October 2015 Update

October seems to have the best weather for Waco.  Now that it has cooled down we are enjoying a lot more outside activities.

WACO ZOO

GYMNASTICS

The kids started up gymnastics again this month.  They are making a lot of progress and showing me up with their muscle strength and flexibility.

WORLD HUNGER RELIEF FIELD TRIP

The kids had a co-op field trip to the World Hunger Relief farm.

They got to meet lots of animals and learned how to milk a goat.

The also learned about gardening and other farming techniques used in 3rd world countries such as composting toilets, water catch systems, etc.

MOVING

Our landlord decided he wanted to sell the house, so we had to quickly find a new place to live.  Good bye small, old dumpy rental.

It turned out to be a blessing because we were able to find this nice house to rent that isn't much more than our old rental.  This house is much newer and larger.  We love our new house.  It is amazing how much difference a larger space with better lighting can make in your overall mood.  I told Jared that I like Texas more already.  It even has a room I can use for homeschool!  

Audrey loves helping to unpack boxes.  As soon as we put something in a box, she "helped" by pulling it out again for us.

Before moving I had the kids clean up all their LEGOs.  It was so amazing to see everything so organized, I had to take a picture.

BEN CARSON FOR PRESIDENT

We were excited to meet Ben Carson when he came to Barnes and Noble to do a book signing.

In front of his tour bus.

HALLOWEEN FUN

The kids loved their new Halloween pajamas from Grandma.

THE PUMPKIN PATCH

At the pumpkin patch.

Audrey loved the little pumpkins.

COSTUMES
The kids only get new costumes every other year, so this year was their year to buy their own costumes, use an old costume, or to get creative.

 Abby used $2 that she earned to buy a hula skirt from Hobby Lobby with a coupon.  She made a matching hula skirt and lei for her doll.

Maddy spent $1 and bought some fairy wings from the dollar store.  She, of course, wanted her doll to match her as well, so I helped her make a pair of fairy wings for her doll to wear.

Nathan spent nothing and wore his skeleton PJs from Grandma.   I was proud of all the kids learning to be resourceful and thrifty.

Audrey was our little duck in a costume that Abby, Maddy, and Nathan all wore.

The kids had a fun trunk or treat at the church.  It was rainy so they did it indoors by going to all the classrooms.  Once they got their candy, they had fun by playing with glow sticks in a mostly dark room.  

Jared won the Best Daddy award by carving Harry Potter on a pumpkin for this kids.  (He would like to add that he was very rushed and this is not his best work, but it made the kids happy.)

Here are the kids all ready to go trick or treating with their cousins.

Texas trick or treating is a little scary just because there are no street lights or sidewalks.  We had fun despite losing my sister for 10 minutes.  

AUDREY BEAR

Audrey is standing and starting to walk.  On the 24th she walked 8 steps for the first time.

So

Audrey lounging in the cart at Walmart.

Audrey in a dress that Abby wore to her Uncle Craig's wedding.  Audrey looks a lot like Abby did as a baby.

Abby in her BYU Cougars shirt.  I have a hard time taking pictures of her since she likes to cling to me.  

Rides with her big sister.

Audrey figured out that the drawer makes a nice step stool when she cooks.

Audrey is a little water baby.  She loves the bath and tries to jump out of my arms into the water whenever I fill up the tub.