Elaina at Gymnastics

Elaina also really enjoyed gymnastics.  She met with an older class, right after Erin's class.  She was one of the youngest in her age category but worked hard to attempt everything that the older kids were doing and kept up really well with them.  She was excited to discover that a friend from her class at school was in her gymnastics class too. 

I feel like gymnastics helped Elaina try things that might make her fearful and have confidence that she can do it.  She also became noticeably stronger over the past few months as she participated in it.  She's loves it as well and can't wait to go back later this month

She loves that she can do cartwheels so well now

Love her dismounts.  She tried to make them as impressive as possible.  

She loves to do her own hair now.  Can you tell?

 

This is Isaac cheering on his sisters during one of their practices 

Erin at Gymnastics

The girls participated in a gymnastics program this fall.  They each met twice a week for an hour at one of the high schools, and the coaches are students on the HS team or the A&M team.  We really enjoyed the program and had several friends the participated with us as well.  We're excited to start up again this winter.

Erin picked it up really easily.  I feel like she's built to be a gymnast if it is something that she decides to continue.  She really loved it.

She is so excited that she can do "forward rolls" and it's really cute to see her practice them at home

She loved all of her coaches.  This is coach Meredith leading her class to the beams.  

Mary Poppins

Erin's was a fun costume to put together!  Mary Poppins has been her favorite movie for several years.  I got the idea after watching Erin watch the show about a year ago.  Whenever Erin watches it, she dresses up like Mary Poppins, changing her outfit when her character does.  For example, when Mary Poppins first arrives at the Banks's home, Erin wears a blue dress up and gets out all of her accessories.  When they go for an outing in the park, Erin changes into a white dress up.  She pauses the movie to make her costume changes.

I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to piece together a great costume for her.  We owned nearly everything, and just had to find a black overcoat, a white button up shirt, and piece together a hat.  She looked great and was so excited to look like her favorite character!

 

Mary Poppins: Practically Perfect in every way.

A Cute Witch

Elaina was a witch for Halloween this year.  She wore the wig to the church party but took it off pretty quickly on Halloween night.  Oh well.  Glad we got some pictures with the entire costume.

Practicing her mean witch face.  Thank goodness, she's not very good at it!

Flying away

 

She's just a cute, sweetheart of a witch

A Pumpkin and a Tiger

Isaac was a pumpkin and a tiger this year for Halloween.  A friend had given us a couple baby costumes, so Isaac had to wear them both!  He stayed at home and was my buddy handing out candy this year.

Boonville Days

We went to Boonville Days while my parents were visiting in October.  It is an annual local event celebrating the history of this area.  Bryan was originally named Boonville, and so the community organizes an event to learn more about the area's history and the lifestyle of it's first settlers.  We saw many displays and demonstrations on their clothing, food, leisure, work, transportation, etc.  I love stuff like this. 

 Erin, checking out the bear's teeth

 and apparently deciding they're not a big deal because the bear gets a hug!

 Which one is the scariest?

 Learning a new game

I love these kids of mine

I still love this little guy....

...even when he doesn't nap all day
...and even on days where he requires me to hold him all day long.  He must've known I had a million things to do today!

And I still love this girl...

...even when we argue for 10 entire minutes about why she can't have a bandaid on an owie that doesn't need one, right before she hops into the bathtub
...even when she rings the doorbell incessantly, just 20 minutes after her baby brother goes to bed (and wakes him up..again!)
...and even when she throws a tantrum about the fact that her pajama top doesn't match her pajama bottom

And I still love this girl...

 ...even when I have to pin her to the ground to force her to put her clothes on (and she still ends up being late for school)
...even when she wakes up her baby brother upon her grand arrival home from school (including slamming the front door, causing the dog to start barking, and talking in the loudest voice possible)
...and even when she appears to be going deaf most of the time

Right now they are sleeping quietly in their beds and are the most precious, adorable, perfect little people that I know.  Believe it or not.

Dewberry Farm

In October our preschool group and some other friends went to visit The Dewberry Farm just north of Houston. It was my third year to go, and we had a great time, as always. My parents were in town the same week and so I was happy that they were able to join us.

This is the majority of our big group

Erin and her friends in the "Cool Bus." What a cute bus driver!

Erin touring the farm on my Dad's shoulders

We took a hayride around the farm. It stopped at the pumpkin field where the kids were each able to choose a small pumpkin

Other activities on the farm included a petting zoo...

duck racing at the water pump...

Bouncy pillows...

Cow Train...

And lots more!

What cute farmers


Isaac was great! I am so grateful for an easy baby so that we can continue to enjoy our regular outings and activities

I love dressing my kids of for "occasions." Farmer Isaac wore full length overalls and a red shirt. He was so cute! Farmer Erin refused to wear the jeans, boots and plaid shirt that I wanted her to wear (and instead insisted on a skirt as always), but she did agree to braids. She still looked cute.

We had a great day!