The Air is Crisp

Fall is here and we've been busy. We started off by going as a family to Dallas for a visit and to the OU/TX football game. It was Charlotte's first time on a plane. It went okay, but she's not a fan of staying in one place for long. We stayed with Tyler and Lauren and got to meet the newest Self, Ava Elizabeth. She was a sweet little bundle! Friday, David and Bonnie came in and we had some family time together. On Saturday, Adam and I went with David and Tyler to the game and had a great time! We WON!!! The girls stayed home and played with Lollie and Grandmommy.

When we got back, it was straight to Halloween festivities! We started by going with Sarah Grace's preschool to the pumpkin patch. It's really more of a tree farm that they import pumpkins to... Mimi went with us. The kids had fun feeding the goats, going on the hayride, listening to pumpkin stories, and picnicking together. After our picnic, we all climbed back into the hay wagon and rode to the "pumpkin patch". There, all the kids got to go pick a pumpkin to take home. It was a beautiful day and even Charlotte got a "baby boo" pumpkin to take home.

That weekend was the BIG pumpkin patch trip with our Sunday school class. We got up bright and early and headed to the pumpkin patch. It was cool morning and really felt like Fall! Mimi and Pawpaw went with us this year. Both of the girls had fun in the pumpkin patch. Charlotte wasn't sure what to think of everything, but she wanted to touch every pumpkin in the patch. After lots of pictures, we all rode the hayride together. Sarah Grace talked to her friend McKenzie and Charlotte tried to eat the straw. After the hayride, we had a picnic, played on the playground and rope swing, and watched the pig races. We then went to the petting zoo where Charlotte got scared by a really grumpy pig and Sarah Grace practiced her camera skills with a donkey. The last activity of the day was the "cow train". Pawpaw crammed himself into a cow with Charlotte and he and the girls went for a ride. He said Charlotte belly laughed the whole ride! It was a beautiful day and a fun time with family and friends!

On Halloween morning, Sarah Grace had her class party at school. When we got there, we did a Halloween craft together and ate a spooky breakfast of orange and black donut holes and fruit. Then it was time for trick-or-treating. Her teachers had made each child a really cute pumpkin and they went class to class, in full costume, knocking on doors for treats. Like always, Sarah Grace and her friend Lauren had to be the same thing (they have to have the same shoes, same lunch, the list goes on...). So, the two Ariels walked hand-in-hand down the halls to get their goodies. It was really fun...and Charlotte got to wear her costume too! ;0)

Then came the big night!!! It all started with Sarah Grace last year. She wanted to be Ariel but they didn't have costumes small enough for her. This year that was the only choice there was, Ariel or nobody! So, Krista had the idea of "wouldn't it be funny if we were all Disney characters?". And the theme was born. After much planning, we did our first themed costume party. There were Mickey & Minnie, Donald & Daisy, Snow White and the Witch, little Minnie, Tinkerbell, Ariel, Piglet and Cinderella. We tried to make Adam an Ursula costume but it didn't work out...so he was the Great Pumpkin at the last minute. As always, there were decorations, themed food and lots of costumes and candy! The food was great... mummy dogs, eyeballs (on a platter with severed head), spider cake, slime fondue, pumpkin sherbet, scarecrow cookies.... it was all great! After lots and lots of pictures, it was time to hit the streets! Sarah Grace couldn't wait! We all went out in a huge Disney brigade and started trick-or-treating. Charlotte (AKA Piglet) even got some in her little pumpkin! Sarah Grace outlasted her baby sister so Sheila (AKA Scooby Doo) took her home to rest. We continued around the neighborhood until about 9:00 when our feet hurt too bad to go on. It was great night and next year can't get here soon enough! :)