Halloween Gathering

Last year, we had so much fun at Emilie's Halloween party that I decided that was the way to go for Oct 31st.  It was much better than trick-or-treating especially after the church trunk-or-treat.  How much candy can we handle anyway?  I thought it would be fun to have it at our house this time.  I only invited a few people (the same ones that went to her party) and made it a pot-luck.  I came up with a few games, cleaned my house, and made chili and homemade rolls.  Fortunately, most of the work was done by Emilie & Gram.  They brought all of the fun treats, crafts, and even a magic drink.  As simple as could be on my part, but fun for all.   

Crafts

 Dinner

Magic Pumpkin Game

Kids in Costumes

Church Trunk-or-Treat

Our church had their annual Trunk-or-Treat tonight.  We got to wear our costumes and spend time with friends from church.  For most of the night, Lexi hung out with her best church friend, Heather.  They laughed and joked all night.  Last week, Heather's mom and I had talked about costumes.  Heather hadn't picked anything out yet.  I told her Lexi wanted to be a peacock.  Tonight, Heather's mom had told me that when Heather had heard what Lexi was going to be, she begged desperately to be the same thing.  Her mom wouldn't let her copy though.  I told her we wouldn't have minded.  Heather was a rock star instead.  

Lexi is very picky when it comes to candy, so she usually doesn't load up on as much as Jordan.  I think she had about 1/2 as much as he did and she didn't mind one bit that I planned to throw most of it away.  For her, Halloween is about dressing up and having fun.  

Cotton Candy

Costume Parade

Cotton Candy Again

Heather & Lexi

Ready to go home

Halloween Party with Friends

We went to a fun Halloween party last night at some of our good friends' house.  They had yummy food, crafts, and even a silly string war.  Who could ask for more?  

Lexi & Lauren (a friend from church that is also a friend with our friends) 

Cole, Kacy, Lauren & Lexi

Halloween Birthday Party

Last night, Lexi had a birthday party to go to for a girl that is in her class at school.  It was a costume/Halloween party at one of the club houses for a neighborhood near ours.  Lexi got to wear her peacock costume for the first time.  This year, I am especially happy that she gets to wear her Halloween costume several times because it took me a while to make the tutu.  She wore one of the dance costumes Aunt Carol gave her, golden shoes that my mom bought in Romania, and the tutu with felt feathers that I made.   

The party starts off on the wrong foot.  The parents had a fog machine that set off the alarms in the building.  They blared on & on.  I am guessing it lasted about five minutes, but it felt like forever.  Other than that, it was a great party.  Lexi had a lot of fun giggling with the girls, doing crafts, eating pizza & cake, and playing games. 

Drug-Free Texan

This week Lexi's school celebrated Red Ribbon Week (live drug-free & healthy lives).  Like all things in Texas, it had to have a Texan theme.  That is just how we roll.  The school had big red ribbons tied around every tree, motivational assemblies, and themes for each day.  Sadly, I only managed to take pictures on Thursday & Friday.  Here were the themes:

Monday - I'm too BRIGHT for drugs.  They were asked to wear bright colors, so Lexi wore tie dye.

Tuesday - Stay in the GAME, be drug free. They could wear a team jersey or their school shirt.  

Wednesday - Give drugs the SLIP.  They could wear slippers, but Lexi doesn't have any.

Thursday - Give drugs the BOOT.  It was a western wear day, see the picture above.

Friday - I ELECT to be a drug-free Texan.  This was red, white & blue day.  See last picture below.

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday are common themes around here.  I need to think about getting my kids more western wear, so they can participate fully.  

Halloween Shirt

Boosterthon Fun Run

Lexi's school had another fund raiser this month (surprise, surprise).  This school district really should get an award for the amount of fund raisers they have and for how much money they bring in.  It is a bit much for me and some other parents.  Anyway, today was a Boosterthon Fun Run.  The kids were encouraged to get sponsors to pledge money per lap.  I didn't have any money, but I told Lexi could ask her dad if he wanted to.  She asked & signed him up.  

All of the kids were given special shirts to wear.  I decided to make it a little cuter with red ribbons.  Unfortunately, the school started the race for the first graders at 8:45 am.  I couldn't go because I have to drop Jordan off at his school by 9 am.  Our neighbor was there to watch her son and snapped a few photos of Lexi for me.  Lexi ran the 35 laps that were encouraged, plus at least another 5.  The back of the shirts had the numbers that were marked off with a Sharpie for each lap.  She really enjoyed it.

Class Hat Day & Bike Injury

Lexi's teacher decided to reward their good behavior by letting the whole class have a hat day today.  As you can see, Lexi went with her cowgirl hat.   

The other interesting thing about these pictures is the big band aid on her neck.  Sometimes band aids are an indication of an interesting story.  This one happens to be hiding/healing her first bike injury.  Yesterday evening, I took the kids out to the water park parking lot so Lexi could practice riding her bike.  At one point, Jordan for some unknown reason got off of his bike and darted right in front of her.  She swerved to miss him and even recovered only to turn her head back to yell at him, which caused her to crash into a little rock wall.  As she was going down, her handle bar flipped up and jabbed her neck. 

Perhaps, this is a little lesson for her in letting things go or handling things calmly.  Of course, this incident upset her and through tears she declared that riding a bike was dangerous.  I made her get right back on and ride until the complaining was over.  Maybe that sounds harsh with her neck all swore, but I kept thinking about all those years of hearing that when you get bucked off of a horse, you climb right back on.   Fortunately, she doesn't seem at all traumatized by yesterday's event or my few moments of tough love.  

Hair Today

I tried a unique hairstyle on Lexi for church today.  As you can see, it was a twisty french braid into a side bun.  It seems like all the teenagers love side braids, buns, and pony tails.  Lexi got loads of compliments.  When we got home, I realized I should probably take a picture.  Maybe it will help me to remember to do this again.    

Bike Rider

Lexi officially became a bike rider today.  I asked Steve to take her training wheels off at the end June.  She didn't even get to try it once before we headed off to California.  When we got back, it was WAY too hot for bike riding.  All of my friends told me that in Texas, bike riding is a fall/winter/spring activity.  Summer is only for swimming.  The first time she finally got to try it was 4 weeks ago when my brother was here.  He helped her with a few of the basics.  She loved to complain that it was too difficult and dangerous (sounds just like I did).  I took her last weekend too.  Only a few times was I able to let go of her for a few seconds. It was kind of a pain running along side of her.  It was also hot, so we didn't last long.  

I knew we had to go this morning, despite her complaints.  I decided to find a parking lot rather than a trail like we'd been doing.  I figured that would make it easier to help her & watch Jordan.  I was astonished how quickly she went from being completely dependent and grabbing onto me for dear life to riding by herself - maybe 10 minutes.  After she realized that I wasn't really holding on, she wanted to try it herself.  That was it...away she went.  Now, she tells everyone it is EASY.  She still needs to practice starting by herself.  She managed a few times, but got frustrated by it many times.  Hopefully, soon he'll be saying that starting is easy.

Family Tree

This week, I started working on genealogy.  My grandparents on both sides of my family have loved/love doing it and so our lines go back so far that new names are almost impossible to find.  Fortunately, about a year ago, Steve's Great Aunt (on his mom's side) sent me some of the paperwork she had put together.  I started on working on a family tree chart.  I mentioned this to Lexi and she was very excited.  She surprised me today when I looked over her shoulder to see her making her own family tree.  She only cut out four leaves though.  She wrote her name, Jordan's name and my name.  She had one leaf left over and realized it was only big enough for a short name.  She wrote Paige's.  I thought this was cute.    

Hat Day

The fifth graders at Lexi's school do fund raisers for various charities every year.  They come up with neat ideas to get all of the kids involved.  This month, they are selling tickets that allow kids to wear hats.  I think the money goes to kids with heart problems.  It costs a dollar a ticket to wear a hat for the day.  They can buy up to 20 tickets.  I gave Lexi two dollars.  I told her she could wear it once this week and once next week.  She got excited and picked out her outfit today.  

Halloween Artwork

I decided that we needed a down weekend to relax.  Lexi got a chance to do some artwork.  She did Halloween stuff.  The picture above may not look like Halloween, but she drew it because she wants to be a peacock for Halloween.  The picture below is a two-headed Frankenstein.  There are headstones on the ground.  

Reading Up a Storm

Lexi has been reading up a storm lately.  In fact, sometimes I have to tell her to stop because we need to get ready for school.  Other times, I am thrilled like when she is reading to Jordan.  Yesterday after church, I saw her holding the book with her feet.  I had to get a picture.