Pumpkin Hill

Gabi's class took a field trip to Pumpkin Hill at Wildwood Park for the Arts. Parents were invited as chaperones/drivers, so Bella and I joined in the fun. A scenic hayride brought us to a field of hay bales and pumpkins, where each child was allowed to select one pumpkin to bring home. (Apparently they had planted pumpkin vines, but a freeze killed the plants, so we didn't actually see a growing pumpkin patch.) Afterwards, we ate cupcakes before heading home for a bath, lunch, and a nap.


Sisters at Wildwood


Gabi ready for a hayride


Kids on the hayride

Ms. Laura (left);	Olivia (right)

Girls at the entrance to Pumpkin Hill


Gabi and classmates climbing the hay bales


Gabi and Olivia running together


Annabelle at Pumpkin Hill


I wonder what a pumpkin feels like...


All three PreK3 classes

Issac hiding under hay bales (left);	New classmates Samantha and Sabrina (right)
Grey and Ava

Sisterly love


Gabi by the lake at Wildwood

Carving Pumpkins
At school the following day, Gabi's teacher carved a pumpkin for the kids. Gabi loved this demonstration and came home asking to carve her own little pumpkin.


Ms. Laura showing the kids the inside of her pumpkin


Class jack-o-lantern
(Oh, Gabi. What are you doing? And get those fingers out of your mouth!)


First, Gabi drew a face on her pumpkin


Daddy carved the face that Gabi had drawn


Bella picked up the pieces


Look at this, Mama!


Gabi's finished jack-o-lantern


Pumpkin-head Gabi

10-Year Reunion - High School

Two weeks ago, the girls and I drove to Texas for my high school 10-year reunion. Michael had a conference in Boston that weekend with all his co-workers, so he couldn't make it. (I don't think he was sad about that.) The girls always love a trip to Gramma Jane and Grampa's house, though. The reunion itself was definitely lame, but my friends and I hung out all weekend and enjoyed ourselves.

At Gramma Jane and Grampa's house

Blowing bubbles (still in pajamas) with Uncle Brian


Where's Gabi?


Peek-a-boo! (ballerina pose)


What fun we can have with a giant box!


Brandy and Melissa


Annabelle in her Notre Dame dress


Gabi playing animal dominoes


Me and my girls, decked out in support of the Irish


Notre Dame fans in the garden


All afternoon, Gabi watered the flowers and grass
and birdbath... and stepping stones... and patio


Bella was happy with Grampa until she saw Mommy


Gabi giving Uncle Brian a kiss


Playing blocks with Grampa

Gamewatch Party
We met at Syd's place for a football gamewatch party. Unfortunately, the local station elected to show the first ND touchdown and then switch to a different game, so we couldn't follow the UT-OU game with an ND gamewatch.


Gabi and Steph at the UTexas gamewatch


Bella reading to Sydney and Beth


Lori teaching Gabi how to cheer on Texas


The group at the game-watch party

Evening of the Reunion
The reunion itself was nothing special... though I suppose I could have included some pictures from the event, anyway... Oh, well.


Brandy and Gabi


Melissa, Beth, and Brandy at dinner before the reunion

Picnic at River Legacy
We met at the River Legacy playground on Sunday, a beautiful day for a picnic.


Katie and Gabi at River Legacy


Two-year-old Katie ready to slide


Gabi crossing the bridge


Amanda and Melissa, with daughters Katie and Bella


Brian serving lunch to his nieces


Bella loves being outside and getting attention


At the picnic table


Emily's fiance, Nick, is a comic book editor for Marvel in New York!


Lori, Steph, Amanda, Me (& Bella), Syd, and Emily at the park

Back home
I saw more friends at the reunion that didn't make it to our other weekend festivities. Allison, for instance, was at the reunion, but I just didn't take a picture with her. She came to visit me the following weekend, though, because one of her grad school friends was getting married in Little Rock.


Me with Allison and Monique