Weekend with Mommy

Matt went hunting with his buddies for his birthday so I had the kids one weekend. We had a fun morning riding our bikes to the Quarries. The weather was nice and cool and the leaves were so pretty. 

Halloween 2014

It always seems like Halloween comes and goes before I can even wrap my head around it. This year was no different. We went over to PT/Em's for annual pizza with the cousins and some of their friends before hitting the neighborhood for the loot. As Matthew gets older it only gets more and more fun and easier and easier. Alivia was a peacock, Will a ninja, John a policeman and Matthew the Marvel comic hero, Wolverine.

Funny story about Matthew: I had planned to just pass down one of the many cute costumes from the boys from previous years. But as Matthew watched the kids unwrap new costumes he caught on VERY quickly that he had not received a new costume and protested loudly. I went to Costco to pick up his costume and it turns out that he really loved it. Thank goodness! I wrapped it all up for him and he wore that costume almost daily until Halloween.

We headed out to Elgin Christmas Tree Farm with some friends from ACS to pick out our pumpkins. The Tree Farm was a little disappointing but it was fun to be with friends that day.

The haul of candy from Halloween night!

Matthew (in his costume) at the Elgin Tree Farm. He loved climbing on the tractor there.

Alivia fell in love with the cats and kittens there.

Carving pumpkins with our neighbor, Shep Knox. He and John have become fast friends this year.

The line up - Alivia, Paige, Matthew, John, Will and Avery

Soccer Fall 2014

Soccer has started again. . . Not sure how I feel about it. On the pro side it is a great activity to get the kids out running around, it is a lifelong sport, three of my four kids play at essentially the same time and same place. On the downside, it makes our Saturday mornings really full and hectic, and my kids are sort of so-so about playing. It is only our second semester so I think we need to play a bit more before we really decide anything. It has been fun to see friends on Saturday mornings, too.

Alivia and her BFF, Anna

All these lovely girls go to ACS. Alivia, Anna and Lainey comprise 3/4 of the 3rd grade! Lainey's sister, Josie is in 2nd grade (she's 3rd from the left)

Team England

Mia is an incredible soccer player already at this age - can't wait to see what happens with her

RST Lake Weekend

I think this is the 3rd or 4th year we have take the Schooler and Truss families out for a weekend of fun at Lake LBJ. Now that my kids are getting a bit older it only gets more fun.

The families all get along really well but the tie that binds us all is the men. Matt has truly found some amazing friends with these guys. They have an accountability group once a week and really push each other to serve Christ, the church, and their families better. They are Matt's best friends. I am so thankful that he has these two men in his life.

Will has started to really love fishing and we set up a "habitat" for any caught fish that really excited the kids

The future of Risinger Homes?

John, Luke, Grayson, Tyler and Bentley

Ryan and Christy Schooler

Kim and Rob Truss

Me and Baby Matthew

The kids really love driving the boat with Daddy

The whole gang! So blessed that we all live within walking distance of one another

This was my favorite swim suit for Matthew this year - I will miss not getting to put him in matching octopus swimwear - sniff sniff

Visit from Mama T

At 96 years old Mama T (aka Grandmother to me) is a force to be reckoned with. She is VERY opinionated and spunky. The only thing that is really failing her is the cursed Taylor hearing loss which sometimes makes it hard for her to follow conversations - especially when there is a lot of noise or chaos!

Mom and I went to Fort Worth for a shower for Leigh and brought her back with us to Austin. I think she had a good time seeing the kids but gets really worn out. I know she was ready to go back to Fort Worth after a few days.

Dinner at Mimi/Grandpa's house while Mama T was visiting

Will - 6 1/2 years old

Alivia 8 1/2 years old

Avery 7 1/2 years old

Paige 5 1/2 years old

John 4 1/2 years old

Matthew 2 1/2 years old

Me and Mama T - people have said that we look alike

Dad and me - Mama T is my dad's mom

Sunday night ritual - ice cream dessert on the upper deck

Without any apology Mama T always says that "Will is my favorite"

Maybe because my DAD is her favorite, too?

Boys in the Tub

I will never get tired of these bath time shots. SO CUTE. Will is 6 1/2, John is 4 1/2, and Matthew is 2 1/2