Neeley: October 2011

Happy Halloween

First and most importantly we are happy to announce we are having a girl around March 12th. So far she is healthy and perfect and I am feeling good as well, with a tummy that is no longer hide-able.
For halloween this year the kids and I were farm animals and Jeff was the farmer. Unfortunately, we didn't get a family shot but I did get some of the kids.

Helping mommy make pumpkin shaped sugar cookies for our Halloween party.

Mmmm, we are loving these holiday sweets.

Our little lamb we named Lulu.

Brett wanted to be a puppy dog and named himself Coco.

Most of the time he wouldn't wear his puppy dog ears, but he was still so cute.

Camping/Kayaking Fall 2011

We have a couple of inflatable kayaks that we pulled out to float the San Marcos river, a natural running spring river. We each took a kid and floated down, and paddled back (it's a really slow moving river, perfect for little kids).

Ready to go!!

Yay, we found another fun family activity here.

We made it, now for a little food and a rest in the car.

Camping season in Texas is during the fall. The weather has finally cooled off to mid 80's. We are trying to find fun activities for our family to do here. We went camping and I'm starting to think that tent camping is self inflicted hip pain. It really was fun and the kids were in heaven.

They slept through the night! Maybe we will go camping again.

Brett waving his hand rebuking daddy.

There is a burn ban in Texas right now, so it was pop-tarts and "yucky" charms for breakfast. The kids sure didn't mind.

This little girl loves nature, especially rocks. You can see in this picture she is trying to dig a rock out of the dirt with her right hand. She then has to taste test them.

Around the house...

We are in Austin, Texas. We moved mid-september and are finally settled into our apartment, the ward, and the general area. So far we like it here are we are trying to find fun things to keep us happy here. Here are pictures from typical days around the house.

These kids share a mini bag of popcorn everyday! They take their bowls to the living room, dump them, and eat it off the floor.

Then lick the butter from the bag...mmmm.

Datnzel was determined to get Brett's vest on after church. We had to help her get her arms in, and she was very satisfied.

"I'm so glad when daddy comes home", and so are they, obviously. As soon as they hear the doorknob turn, they run to gate screaming "daddy, daddy".

Desperate for a "cycle" ride.

Learning about static electricity!

A perfect fit!

Cool trick: Brett piles up his dump truck, bike, and Datnzel's push bike. Then he puts a blanket over them and sings Happy Birthday to whoever is near, and then that person gets to open their surprise! Wow.

This picture makes me think of that scene in the new Pride and Prejudice, when Mr Darcy is walking in the sunrise to tell Elizabeth Bennett that he loves her, but this is even better. It's my handsome husband, and my sweet babies, I love it!