The Witte

One of our first trips out on the town when we moved here to San Antonio was to the Witte museum. We joined up with some homeschooling friends for a great time. One of the most fun stops was the Body Adventure exhibit. There were a lot of really cool demonstrations to explore what our bodies can do and how they work. There were lots of friendly and really knowledgeable staff to guide the kids through and teach them about the body as well. During one presentation on the different systems of the body the little girls got a little bored and had more fun trying things the hands on way. The big kids were totally soaking it up though!

 Parker and Andrew got to try out their climbing skills on this wall. Andrew made it all the way to the top!

 This sky bike was to demonstrate balance.

 Another exhibit the kids really enjoyed was this room showing gowns from the Fiesta parade here that honors the battle of the Alamo. Thoughtfully set up in the middle of the room was a whole cabinet full of dress up clothes for the kids to wear as they walked through to view the elaborate gowns and headdresses.

 And while GROSSly underrepresented in pictures, the favorite of the day with the kids was the GROSSOLOGY exhibit, examining all of the gross things our bodies do. Like sneeze and burp and fart. Here I'd spent the morning giving the kids the usual lecture on manners before heading out the door and the first thing we did was play in this exhibit; it all went right out the window! They sure had fun though. They got to do things like shoot boogers into a giant nose that would sneeze them all back out when it was full. The little girls spent most of their time crawling through a giant GI tract. They'd climb up the stairs to go through the mouth, slide down into the stomach, crawl through the intestines and come out and land on a little poop shaped pillow. While it was all really silly and funny, the kids actually learned a lot. I think my favorite part was this giant sized operation table. Cool, no?  Anyway, Sorry for the lack of pictures here as this exhibit was the most crowded and I had my hands full, but the memories were certainly made. Andrew especially still likes to tell anyone who will listen all about GROSSOLOGY!!

We also got to see other exhibits exploring plants and wildlife native to Texas and specifically to our area. We even saw a bit about dinosaurs and mummies too! We had a great time and the Witte is definitely a place I would visit again.

More Halloween

This morning I woke up to hear the kids sorting their loot from Trunk or Treat. They were checking out the goods and offering swaps. It was so cute I just lay there and listened a while. It went on all day until they finally dumped it all out together to create "the candy store." They had more fun swapping than they did eating it.

 All dudded up for Trick-or-Treat tonight.  Miss Merida............

 Queen Elsa. I don't braid. Don't judge. ;)

 Princess Anna.

 This is Drewbs as Spiderman. He LOVED his costume!

 Parker had a really cool Iron Man costume that he wore to Trunk-or-Treat last night, but at the last minute he decided to be a pirate tonight. Good thing we always have a stash of pirate gear around! He was having lots of fun, just decided to give the camera his scallywag face.

 It was enough work to get these five together, so I didn't bother trying to get Noah in with them. That and Dad was anxious to get out on the Trick-or-Treat trail.

 How much is that doggy in the window? No he's not for sale. ;) He hated his costume just as much tonight as he did last night. But I still thought it was adorable. He tugged and tugged and said, "I don't wanna!" for a while and eventually I let him out of it to run up and down the drive and greet trick-or-treaters as they came for candy. 

Hope your Halloween was a happy one!

Halloween Fun

We've had a really fun October this year! Brandon's brother and family recently moved to Texas and we've gotten to spend lots of time with them and Brandon also was able to take some much needed time off work to spend with us. One thing we did while he was off was hit the pumpkin patch. Although there are several in San Antonio, we made the hour long drive to this particular one on recommendation. As far as pumpkin patches go, I think I've left my heart at our favorite one in Kansas.  There were some cool things about this one. The kids got to dress a scarecrow, run through a haymaze, take a hayride and see some farm animals. By far the best part was the tour of the apple orchard. We got to learn all about the growing process, and the cider making. We really really wanted to bring some cider home, but when we found out it cost $12 a gallon I told Brandon that if it didn't contain any gold flecks or come from the actual fountain of youth we weren't buying. Many of the other activities and treats were similarly priced, so overall I think next year we'll be trying somewhere else.

 The kids were so much fun carving pumpkins this year. Other than carving off the top, Parker did his whole pumpkin himself this year and then went on to help with the others too. He was so proud! They turned out great.

 Drew didn't think much of cleaning out the insides. Lucky for him, (and me!) big brother was so willing to help.

 Paige and Claire were a "team" so that we didn't have to stay up all night carving pumpkins for each individual kid. They didn't mind a bit.

 Emma and Noah were supposed to be a team as well, but this is as close as Noah got to the action.

 Emma sure enjoyed herself though!

 The finished pumpkins. The first night we light them, we like to keep them indoors until bedtime since the kids really don't get to see them outside much afterwards.

 Tonight was our ward Trunk or Treat. I managed to keep Noah's doggy hood on just long enough to snap this picture. I can't even get the boy to wear a tie to church and the one Sunday I put a sweater on him he had a fit trying to get it off and only gave up out of sheer exhuastion, so I'm impressed that the costume went over even this well. Maybe tomorrow night we'll manage a better picture?

 At the party there was a DJ and all the kids loved dancing, but our little Emma was the best to watch. She got right out there and was moving and grooving. She was our beautiful princess Merida.

 Andrew was super excited that his primary teacher gave him an extra special treat! It was sweet of her to think of that!

Our years of satisfying the kids with the trunk or treat only are over. The kids are old enough to know about real trick or treating now and there is no getting out of it. ;) They're so excited to do it all over again tomorrow! I'll post better costume pics then!

Livin' the Dream

My boys had the day of all days today. It was packed with the best kind of boyish fun. First it was off to soccer. We are lucky to have a friend who volunteered to coach and organize the whole thing, we just get to go and enjoy! As an added bonus it coordinates with our scout night. Drew and Parker so far have gotten to play on the same team which they love, and tonight they won! Afterwards it was off to pack meeting for bottle rockets. Here is Parker with his finished rocket. Don't judge any design flaws, it was my first ever bottle rocket, and more importantly, his. We had fun making it.

 It was his idea to paint it white and plaster it with Halloween stickers. It was then christened the "Boo Blaster."

 The Boo Blaster worked just fine, in spite of Parker's worries that it wouldn't. The kids had a great time. Andrew was even lucky enough to participate as the boys' scout leader had made a few extra rockets just in case. Here is Parker holding it steady for Drew while he pumped it.

 And the Boo Blaster in action.

I think the funnest part for the boys was running to retrieve the rockets and crashing in a pack around the boy who managed to get it first. The girls were also excited to get to go. They hate the weeks when only Parker gets to go! Emma was so funny. Because soccer was at the church, we didn't even have to go anywhere for the rocket launch, so all during the pack meeting she kept asking when we were going to go to scouts. We kept trying to convince her that we were there, but she wasn't sure. Finally when the rockets were done, they announced treats at the pavilion. She took off running yelling, "Yay! We're going to scouts!" Except it was ''Lay!" because she still doesn't make the 'y' sound. ;) 

I have really been enjoying all of these little moments with the kids lately and feeling so grateful for them all. With a new school year starting and life just in general being so busy with 6 kids, I've got to admit I've felt overwhelmed. It's hard to see past the to-do list and the fact that it never gets done. But over the last week, every time I get feeling bogged down, one of them does something adorable that reminds me why it's all worth it, and that even if all the to-do's never get crossed off, there is joy to be had in trying.

Utah with the Morgans

While we were in UT, we stayed at my parent's house, but used our weekends to spend time with Brandon's family. Both the boys and girls got to have their own special weekends at Grandma and Grandpa's house as well. On the boys' weekend we met up at Scheel's to have some fun before leaving the boys with them. Claire was having nothing to do with the ferris wheel unless she could ride with Grandpa. She is a Grandpa's girl for sure!

 I'm bummed this picture turned out fuzzy, because the boys were so cute together. This is our cousin Tobin, and the boys don't often get to see him, but always have a blast when they do!

 This was the most adorable thing in the world. These two were both a little scared to be riding without an adult. They put on their best brave faces. Parker did have some fun, but poor Paige got off with silent tears streaming down her face. We made sure the next time around to have her sit with Mama instead.

 We were supposed to be making scared faces in this photo, but I think I'm the only one who got the memo. ;)

 This was all the Morgan cousins except our cousin Madison who also lives far away, ready for church on Sunday. What a cute bunch!

 On the girls' weekend they got to go to Build-a-Bear with Grandma. They had a lot of fun and carry these stuffed animals everywhere. Paige's is a cat that she originally named Lisa, but has since decided to call Sparkle Dean Morgan. Claire's is a monkey originally named Agnes, who sometimes prefers to go by Electabuzz. Emma named her bear Margo and is less fickle about names.

 When they got back to Grandma's house they got to play with Aunt Brooklyn's stash of bear clothes, and then later here in Texas each girl was sent their own outfit on their birthdays.

The kids had lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa Morgan!