Southlake Fire House Visit

We went with playgroup to the Southlake Fire House last week. This has become an annual event for the playgroup but was our first time to ever go. The first thing that surprised me was that the Southlake Fire House is like the Taj Mahal. Not sure why that's so surprising but, it was super nice. Every ounce of it was extremely clean, there was a huge gourmet kitchen, the table was gigantic and could seat probably 20 people with a personalized Southlake Fire House logo on it.
 They entry way was marble with a huge emblem on the floor that I was a little afraid to step on. We had a reservation...that's right to view the station and get a tour.

 We each brought snacks for the firemen and Kinley made a thank you drawing and note to put in it.

This is apparently a house on fire with a firemen putting out the fire with a hose.

"Thank You Firemen" Love Kinley

The firemen showed us all around the firehouse, their sleeping quarters, their clothes lockers, their lieutenant offices, and even their recliner room.
Yes, recliner room.
They each have their own recliner that is specific to them so that they don't have to fight over a recliner. And you have to have been with the station at least a year to even be invited in the recliner room. One guy was standing on the tile outside the room the whole time we were in there and when we asked why he said he had only been there 6 months. The more senior fireman did not invite him in with us. But, Kinley ran in there and plopped in a chair like she owned the place!
 We will make sure to be invited in next time!

The truck they showed us was a brand new truck that had never been used and was shiny and clean and pristine.
 The kids loved it.

Ty is examining the hose...

Then we went to look at their gear lockers and tried on their heavy helmet.
Some of us just played inside the empty lockers they had.

The firemen were so nice and asked us time and time again if they could take pictures for us.

They were all mesmerized by the fireman pole.

The newest member of the station (the one not invited in the recliner room) was basically in charge of showing us around and helping us. They made him put on and demo his uniform for us. He put on the oxygen mask and everything and showed the kids what he looked like and sounded like with all his gear on.
The goal is for the kids to recognize that he is the same guy as before and he is not scary. They don't want to run into a house to rescue a kid and have them hide or run from a fireman because he looks scary.
Some were open to taking a pic with him and others were not.

It was such a fun day with all these cute kiddos!

Visit to the Ranch

This past weekend Ben was out of town with his dad to go watch K State play TCU so the kids and I made a quick trip to East Texas to visit Inie and Bull. 

My kids get so excited to go visit the ranch.  They did great in the car, slept all night and I could not have asked for a better trip from them.  We played around a lot at this house this trip. Kinley read books with Inie for what seemed like forever, we played Go Fish and Old Maid, she put on a show singing her Thanksgiving Program songs for Inie and Bull and we went down to the pond multiple times.

At the pond Kinley found this bucket I think Inie uses as a seat when her dog, Tebow, wants to swim.  But, she just found some sticks and used it as a drum.

Watch out Marina!

I also found her like this putting her dolls to bed and reading them a story.

We also went down to the ranch and explored all over the ranch on foot, in the work truck and in Bull's Ranger.

 

Kinley and Ty were super helpful sweeping up Bull's shop. We put them to work early in our family.

Such a classic pic of Bull and his ranch dog, Trey.

We stopped down by the river and let the kids explore a little. It basically turned into a digging up mud adventure.

They loved exploring the campsite that all the boys have built.

 

Kinley seriously wanted to nap inside this container. They have 10 beds set up inside and she just thought it was so cool.

She settled for pretending to drive the old RV.

Tree climbing is fun!

We played around in a hog pen. Bull said he caught 7 hogs inside one this week. Crazy!

The cows are always the biggest hit! We tried and tried to get out and pet one but they were all too scared of us and ran away quick. Maybe next time.

Oh how thankful I am for honey and boss!!! We can't wait for our next trip to the Ranch!

November so far...

Just a little update about what November has held for us so far... Kinley & Ty both had Pumpkin Waffles with Ms. Kim. I couldn't go to either but Donna took some pics for me of Kinley and Arabella's class.

   

Kinley standing next to Kierce...she just LOVES him. 

 

And who doesn't love to show up and unexpectedly match a BFF at school! 

Kinley and AG think alike I guess. 

 

 Maddi turned one and they had the perfect little "You are my Sunshine" party with breakfast for dinner and decorating sunflower pots and all sorts of fun. 

 

Ty was hamming it up with a mouth full...

   

 For playgroup we went to see Curious George at the Fort Worth Children's museum.

 

Ty with Ryland hugging George 

 

I think all their favorite thing was this caged stuffed animal space. I am thinking we may need some chickens that lay eggs around our house. 

 

Of course we went through the rest of the museum too.

   

Water play in November....only in Texas 

 

Ty was loving the train table 

 

Brother / Sister cattle herding 

 

Ty on the bed of nails

   

Brothers and sisters on the turtle 

Maybe my FAVORITE thing we have started in November is Brother / Sister Gymnastics! We intended to start in mid-september after school started and we got into a routine but, Kinley had her accident and we couldn't use her hand in activities so we started in November. It was so hard to keep Ty out of the gym all last year while Kinley was taking. He would dart inside if the door even cracked. He has been a little reserved at the beginning of class so far now that he is allowed in there but he warms up quickly. He is loving being with his buddies Hudson and Druz while Kinley is in class with Aslynn and Tatum. I think this may be one of the only combined activities they get to do together and it is just so much fun. These pics are super grainy because they are from far away through a window. I need to bring my big camera some day to take pics. 

 

Over the summer while we were out of class they put up the Legacy wall at Gymnastics Plus with pictures of people who took class there who's kids now take there. It's crazy how we've come full circle. 

 

 We also threw a surprise baby shower for Kinley's teacher Ms. Jessie. Donna is the room mom and she organized the whole thing. I helped a little by doing party favors for the kids, centerpieces and a couple shower games.  

So many moms helped that we literally threw that room together in 5 minutes. The class left for a "nature walk" and came back to a full on baby shower! 

 I think Ms. Jessie was genuinely surprised...which is a miracle because Kinley knew about it for the entire week and didn't tell her. She can.not keep a secret. She just grins ear to ear when she knows something. She kept saying "I will just tell Ms. Jessie we are having a birthday party...not a baby shower." No, Kinley...just don't tell her anything. Just say "hi Ms. Jessie."

   

Jessie opened gifts while all the kids played games and ate some snacks.

   

There was a pin the bottle on the baby game for the kids to play. An estimation game where they guessed how many M&M's were inside a baby bottle, and paper baby bottles for them to decorate and give to Ms. Jessie for her baby book.

We love Ms. Jessie so so much and will miss her tons while she is on maternity leave!
More November and fun times during the holiday season to come!