Sam is 9!

Sam turned 9 this week!    It is hard to believe I have a 9 year old!   

We always get the limo for his birthday- here is Emerson dancing away!   I think this is the last year she will be able to stand up without hitting her head!

We took 7 boys to Top Golf today.   Very fun.

Even Caroline had to buckle her baby in the limo- baby goes EVERYWHERE with us-

My newest obsession- SPRAY PAINT

So I discovered a product that will change everything- I have gone a little spray paint crazy!    I did not like my old dining room chandalier- so a little Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray paint and awesomeness!

Sea World Christmas

We went to Sea World Christmas a few weeks ago.    We had so much fun!   It was a little weird to wear shorts and sing Christmas songs.    We have definitely gotten a lot of use from our season pass!

Nature Walks and Field Trips

I got to go on a field trip with Sams class today to the Arboretum.   This was not an ordinary visit to the Arboretum- we have been like 100 times.    We went on a nature tour and they collected bugs and looked for animals and the grossest part- the dissected Owl Pellets- yes you read it right- they dug out the rodent bones and placed them on a skeleton- YUCK!    I guess Owls wrap the bones in the fur and leave it behind and some very (un)lucky person gets to collect and dissect them!     The kids really liked it- I was so glad I didn't have to help them.   Here are the pictures.   I got to know a few of the kids Sam goes to school with- anyone who knows me knows that I used to go eat lunch with Sam and ask his friends a thousand questions to decide if Sam could play or not!   Now at his new school he doesn't get to bring a friend to the lunch table- so this was my only chance to "interview" them!   Ha!   (No I am not an overprotective parent- just concerned =)

Bitten by the Crafting Bug

 Tracey and I tea stained my fireplace this week.    I was really happy with the way it turned out.    I keep thinking I will do my cabinets but I may just do the bathroom ones to "practice" first.    I dont think I am brave enough to paint my kitchen ones by myself.    

 My friend came over Tuesday night and we made these cute burlap wreaths.    I found them on pintrest of course!     I thought they turned out super cute!    Dont be suprised if you get one for Christmas this year!    It may be my crafty gift!

 I have also been looking for a way to hang up the kids art work!    I made this cute little board and hung it upstairs in the play area!    Emerson was so excited!    As you can tell she has hung up all of her stuff.

 I also made these cute burlap table runners.    The second one I made for Tracey turned out cuter- it has a ruffle on it.     I told you I got very crafty this week!

Halloween

Finally, here are the pictures from 2 weeks ago!    The kids loved trick or treating in the new neighborhood. In fact, Caroline asked me today if we could go trick or treating today!   I think the candy stash is running low so she had a great idea to refill it!
Halloween is also my moms birthday so we made dinner over here and then went out!    The kids all changed their costumes- they had been to the Fall Fest at church and then preschool trunk or treat and boy scouts so they were tired of the original costumes they had picked out!

Here are pictures from the Fall Festival at church and also Trunk or Treat at the preschool.    LOTS and LOTS of candy at the Ruby house.    

 Our class hosted the Curious George booth- the kids loved it!

 Brooke & Sam racing boats by blowing with a straw

 Caroline looking for candy in the elephant trunk

 The girls LOVED feeding the goats with bottles- I think they would have stayed here all night long feeding them!

Melissa and I hosted a booth at the Trunk or Treat- isn't the Rangers pumpkin too cute!    Melissa is so creative!

These are pictures from Kirt's birthday!    If you know Kirt you know that his birthday is HUGELY celebrated.   He takes off work every year- in his defense he also takes off on my birthday.    He had his entire day planned the night before- we walked Sam to school, I went to bible study and he went to shop for a new recliner (which I am protesting- we have enough furniture already), and then we ate lunch on the patio at MiCocina.    Then he took the kids to Top Golf when Sam got home and then dinner and dessert!    It was a full day of fun!    Happy birthday to Kirt!

 We had the Quatro Leches (4 milk) cupcake at LaDuni- Delish! 

Dinner at Pan Vino- a small woodfired pizza restaurant near our house

 More pictures at LaDuni- we also went to Top Golf and the kids LOVED it!   

I helped Sam's teacher out with decorating the door for Red Ribbon Week next week- it is Drug Awareness week at his school.    It was fun!    I hope we win!   I dont know what the prize is but I think it looks really good!    You can see Sam's "cool" picture right beside the word "do"

Field Trip Fun

 We went to the zoo with Emerson's class at school.    We had so much fun riding the monorail and watching a lion feeding and feeding giraffes.

 That was not one of my girls hands- they were not getting anywhere near that giraffe tongue- they dropped their lettuce and ran

Acting like a monkey

Marriage Retreat