Bracken Pumpkin Patch 2011

We love this little pumpkin patch on a hill in front of a preschool and church...it is in Garden Ridge, TX.  Never fails to be a family favorite.

My pumpkins in the patch...

As always a fun time and I am loving the great pictures we are getting from our camera. But I do think you can't go wrong with such cute kids as the subject. Happy Halloween!!!

Acknowledgements...

Last week was a busy week for sure.  On Thursday we had another ARD for Zach at his school...Texas term for IEP (individualized education plan).  Part of the fun of having a special ed kiddo.  :)  This one was painless and actually good.  We went to review speech goals since the speech pathologist this year is new...she retested him and set up new goals based on that.  His speech time is dwindling, but thankfully he still qualifies based on the fact he can't perform the tasks in real life situations that he can on a test or when asked by a teacher.  In other words, he knows what to do and how to answer, but can't impliment in real life.  He also finally got picked up for OT (occupational therapy).  He has been tested at school since he was 4 and never qualified. It is hard one in school, because you have to show how it impacts him on an academic basis.  Since he is so smart, no one thought it was an imparement.  He is sturggling with writing tasks and crying a lot when asked to do daily writing prompts.  He is having hte hardest time with creative writing.  Zach's world is black and white, imaginative play has never been a big thing with him, so this is no shock to us.  He is also becoming more and more sensitive to his surroundings.  For me this was hard to hear, but good to know they are noticing and trying to help instead of ignoring his needs.  He is getting what he needs and that is what is most important.  

Before the ARD his grade had an awards ceramony.  He was recognized three times...perfect attendence, the Responsibility Award for his classroom and the All A Honor roll.  So proud of him and all his hard work.  I can't believe how fast time has flown and how big he is, but he is growing up and making me so proud of the person he is.  

Here he is below...

Hearing his name called...

 Looking at his inclusion Teacher, she has been a big support and help to him this year...she visits him daily and helps him during rough spots in the day.  Fabulous lady.

 And his super Teacher Mrs. Webb.  She is also his best friends mom and my good friend.  She is a great teacher and has a huge heart.  She genuinely loves Zachary as he is and I am so thankful for that each and every day as I send him off in her care.

Here is the first 9 weeks, lets see how he does as the year goes on...

WINNER!

Zachary went with Brandon and my dad to see Ft. Macon this summer while we were at Atlantic Beach.  He had wanted to see it so badly and I am so glad my dad, a huge history lover, went with him.  What a treat for a little boy to do that with their grandfather.  As soon as he got back from Ft. Macon he said he wanted to be a civil war soldier for Halloween...this was July, so I wasn't sure if the idea would stick.  He said he wanted to be a union officer, not confederate too.  So months went on and he still wanted to be a civil war soldier.  So I searched and found him a costume and a corresponding book, Magic Tree House Civil War on Sunday.  They have to be a story book character for their school costume parade.  Last night he was given the chance to wear his costume to his social group he attends on Tuesday nights.  He was so excited to wear it.  Brandon took him and sent me the following video.  Such a wonderful night for a sweet child...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwETjzO-wn0

Pictures...

The pumpkin patch wasn't what we had hoped or expected, but we went, we saw and we marked it off the list. :) It was so very hot and there was little shade...very busy and no pumpkins you could get without taking a long tractor ride that cost extra money....So we plan to hit our usual patch this weekend and know that it will be a success.  Then the kids and I can paint our pumpkins per our annual tradition.  So fun!
But a few photos from the trip to share...we did have fun and saw something new.

Waiting in line for the slide...she loved it.

 Shooting a corn canon...total boy!

 Miss priss in the corn maze...

 Alone on the tractor ride, she loved that thing...

 Enjoying her roasted corn...it was YUMMY!

 Little man....So very tired this day from a big weekend!

 In the corn maze...thankfully we made it through. :)

 BAA BAA!

 Oink Oink...

 Down the slide they go....

 Love those smiles...

 On the tractor together...

 Full of spunk...It was so darn hot out there I am not sure how they could jump around.  88 in mid October is HOT!

 Running across hay bails...

 My boys...

 My little man...

 Oh my Erin...

 The girls...

 I love her to bits...and she totally knows it. :)

 Deep in thought?

 Fun, fun...

Goings on around here...

I don't have any fun photos to share, but promise to share some after the weekend...we plan to travel to Hondo, Texas to a fun pumpkin patch and corn maze this weekend...something new we haven't done before, I hope it will be fun and worth the drive.
We have been super busy around here lately and that is always a good thing, but makes it hard to keep up with the blog and lots of other odds and ends that I need to get to each day.
Erin is loving school...she really loves her lunch bunch days where she goes from 9-3...who would have thought?  I would love to send her every day, but it is expensive and selfishly, I like having her around with me too.  She is really starting to show some interest in reading.  She is sounding out words, talking about what words start with what letter, asking lots of questions on how to say and spell things.  She is constantly drawing and "writing"...thankfully on paper and not her walls right now. :)  She is at that remarkable fun age where it all seems to just click.  I love it. I am also a bit sad to see my baby start to become such a big girl...where did the time go???  She is a ball of joy, energy, fun, laughter and lots of loves. We are so blessed every day with our Erin Taylor...She is becoming a bit more defiant and outspoken, but when push comes to shove, she is a great little girl.  Loving soccer and doing pretty well considering at this age I am not sure any of them know what is really going on...she is usually happiest with her family and big brother.
Zachary is busy.  No way around it.  He is also playing soccer and has 2 practices a week and games on Saturday.  He has therapy 4 days a week directly after school for an hour and his social group on Tuesday nights.  He has been busy with school things too...events at school seem to pop up this time of year.  He went to his first high school football game with Brandon last weekend and LOVED it.  He is going to his first slumber/birthday party on Friday night. I am a bit (okay A LOT) nervous about it, but it is with a family we are good friends with and I know he will be okay.  I have faith in him to make good choices.  He is super excited about it.  He went up the street last weekend and played with a boy in the neighborhood. I usually never let him go alone for  several reasons....Our street is right off the main road and even though they can go ride bikes at the end of it, the slope in it leads right to a busy road.  The boy that always comes down to invite him out usually does so at awful times and it is a bit wild.  But Sunday I chose to step out of my usually over protective mom box and try...I asked him if he wanted to go and reminded him of why I don't like to let him.  He said he would follow all the rules, stay on our street, watch out for traffic and be super safe. I asked him what would would happen to me if something happened to him...he told me, I know you would be heartbroken, so I will be careful.  I was sold on that.  He did great and I only wore a small groove in the floor pacing.
He is doing really well in school and loving it!  He has some great new therapists at the new facility that are all working together with him and I am loving what I am seeing. All in all good things...
Brandon is busy, but doing well too.  He is gearing up for his eye surgery next month. He has chosen to go ahead and get his done, so no more glasses or contacts.  He is super excited, I am totally freaked out by eye drops, so I have no idea how he can be gung ho on this, but they are his peepers not mine. He has been working so hard lately and got put in for field grade officer of the quarter again...so proud of him.  We should know soon...or should I say...we should be able to announce our next base and his school selection very SOON!
I am busy too...running kids here to there...working up at the school doing lots of volunteer work.  Getting projects around the house done and working on cleaning out so much stuff right now.  With a move around the corner it is hard not to feel the need to clean out.
I promise pictures soon!!!!

Not a real blog post...

A friend of mine posted this link on her FB page and I was so excited about it, I had to share. I never wanted to wear scarves because honestly, the act of tying them scared me a bit...here is a lady demostrating a bunch of ways to wear your scarf...ENJOY!

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/fashion/this-is-fun/