act to be winding down, but instead they hadn't even started yet...and they were horrible...oh well, it did allow us to get really close to the stage!  Pat Green is a great live act, especially this time around, his Mama was in the audience and so he wasn't throwing back a flask or cussing up a storm.  I guess the saying that if Mama ain't happy...still applies to 30 something Texas Country music stars!

Traffic

What do you do when stuck in traffic?  Yesterday while I was cooking dinner I opened an email from Ken and had this...I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Jason Mraz Concert

Our relationship with Jason Mraz started way back in 2004. He had his first single on the radio, and we had no children. Yes, it is hard to believe...


One random night we were getting dressed to go out, and turned on the TV to see if anything decent was on. We turned to Austin City Limits on PBS and saw he was on. Never had Ken and I seen such an amazing act, we were so entranced we stayed home and watched the whole show instead of going out. The next day we went and bought his CD, and loved every song. We have stayed faithful followers even though his music has changed a bit, but have never seen him live.


I heard he was coming and bought us floor tickets and they were worth every penny. The songs he plays do not sound like his CD, they sound better. To say he is talented is an understatement, and when you throw in a brass section and extended percussion...his live show cannot be beat.

  

Dinner...yummy

The girlies

Needless to say we had a great night. We were able to meet up with Justin & Amy for dinner, and Leslie & Brent rode with us. Dinner beforehand was fun, Justin told some hilarious stories, and being so close to the stage was a fantastic treat.

Boys will be boys...

Killing time before the show starts

I'm Yours...

Sprinkler Park

Ken and I wanted to do something fun and outdoors with the kids on Labor Day, and since it was back up to the high 90's, we decided water should also be involved.  After weighing our options, we decided on the Sprinkler Park.  Fun and free, you simply cannot go wrong! 

The Daddies, it's so great when they get to stay home!

Kade playing cars as usual!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this baby?

Kacey and Quaid were having a battle, running around and filling buckets with water then splashing each other in the face.  It was hilarious!

Kacey posing...she loves to pose for pictures!

Gotcha!  

I think Kade and Ainsley's favorite part was the picnic lunch.  They ate everything they could get their hands on, although I did sneak Kambry a chocolate cookie!  

Ainsley munchin' away...check out Kambry's face in the background!

The best part, everyone came home and took a two hour nap!

Pre-K, here she comes!

Kacey had her first day of Pre-K on Thursday.  On Tuesday we had gone and seen her classroom and met her teacher, Ms. Staci.  They are the butterflies!  Kacey thought this was very exciting and exclaimed, "I am in her class because she knows that butterflies are my favorite!"  

She had "homework" to turn in when she got to her classroom, a page all about her.  Here are some highlights: Fav color: purple, Fav animal: butterflies, Best Friend: Hazel, Fav activity: pretend and draw, Fav food: pickles!

Signing in

Already at work!

Kade had a friend over to play all day Thursday, so he didn't miss her too much, but I sure did.  I forgot what it was like to have a house that wasn't full of constant chatter and pretend.  I could not wait to go get her!  When I picked her up I asked her what her favorite part of her day was, and she replied, "Oh, the playground."  Haha, they learn so quickly!