It's FALL!!

Well, ever since we moved here, we've been waiting for this thing they call FALL (or Autumn to some?!!?). Anyway, we are now experiencing it. It truly is wonderful! It is THE time celebrated most here in the midwest. There is a festival, pumpkin patch, or outdoor activity every week and/or weekend and everyone is outside, leaves are changing... In Texas, we know this is what SHOULD happen and we fool ourselves by buying warmer clothes when it really only "cools down" to 80. I will always be a Texas girl, but nothing beats this time here right now! So, we've been filling our time with all the fun things to do. Starbucks is getting lots of our business lately, too! The kids even like the "hot" chocolate from there...even though Porter spills half of it on his shirt. We are wearing jeans and sweaters and jackets and smelling crisp air...when it's not raining like it has been today. So, here are a few of our pictures of the past month, plus some of when Papa and Gigi came to visit. We had lots of fun with them...

Back Home...

Well, we took our first trip back to Texas (Dallas where the fam is) last week. The kids aced the flight--woohoo! We stayed busy every day visiting friends, family, and eating and shopping at all the places we don't have here. We made sure to fit in some yummy tex-mex, too! We saw all our buddies, new baby Maddox, and preggo Raelyn who is super cute! We stayed at Nana's house...each morning when she would leave for work, Piper would grab onto her leg and say "MY Nana!" and make Nana cry. They have a special bond:) Gigi babysat a few times and the twins kept her busy, I'm sure! One night, I got to go downtown with Tyler and his team from work and eat at Stephen Pyle's restaurant...AMAZING! Fun night out with the grown ups! However, there seems to never be enough time to do and see all, though. We'll be back at Thanksgiving and try again then:) Here's a few pics from our week...

All wearing Nana's glasses

Clay and baby Maddox...very natural, huh?

Raelyn and Tarrah talking very seriously:)

Porter and Myla

Aly and Isaac...

Well, it's a sad day in the Price house. Our best friends from Portland, Allison and her little boy, Isaac, just flew back home. They were here with us for a full week and time flew by! We had full days with the kids...children's museum, farmstead, play centers, the gym, church, eating lunch outside and playing on the swing set, yummy dinners out at night, and Allison and I even managed to get plenty of shopping in and some running outside in the COOL weather we had last week!! We laughed plenty, too - that was the MOST fun!! We think Piper and Isaac have a special bond. He talked to her in a very sweet voice and they sat by each other in the car...Piper often putting "Terri" (her most favorite stuffed puppy) on Isaac's head. Porter loved Isaac's car collection and having new people to play with and show off for. We will miss them lots and can't wait to go see them after Aly has her baby in the Spring.

We had to visit Chick Fil A several times as they don't have it in Portland. Here we ate the ice cream outside on the sidewalk because it was FREEZING inside!

School Time

When we were house hunting in April, we came across a Parents Day Out program at a local church. It so happened that our realtor's grandson was also in pre school there, so she took us by, we toured it, and got on the list for our kids to start a one day a week program in the Fall. Well, the time is here! We've been talking it up for months and especially most recently as Porter has decided to have some serious separation anxiety issues that makes us leave the gym and even church because of his screaming (he's never done this before now!). So, this morning was anxious for mommy! We prayed many times and reminded him over and over..."No crying at school, right?" So, we get there with backpacks on and lunch boxes in hand...all very excited!!! Porter runs down the hallway with Piper smelling the roses, trailing behind. Once in their room (we went last week to preview the room and meet the teachers), they both run in to play. So, I tell the teacher I'm making a break for it as Porter seems happy. Well, not so fast. The crying comes!!! Miss Amy (how convenient), their teacher, distracts Porter quickly (Piper was playing in the "kitchen" and never looked back) and I step out. I have to turn in some paperwork and after that, I go back to check and hear no crying and ask other moms to check on Porter. They said he had his blankie and paci, but was not crying anymore. Phew! I called midday to check and the director said they were playing happily on the playground...no more crying. At pick-up time, I peek in the room first and see them both sitting with new friends playing at a table...no paci or blankie with Porter. As I walk in they are happy to see me and I them! Miss Amy said Porter napped, but Piper didn't, they both were awesome, and they fought over pretzels at lunch (this is funny because I did not pack pretzels...some poor child must have been missing theirs). So, we went to Starbucks for treats - mommy needed one, too - after a day of fun and relief (I went to the gym and the mall while they were in school)!!! We are praying the rest of the the week and school next week goes as smoothly! Thank you, Lord, for your provision today!

More Visitors...

We've had a whirlwind of guests lately and it's been so fun! Sara, Brody, and Asher--our best buds from Katy came for a long weekend. We stayed busy and had a blast, but the trip was way too short!! We took them to Jack Stacks for some good KC BBQ; visited the farmstead--what kid wouldn't like feeding goats and running around a huge farm? We ate our meals outside in the nice weather on the patio, let the kids play in and out, and Sara and I got to get some scrapbooking done during naps and bedtimes!! How nice!

Then, Nana and Patrick came for the Labor Day holiday/my birthday. We always love having them here. One day they babysat and Tyler took me shopping at Town Center for my bday, to dinner and a movie. It had been a while since we had gotten to do that and it was so enjoyable...walking leisurely, eating in peace without having to scarf my food in case a child decides they've had enough, and seeing a "grown up" movie (Bourne Ultimatum). My mom also took me shopping at Legends one day--so fun! For my bday cake, we all picked out a piece we wanted from Dean and Deluca and stuck them together with candles atop. I think that's the way to go!!! Their trip was too short as well, but as soon as we know it, our other friends all the way from Oregon will be here next week!!!

In the mean time, I'm getting ready to see the kids off to pre school next week! We met their teachers and saw their classroom yesterday. They seemed to really enjoy it and their teachers seem super nice. It's just one day a week, but it still seems wierd and a little sad. I know it will be good for us all, though. Piper is already attached to her lunch box and backpack!

Teen!!!

We had the privilege of having Kristine (Tyler's sister) come to stay with us for a whole week! The kids quickly dubbed her as "Teen" and it stuck. It didn't take long for her to become their new favorite person. They loved having her ride next to them in the back seat; drinking her coke and chewing her gum; and having someone else to be so silly with. She was even nice enough to babysit one night while Mommy and Daddy went out to dinner with the neighbors!! Thanks, Teen! We had a great time showing her all around our new stomping grounds, going to the gym, out to eat, and just having another person to hang out and talk with! Before Teen left this morning, she was thoughtful enough to strip her bed of the linens so they could be washed, and fold up her blankets and set them by the bed, so...as we walked upstairs this afternoon to lay the kids down for a nap, Piper passed Teen's room and said "Hey-where'd Teen covers go??" Too cute. We miss you and hope to have you back soon!!!

See more pics here...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?&mode=fromsite&collid=27674666306.585971270306.1187487797661&conn_speed=1

Movie Magic!

We discovered that the AMC theater down the road from us offers FREE movies for kids every Wednesday during the summer!!! I thought we'd give it a go. This week was Charlotte's Web. The movie started at 10am, but we got there at 9:30 to beat the crowds. So much for that...kids everywhere!!! Anyway, we got our tickets, Porter and Piper each gave theirs to the ticket taker to tear and give back. We walked straight to the snack bar and stood in line for our kids' snack pack...a small popcorn, fruit snacks, and a HiC. Walked into the dark, big theater and found our seats not too far from the very front! Snuggled into our big movie chairs, the twins acted like they'd done this 100 times before! Finally, the movie starts! For the first 30 minutes they watched the huge screen in awe, motionless. Piper was quite the commentator..."that pig silly", "pig get out", "pig get bath". Porter didn't say a word, but stared at the screen and munched his popcorn. After about 30 minutes, Piper got a little restless and proceeded to get up and down and down and up and walk over to Porter and say "Hi, Porter" over and over until he acknowledged her. Despite a little movement from our section, we made it thru the ENTIRE movie!!! We all clapped at the end (Tyler hates when people clap at movies, but it seemed very appropriate today!). I think Porter would have stayed for an encore, but we all made it out to the bright daylight and are looking forward to our next magical movie experience (Over the Hedge when Aunt Steen is here in two weeks!). I love a good movie, but I love watching my kids at one even more!