Sweetberry Farm

We had a fun weekend at the lake with our friends The Skaggs Family and The Smith Family. We all have three kids the exact same ages. Part of the weekend was spent at Sweetberry Farms which is about 10 minutes away from the lakehouse. The weather was so pretty and we beat the crowds by getting there by 9:30 on Saturday morning. The kids enjoyed picking a pumpkin, face painting, riding a horse and going through a corn maze.

Flappy the Flamingo

Mrs. Foulkrod sends each one of the kids home with her mascot, Flappy the Flamingo along with a journal. We are to take Flappy along with us to interesting events and then write about it in the journal. Here are a few shots from our time with Flappy.

(top) Homeschooling

(middle 2 shots) At the Ranch

(next to last) Eating BBQ in Bertram

(last) Dancing in Alivia's room with Brother and Flappy

Crazy Weekend at the Ranch

This past weekend we headed to the Ranch in Bertram. We had originally planned on going on Friday and spending the night, but when we were about 10 minutes away, I realized I had forgotten John's pack n play. AHHHH! After a few minutes of discussing various options, we decided to head back to Austin and go to Bertram on Saturday and spend the night.

The day on Saturday was full of events like shooting our new Red Ryder BB gun, putting up Matt's bow stand, driving around the property in Matt's truck and the electric Jeep and frosting cookies. That night we had some good BBQ at Tin Star BBQ in downtown Bertram.

Then the rain started.

We had no idea how hard it would rain! It ended up deluging us with 4 inches starting Saturday night. On Sunday we really thought we would not be able to make it out because the dirt roads get really dicey when wet. We all said a prayer and Matt put his truck in low 4WD and slipping and sliding the whole way, we made it out! YAHOO!

The new BB gun was a hit. Alivia asked "Can I shoot a deer?" I almost passed out.

Matt setting up his bow stand in Bertram.

In front of the deer feeder. Do you see my Cabbage Patch doll? We leave two out there for the kids to play with. Alivia loves them.

John was content rolling around in Daddy's truck. He even sits behind the wheel and acts like he is going to put it into gear.

Lake Maverick was in serious need of some rain.

Daddy giving Alivia some tips on shooting.

Frosting cookies on the porch.

The kids loved to ride the Jeep around the property. Will found a decoy dove and kept it with him all weekend. He even slept with it. Hilarious.

Dinner at Tin Star BBQ in Bertram.

WHEW! We made it out after 4 inches of rain. Good driving Daddy!!!

22 1/2 weeks preggo

I've hardly taken pics of me pregnant with Baby Cuatro. Here is one of me at the Ranch in Bertram. I am 22 1/2 weeks pregnant here with my baby boy.

Bat Cruise

Veritas organized a Bat Cruise for the kindergarten families one night. It was so fun to take the kids downtown and ride a boat on Town Lake (aka Lady Bird Lake). The night was beautiful and the bats put on a show! They are really amazing to watch despite getting covered in bat droppings. We all smelled like fertilizer from the nitrates by the end of the night. The funny thing is that their droppings are clear so it just feels like drops of rain. So crazy. I forget how beautiful our city is and am looking forward to exploring it even more as the kids get older. You can see the bats flying in the last pic - it looks like a plume of smoke in the air.

Which will they choose?

Alva has the most precious homemade costumes that she always brings out for Halloween for the kids to try and choose from. I thought they looked so cute! So far the favorites are a leopard for Alivia and a cowboy for Will. Of course, this could change at any moment, so stay tuned for the final choice on Halloween night.

Laity Lodge Family Camp 2011

Oh my goodness, how I love LLFC. It is the best retreat for our family during this stage in our life and is such a bargain. The food is so good and spending time with my precious family away from cell phones, computers, and the TV is such a gift. I always leave the weekend feeling refreshed and dreading my return to the "real world."

This year we spent the weekend at Singing Hills with about 10 other families from around Texas. Our Fellowship friends the Schoolers and Trusses joined us which only added to the fun.

We arrived on Friday around 5:30 and checked out the property and waterfront. It is so beautiful there and I was so relieved the see that the Rio Frio is still running despite the drought. We had a great dinner that night and then went to Round Up and sang praise songs. The kids were surprised with a mini-carnival complete with cookie decorating and a ring toss with prizes.

The kids slept great both nights and on Saturday we awoke to a cool morning with dew on the ground. After breakfast we headed to Blue Hole, a natural swimming hole that is fed by a beautiful (cold!) spring which is actually the head of the Rio Frio. Then during the afternoon activity all of went to riflery where Alivia and Will shot 22-rifles for the first time. It was a hit! Alivia and I started out at Arts and Crafts but it was a bit lame, so we headed over to riflery to see what the boys were up to. After she shot her first bullet she looked at Matt and said "Shooting guns is WAY better than arts and crafts!" HA!

That night was another beautiful evening singing at round-up and just being with one another.

My parents graciously agreed to watch John for the weekend while we went. I am so glad he stayed with them. I am sure he had lots of fun out at the lake and Matt and I were able to give some one on one time with Alivia and Will.

PS. I am 20-weeks pregnant with Baby #4 in these pics!

An overview of Singing Hills. The kids LOVED this bouncy house.

Alivia sliding down the bouncy house.

They had all sorts of crazy cars and toys to ride around the property.

Walking along the waterfront.

Will looking really hot and sharing his "camera smile" these days

Swimming in Blue Hole

Is he adorable or what? I love this years' t-shirts with OWLS on them.

The kids' first experience with firearms. :-)

Matt and I shot also and both got several Bull's Eyes. So fun!