On the Way Home

To break up the 6 hour drive from Amarillo we found an indoor water park right off the highway exactly in the middle of our trip. It was a great idea I had and the kids loved it.  We got there right when it opened on a Monday morning so we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  The girls had never gone on big water slides before and Georgia was all about it.  It took Darby some convincing but she came around pretty quickly and had a blast!

Fall Break in Amarillo

We went to Amarillo for the first time in four years over fall break and had a wonderful time.  We spent much of the first day at the Discovery Center, which I love and so do the girls.  

Here is Mera under the black light.

 These girls can be pretty silly.

The next day we went to a giant pumpkin patch with Matt's sister ad her kids, J and C.  

 I have been staying young by taking part in the same activities as the kids, sliding being one of my favorites!

 Mera fell in love with her cousin C and I think C loved the attention.

 The cousins reunited.  It has been years since these 5 were all together.

 Mera was fearless in the obstacle maze.  She climbed tings some other kids in our group wouldn't.

We celebrated Matt's birthday while we were there and I made him a baseball cake upon the suggestion of the girls.  

We also took the whole family horseback riding in the canyon. Darby and Georgia got to ride their own horses.  If I am honest, I will say it was terrifying when everyone was all loaded up and we started down into the canyon.  The hill was very step and I had to take some deep breaths to keep from panicking.  Once we got down it was great though.  So scenic and the kids did really well.  Mera kept saying, "I want my own horse."  Maybe next time.

Broccoli and other Changes

Darby has decided that she love broccoli.  She gets a little adamant when she wants some.  If we don't have any she asks us to go get some.  I guess there are worse habits to have.  She also won't let me cut it up.  She has to eat it whole.

 After living in our current house for almost 10 years and doing very little to update it, Matt and I finally decided to change it up a bit. We put in new floors and new trim boards and painted.  We also changed out the drop ceiling in the kitchen and put in can lights and sheet rock.  Here are some before pictures of our old, old carpet.

And here is an after.  It is like a new house and feels so much better.

 The cat is growing and still letting Darby play baby.  

First day of School: Kinder and 2nd Grade

My middle baby officially started elemetary school this year andmy biggest baby is in 2nd grade.  On her way to the half=way mark of being done with elementary all together.  Here are the obligatory first day of school pics along with last years comparison.

Here is all three this year:

 And last year:

This year:

Last year:

 This year:

They founds friends in the parking lot right away so they got to walk in to the school feeling familiar even though it was a new building from where Georgia went last year.  

Darby actually had 3 kids from her Pre-K in her class and another friend who lives by us so she was really comfortable.  

 Georgia is getting so big and grown up.  She is such a good kid!