October 2022

We took off for Branson, Missouri the first weekend in October to celebrate Bryan turning 40! I surprised him with 4 tickets to see Garth Brooks. We wanted to go with other adults, but ended up taking our girls instead. It is hard to find someone to trust with your children after only being there for a little over 2 months. The life of a military spouse and family.  

The view was amazing! Garth Brooks put on an awesome show. 

The best part was falling asleep in the parking lot waiting to leave after the show. The venue was really nice, but the parking was atrocious. Only one exit out. 

Found out one of my good friends, Toni, was also stationed at Fort Leavenworth and we pretty much hung out as much as possible. Obviously taking in the beautiful fall foliage off of Weston Bend State Park.

The second weekend, we went camping at Smithville Lake in Missouri. A paved bike path follows around the lake and in the mornings/evenings the lake was calm enough to paddle board.

Oktoberfest in Kansas City was a little disappointing. We attempt to go every year, this one didn't seem to have quite the turn out.

Visiting Kaleidoscope at Crown Center.

The Great Escape 5K

An event run by one of the military police units at Fort Leavenworth was a flop. I was told by many, this event is fun because you are chasing an inmate. That was not what happened at all. The children were all up front ready to start and someone yells an inmate has escaped! BUT they are in the back of the crowd. NO ONE can see this inmate being "taken down". The timing chips were off. Awards were given to the wrong people. It was just a mess. We did get a picture with our neighbors!

Sunday walk with the kids to see the fall colors at Weston Bend State Park.

Bryan coached Jane's soccer team over the course of 8 weeks. Grandma and Grandpa Koplin were able to see her last game against the parents and award ceremony. 

Mom and Dad came to visit us for Halloween this year. It was such gorgeous weather while they visited. We went to Weston Bend State Park to enjoy the fall colors and walked the streets of the historic city of Weston.

I have the best little girls. Both being recognized at school for the behavior and personal character. I must have done something right!

I coached a run club for kids third grade to eighth grade over the course of 8 weeks. The end goal was to be able to complete the Halloween Fun Run 5K hosted by Fort Leavenworth CYS. It was a great experience for me to volunteer, educate, and cheer on these kids. 

Kate was a run club participant and really showed great improvements! She, however, has told me she doesn't want to do that anymore. Ha!

Fort Leavenworth hosted a Fall Festival with games, hayride, petting animals, and food. 

It was a pleasure to have Mom and Dad around to watch the girls do all the fall activities- pumpkin carving, dressing up, decorations, and corn maze. Our family LOVES this time of year!

When in Kansas, dress up like the Wizard of Oz!

Princess Neighbors - Taco Bell, Glenda, and Peach

Our Neighbors

All the candy collected!

 

October 2018

Bryan turned 36 at the beginning of October.  We got him an inflatable eye with glasses to put in our yard for Halloween. He thought it was pretty cool.  It gets harder and harder each year to find a good gift for him.  Mostly because we don't need more stuff, but also because we purchase what we want anytime. We enjoyed some pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.

 Kate participated in her elementary school's run-a-thon. She ran 27 laps to help raise money for her school.  We sure appreciated everyone that helped donate to make this a fun event for her.  She did her best.

We traveled to Muenster, Texas for a 1/2 marathon.  It really was the worst race ever!  It was so hilly and we pushed the stroller. 

Mostly we wanted to wear our running Trachten and go to an Oktoberfest.  The towns folk running the show really liked our gear and asked if they could use our photo for their website.  We could be famous!

The girls really like the face painting. 

After the race, we went and visited our cousins in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  My girls always LoVe seeing their family!

My Volvo was gradually costing us too much money in repairs.  We traded it in for a Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Pretty much the same car, minus the brand and a few upgrades.  I LoVe it!

We went kayaking on Stillhouse Lake, which is about 8 minutes from our house.  There had been lots of rain over the past couple weeks, but we didn't realize how bad it was until this adventure!

We took the girls to a church in Robinson, Texas for a fall festival.  It was rather small and the weather was awful.  We had to go indoors for a little because of a potential tornado.  Maybe next year, we will attempt the fall festival in Marble Falls.

This year we dressed up as Goldie Locks and the Three Bears.  Everyone was happy with the decision.  It is always hard pleasing everyone, especially when both the girls want to be the princess.  Maybe you could give me ideas for next year? Or maybe I'll be a prince and Bryan will be a prince, and the girls can choose a princess??

I am pretty sure we did the pumpkin cutting on Halloween.  I know how Texas rots the pumpkins real quick!

Happy Halloween! All of our loot from 2 hours of trick-or-treating.  The weather was cold and rainy, and I think all the neighbors just wanted to get rid of candy, so they dumped it into the girls bags by the handful.

November 2017

I went to a Yoga Convention with some friends up in Austin.  It was really fun and nice to get "away" for the day.

We went out with some friends to Oktoberfest in New Braunfels, Texas.  It was pretty close to the same thing, minus the language barrier.  

For Thanksgiving, we had 21 people over at our house.  Wendy and her family (7) drove all the way from Idaho to come visit.  Adam and his family (5) came from Oklahoma.  The Moore family (5) came locally.  We divided up the food, had an already cooked turkey, and ate way too much food.  Everything was amazing.  I made the best sweet potato dish and will probably make annually.  

The next day, Bryan's parents drove down and we all went to the San Antonio Aquarium and Sea World.  Yes, all in the same day.  

  Trying to capture Jane's sad face or pouty lip.  I just can't seem to get it!

   Touching the sting rays.

 Holding the birds.

 Being squished by snakes.

Riding the roller coasters at Sea World.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Kate got her tonsils and adenoids removed.  She was like a roller coaster of wellness and sickness.  I was so grateful to have Bryan's parents available to help on the day of her surgery. She is doing very well now.

 And then the December festivities began.  We do the 24 books of Christmas...

and the beloved Elf on the Shelf.  Her name is Dassie.