This year our family decided to continue its "tradition"(I guess we have started) of having a Halloween costume party for the kids.  The one we had last year was tons of fun, but it was a little challenging having such a large mix of ages running around everywhere. This time, we decided to have 2 smaller parties, 1 for Brie and Nate, and the other for Natalie and William. It worked like a charm. Everyone had a fantastic time. We played loads of games and could not pass up eating lots of treats.  I think the sugar rush will take months to wear off!

About 6 months ago, Brianna decided that she wanted to get a rabbit. She has been working the past year as a Junior Zoo Keeper and has really enjoyed the rabbits she gets to work with. Brianna came to us with a proposal that if she did not have a birthday party, we would not buy her any presents except a cage, and she saved all her money, she would buy the rabbit and all its food, fluff, toys, & equipment. We thought that she was very dedicated to this, so we said okay. For the last six months, we have heard nothing but, "Rabbit this... Bunny that...." And... as her birthday grew closer, we knew that she was going to achieve her goal. We bought her a cage, and with that came our cute baby silver fox bunny. He is around 6 weeks old and and loves to snuggle and be held. Brianna's idea of a female mini lop or Holland lop quickly changed when she saw this little guy.  It was instant love, a precious thing to see.

Now we just have to get Chip to not puff up like a huge hairball when he sees Pepper.

It is hard to believe that twelve years ago, Sam and I began our family with this tiny little girl. It is crazy to think back that far and realize how little we knew of how great a child she would become. Brianna is such a delight to our family.  She is loving, kind, super smart, tender, and ever so very helpful to everyone in our family. I am so glad she is my daughter. She has taught me incredible things over her twelve years. I am deeply grateful that Heavenly Father blessed her to our home. Happy Birthday Brie! We will love you always!

All it has seemed to do around here lately is RAIN! Everything is so soggy and swampy. The mosquitoes are multiplying like crazy and mud is on everything! We really wanted to try and go to the State Fair of Texas, but of course the day we thought was going to be free and clear of rain, ended up soggy and wet like the rest of them.

Sam had just found our that he had to leave to go out of town the next morning, so we really wanted to something fun together as a family before Brianna's birthday on Friday, since he was going to be gone. We decided to go to Amazing Jakes. We had not been there since it opened about a year ago. What better fun than an indoor amusement park, out of the rain, and on a 1/2 price Tuesday. SCORE! Even better, we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves!

We ate dinner, brought Brianna a little birthday cake to celebrate with, and played until the place closed. It was great!

Natalie tried rock climbing for the first time, and what could be funnier than her charging to the top, speeding past Brie & Nate's times, only to find out that once she was there, she could not get back down. She let go of the wall to descend but just hung in mid-air. It was hillarious. The worker had to fasten into belts, scale the wall, and hold her to bring her down.  Little Miss Daredevil was not bothered a bit though.

William and I were out for a date day today, and as we drove to get the mail on the way home I see Brianna and Nate waving their arms crazily on the sidewalk next to the mail box. I rolled down my window and they are telling me, "Mom! Mom! Look at Natalie!" I of course could not see her, nor did I know what they were talking about. I was scared to death thinking something had happened to her, but when I looked through my front windshield, I did see Natalie, with Daddy in tow, riding her 2-wheel bike all by herself with no training wheels. She had the biggest smile on her face! I was so--- proud of her. She had told Sam and I that she was never going to take off her training wheels. I do not know how Sam convinced her, but whatever he did, It Worked, and on the 1st Try! Way to GO!