38

So, on my actual birthday, I was able to run 13 miles with a group of friends in the morning. Then, we went to the Parish Festival at St. Vincent's and had some great Mexican food lunch. We also had a block party in the afternoon we stopped by with some neighbors. After the kids went to bed, John and I watched the moon for a while (yes, we did). It was a total eclipse and blue moon and very interesting to see. The last time it happened was 32 years ago.  I borrowed some better pictures from a friend that did a better job than my cell phone. It was a fun, relaxing birthday

Elizabeth's mass buddy at the Parish Festival

Walk for the Poor

The kids participated in the walk for the poor at the church today. The girls walked with their Daisy troop and Jack ran the whole thing.

all the girl scout troops

Jack wanted his picture with Pope Francis

Daisy troop

All the school kids that participated

Birthday Bash

My group of friends surprised me this year with a birthday dinner. Was totally unexpected, but a very nice evening. 

 Yes, I am 38 and making that face before doing the tequila shot

Karina organized the suprise

Chick-Fila Spirit Night

We took the McCarty girls with us for the evening while their mom had a teacher's conference. Since it was Chick-Fila spirit night, they had a blast eating and playing. The Rogers fire department was there too and the kids loved seeing the firetruck.

Jack and Meritt

Having a beer the next day--a root beer!

Nutcracker

The girls tried out for the Nutcracker through their ballet school and were cast as baby mice! They were so excited! They will have practices every Saturday until the performance in December.

Reading at Church

Last spring I met with the principal and monseigneur to encourage more elementary children participation in the school masses. St. Vincent only allowed jr. high students to read at mass. After discussing it with them, I was able to come up with a schedule for the teachers to follow this year which would allow everyone to have a chance reading at mass. Ms. Seiler's first grade class was assigned the all school mass today and Elizabeth was chosen to read a petition. She was so excited! I was able to watch her read. I wanted to bottle up all that excitement

Daisy Hiking

Well, the girls joined the Daisy group at their school and today was the first outing. The group is all first grade and kindergarten girls. We met at Crystal Bridges and went on a nature hike to earn one of their petals.

Strike a pose!

A Girl in Heels

 Anna loves heels, well all the girls do. She wanted to wear them to church!

New Desk

Since we got a new computer for the kids in August, we moved Jack's desk downstairs. Jack has been missing his desk, so I found one that I thought I could fix up. Jack went with me to pick out the paint colors. Jack cleaned up the desk Friday afternoon. John helped me sand it down. The girls painted the top coat of the desk and both drawers. Jack helped me with each coat Saturday and Sunday. I think it turned out pretty good!

Going to Sue Sue's House

I found Anna on google maps with Kate looking at our house. They figured out how to move and I hear them saying, I'm going to get on the highway. Well, by the time went over there, they were actually really close to the highway and Anna kept saying, "I'm going to Sue Sue's house, which exit do I get off?" It was really cute. After a while, they gave up and at the end of the day, they asked, if they were there yet, so I googled the Frazier's house and they were excited to see it. Finally made it!

Squirrel Cook-Out

We went to check out the squirrel cook-out downtown on the square. First we checked out the farmer's market and the girls loved holding the baby chicks and "milking" a cow. The squirrel cook-off is held each year right off the square. One of our neighbors was a contestant this year, so we went to see him, but he didn't have any samples left. We watched a few more contestants and the kids said they wanted to try something, so they did. I'm not even sure what they had. I do know there was 70% squirrel meat in it though.

TV crews. This is usually on the Food network. 

The truck with the announcer, conveniently parked in front of the 21C.

"tastes like chicken" sign. I'm not so sure. Check out the overalls

The city girls wanted to try the squirrel.

 

Jack tried it too. John and I did not...

Love Anna is holding her nose in this picture