Abilene Fall Festival

Sunday evening, we took the boys to a Fall Festival that was held by the same church that they attend preschool at. It was a free event that was open to the public, you just had to register beforehand. The boys were so excited to wear their costumes. I love their costumes, I think they are so stinkin' cute!! I got them at a consignment sale I went to last month, I can't believe they had both Mario and Luigi and in the boys' size, but I'm so glad they did.

Seriously, are they not adorable?!

There were so many things to do at the Festival, three bounce houses, a train, horse rides, face painting, a live band, TONS of bible games, candy, etc.

We got there right as it was getting started and the boys wanted to ride the train first. I'm so glad we did because the line when we left was SO long. Evan was very excited to ride the train, even though he doesn't look like it.

Next, the boys took rode their very first horse. I was a little nervous, but the boys were not. The boys walked right up and didn't back.

They were able to go around several times, and Carter had a huge smile on his face the whole time. He just looked so happy.

Evan looked so intense, he was having fun but he was so serious (that's how he looks on carnival rides too). When he got off, he ran up to me and was talking a mile a minute--"I held on tight, I didn't fall, it was fun, I wasn't scared"

When he went by and saw I was taking pictures he said "cheese"!

When we went inside to play some games, a clown came up to the boys. I think this is the first time the boys have ever seen a clown. She knelt down and Carter stiffened up, looked straight ahead and just gave her the side eye and then his eyes started watering. I just knew he was about to lose it. But, then she did some magic tricks. She gave Evan a red ball and had him close his hand and then when he opened it, there were two. Then, Carter got over his fear and when she gave him two and he opened his hand and there were three, he got the biggest kick out of it. But, the best trick was when she said "oh no, where's my ball" and pulled it out from behind Greg's ear, both boys just thought that was the best thing ever! They actually talked about it in the car on the way home. I'm so glad that we happened to be passing her at just the right time and she picked them to sit down and do some tricks for, because it was just so fun for them being able to be involved in the tricks.

They had an auditorium filled to the brim with different bible games. They all had different themes and messages, it was so creative. After you participated in a game, you got some candy for your bag.
Here's Carter doing the ring toss.

They had a ladder set up that was decorated like a tree and the kids could climb up and look through the telescope and see a picture of Jesus. The boys thought it was so fun.

I'm so glad we took the boys to this. They had so much fun. I couldn't believe it was all free, it even included a hot dog and chip dinner for everybody. It's an annual thing and I can't wait to take the boys next year. They got several compliments on their costumes, so I'm going to have to start thinking of cute twin costumes that they can wear next year. :)

Nicholas Sparks and our Weekend

The boys have been begging us to take them back to the mall to play with the Thomas train at Barnes and Noble and every time they find a coin, they ask us to take them to the mall to throw it in the fountain. So, we took the boys there Friday night. There's also a lego table that Evan had so much fun at.

I ordered the boys a train set on Zulily several months ago and we're going to give it to them for Christmas. I hope they like it half as much as they like this Thomas one at the mall.

I gave each boy a little pile of pennies and they got the sit there and throw them all in the fountain. We just drove by the mall today and saw that they have a Christmas tree up outside next to this fountain and Christmas decorations up already. I have a feeling that we'll be spending a lot of time there this holiday season, the boys love looking at Christmas trees.

After we got home, the boys begged to have a picnic. It was freezing outside and dark, so we let them have a picnic in the dining room floor and they were happy as could be.

Saturday morning, we took the boys to Chick-Fil-A to play and get ice cream. We had a coupon for a free one that we needed to cash in. The boys took turns with spoons, straws and just licking the ice cream out of the bowl.

There met Rick Allen while we were there. He's running for Congress and he came over and introduced himself.

That evening, we took the boys to the park. Carter LOVES drums, he turns anything he can into drums and he is just in love with this little drum set at the park. And no, Meemaw and Papaw--he does NOT need a drum set. ;)

Caroline and I were going to see Nicholas Sparks talk at the Lady Antebellum amphitheater and so we decided to meet at the park and she could say hi to the boys and then Greg could just take them home. He was so excited for a boys night with them. Look at Evan's face--he just loves his aunt Caroline.

There were so many people who wanted to see Nicholas Sparks talk, that they had to move the event from the library to the amphitheater. They had food trucks there that we got dinner from and we brought chairs and a blanket and enjoyed our evening.

Afterwards, I got a book signed by him.

Monday, we went to Meemaw and Papaw's house for the day and they had fun trick or treat buckets full of goodies for the boys. I wish I would have got better pictures. They were filled with all kinds of fun things. Lots of things that lit up, a little mini fan that both boys used so much that they wore the batteries out, Halloween peeps, Halloween books, etc.

I love how Carter is looking at the bucket like, is that for me?

Evan digging into his basket.

These light up wands are a huge hit also. Carter is actually sleeping with his right now. He takes it everywhere. Evan is willing to leave his down stairs while he sleeps, but as soon as he gets up, he grabs it again.

We went to a fall festival on Sunday night, but I'm going to do a separate post for that since I took several pictures.

Turtle Park

We took the boys to the park the other day and instead of playing on the playground like they normally do, they wanted to explore. There's a neat outdoor theater and the boys had a blast playing on the stairs and on the stage.

There's a little pond with a walking trail that goes around it and the entire park. I've never paid much attention to it because the boys are always playing on the equipment, but Carter wanted to go walking, so we checked it out. There's a gazebo thing that looks over the pond and it's filled with turtles. The kids that were there when we got there were feeding them and I guess they all come up for the food and there were probably 10-20 turtles there. The boys thought it was so much fun. We've been to that park a bunch and had no idea about the turtles.

After that, the boys ran around on the stage for a little bit more.

We found a frog. :)

I love when the boys want to explore because it means lots of running. The harder they play, the better they sleep.

The boys on the merry go round before we left.

Ever since we went to the park with the turtles, the boys have been begging to go back. We just call it Turtle park now. We actually looked up online what you feed turtles so we can feed them next time we go.

My friend Brandi's mom gave the boys these Arizona jerseys for their 2nd birthday. They were too big last fall to wear, but fit perfect now. I thought the boys looked so cute. I've posted before about how I think little boys in football jerseys are the cutest thing ever.

After the park, we took the boys to Taco Bell. We asked them what they wanted for dinner and they said tacos. The boys were so good at dinner.

They were toddlers, but very quiet and listened well. Somebody actually stopped me in the parking lot to tell me how well behaved they were inside. I love to tuck those compliments away and remember them on a day when the boys are acting like they've lost their minds.

Columbus Day Festival

Last Saturday morning, we went to a Columbus Day festival at Evans Towne Center. We'll pretty much go to anything that's free that has activities for kids. There were some little petting zoo companies set up and the boys had a great time seeing the animals.

 

There was a cage set up with ducks and chickens and the kids could go in and feed them. It was really cute.

A dance school was there for entertainment. They had all their different level classes come out to put on a performance.

Evan getting his food for the duck.

Afterwards, the boys had a little picnic in the car.

The boys were playing the other day and found their winter gear, so this is how Carter has been running around the house.

And this is how he dressed for the park, when it was 80 degrees out-he took the hat and glove off before going to the park, but this is how he rode to the park. And yes, he only wore one glove.

We went for our first walk in our neighborhood since moving in. The boys loved it, so we'll have to start making it a regular thing.

Pumpkins

Last year, I went to Target the day after Halloween and got some fun pumpkin decorating things on clearance, I've been excited for the boys to use them ever since. :) Instead of having a special night of decorating pumpkins, we decided to do it a couple mornings this year.

The boys with their pumpkins and decorations, ready to get started.

Last year, I let the boys paint the pumpkins. This year, I gave them a choice of painting or using markers and they chose markers.

First, I let the boys decorate all the pumpkins with markers.

When they were done, they each got to do a Mr Potato Head pumpkin. I think these are the cutest little decorating kits, I'm so glad I got them last year because I haven't seen them this year. Plus, we can use them year after year. The boys LOVED them. I also let them decorate the smaller ones with stickers.

I told Evan I wanted to get a picture of him and his pumpkin and this is what he did. I guess he thought it was enough to just be touching it. :)

Afterwards, I let the boys take the mini pumpkins in the backyard and do whatever they wanted with them. Carter thought it was the funniest thing to roll them down the slide, go get them and do it all over again.

Evan told me this was his pumpkin store and he was selling his pumpkin.

We had some overripe bananas, so I decided to make banana cookies (bananas, rolled oats, mini chocolate chips, bake for 15 minutes) and they've turned out great in the past. But, they didn't this time. We couldn't pick them up, the boys had to eat them with a spoon. Although, they didn't seem to mind.

We went to the pumpkin patch at Marvin Methodist right next to our house and got some more pumpkins to decorate.

Carter thought he was something pulling the wagon and didn't want any help.

I didn't get a picture of the boys the second time we decorated, but we used the Elmo and Cookie Monster the second time. So, these are sitting on our front porch.

I think pumpkin decorating that doesn't require carving is the best thing ever for 3 year olds. They had so much fun and it was so easy.