It's fall y'all

Though it's still 90 degrees here most days, there are a few cool days here and there and the smell of fall is in the air!  The leaves are just beginning to change - not enough to see, but we're SO close. We've been itching to get the girls out for a hike so we headed with some friends to Ruffner Mountain after our naps on Sunday - it was a great hike and a wonderful afternoon to be in the woods.

We collected many a treasure, but I didn't capture many pictures because we were having so much fun!  We can't wait to go back when we have more time and aren't racing against the clock and the gates closing.  Thank goodness David is such a good time manager.  Leslie and I would have spent the night with the kiddos had he not kept us in check!

 Some of the ladies and David
Caroline was busy.....

 All the ladies with their treasures - walking sticks, leaves and acorns

A super fun afternoon - we can't wait to go back when the leaves start changing colors and falling!

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick .... Boom!

Thus far kindergarten has offered many next experiences!  The varsity cheerleaders offer a little cheer clinic for K-5 students and Catherine Ellis decided to give it a whirl.  The first day of clinic she still had her cast, but her second day she was free.  She really enjoyed the clinics and was very excited about cheering on the field with her new friends.

I asked her to share with me what she had learned, but it was all top secret (at least that's how she managed the message).  I could hear her chanting at night in the tub, so I knew she'd learned a few things at least!

Dinner with Archer before the game!

I think many of you know Catherine Ellis does NOT like a mascot or anything dressed up for that matter.  Honestly, I'd not thought about the team mascot and the fact that he might be around.  A few nights before the game Catherine Ellis got out of bed and ran into the kitchen and said "Mommy, is there going to a mascot?" I was caught off guard so I quickly said, probably not and she said, "Well if there is, I don't want to cheer."  Can't argue with that.  But, she never brought it up again and neither did I.

Archer man joined us for our night out on the town.  It was the girls first high school football game and they were pumped and eager for a friend to join us.  We headed to our favorite pizza joint for a bite before the game and then off we went.  The kids were mesmerized.  Especially Caroline and Archer.  Lots to take in.  We sat next to the marching band, so they got the full effect.  

Precious wees!

Daddy and CE

Focused on all the fun

Second quarter arrived quickly and next thing you know there were hundreds of wee ones out on the field.  Catherine Ellis did the first few cheers and then I think she was so overwhelmed she just couldn't deal with the rest of them.  She stayed engaged but was crying and ready to come off the field by the end of the quarter.  She was a trooper and it was a LOT to take in.  It was all better though when we saw sweet Ms. Krueger!  CE's always been able to redirect like a champ!

First cheer, smiling and loving it!

Little mama and Daddy watching sister!

She's over it at this point and searching for us...

There were a hundred mamas and daddies lining the fence, so we were able to get a few shots and one of her kindergarten group.  Cute kiddos!

And I managed to catch a few seconds of her "cheering!"

Her sweet cheerleader was so kind - she made sure Catherine Ellis found us quickly because she was upset and ready to get off the field.  Catherine Ellis talked about her all week and wanted a picture with her after the game.

And then Miss Krueger saved the day!  I'm so glad we bumped into her because it cheered an overwhelmed CE right back up!

CE and Miss Krueger

It was a fun night - we're already looking forward to attending another football game soon!  Yay for another new experience!

CE and Archer

Pumpkin Love

I had the pleasure of joining Caroline and her three-year old classmates at Old Baker Farm this past Wednesday to experience the Pumpkin Patch.  Caroline hasn't been since she was 18ish months old, so this time was very different.  She loved every single second and the 90 degree weather didn't phase her a bit.  Who needs fall weather to get into the spirit of the season anyway?

We carpooled with one of her best little friends, Mary Bentley, and her sweet mama and made it a day of fun!

Aren't they the cutest? 

While Baker Farm was delightful, their staff needs a bit of training on dealing with hundreds of preschoolers.  Our tour guide talked for 10 minutes about cotton and the importance of cotton farming - excruciating for even us parents.  The girls hung in there though and were rewarded with picking a few bulbs of cotton.

 HA - this is a perfect glimpse of these two chatting it up

 She loved the cotton field....

 We pulled more than our one allowed bulb - I know you're shocked

Next up we visited the petting farm. The only thing the staff didn't do well here was mention that animals bite, multiple times.  They were all pretty nervous about that, but the animals were all gentle and in generous moods that morning.  Caroline LOVES animals, so we spent a lot of time in the barn.

 Waiting on her turn with the animals

 Caroline and Drake - another great buddy

They had a turkey that Caroline just loved.  In fact, she skipped the hay maze to spend more time with Mr. Turkey and his rabbit friend in the pen next door.  The highlight of the animal petting was the washing station afterwards.  An irrigation line that rained down into a trough.  It's the small things in life.....

 MB and Caroline washing their hands

They had several other fun activities like the Corn Cob Toss - always a treat to throw things and not get in trouble.

 Riding the horse(ish) swing before lunch

 Climbing the hay tower with her friends

Our last activity was the hay ride (and my favorite since it provided a breeze and was shady in parts). Caroline didn't want to ride with me, so independent.  She and her friends got the biggest kick out of the bumpy road.  The delirium had set in at this point I think.

Riding on the hay ride

The best sound in the world...a hay ride full of laughing toddlers:

It was a beautiful day - not fallish in the least, but the farm was in full bloom with pumpkins, cotton, corn, hay, etc.  Always makes for a beautiful backdrop.

At last we arrived to the pumpkin patch and Caroline set out for the perfect pumpkin. She couldn't make up her mind and really wanted as many pumpkins as she could carry - which wasn't many.  We ended up with a cute pumpkin and one happy little girl!

 Caroline and her pumpkins

It was a great day, with great friends and wonderful memories.  I always cherish the time I get to spend with the girls in their element.  They truly live in the moment - quite refreshing for this Mama.

Caroline, MB and their pumpkins

Freedom

Catherine Ellis is free to run with wild abandon again!  She got her cast off Tuesday morning and by the time I picked her up from school that afternoon she was full throttle on the playground - running, flipping, swinging and full of joy.  It's been five long weeks of no recess or playground time for her and I don't think she realized how much she missed it until she had it back.  She's been the best sport about having a cast - so she deserves the joy of freedom!

Ready for the cast to come off!

 Watching closely to be sure he doesn't "cut her arm off"

 Pure delight to be getting rid of the cast

This is the fourth cast she's had cut off, but it's still scary.  However, you can tell she's more excited than frightened, but she kept a close eye on our friend who was doing the cutting.

And here she is - cast free once again!  Let's just hope this is the last one for a really, really long time. She's not completely out of the woods - so has to go back in four weeks to make sure her joint isn't locked.  We're working with her to bend, stretch and use her arm more and arm every day.  In fact, she's cheerleading tomorrow night with the varsity cheerleaders for her first high school football game experience!  Go big or go home!

Freedom!

Aunt Stace's Wedding

David's sister got married this weekend on what turned out to be a gorgeous weekend!  The forecast called for rain, but it ended up being sunny in the late afternoon and just perfect.  The girls have been SO excited for weeks now - this is the first wedding they've been intimately involved with - and they loved it!   

I assure you Caroline is not in pain - it's just her weird smile these days!

CE is our resident "poser" - always media ready, that one!  Look at pretty Stace!

Stacey looked so gorgeous in her wedding dress and the church was glowing with flowers and excitement.  Carrigon was the flower girl and quite the stunt performer to get herself out of photos - but we did manage to get a few with her in them.  The wedding photos are so gorgeous - and WAY better than these phone photos I'm sharing - but I couldn't wait to show them off!

A view from the back of the photographer's camera - see much better than mine!

CE supervising the photo shoot (she's her Mama's child, y'all)

The good looking Cain crew (love how Mama threw that hand on her hip)

Stacey and David

Carrigon photobombing - it tickled her so!

Jamie and Carrie

I caught her still once!

With Jamie

This next picture gives a pretty accurate view of what it was like to get al the kiddos smiling and standing still.  Makes me laugh - I have no idea where Caroline got the idea to hold her dress out - but hey, if it works, it works.  Aunt Stacey and Uncle Jamie are sure to have some good laughs from the photos of this crew.

We had the pleasure of seeing so many of David and Stacey's family that we don't get to see enough. Though the girls see Stella frequently, it's not enough for them.  They sure love Aunt Stella.

Aunt Stella and little mama

Catherine Ellis was very concerned about the kiss at the end and even covered her eyes - such a silly willy, that one.  She adores Jamie and is so excited he's officially a part of the family.

The reception was at the church and all we Cain ladies talked about all day was wedding cake - it's the best part!  The cakes were beautiful and yummy!

Drinking milk with their cake

They had quite a crowd of spectators 

It was a wonderful day, a beautiful ceremony and a great welcoming of Jamie into the Cain family and Stacey into the Woodley family!