Halloween 2015

I was so happy a few months ago when I found out Halloween was on a Saturday.  That meant that we could spend it with all the cousins down in Katy.  It had been an a very exhausting week and honestly going down there is a lot of work but its so worth it!  The kids have so much fun with cousins and Shawn and I love getting to talk to adults!  Shawn can even get work done when he needs to so that's also a plus.  But there is definitely not a lot of sleep going on.  We got in Friday night at almost 11.  It rained about half of the time we were in the car, pretty heavily too so we had to go slow oh well.  Friday the kids played, I got to bake, (it was so nice cooking in a proper sized kitchen!) and we went trick or treating of course.  Bethy is awesome and had a spare costume for George when the one I borrowed from Adam didn't fit.  Note to self, never assume George will fit into something Adam used to wear.  Anyways George looked so cute as a baby Yoda and fit right in with Leah and Bethany and Mabel.  We left back for Dallas after sacrament meeting and are already excited to see them again at Thanksgiving.  Caroline cries after every visit, it breaks my heart!  But I"m so glad we get to have so much family time this year, its so wonderful.

Leah and Annie LOVE George.  They were so sweet to him, it was adorable!

See they were always ready and willing to help him.

The babies sticking together. 

See isn't he the cutest Yoda ever!?

Graham rocked it as Peter Pan!

We weren't able to get Ryan's kids in the picture but at least they made it a few minutes later!  That awesome Storm Trooper in the back is Bethy. See best mom ever.  Oh and George loved her helmet!  

And of course we had to trade candy.  I love watching this every year. 

This is my lame attempt at getting a picture of Devin in his Hulk costume.  Caroline went as Hermione again because when she saw the Black Widow costume she was not impressed.  It was a great, although exhausting weekend! 

Graham's birthday

We had big plans for Graham's birthday this  year, and got rained out.  We were going to go to the zoo and do all the extra stuff we usually don't do like feed the giraffes, and even have lunch there.  It was going to be so fun, and then it rained ALL weekend.  So we went out to breakfast had family movie nights on Friday and Saturday and tried to make the most of it.  Graham is such an easy going kid he was happy with anything.  I love him so much. When Shawn gave him his blessing I remember him saying he would have a good heart and he really does.  He is often the peace maker between Caroline and Devin and always wants people to be happy.  He is his number one fan.  After I had a conference with his teacher she said that he is a very hard worker and good listener.  When I told Graham about he said, "I know, I'm a super hard worker."  No problem with confidence.  If anything he could stand to be a little more humble.  He is still very much my first baby.  He loves to snuggle and watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood with me.  Its something we did when George would sleep and the big kids were at school.  I want to always remember him loving that show.  Happy birthday sweet Graham!  We love you!

Family movie night!  Graham even got to pick, which NEVER happens.  He was pretty excited.

Love his squinty smile.

And here he is downing his birthday pancakes.  YUM!

We let Caroline and Devin tag a long too.

Graham wears his heart on his sleeve, you always know how he's feeling.  He was pretty excited about his presents.

Here he is on his actual birthday.  Such a handsome guy!

We also had a silly string fight at Ashely's house to celebrate.  It was pretty awesome.

Devin wouldn't stand still for a picture but I love how happy this made him.

And this captures Graham's personality so well, I'm gonna get you! 

Corpus Christi

A few weeks ago Shawn interviewed at a hospital down in Corpus Christi.  I remember when he first asked me if I wanted to live down there I said, "NO."  I wasn't interested at all.  Well the job is actually pretty great.  They would have plenty of work for Shawn and doing complex surgeries too which he would love.  The people that interviewed him were so nice.   The hospital flew our entire family down put us up in a nice hotel and just spoiled us rotten.  It was a welcome change.  They even gave us tickets to the aquarium and U.S.S. Lexington.  It was a really fun weekend and I liked it more than I thought I would.  Shawn still has some other interviews but it was great to go down and check it out.  I'm a little worried he could be too busy down there.  If I've learned anything this year its that we are all happier when Shawn is home more.  So that will be a huge factor when deciding on a job.

The kids would have stayed there forever.  Devin was sure we could live in the hotel. I don't think they will care as long as we can get out of this tiny place. 

This is the most random thing I have ever seen.  I went to go get food for the kids before we went out to dinner and there was a pony at a gas station.  I took a picture so the kids would believe me.  

Mavericks Game

There are times that I have less than positive feelings about Shawn's job.  He can have long hours, doesn't get a ton of sleep and vacation is usually taken up by some sort of conference.  This is not one of those posts though.  This year has been a little rough but overall a great schedule and there are some great perks to where he is working at.  People will randomly donate tickets to various sporting events and its a first come first serve basis for the fellows there.  So last night Shawn snagged some great tickets to the Dallas Mavericks preseason game.  He was tired from work and someone had to stay home to watch George so I took the big kids to the game and we had a lot of fun!  At first Devin wasn't excited to go.  In fact when I asked him at first he said, "No."  We really need to do a better job of exposing the boys to sports they have no idea how to play any of them, and don't know the difference between a lot of them.  It has been so fun getting to do random free activities this year.  It makes the small spaces and hot weather totally worth it!

It was so cool to get to sit so close!

I did manage to get a picture of all of us, a terrible one but better than none.

Devin and Caroline.

When I asked Graham if he was having fun he looked up and said, "Not really because all you do is watch them."  I love him.

Devin was so excited that one of the Mavericks is also named Devin.  It made his night, and he scored 11 points before we left.  I hope we get to have a few more fun nights like this before we leave!

Ashley's birthday weekend

This last weekend the Peterson's came up to visit for Ashley's birthday.  We had great plans to go to celebrate with cake and tacos on Friday, then head to the State Fair on Saturday and out to dinner that night.  Friday was great we all gathered at Ashely's house to eat and bust open a piñata.  This was the highlight of the night for the kids, they loved it!  I have a great video of Devin going after the piñata with a running start.  It was hilarious.  Then Saturday comes and we decide to take the DART down to the fair grounds.  The ride down was pretty fun but a little too cramped for my liking.  Still it was fun to try something new.  Then we finally get into the fair, which isn't cheap, and we try and find stuff to do.  Well we didn't find much.  It was so terrible!  All games were at least $5 to ride and had lines and there were so many people at one point we were shoulder to shoulder.  It was awful, my personal version of hell.  On the bright side we didn't loose any of the kids and we found 2 free activities, that were still really crowded. The petting zoo was the saddest thing I have ever seen jam packed with too may people trying to feed over fed animals in tiny enclosures, sad.  We couldn't figure out why so many people thing the fair is a must see.  I can tell you now, it stinks!  Save your money and go to the rodeo in Houston instead, way better.  We left and headed to TCBY to celebrate surviving the fair and then cleaned up for dinner.  Shawn and Brandon watched the kids while Ashley, Bethany, and I went out to dinner.  We had a great time laughing, eating and shopping.  I love my sisters!  I"m so glad Bethy and her crew were able to make it out for the weekend and so glad we get to be so close to family this year!

Leah taking her turn at the piñata.

Having dessert for Ashley's birthday!

The Peterson girls are the only girls Devin will play with, they are pretty cool.

Caroline showed no mercy on the piñata.

George was happy to play on the slide.

Devin was more strategic about his hits to the piñata.

Annie put in some hard hits too.

Mabel got in on the action too.

And I'm just glad Graham didn't hurt anyone while taking his turn, he's nuts.