Pumpkin Patch and a Nap

Well, two things...first - I love the Pumpkin Patch in Flowermound. Always have. Last year was the only year I've ever missed going since Tyler was a baby. It's always fun, and it always wears me out. Can I get an "amen" from mother's with small children who disappear in hay mazes, wander around the wooden characters too quickly, and who have a very difficult time smiling right when you are trying to take that oh-so lovely perfect pumpkin patch picture?

Anyway, I met some girls from work there today - 3 of them have their first baby, the other one is the mom of Brady's best buddy, Rikki. I had Brady, Annie and Spencer, so I was in both "categories".

We had a good time even though the wind was a little much. I've seriously relaxed on my picture taking,plus I was either too busy pushing a stroller, managing a baby in a sling, or feeding said baby to have time for "the perfect pic"! Here's what I got:

This was the only picture on the hayride...I was feeding Spencer, so a sweet lady across from the kids took it for me. Notice the faces that look like, "Why should I say cheese for YOU, stranger??"Annie and Brady LOVED the merry-go-round. Probably one of the last ones in the state - liability, you know! ha! I watched two kids try to jump off and get trampled by the "pusher" while we were there. Hayden's not too fond of the "hay seat" we propped him up into...Spencer is passive and just slippin' on down...

"Here, Hayden - if we hold on to each other it will be over soon. Crazy ladies just want to snap a couple of pictures of us you know!"

What's really cool is these two little guys were born within one hour of each other...little tank and little peanut, full head of dark hair and barely there white stuff, dark eyes and blue eyes, but almost the exact same age!

Annie's favorite cut outs - she had me take her picture with each one separately!I think these two guys are the cutest 3 year olds around

These are the cute little mama's that I used to work with..I miss them. Katie (was Tyler's OT when he was a patient at OCH) and Lincoln, Lizze (fellow ST) and Carter, and Emily (PT) and Hayden
Annie and Brady in the cute little punkin' house - rearranging all the pumpkins on the shelves


And I mentioned "a Nap" in the post title. The big boys came back from Christmas show practice Sunday and Tyler headed to bed for a little rest...he had a headache. This is what we found almost 2 hours later when it was time to head over to some friends' house:
I still think there's nothing as sweet as a sleeping baby...even when your baby is 8 years old and up to your chin! Love that sweet face.

cute boys...

I think this is the cutest pic of Brady with his TREASURED "ganket". Look at that sweet smile. And yes, he still makes ganket pretend to talk and have a little life of his own. Oh - I forgot - ganket is apparently a "she" now. Used to just be neutral gender, but all of a sudden, ganket is referred to in 3rd person feminine. I'm not even going to try and analyze that one.

Here's my middle man (who loves shirts with hoods, AND shirts that are red, white and black) with little Spencer man. Spencer wants to be just like Colby when he grows up, which, I personally think should be every little boy's goal! ha!

And call me crazy, but what's wrong with this picture?? I think it's funny how little boys just DON'T LOOK RIGHT in pink flower petal bouncy seats. Monica brought this one over for me to keep here when I have Spencer with me. He might resent that someday.

Happenings around here...

I feel like it's been forever since I posted something. I do like coming back to the same cute faces on my last post, though! Never get tired of those guys' pictures.

We are kinda "settling" into a routine around here...school, work, practice, church, etc. Things were going along at the new normal rate when we got hit with illness this last week. I started it all last Saturday night - Donny was out of town for the day, I had 2 extra kids here for a sleep over, and I just went down hill and didn't make an upward climb for a few days. No fun. Colby and Tyler got it next by Tuesday, and Colby was out for 2 days from school. Tyler rebounded quicker with just a little fever and feeling better the next day. Brady came down with his version of it Thursday night late, and thankfully Donny has steered clear! It wasn't a horrible little bug - just a little fever and yucky cough / congestion, but, man, did it get me good!

Yes, we had girls sleep over at our house. But these aren't just random girls - they are the Yowells - practically sisters to our boys. We count them as family and we've been having sleep overs with them all our lives! They are just lucky they've outgrown the mixed bath time and sleeping in each other's beds! ha!

Poor, sick Colby - this was a little staged, he didn't feel THAT bad, but he did lay on the couch a lot for a couple of days.

Random - Brady has a new obsession with clipping his toenails. Like, ALL the time. And don't you love his little "bug visor"? Made it at school - they are "studying" bugs. He really is too cute with it on!

Before we all got sick, Brady and I had a chance to go with my sister and her kids to the Zoo - it had been years since we had gone, and I really don't think Brady had EVER gone since he's been old enough to remember it. It made a HUGE impression on that little guy - he loved it. I loved it - I've always loved watching animals!

On the zoo train at the end of the day - great way to end!

We had lunch next to these crazy birds who talked the entire time we were there. I really think they were trying to communicate with us...even think they imitated a couple of things we were saying to them (call it the speech path in me, but I really think they were!!!). I love talking birds!!
Annie and Brady were trying to get the birds to imitate them - forget what they were saying, but it was funny!
Just documenting that Spencer was there - not that he will remember anything he saw at the zoo this trip!
I loved watching this young giraffe bend it's legs down low enough to get a drink - made me appreciate my legs...and cups.

I think this girl is the cutest thing ever

Brady having a chat with a flamingo. He inherited his mother's love for communication intervention with animals.


In other news, Tyler is playing Upwards Flag Football at our church and Donny is the head coach of his team. He L-O-V-E-S it!! He is having a ball, and works SO hard to do well on his team. He may not be the most athletically "gifted" on the team, but he sure tries harder than most! We love watching him play, and I know Donny is having fun being his coach.

This is one excited player being announced at the game as he ran out of the blow-up tunnel!

Tyler does a great job at center, and as a defensive guy (whatever those defensive positions are!)
Tyler and a teammate both pull the flags off the runner...both very proud!

Donny has had a great "sports events" month...he was at the opening game at the new Cowboy's Stadium with one of the Party Pass tickets and loved every minute of it! The next week, he took Colby to a Ranger's game (Colby is our big baseball fan around here), then this last Friday he took Tyler to a local high school football game. Oh, and last Saturday, a friend took him with him to the Aggies' game down in College Station (dream come true!).


That's all for the "happening's" around Vaughn house - just wanted to check in and give a little update!

Blessings -