Happy Halloween

Happy Birthday Rebekah

Rebekah always (other than Arizona) celebrates her birthday with Aunt Jeanie, whose birthday is on the 1st of November. This is the third year in a row that we have had a Halloween cake and so this will probably be our new tradition.

OK Rebekah actually asked for a Lava Lamp. She also asked for a bean bag chair which is on order to be picked up sometime next week.

I couldn't let a birthday pass, at least with her, without getting her some books to read.

This is a picture of the boys reaction when she opened up a Cheatah girls CD.

Rebekah is so funny. As soon as my birthday was over she started seriously talking about 3 things. Her birthday, a slumber party for her birthday, and what she was going to be for Halloween. We hear almost everyday about these things. In years past, she would talk about it much earlier, just not as intense. It really is a joy that she enjoys these things because I'm such a slug about Holidays sometimes. She helps us look forward to it, even if we don't want to.

Last night she said that the only way to make this birthday perfect was to have gotten pistol!! Pappa was so proud.

Monday - Foundation

I am not sure why these went in backwards, but here they are.
Stage 3.

Stage 2.

Stage 1.

Even these went in backwards. This is the final product.

After the kids did their hands, Justin went and collected all the animals (yeah, seriously). This is John helping with Sydney.

Teyla

Justin even went and got the cat, but decided at the last minute not to do her. She walked on the cement anyways and Justin put her name in.

Closing

Well, we closed on our house yesterday. I am sorry to say that I have mixed emotions about it. The thought of spending more time in our current trailer fills me with sadness. But, I am not sure I ever dreamed that I would be living out my days in a double wide either. This double wide will be nice, I know that, but it is amazing how negative people can be about trailers in general. I could get away with it before because it wasn't ever a permanent option. Commonly referred to as my 'single wide'.

All of that said. We lived in a double wide in Arizona. It was very nice. I didn't mind it a bit. Everyone who came in was impressed with its size and space. I think, once we move in, I will feel exactly the same way. Plus . . . we saved over $50,000 for a building almost 600 square feet bigger!!! I can only live in either (site built or double wide trailer) until I die and that is not a long time compared to eternity.

We won't get our keys until December 20th even though it is being delivered sometime next week. WOW is right. They have a lot to do before they will even let us move one stick of furniture in it. Overall we can't wait!!! Poor John will just have to hear how nice it is : (

Rockdale Fair

Hi, don't forget to look in the "More Family Pictures" for more pictures of the fair. So much happened over the weekend and we (Tammy and I) took so many pictures. It was really hard to organize them all.

Rockdale Fair Pt. 1

We had a BIG weekend. When we moved back to Texas the kids on the land started encouraging my kids to 1) go to public school and 2) show something in the Rockdale Fair (ok -so it was only KC on this one as he is the only other kid showing). Mark being KC's best friend really wanted to show something. He chose Dairy goats as he just wanted to have goats on the property again. I caved. So Mark and Rebekah showed their goats this weekend, while KC showed his pig and a bench he made for Ag Mechanics. In the picture above, the kids are all waiting on the judging for KC's bench.

Here is Rebekah with "Blondie" just before her bath. Blondie is 7 months old.

You can tell Mark is nervous. They both were, I just managed to get a half decent smile out of Rebekah. Marks goat is "Brunette" who is 6 months old.

Brunette took forever to recover from her bath. This by far was the grossest thing to do as the pig show was that morning and there was pig pooh everywhere. Lesson number 1) Give the goats their bath the day before and NEVER at the show.

Here they are in the show ring with their only competetor. Nathan, and his alpine. Because they were all in seperate classes they all got 1st place. I guess the Dairy Goat show was a little bit of a joke, but it was a good way for the kids to get their feet wet.

Rockdale Fair - Pt. 2

Here is KC and his pig "Wilma". The swine judging took place before the goats. Wilma took 5th out of 9.

KC also built this bench for the fair. He won 2nd place and Reserve Grand Champion for the Senior Division of Ag Mechanics. That is the belt buckle he is so proudly holding up (and you can see his 5th place ribbon next to his 2nd place ribbon on his belt). There was some stiff competition for this one!!

Mark and Rebekah also got Outstanding Exhibitor award for the Goat Division. I think they called it the Goat Herdsman award. They are pictured with their sponsor. They were happy with the $25 they got to split.

The pig scramble was a lot of fun to watch. 5 or 6 kids trying to catch three little piglets - who didn't want to be caught. You can see Mark here in his white t-shirt.

Rebekah is also in a white t-shirt, but she is the one behind the little girl dragging the pig. KC also participated, none of them got a pig this year :(