Homecoming 2017

This year, homecoming was the week before Thanksgiving break. In preparation, we spruced up Ainsley's mum to reflect her junior year. Next year we'll be making two mums. A senior mum for Ainsley which will be white, gold, and silver instead of school colors and a mum for Kaylee who will be a freshman. Crazy! Ainsley spent the week showing her school spirit with her friends and had fun attending the dance with and cooking dinner for her date, Tanner. Go Gators!

Halloween 2017

I had a lot of fun helping the kids with their costumes this year. Landon was first to decide on his costume. We have recently been watching a TV show called Merlin that Landon, Kaylee, and I absolutely love. We decided Landon looked a lot like Merlin, so he took it to the next level and decided he wanted to dress as Merlin for Halloween. I had a great time making his costume. His staff was a joint effort between Landon and I with a little bit of help from Chris and Ainsley.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name . . . Merlin

Kaylee was next to decide who she wanted to be and knew exactly how she wanted to dress. She's a big fan of an animated series called Voltron and chose to dress up as her favorite character Pidge. Hers was the only costume I didn't sew. We found the sweater on Amazon, the shorts at Goodwill. and she made the boots herself out of a pair of black rain boots and duct tape. She looked just like Pidge - haircut and all.

Ainsley decided on a steampunk theme. She purchased the hat, and we designed the rest of her costume around the hat. I really enjoyed making the skirt. The corset was a bit more difficult. I was pretty worried that it wasn't going to look that great, but I think it turned out nice. 

The day before Halloween we carved pumpkins. I decided to purchase them that day thinking they would be super fresh. Bad idea. Everyone was out! I was driving home feeling defeated after checking and calling a few different stores when I drove past one last grocery store. Not only did they have giant pumpkins but the man in front of me in the checkout line ended up paying for my pumpkins, just because. It made my day.

Kaylee decided to have a Halloween party instead of going trick or treating this year, and Ainsley decided to have a few friends over. This left Landon all by himself, so we let him invite his friend Max to go trick or treating with him. It was a drizzly and cold night. I think Landon would have actually been okay not even going out. He got sick a few days later so he may have already been starting to feel run down on Halloween. He got a ton of candy though! And, he's been kindly sharing it with the family. Happy Halloween!

First Nine Weeks

The first nine weeks of the 2017-2018 school year were a whirlwind. Ainsley thinks crapfest is a better description, and she's partly right. Lots of weirdness with teachers quitting, and just some overall annoyingness at school. 

Ainsley and I said goodbye to summer with a day of stand up paddle boarding, and then the craziness began. School started towards the end of August. Shortly after, Hurricane Harvey hit and destroyed Houston. For several weeks volunteers were being sent from all over to muck out houses that had been devastated by the hurricane. I had the opportunity to go down one Saturday. The destruction was incredible.

While the weeks of hurricane cleanup continued, life moved forward as it always does. Ainsley started her ballroom dance class and began getting in shape for soccer season. Kaylee continued her violin lessons and debated whether or not she wants to start playing soccer (it looks like it's a go). Landon started a dance class at school and began 11 year old scouts. Both girls participated in their first Royal Tea Party fundraiser of the year. Uncle John got married. The girls' jazz choir performed at a few nursing homes. Landon attended 11 year old scout camp. All three kids said a sad goodbye to their beloved choir teacher, Mrs. Kasie. And, Kaylee and I wrapped up the first nine weeks of school with an afternoon of kayaking on a very warm Saturday in October.

We are well into the second nine weeks of school, and nothing has slowed. I'm so excited for Thanksgiving break this coming week. A little bit of relaxation amidst the chaos!

California 2017

Beach days, wedding dress, Monterey to escape the heat, Landon's 11th birthday, San Francisco, an Urban Adventure in San Jose, Super Cell with UJ, mini golf, USS Hornet, family.