YEEHAW!

A chilly autumn day as our preschool celebrated their annual 'Cowboy Day!' Cattle roping, digging for gold, painting pumpkins, a petting zoo, and pony rides kept these partners grinning ear-to-ear.

Any Given Day

After school or on the weekends this is our driveway! The kids on our street love gathering at our house. The parts of the yard the drought did not kill off are now clearly marked with first, second, third, and home base caused by the bare feet during wiffle ball matches. Even though a few stick around while we sneak inside for dinner, I would not have it any other way.

Mignon McLaughlin says it best. "If your children spend most of their time in other people's houses, you're lucky; if they all congregate at your house, you're blessed."

Garner State Park

Due to the Red Tide, we quickly changed our camping plans and headed 3 1/2 hours southwest of Austin to Garner State Park. Days full of hiking, biking and swimming in the Frio River tired us out enough to sit back and enjoy s'mores at night.

If it was not for the small Tejano Village (9 tents, 6 BARKING dogs, and an uncountable occupant number) that set up camp across from us or the frequent night visitors (skunks) it would have been the perfect camping trip!

Only me...

My luck when it comes to vacations is not always the best (actually probably one of the worst) but in the end it always works out perfectly! Took boyfriend (now husband) to Maui for a surprise birthday trip, sleet storm while biking down Haleakala. My wedding in Mexico, it rained all morning long. Couples get-a-way to Belize, crazy wind and rain while out on our boat. Family vacation to Greece, terrorist attack in London on the way home with both airports closed for 3 days. Spring Break at the Monahans Sand Hills, first rain in 280 days while we were there.

So why did I think this weekend would be any different? Meet the Red Tide. Nothing like camping on a beach all weekend with a massive fish kill and toxic air!

See Jane Run

We have not had rain in ATX for almost 10 months now. Maybe a sprinkle here and there but it was the hottest summer ever, the worst drought since the 50's, and wild fires have damaged hundreds of homes and tens of thousands of acres.

So with a 1/2 marathon scheduled for this morning, I could not curse the rain that caused it to get canceled. I am just upset I was up at 0430, put on a new race skirt, and drove downtown to receive the news. Here is to a wet and dreary Sunday!

Free Range ~ Adventure Mom

We all need a "time out" every now and then and I like to spend mine doing something 1) that is challenging 2) that I can't take my kids to (yet at least) and 3) more on the adventure side of life. When a friend of mine asked me to go rock climbing it was the perfect idea for a time out.

After a quick lesson on the sport and safety we scaled the cliffs, completing 8 climbs. It was not as scary as I was anticipating but I think I will be sore in the morning!

Bless Our Pet

Along with dozens of dogs, quite a few cats, and a hand full of bunnies we took our 3 fish up to church today for the annual pet blessing. Were were the only fish there but the kids were proud they they each received a St. Francis medal for their tank.