Happy Fall & October To-Dos

There are so many things to do in the Fall that there doesn't seem to be enough weekends to do them all!  For the past couple of years, we haven't participated in many things because 1.) Mark was too young to participate in much 2.) The boys were too old for some activities/events and 3.) M just didn't want to do it and I didm thane the energy to argue my case.

This year, we are full-fledge participating and he's going to like it!  I want Mark to experience everything that his brother did when they were his age.  We haven't even taken him to a proper pumpkin patch.  This Fall, here are a few things on our October to-dos list.  Get ready! (I'm talking to you, M).

1. Visit the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch or any pumpkin patch.  

2. Go to Oktoberfest at the Square.  We've lived here for 5 years and have not made it to this event once.  

 3. Finally experience the State Fair of Texas.  We've lived in Texas for more than 8 years and have not gone.

4. Carve some pumpkins!

5. Go Trick-or-Treating

Opening Day!

Matthew had his first ever kid-pitch baseball game on Saturday and he did very well.  He had a hit, a walk and strike-out and he scored a run. I really had a good time watching him play.  He is batting so much better and he seems to be having fun.  He's never complained about going to practices or games so I think this may be his sport for a little while.

These kids were all pretty impressive and they all look so much older out on the baseball field!

And while Matthew was playing, Mark found some new friends.  They wanted to take a picture with him.

 Then he did his victory dance. I don't know what victory he was celebrating, but it's still cute.

What We Did - Week 36

I'm not sure what it is, but I have been slacking on taking pictures.  I think it's just that I haven't really thought much about the blog lately.  It's been a tough couple of weeks as far as helping Michael with his schoolwork.  So much homework, so much pressure.  I sometimes forget that he's only 11.

He seriously spends at least 2 hours a day doing homework and practicing his trumpet.  And he does not get home from school until a little after 4pm. Add soccer practice during the week and that does not leave him a lot of time for anything else.

Anyway, I had planned on covering last week and the week before that, but that's not realistic, and I don't have pictures and my memory is shot. And Mark's been waking up before 8 which means no quiet time for this mama in the morning.  This is the first morning in a long time that I've been able to sit and write with no interruptions. 

Day 261 - Thur.
No picture.  I went to a Mom's Night Out with my moms' group at Cafe Italia.  We closed the place down.  Even though I haven't been in this group for very long, I always have so much fun with them.

Day 262 - Fri.
We went over to Grapevine Mills to walk around and window shop.  We stopped for lunch and Mark was so excited to go on the carousel.  He told me several times that he was, "so EXCITED!" I gave him $2 and he bought his own ticket and everything.  Such a big boy

Day 263 - Sat.
Matthew had baseball practice in the morning and we all went to Mooyah Burger for some lunch.  Michael was angry at me for something and DID NOT want to take pictures.  My other 2 were happy to oblige.  This "tween" attitude is killing me.

When we got home from lunch, Mark wanted to play outside.  He wanted to draw, then he switched to riding his scooter and then it was on to riding his trike. The day was so beautiful, but the mosquitos were still biting in full force.  I hate them!

Day 264 - Sun.
We didn't do anything that I can remember.  We probably just watched football. These boys were playing so well together.  Matthew was helping Mark with a game on Daddy's iPad.

Day 265 - Mon.
We had a playdate with Reagan at the Central Market playground and then headed off to Chick-fil-a for lunch with more playing at the indoor playground.  Mark was filthy by the time we were done.  Then I had to take him along with me to meet with a vendor for the Spirit Shop.  It was a busy day! But no pictures :-(

Day 266 - Tue.
We headed out to the Grapevine Library for story time. He loves story time.  We haven't been to one in a long time and I had forgotten how much he loves it.

After story time, we met up with some friends at the Chick-fil-a in Grapevine for some play time for Mark and some girl time for me.

Then we came home and played with blocks.  He wanted to do a selfie with our angry faces.

Day 267 - Wed.
I had Spirit Shop all morning so Mark went over to the Gs for some love.  Michael had a soccer game at 8pm in Dallas so it was a long day.  I stayed home with the other 2 boys, but they didn't want to go to bed until M and Michael were home.  No picture-obviously.

This Weekend

I'm so happy that it's getting cooler so I don't feel like I'm dying the second I step outside.  We had an uneventful weekend.  On Friday night, we didn't do much. Michael had to make up his trumpet lesson after school and by the time he was done, it was close to 5:30 so we decided to go and pick up some Babe's fried chicken for dinner. As usual, it was delicious.  Mark and Matthew love Babe's.  Michael was not into it.  He loves to eat the crispy skin, but not the actual chicken. On;y kid I know who will eat raw salmon, but not fried chicken.

Michael saw a pie shop next to Babe's and wanted to stop and get his Daddy a pie.  He picked out pecan pie-one of M's faves.

Matthew had baseball practice Saturday morning so I loaded him and Mark up and we went out to the ballpark for a little bit.  It was a little chilly, which was fine by me.  We actually had to wear a light jacket :-)

After we dropped Matthew off, I took Mark to do some grocery shopping.  He loves riding in the little car shopping cart.  I hate having to maneuver through the store with that thing, but it kept him from running around so I tolerated it.  He grabbed himself a few boxes of sweet stuff that I wouldn't normally get for them. I had the cashier put 2 boxes away and let him keep the rice krispies treats.

Then we had to hurry home to put the groceries away before we have to head out to Dallas for Michael's soccer game.  Jennie picked up Matthew from practice and kept him while we were at Michael's game.  Again, there was a nice chill in the air!

The team lost 3-0.  Boo, but I'm sure they will bounce back next game :-)

That evening, M and I had plans to go out to dinner in Dallas to celebrate our 13th year anniversary.  We ate at Lark in the Park - right next to Klyde Warren Park.  It was so nice to see people walking around and enjoying the beautiful weather. I had duck and M had steak. We shared a couple of appetizers and everything we got was delicious!

Sunday was a pretty lazy day.  We hung out at the house and the two older boys went and played with friends.  Mark was especially good today.  He took a great nap and was happy the whole day.

What We Did - Week 34

Pictures were sparse this week, but we have been staying busy.

Day 247 - Thu.
We went and got Michael some new shoes.  He was so in love with this pair that he took a picture and sent it to M, who was on a business trip.

Day 248 - Fri.
Happy Birthday to my awesome hubby! We went to dinner at Bonefish to celebrate. We were too busy having a good time to take pictures :-)

Day 249 - Sat.
Michael had a soccer game.  It was against one of their arch rivals and they won 1-0!  Michael went off to celebrate the hard-won victory with his team at Cason's house and we went with M's parents to celebrate his birthday again at Houston's.

Day 250 - Sun.
We watched a little football, I ran some errands and the boys played with their buddies. No Picture.

Day 251 -Mon.
Happy Anniversary to us! We celebrated 13 years of marriage, but we didn't do anything special.  We will celebrate this weekend with a dinner in Dallas.

Mark and I met up with some moms for coffee in the morning.  Mark had fun playing for the most part, but there was a kid there that did not play well with others.  Mark kept trying to aggravate him. 

These two were showing each other some love! 

Day 252 - Tue.

We had quite a busy day! We drove to the mall to return a couple of things and picked up some lunch on our way to get a much needed carwash! Mark ate and played while we waited.

Day 253 - Wed.
I had to work Spirit Shop so I dropped Mark off at the Gs.  He just loves going over to play. This was him getting ready to leave.  He decided he wanted his flip-flops today.  I can just eat him up whole!

Sarah comes over to help out after school Mondays through Thursday.  Mark gets so sad every time she leaves.  Him looking out the window after she goes out the door.

What We Did - Week 33

Yikes.  I feel like we are finally getting into the swing of things.  Matthew's baseball season has started and he has 3 practices a week.  We are now into our 2nd week of school so the homework wheel is starting to turn.  Spirit Shop started off yesterday and high school football is in full swing.  Fall is definitely in the air (although we are still suffering through the 100-degree weather).

Day 240 - Thur.
We were off the the airport bright and early to head out to CA for my sister's Chinese Wedding. Breakfast at the airport McDonald's.

Keeping busy on the airplane

Our first stop from the airport was O'Henry's for some yummy donuts, of course.  These boys were ready to be spoiled by Poh-Poh and Gong-Gong.

Day 241 - Fri.
Again, we went and had our fill to the best donuts at the donut shop.  These boys were in heaven and I was too :-)

Then me, my mom, and my sister went and got our nails done.  This was my mom's first time for a pedicure and my 2nd time ever.

We came home and saw this.  These boys love to pick fruit from the fruit tree in my parents' backyard.  They picked a bucket full of apples earlier. One of the things I miss most about California is being able to grow fruit in you backyard.

Day 242 - Sat.
My sister and I went to pick up the flowers for the wedding arrangements and her bouquet.  This was one of the arrangements I made.  I wish I had a picture of the bouquet.  One of the guests took it home with them - which I thought was very rude.  They just walked off with it.

There was a little mishap when M tried to transport one of these arrangements to the restaurant.  It was a little too big for his car, he tried to force it in and it broke.

Luckily, there was enough time for me to get more foam and re-do the arrangement with the same flowers.  I was not very happy and I may have freaked out a little.  In my head, I ruined my sister's wedding because I couldn't deliver on the one thing she needed me to do.

Day 243 - Sun.
Wedding Day!  I woke up early and drove down to Morgan Hill to start on my sister's bouquet.  Then it was time for the tea ceremony.  I'm didn't take any pictures at all and am totally wallowing in my regret.  The photographer tools lots of family pictures and I'm excited to see them.

Then we were off to the banquet (flower arrangement debacle in between).

Notice the crocs?  He put up a huge fight and M let him wear his crocs. Just wanted to note that I did get him dress shoes and I did put in some thought into his outfit. It just didn't go as planned. Not the best picture, but it was the only one I had.

He was not impressed with the whole affair.  He slept through most of the banquet.

Day 244 - Mon.
It was time to fly home on this day.  Michael gets so upset whenever we fly back from seeing his Poh-Poh and Gong-Gong.  he typically cries for a couple of nights because he misses them so much.

Day 245 - Tue.
Mark and I went to a swim playdate.  He had so much fun and was very happy that I swam with him. I love that picnic table set.  Need to try and find something like this.

Day 246 - Wed.
No picture today.  I spent most of my morning and afternoon working the Spirit Shop and Mark spent most of his day at the Gs.