Fun with the Cousins

Josh and Renae drove down from Colorado to spend Thanksgiving week with the Lunn side. On Sunday after church we invited Mark and Julie (Jer's cousins on Dick's side) with their kids to come play and grill out. The kids had fun jumping on the trampoline and playing in the backyard.

Everyone loves bubbles.

In the afternoon we took the kids on a Razor ride around the block.

Bella and Chloe try to determine whose tongue is redder from the tea.

We enjoyed some happy times, with many more to come.

A Visit From Iowa and Other Stuff

Victoria has become very creative. The other day, she was outside playing quietly. I went to go check on her and saw that she had created her very own outdoor Barbie house, complete with a leaves blanket held together with tape, a vase with flowers, a barky walkway, a miniature fan, and a fireplace with snail shells.

The Iowa cousins came down to visit. The girls had a fun time playing dress up with Micheal Patrick. The adults had a great time playing games (I learned a new one called Frackle) and eating yummy foods. I was so glad everyone could help us out with our Halloween candy stash. 

Spiderman marries Bella, then they tried to hide in a chest, but couldn't close it. 

Playing Jedi.

Victoria (on her knees) teaches Micheal Patrick how to dance, or is it the other way around.

All tuckered out and needing Mom.

The next morning the kids made chalk people. MP was a little tired of drawing, so he decided to take a break after doing a leg of his chalk man.

We said goodbye to the Iowa folk and then found Carol and Dick's mover devices, that were turned into scooters and later a comfy chair using the girls car seats.

That night we went for a Solidarity Walk in our neighborhood. We walked from one end of the subdivision to the other (30 minutes) with all our neighbors to show our support against crime. Because it was so dark out a police car lead the way and we walked in the street. Some people even had Christmas lights up. At the end of the walk were food trucks and we had a nighttime picnic, then played on the playground.

 

Carving Pumpkins, Halloween, and Boosterthon

On Tuesday we carved our pumpkin. Victoria was really excited to use a knife this year. Bella did not enjoy the pumpkin insides.

We also made a scarecrow out of Jer's old pants, a shirt, Hulk hands, and a skeletal head.

Halloween was on a Wednesday this year and the weather was wonderful- 80 degrees. Bella was Merida from the movie Brave, and Victoria was a modern day Wonder Women in a pink costume.

We went to a neighborhood  Halloween party before the trick or treating. Then Daddy took the girls out, while I stayed home and sat outside with my next door neighbor Julie to hand out candies. We had a great Halloween.

 The next day was our school fund raiser called the Boosterthon Fun Run. I made the banners (about 12 feet by 4 feet) for both the girls' classes. Victoria was part of Team Fancy (her teacher loves Fancy Nancy books) and Bella was part of Carson's Cool Cats (okay, actually it was supposes to be Carson's Cool Kids, but I misunderstood- only Bella was the one who caught it.) The kids were suppose to run through them in the beginning of the race. Bella's class was first, but the second boy who ran through it didn't understand that he wasn't suppose to turn around after running through it and run back the other way- COLLISION with mild tears. So for the next race I held up the banner and the kids went under it; also the teacher asked me to preserve it so that she could hang it in the classroom. Both girls ran for the entire hour that we were outside. They both ran over 35 laps! (I'm glad I gave a flat donation.) 

The kids Bella plays with during recess- Nyahla and Kate

Victoria's close friend that she has been in class with and known for 2 years- Layla

I was inspired this past week to do a modern painting. It has texture and movement to it. Jer calls it the Coffee Tornado, but I kind of think of it as what the trip to heaven might look like. It's 2 feet by 4 feet and hanging in my kitchen.

 

 

 

State Fair and Halloween Party

Last weekend we went to the Texas State Fair with Carol and Dick. It was the last day of the fair and it was getting pretty hot and crowded as the day went on, but it was enjoyable. We let the girls ride four rides (as all the rides cost tickets and most rides were $3 each). The first one was a roller coaster, that Victoria was not too happy about; Bella of coarse loved it.

Here are the girls waiting in line for an airplane ride. It swings you around in a circle while on your stomach, kind of like the swings. Notice that they are waiting beside a Big Tex poster. This will probably be the only year that he was not at the fair, as he burned down earlier that week- Texas made national headlines in the news. But never fear- Big Tex II is in the works for next year. (Side note: I've heard of a couple of people going to Halloween parties as a charred Big Tex:) 

This will also be the last year that we will participate in the Little Rodeo, since Bella is six now; Victoria was too old, and honestly I don't think she wanted to. They picked Bella to be Queen Rodeo Cowgirl-to wear a Texas sparkly vest and wave the American flag as she lead the kids out into the arena.

She then galloped around barrels in a timely manner to compete with other kids her age.

We had fun riding the rides (giant carpet slide, and twirly mini roller coaster), eating a ton of really good crap (nachos, fries, turkey leg, popcorn), seeing a dog and car show (thank goodness for the air conditioning), going to the petting zoo (even if all the fat animals didn't want to be fed), and shopping at the tents. Each girl bought a sterling silver $6 ring; which Bella lost later on that night, but Daddy found it.

This weekend we had our first official cold snap the night before our neighborhood outdoor Halloween party. I was glad I chose to go as a cat with a warm hat:). The girls changed their minds on their costumes and went as something warmer. Some of you might recognize these costumes from last years Halloween party too. But this year Bella is not a Cheerleader Vampire, but just "Daddy's Little Vampire." She was upset 5 minutes before this picture was taken, because she thought she looked like a boy. I said, "Well, let's make you look like a girl. Do you want pigtails?" She got into character really fast after that. We made Mummy Dogs for the party which was a big hit. We had a good time seeing old friends, letting the kids run up and down the street, and trying to scare each other. Boo!

October 12-16

Busy. Busy. Busy. But loving every minute of it.

On Friday Jer had his heart set on taking the girls to see the play Macbeth- Spakespeare in the Park in Addison. I was a little apprehensive, since the night previous I had googled Macbeth for kids and found a cartoon version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC9G_CZVAL8 Victoria thought it was too scary. But I forgot how most of what Skaespeare writes is hard to understand, so its meaning isn't as harsh and the girls had a great time at the play. The wonderful 70 degree weather was perfect for the night. Unfortunately the play started at 8, so we ended up leaving during intermission at 10, because the girls were starting to fall asleep. A Victoria funny- we were using the restroom during the play and Victoria asks me- "Mom why didn't they have locks in Shakespeares time? I think I would have just locked out Macbeth from my room." The next day the girls spent the entire morning creating and acting out plays for Jer and I. My favorite was their rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. With their love for plays, I think we will be doing more Shakespeare in the Park and maybe some musicals this year.

On Saturday I participated in my first ever Flash Mob. Basically it is where a group of people  will start dancing to a song at a random unexpected time and place together. It was very fun. It has been on my bucket list of things to do before I turn 40 (at the end of this summer). We danced to a medley of songs including- Gimme, Gimme Some Love; Doctor, Doctor, Mr. MD; and They Say It's Your Birthday. We were given the songs and dance moves a week before the event through email links, then we met for 3 hours before the event to practice. At practice we were told where the event was going to be- downtown Dallas at an outside plaza in front of a restaurant. I texted Jer so he could bring the girls and go watch. We got to the restaurant an hour before the event and ordered some food, then when the music came on, we ran out into the outdoor arena to dance. There was about 75 of us. It was pretty exhilarating. I messed up a couple of times, but who can really tell in a group that big, right? :) Here are some of the gals from the Flash Mob.

Afterward I went over to where my family (Jer, Victoria, Bella, Carol, and Dick) was sitting, and was shocked to see Bella minus one tooth. Apparently it had fallen out after soccer when Jer took her for ice cream and was wiping her mouth. She looks like a different kid now. She also scored two goals in soccer that day.

On Sunday we went to church and was asked to present the offertory. The girls seemed fine with that idea until when the actual time came. Victoria clung to my leg with one hand and the money basket with the other. I was just glad I didn't spill the wine. I could see the priest chuckling too. Later that day we went to a bowling alley in Allen and to celebrate Tessa's 8th birthday. The whole gang was there- Tessa,Tanner, Quinn, Dave, Carol, Dick, Dave, Denise, and our family. The girls beat me at bowling, but in my defense I didn"t have bumpers up on my lane. We ate carrot cupcakes that Tessa helped make and had a great time!

 

Later that day I went out to Happy Hour with my Zumba friends. I do Zumba two to three nights a week. It has really helped me keep the weight off. I cherish the friends that I have made. It is so much fun hanging out with happy people. If anyone ever wants to join me, feel free.

On Tuesday I went with Bella to her field trip Pumpkins on the Prairie. She was so excited to see me (just like Victoria two years before) that she ran off the bus and gave me a hug.

Look at this new grin!

hanging with her friends

choosing the "perfect pumpkin"

creating the perfect pumpkin

We had a wonderful day!