Who you calling Mousey?

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Minnie

First day of school

Ava was on the waiting list for a spot at Mother's Day Out at our church. We were thinking with 8 kiddos in front of her she would probably not be able to start until the first of the year. They had a spot open up and Ava got to start last Monday. The theme of the day was Pumpkins. Didn't she look cute?

Ava is in her Sunday School room at church so we went right in. They said she had a great first day! Her favorite part was the pumpkin patch they set up for the kids. She was so proud of her little pumpkin (She calls it "ball"). There are many more theme days coming that I know she will love. I am excited to see how many new things she will learn!

The Big 3-0

Yikes. I am really 30. I don't feel any different. I agree with what my mom has always said, your here to see it or you not. I am happy to see it. I have so much to be happy about.

I am so lucky to work with the best girls and a guy. They know me so well. It was 2 dozen chocolate covered strawberries for me. All I can say was they were even better than they looked. You guys are awesome!!

My gift was the best. A new camera. Hubs you are the best, you know me so well. I think it was the best gift of all times. And the way you gave it to me, priceless.
I had a wonderful weekend with my favorite peeps. What could be better than a weekend all about you? (Yikes, I really said that!) But to be honest it was so nice. It started with a great date with hubs. We actually got to sit and talk alone for over 2 hours. It was so nice. It was my favorite part of the night. We had a great dinner and then went ice skating. Jarred is a swan, I am not! He made sure to point this out often.
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Then Saturday it was a day of shopping. It started out with a morning at the spa. I feel asleep twice, it was awesome! I felt so relaxed and ready to tackle a day of shopping. We walked so much my shins hurt. (This really tells everyone how out of shape this 30 year old is). We ate at the Cheesecake factory which is always so incredibly good. It was Pumpkin Pecan cheesecake for me. After dinner it was more shopping and then a last minute decision to see a movie. We finally called it a night at 2am. Thanks girls for making me feel so special. I am so spoiled to have you in my life. You all sure know how to make a girl feel special. I am so blessed!
Okay, my big question is.....When do I turn 40? I love these big birthdays. Laughing......

Wonderful Weekend

Happy Birthday to our sweet friend Aubree. You have been such a complete joy to us all. I remember when you took your very first breathe, I just can't believe you are already the big 1.
Your Momma did such a great job on your party. It was amazing. It was so neat that your whole family pitched in to make this day special for you. I hope you always know how much you are loved! (Andee, I hope you packed the stuff for us! I did tell you our theme is flowers for Ava's next birthday right? ha)

Who says that only kiddos like bounce houses? The girls thought their mommy's went crazy. We probably have, you have a way of doing this to us! I hate to see us when you guys are teenagers!

Then it was off to Jeff and Alecia's for pumpkins carving. What a fun idea. I just love my face in the pictures. We decided that a daddy's job should always be to get the pumpkin nice and clean for carving. Mine tuned out pretty good. I also was impressed that I was the only girl to finish!

I feel so blessed to have the best friends. Life is so much sweeter because each one of you!

Your the icing on my cupcake

Great Wolf Lodge

What. A. Fun. Place. A must do for everyone. What is a mom to do when summer is over and no more swimming for a water loving girl? Go here. What is better than a four-story interactive treehouse water fort offering 12 levels of super-soaking fun for the family? But watch out, we got caught a few times by the 1,000-gallon soaker bucket. Yikes. Warning: when in lazy river I would not recommend wearing your glasses. Lucky for us we had a pregnant mommy that filled her lungs and her babies to aid in finding them. (Brooke, your mom was so thankful! ha)
We were a sight to see. Should two adults know how to sit in a tube to ride the big girl water slides? Well, a very nice lifeguard probably got a laugh. Hey, we are mommies out of practice. We tried to explain but I don't think he cared. I also wondered what the other lifeguard thought when I fell out trying to get out? I know one person who laughed. Thanks Brooke!
Fun things about the lodge:

• Dinner comes with wolf ears
• Wear your PJs to story time
• 2 arcades
• Mommy/Daddy spa and Kiddo spa
• Magic wand game given at check-out
• Ice cream parlor
  
• One big wolf (I can't remember his name but Ava loved him. She kept trying to hold his hand)
  
• Many kids activities (in October they had paint your own pumpkin)
• Did I mention the indoor waterpark?
  

I think we will make this a family tradition. It is one I think the kiddos will really grow into loving. Nathan and Ava were still a little small to enjoy all the activities. Give them a few years and they will be riding the big slides. (I bet they will be able to get in the tube!) Next year it was decided to take the daddies. That way me and Brooke can practice sliding more.

Wild about animals

That we are. We made our way from Aunt Brooke's to Fossil Rim ranch. It was an interesting way. A little advice for those of you who have iphones: the map feature may get you there but you may have to take many dirt roads. You may also need new tires when you arrive at your destination. But hey, at least we made it.I can not say enough good about this place. If you want an up close experience with animals this is the place for you. It was amazing. We got to feed giraffes and zebras. There were elk that would come right to the car. Oh and the cutest little ram babies that still had their umbilical cords attached. But beware the ostrich likes to get close. Real close. Ava thought this was the funnest thing. Nathan did not. Thanks for taking us Aunt Boon. It is a trip we will not forget.