This year we decided to take our annual fall vacation in October, back in Branson, Missouri and enjoy the festive fun at Jellystone RV Resort. We went to Silver Dollar City, did a little shopping, and just hung out at camp. We participated in the pumpkin patch, chili cookoff, site decorating, costume contest, and trick or treating, too! Needless to say, we had a great vacation!
Nothing like PB&J when you're camping!
My little army men ready to trick or treat
Daddy and the boys hanging out playing
Cooper & Dennis riding a boat ride at Silver Dollar City
Cooper was fascinated in all the things people were making at SDC
Well, we finally managed to take some time off in October and November and do a little camping! After the rough, long, hot summer, it was nice to take a break!! This was Clayton's very first camping season and our first time to experience Jellystone Park in Branson and it was so much fun!!
We made one trip for fall break then went back about a week later to stay a week. During fall break, they had trick or treating for the kids, Halloween site decorating contest, a chili cook-off and a hayride...all of which we participated in and had a blast!
Our second trip, we did Dixie Stampede Christmas show...priceless for Cooper! He actually ate (which if you know Cooper, is a HUGE deal!) and I have never seen him sit so still as he did watching that show...he loved it!! We also rode the Ducks to see some Christmas lights and of course, what is Branson without a little holiday shopping!? Oh, and don't forget about adding to the Christmas ornament collection! Needless to say, it's not even Thanksgiving and I am ready to put up my tree!!
Cooper had a fun 4th birthday last Saturday at the Three Forks Nature Center. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the animals and we even got to pet a snake, beaver, and skunk! Cooper just had to have a "Go, Diego, Go!" theme, so the nature center was perfect for "Cooper Diego", as he calls himself.
Aunt Re-re helped the kids find their goodies on a scavenger hunt
Cooper found a clue...for what, I'm not sure, but he's really into clues
I made and decorated this cake. Coop was so excited about it and I made a jello poke cake with blue jello at his request...it was not bad, either!
After party was taking toys out and playing all evening
It's been quite sometime since I blogged! It's been just a little bit crazy around here! We have been in survival mode this summer. Dennis has worked practically non stop since May and I was just beginning to feel like I was recovering from having a baby, though very sleep deprived, when I began having gall bladder problems mid-July. About 2 1/2 weeks ago I had surgery and I am now feeling MUCH better. In fact, I don't think I knew how bad I felt until this week when I feel like myself again. We celebrated Dennis's 35th birthday on July 16th and other than that, we've just been trying to stay cool during this record breaking hot summer. Cooper started 3 year old preschool program two days a week at the church a couple weeks ago and we are finally getting into a routine, which is really helping me keep what little sanity I have left. And, I never would've made it to September if it wasn't for my dear, dear grandparents who have been amazing helping me with the boys all summer by taking Cooper home with them or staying with us here when I felt bad and after baby and surgery. I truly don't know what we'd have done without their help. Needless to say, the Rains' family is ready for fall vacation!!!
Coop and I had a "mommy and me" day today at the pumpkin patch! He was so thrilled to go on the hayride and pick a big pumpkin! We had lots of fun picking out some pumpkins and playing in "Pumpkin Land" with the games and hay maze. Even a little sporadic rain, couldn't ruin it!
I can't believe it's October 31st!! Last Sunday, Cooper and I carved our pumpkin and I put his costume together last weekend. I was so very proud of the costume because I made it! (sort of) I bought the overalls and he had the green long sleeve t-shirt, added a hankerchief and some gold colored felt and voila!! A scarecrow! I sewed the fringed felt on to look like straw. When Traci took his pictures last Sunday, I put brown eyeliner on his nose, too. (See the pics so far) His cap even has "straw" on it! He loves his costume, too. He's worn it twice already and he doesn't like to take it off.
I know the last picture looks very strange...I'm wearing a Halloween shirt and decorating my Christmas tree! Well, the reason for that is that I do it before Thanksgiving for holiday open house, and since the next couple weeks are rather full, I thought, why not do it this one. Dennis just thought it was hilarious to take that pic!
On another note, I officially start my new job as part time youth director at our church starting tomorrow! I get to kick it off with a hayride/ weenie roast! Woohoo!!
/s1600-h/003.JPG"> Our happy Jack-o-lantern
Cooper just wanted to play with the scoop and pick up stray seeds
Well, it's been quite a week! We haven't been gone a week straight, but it feels like it! Cooper and I went to Edmond for David and Grace's 3rd birthday party on Thursday, the 8th and came home Sunday. They all had so much fun playing and it was great ti visit with our friends! Happy Birthday, David and Grace!! I can't believe they're three!! We weren't sure if we were going to go anywhere, since Cooper was up Tuesday night really sick, but thankfully it was just a 24 hour stomach virus and he was great by Wednesday evening. We were home a few days and decided to go ahead and take a few days for a family trip starting Thursday. Guess who got Cooper's stomach bug on the way? That's right, that was the longest trip to Branson, EVER!! But, I was over it and back to myself Friday. Darian's kids were out of school, so they all went with Grandma Rains to Branson, and since we had the camper, we camped near and all went to Silver Dollar City together on Friday. Saturday, we headed to Roaring River, Missouri and camped Saturday and Sunday night. We had so much fun, just hanging out. It was kind of sad to come home, but then it's always nice to take a really hot shower without running out of hot water in 2 minutes and sleep in our beds!
Cooper and I made a trip to "Pumpkin Town" today with Nancy (Nana), Marie (Aunt Re-re), Chloe (Cooper's cousin) and Linda (Grandma Rains). The kids got to go on a little hay ride and ride the ponies and play in the pumpkins. Cooper wasn't all that thrilled with the pumpkin part, but he loved the rest of it. It was a little cool, but we didn't stay long and we all had a nice warm lunch afterwards. We got four little pumpkins that I drew faces on to be Dennis, Cooper, Harry Dog, and me. I painted bigger ones that represented the four of us last year, but don't have the room for them right now, so went with the small ones using a Sharpie to draw faces. They still turned out cute and I have a good spot for them. Enjoy the pics, I may add some later of the hay ride, Marie and I both took pictures, so we have different ones. Enjoy!
I'm a little behind, so bear with me! Cooper was off at Kid's Day Out last Thursday because of Fall Break and it turned out, we were actually able to take a little break, so we visited Mamaw & Papaw at the "cabinet", as I used to call it when I was little, we stayed Thursday night and came home Friday. Actually, it's the cabin and Cooper loves going up there, it's about 45 minutes from where we live. We brought the wagon and he got Papaw to pull him all over the place, including inside in the evening. I think Papaw enjoys the wagon as much as Cooper does. We even pulled it up and down the road to help Mamaw pick up trash. Cooper loves to be outside, he is definitely going to love living in the country!
