Safari Run

Our area has gotten a few new play places in the last couple of months.  One of those places is Safari Run.  Our church mom's group met there one Monday morning for a play date.

We had never been, but we loved it!

It was big, clean, fun, and nicely priced for what you get.

It was something both of my kids could enjoy, and there were also places for the mom's to hang out and talk.

I don't know how I got such dramatic children?! ;)

There was a smaller side for littler kids, as well.  The place wasn't very busy at all, so our kids played over there for a bit too.

On your marks... get set... GO!

We had a great morning, and we will for sure be back!

Operation Christmas Child

Each year our Life Group tries to choose a service project for the holidays.  Last year we adopted a local family with 3 preteen/teen boys.  This year, as our kids got a little older and could participate more, we chose to do Operation Christmas Child.  I love OCC, and did it each year I taught school.  I was excited to be able to do it with the kids.

I had picked up a few things at Target when our dollar spot stuff changed and went on clearance, but I really wanted to take the kids to shop.  I explained to them exactly what we were doing and why we were doing it.

We hit up Walmart first.  (Why buy crayons for a dollar, when you can get them for 47 cents?)  We found a lot of things that would work for Olivia's box, but not as many for Logan's.

So then we headed to Dollar Tree.

The kids had the best time picking out the items.

Olivia wanted to buy her girl a TV.  Unfortunately, that doesn't fit in a shoe box, so we had to compromise. ;)

Then on Sunday afternoon we packed up our boxes!  I called them in to do it and Logan said, "To pack a box for the boy who doesn't get a Christmas gift?"  He totally remembered, even though we had shopped days earlier, and he got it!  That melted my heart, and I'm pretty sure we are adding OCC to our yearly traditions!

Logan picked dumb dumbs as his hard candy.  He was filling his Dory cup with them.

Olivia chose ring pops for her hard candy, but they didn't fit in her cup.  So she filled her cup with socks, toothpaste, and hair clips and added the candy to the box later.

Olivia wanted to give so much. She just kept saying, "I bet she would want ______." And then she started talking about the mom and how she might not get anything either and we should send her something.  I love her heart!

I had planned on getting pictures of the finished boxes at Life Group, but it never happened.  But both of the kids were so proud of their boxes. And we prayed that each box would reach just the right little girl and just the right little boy.

Not once did the kids ask for the items.  They knew and understood that we were buying for someone else.  But we did overbuy slightly.  So Logan got to keep a dinosaur and a ball, and Olivia got to keep a paint set.  It was a win/win for everyone!

Graham's Birthday

We had another Life Group birthday party this past weekend!  We have been going to the same group for nearly a year and a half, and these families have become good friends of ours, so it's fun to celebrate with them.

Graham turned 3 and had a Paw Patrol party!

I didn't take a ton of pictures, but Leah had it all set up super cute.  Artie (Graham's dad) does video editing, and actually makes TV commercials, for his job.  So he took clips of Paw Patrol and put them together to make "missions" for the kids.  So they'd start out in "The Look Out" (from the show, for those of you who don't watch), and then they'd go help one of the pups.  They helped Marshal find his badge (pin the tail), they put out fires with water balloons, and dug for bones with Rubble.  In between each mission they'd go back to The Look Out to get directions from Ryder.  Super cute!

One mission was to adopt a pup.  They each got to draw on a fabric dog, and there were tags to write names and give the dogs a collar.

Our two were totally into it, and were crawling around on all 4's barking. :)  But it was good, because it helped some of the shy kids want to participate.

The last mission was to wish the birthday boy happy birthday (sing!) and eat cake!

Yum!

Then we headed outside, where there was a brand new bounce house that Graham got from his grandparents.

The kids had so much fun going down the slide, chasing their friends, and bouncing around!

As we were leaving, Olivia turned to Leah and said, "Thank you so much for inviting us! This was the best birthday party ever.  You did a good job!"  Truthfully, you just never know what is going to come out of that girl's mouth.... but sometimes, she just makes me proud! :)

October Photo Dump

My mom sent Olivia this dress, and it fit perfectly.  She told us to "show some respect and bow" (because she was the queen).  Ha ha!

I love this little girl!  She's getting bigger (and sassier!) by the day... but she still crawls in my lap at least once a day for snuggles.  I know those days are numbered, so I try to soak them up!

 Love!

I think we went to our last music and movement at the library.  Mommy cannot handle the lack of discipline/control/respect from the other participants. (Oh. My. Word!  I'm truly scared for this world!)

We did a little dinosaur excavation.

She found something! :)

She's having a baby.  Oh my!

A day at the park

Practicing her climbing

Apparently even Superman needs his mommy!

Logan and I killed some time at Target while Olivia was at art class.

We wore our Packer gear to church when the Packers played the Cowboys.  Unfortunately it didn't help.  We still lost.  It's been a rough year for the Pack. :(

Another day. Another park.

Best friends.

We had an octopus lunch for our octopus week.

My world.

Sometimes Boppa freezes us out. ;)

We had a Halloween play date with friends and Logan made a ghost.

When you get an unexpected Friday night off, you go out to eat!  We checked out the new Frisco Rail Yard.  It's basically a food truck park.

And then we went to Andy's!  Andy's frozen custard was started in the Ozarks.  It's second and most famous location is in Springfield, Missouri where I went to college.  I have lots of fun memories from my college days at Andy's.  Plus, I LOVE frozen custard!

Kion!

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

We have been waiting and waiting for the weather to cool down a little bit so that we could go on more outdoor adventures.  We have been wanting to go to Arbor Hills, and we finally had a chance to get there this weekend.

This is actually where we had Olivia's one year pictures taken, but we haven't been back since.  It's a 200 acre park with trails, playgrounds and picnic pavilions.

We told the kids at lunch that we were going on a hike.  Olivia was not thrilled.  She asked when we could do something fun that she liked.... But then when we got there, and she saw what it was all about, she kept saying how awesome it was, and that she loved nature, and it was the best day ever.  Ha ha!

Checking out the creek

Looking for smooth rocks 

There are concrete paths as well, but we mostly stayed on the dirt trails.

This is her fierce "I'm king of the mountain" face. ;)

and he's just the cutest little guy you ever did see!

Taking in the view

She was speculating what animal might live in this hollowed out tree.

We had a great little adventure!  The weather was perfect... until it started raining on us and cut our afternoon short.  We'll be back for sure!