Halloween

Yes, yes, I'm a terrible blogger.  If you want more up to date photos and happenings, you're better off following me on Instagram: angelaeverhart.  I'll try to post the big things here but life is hectic and I do what I can.

So now that's out of the way....Halloween!  This year Rylin wanted to be a Ninja Turtle.  I was not feeling the $30 price tag for $3 worth of costume and October is our busiest month of the year, so I knew I couldn't handle a big DIY project.  Somehow I talked him into being just a ninja and it turned out pretty cute.  Just bought black sweats, black socks, and a $1 hood from the dollar store, cut up an old red t-shirt and he was set.  Miles went as a chicken, and though it looked complicated, was actually a pretty simple costume to put together also.  I saw a tutorial from Martha Stewart before I had kids and thought it was so cute.  This seemed like the appropriate year for a chicken...ha!  So a couple white feather boa's tacked to a white onsie we already had, some black and white leggings, a little hat made from old t-shirts and he was the cutest chicken on picture day at church and Fall Fest.  He left a trail of feathers and aww's everywhere he went! 

Summer Activities

We've had a busy summer as you may have guessed and we've spent a lot of time entertaining a certain active three year old.  If you know Texas, the last three months have been scorchers so there was a lot of water involved in our activities!

 Rylin having a run through our homemade sprinkler.

 Jordan smoking some yummy brisket.

 Rylin had swim lessons for two weeks.  Miles slept through them:)

I tried a Pinterest idea of freezing toys in water and letting Rylin break apart the ice block.  He was excited to have a "hammer" but the fun only lasted about five minutes.  He was apparently a good excavator!

 No chickens were harmed in the making of this fun!

We tried out KidMania with friends.  A climbing tunnel about five times the size of this photo.  Rylin and Attie loved it!

The spray park was another fun outing.

 Rylin and Attie decided they'd try and drink the water.  Boys.

One day when it was raining, we hit up the mall play place with friends.  Atticus, Adelay, and Rylin are quite the trio!

A couple weeks ago we had to go check out the new cupcake ATM by Sprinkles.  Yep, an ATM where you can get cupcakes 24 hours a day.  Yum!

Rylin is getting really good at riding his bike.  He and Jordan have been taking evening rides.

His latest talent is stacking his toys.  It's practically art!

At the spray park again!

Now that summer is wrapping up I'm looking forward to cooler temps and a more regular schedule, but I am going to miss our lazy mornings and fun with friends.

Catching Up Before the New Year

Slacking as usual...we've had a busy few months and to be honest, blogging has been the last priority for me.  So once again, here's a quick update in photos of our December.  I hate that I have to leave out so many because of our little Mr. D.  He's a cutie and I'd love to share his chubby little face with you but Rylin will have to do for now.

We started off December with going to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree.  It was a cool and cloudy day and perfect weather for our outing.  Rylin was very independent and insisted on sitting by himself on the hayride to the field where the trees were planted.

After we found our "perfect" tree, the boys set to cutting it down.

We celebrated Mr. D's first birthday on the 9th with a "Little Man" party at our house complete with bow ties and mustaches.  This little guy has been such a fun addition to our family and we were excited to get to share this milestone with him.

We headed to my parents the weekend before Christmas for our extended family party and stayed through Wednesday for some great family time.  My Mom always goes all out for the holidays and this year was no exception.

The grand kids made their annual ginger bread houses (and train) with Mimi, we relaxed, we sat by the fire, we drank hot cocoa, we listened to Johnny Mathis, we ate more than we should, the kids opened presents on Christmas eve, we went to Christmas eve service, and on Christmas morning everyone enjoyed all the goodies that Santa brought.  Nothing like seeing the excitement in all of the kids eyes and reminded me of when I was their age.  I love the holidays!

We returned home on Wednesday to snow...and some very cold chickens!

I bundled up the boys and let them have some fun.  Poor Mr. D was less than enthused with my footwear improvisation.  He can blame my Aunt Polly for that idea:)

Rylin loved the snow and didn't want to come inside.  I practically had to drag him while bribing with chocolate and a movie!  The next day when he woke up he ran to the window and yelled "Mommy!  Where's the snow?!"  Poor guy! 

September is Almost Gone!

September started out a rocky one for us.  Poor Mr. D came down with a virus and we ended up in the hospital for fluids.  

He was a trooper though, and after an overnight stay, he went home.  The nurses and Dr.'s took good care of us and our stay was almost a mini vacation.  Almost.

Part of the reason it seemed like a vacation was because Rylin went to stay with Mimi & Papa!  He had a good time riding and feeding the horses.  Helping Papa with the hay and entertaining Mimi with his endless barely translatable vocabulary!

On Friday, as D was doing much better, we headed to West as well.  Labor Day is WestFest weekend and on Saturday morning we took the kids to the parade.

Then to WestFest to enjoy a few complementary rides thanks to Papa.  Rylin was not interested in much except the big slide and the Ferris wheel...and even that I had to practically drag him on screaming.  He was in a mood.

A mood that shows in this picture!  We got to watch Shelby and KK preform for the Junior Historians Czech dance club.  I was a member back in the day and found it humorous that the show was the exact same we had done...narration and all! 

 After we left, we managed to leave a wave of stomach virus in our wake.  I felt horrible as we thought Mr. D was no longer contagious.  Somehow Jordan, Rylin, and I escaped it.

Rylin and D have become great friends.  They love to play together in Rylin's room.  D is moving a lot these days and even took three steps today!  He has come a long way from being in a cast for six weeks just two months ago!

Rylin had his first day of Mother's Day Out.  He was so ready to go!  He loves school and is always grins when I drop him off and pick him up.

We enjoyed some cooler weather and a few last chances to swim in our giant pool!  The chickens are very curious when the kids are in the back yard.  They looked so funny pecking around while the kids splashed.

Then from out of nowhere, Sissy decided my arm looked like a nice perch and flew up on me while I was typing on my laptop.  Crazy chicken!

Jordan and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this month too.  We enjoyed a child free weekend thanks to Mimi & Papa of which we kicked off with a fantastic dinner with our friends Shala & Matt.

I was ready to see my boys again when the weekend was over.  Monday night we hit up Chick-fil-a for some play time.  Rylin took advantage of having the playplace to himself!

In September Rylin finally started sleeping in his own bed...most of the time!  Sometimes he still sneaks in early in the morning.

We got to visit the Plano Balloon Festival with our friends from church and though Rylin was more interested in running around with the other kids, he did get excited about the balloons upon take off.

We've been going to our local YMCA a lot lately and taking advantage of the childcare!  Jordan and I get a few hours to work out and the boys get to play with friends.  Jordan has been playing some racket ball and has shown Rylin a few moves!

We went to a few more of our friend's birthday parties in September too.  It is definitely the season of birthday parties for us!  Yesterday, Rylin left Carson & Avery's without his shirt...it was an extra fun time!

We've been getting some much needed rain so the whole family took advantage of our wet Saturday to run around and be silly.  Rylin & D loved splashing in the puddles and getting Daddy wet!