Winter Field Trip!

Madalyn's class had it's second fieldtrip of the year and they went to the Christmas Tree Farm. The same one we went to the weekend before the field trip. Madalyn was even more excited to go this time because she was going to ride on the school bus. I'm not sure why but that has been the highlight of both fieldtrips. This time I rode on the bus with her to save money/gas. It takes about 40 min. to get to the farm by bus, by the time we got to the farm Madalyn asked if she could ride with her friends on the way back to school. I guess it wasn't as much fun with mom sitting next to her. We ended up arriving at the farm late which only gave us about 30 min. to get through everything that normally takes about 45-60 min. The children started off by listening to the owner talk about the process of growing trees. This was very interesting because I didn't know the process. Then we all got on the hayride and we got to see trees that were 1 year old up to 8 year old trees (the 8 year old trees were huge). After the hayride the class got to pick out a tree for the classroom. Once the tree was cut and bundled the children were hurried back on the bus and they ate a sack lunch on the trip back to school.

KJP Christmas Tree Farm

On Saturday we took a drive out to the country with Grandma & Grandpa. We went about 30 min. outside of Bryan to the Christmas Tree Farm. When we arrived at our destination it was time to pick out the perfect christmas tree for Grandma & Grandpa's house. When you get to the farm the workers give you a really long stick that is marked starting at 5ft. up to 8 ft. and they also give you the saw to cut down your tree. We walked around for a while to make sure we picked just the right tree. Once we had picked the tree Grandpa and his little helpers started cutting down the tree. The kids loved getting to help with the tree. Grandpa & Ryan carried the tree upto the front of the field and gave it to one of the workers. They put it into a shaker machine to get rid of all the dead pine needles. Soon they were ready to bind the tree in a net. To accomplish this task the push the tree (trunk first) throught a tube that has a net around the outside. As the tree comes out the other end they pull the net over the tree and viola! it is binded up tight so you can carry it home. Now it was time for a hayride. They took us through the field and we were able to see some baby trees and some very big older trees. After the hayride we drove back to Grandma & Grandpa's house and st up the tree. Since it was late we decided to wait and decorate the tree the next day.

Christmas in the Park

Last night was the first night for Christmas in the Park. It has become a tradition for us to go to this every year with Ryan's parents. We went with Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Jeannie, & Emily. The park was very nice with all the Christmas lights and decorations. Our first stop at the park was the hayride. The line was very long but it went by rather quickly. On the hayride we got to sing christmas carols and see all the beautiful decorations. Madalyn really enjoyed singing with the girls that worked on the ride.

After the hayride we decided that the Santa line was to long and a waste of time because both our kids are terrified of santa (as well as anything else dressed up in a costume). So we opted for the wooden cutouts for fun pictures of Santa.

Next we headed for the free hot chocolate and cookies. This was a little odd because it was not really cold outside, so the hot chocolate was not a must as it has been in the past. After everyone was refreshed from the snack break we decided to walk across the street to a church that had a live manger scene with real animals. They had a 2 year old camel which was large to me but aparently the live to be about 50 years old and will get quite a bit older. I couldn't take pictures of the camel but we got some of the goats and llama. The kids got to go in the fence with the animals and feed them. This was very cute.

Now it was getting late and Madalyn was ready to go home so we headed back to the car. As we were leaving we decided to let the kids play under the christmas tree made of lights and very tall light pole. The kids enjoyed running around the pole and being in the middle of the lights. Ryan said when he was a kid they always ran around the pole and then layed down on the ground to look up at the lights which would seem to dance because they were dizzy. Well this was the end of our evening and we were all ready for a good nights rest.

A NEW ADVENTURE!!

So here is the latest news from our family. Ryan has taken a new job with a new company. Yes, I know no more Chick-fil-A (which we all thought was going to be the only company Ryan would ever work for). Fortunatley Ryan was given a new oppertunity from my cousin and his wife. They recently opened their first store in a fairly new franchise called "Firehouse Subs" in Round Rock. So, Ryan's last day at Chick-fil-A is Saturday and he will start his new job Monday. Unfortunatley this leaves the kids and myself in Bryan until the managment company finds a new renter for our townhome. Hopefully with the Spring semester right around the corner we will be able to join him sooner rather than later (since this is a college town). As soon as our current home is rented out to a new tenant we will load up the moving truck and head for the hills (Round Rock). We are all very excited for our next adventure and can't wait to be back together in the same town.

Children's Museum

After Madalyn's game we went to the street fair in downtown Bryan. The Children's Museum was free so we took the kids and met up with Grandma & Grandpa Bennett, Uncle James, Aunt Jeannie, & Emily. Madalyn had been before with friends but it was a first for the rest of us.

The Grocery Store

I was thinking as I watched Madalyn play cashier and I remembered that earlier in the summer she had told Grandma Bennett that " tomorrow I'm going to work at H-E-B". Grandma asked her later in the week how her job was going at H-E-B and she told her that she didn't get the job.... So as Grandma and I watched her play we laughed about her finally getting her job at H-E-B. Ha! Ha! Ha!(Everything in the grocery store was H-E-B brand even the cashier aprons had the logo on them).

The Music Room

This was a fun room that was very loud. The drums were the best part.

Little Town

Emily playing in the toddler area.

Painting

Space Shuttle

Last Soccer Game!

"GRASSHOPPERS" ROCK

Well we had our last soccer game on Sat. 11/17/07. The kids were so cute and most of the time they all worked well together. Here are a few pics of the "Grasshoppers" in action.

Some of Madalyn's fan club...Grandma & Grandpa Bennett, Aunt Kelli, Uncle James & Aunt Jeannie, Emily, Aunt Amy & Teegan

Round Rock

We took a weekend trip to visit family in Round Rock The first weekend in November. We left friday after Ryan got off work. Friday night we went to the elementary school my Aunt works at to have some fun at the fall carnival. The kids ate pizza and then they were ready for some fun. They waited in a really long line and then they finally got to go in the moon bounce. Unfortunatly I forgot my camera in the car. After the moon bounce we decided the kids were to tired and the school was to crowded, so we went to my cousins house to spend the night.

On Saturday the kids got to play with my cousins boys and then we decided to go for a trian ride in the park. The kids loved the train ride.

Thanks Brian & Jenn for a wonderful weekend, we enjoyed spending time with your family. We look forword to doing it again sometime.

Trick-or-Treat

Well we had lots of fun with the kids for Halloween. On tuesday (oct. 30th) we had our church Halloween party. Ethan decided to be an Indian and dad named him "Hiawatha". Ethan had a little bit of a hard time remebering that. So he told most people he was just an Indian. If you ask him what he dressed up as for halloween he will say "I was a Fireman". (I bought a fireman costume on clearance but it did not fit). Madalyn was "the Little Mermaid" for the church party and a "Pink Princess"for Halloween night.

The kids had lots of fun at the church party. They had lots of un activities but, I think they had the most fun with the potato sack race. After lots of fun and games we had "trick-or-trunk" which is always a big hit. The kids got lots of candy and could not wait until the next night so we could do the real thing.

So this is the costumes for the night of Halloween. The kids had lots of fun and after only one street (about 3 blocks)we were all ready to head home. The kids made out well and are excited that they got more than just candy (Juice Pouch, mini bags of microwave popcorn, fruit snacks and a few other things). The juice was good for the walk home and the popcorn was a must for the next movie viewing. All in all we are glad the kids enjoyed the fun but, we will be even happier when all the candy is gone.