What I never thought I'd do...

About a week ago, I received an email that asked a bunch of questions about me. One was "What is one thing you have done that you never thought you'd do?" I wasn't sure at the time what I would have answered, but now I know what I would answer even 20 years from now if asked the same question. Sunday night, I was able to be in the delivery room with my friend/aide while she had her baby, and I got the cut the cord! It was definitely one of the most amazing moments of my life.

The past few weeks have been so busy and tiring, so let me recap:

Our grade level aide Michelle has had a rough pregnancy, and finally, the month baby was due, her husband was deployed to California with the army and wasn't here to help her. So my grade level all pitched in and helped with the 3 false alarm trips to the hospital, watching her 3 year old during those trips, and being on call 24/7. Saturday she was finally admitted and induced. I was out of town, so when I returned I decided to relieve Camill since she'd been at the hospital forever and still no baby. By the time I got on Ft. Hood, I got a call that baby was coming. I literally ran into the hospital, and the nurse was waiting for me in the hall, and within 15 minutes, baby Robbie was here and I was crying and cutting the cord! It was just amazing. He is the sweetest little baby, with a head of dark hair and the tiniest little head! And he has a stork bite between his eyes that looks like the UT longhorn symbol! I brought mommy and baby home Monday night and they are doing great.

Besides having baby duty the past week, I had my pdas - formal observation -and it went really well. Glad it's done!

We went to Brenda's this past weekend for Payton's birthday and Luke woke up so sick Saturday. He missed the build a bear event, but later that night felt well enough so Brenda and I took him back to make his monkey that evening. (FYI - took him in Monday and he has double ear infections. He was so miserable Sunday night and Monday morning! But he's doing great now, just missed one day of school with daddy)

Enjoy some photos - a little baby, a little birthday, a little hanging out... a little bit of everything from the past weeks! (in no particular order)

Build a Bear, trip #1 with Carsyn, Payton, and Mia. Carsyn and Mia both named their animals Bella and we didn't realize it till on the way home! Payton named her longhorn Brown. We also made Luke a get well puppy, and named him Buddy.

Mia putting the heart in Luke's puppy

Trip #2, with Luke making his monkey, which he named Luke!

Holding Robbie for the first time... and the photo was taken by his 3 year old sister!

Big sister Gwen with baby Robbie at the hospital

Paging Dr. Jill... You are needed in Delivery!

Last Thursday, Michelle invited the third grade teachers over and made us fried tacos (so good!) to thank us for all our help. It was actually cool out, so everyone showed up in their hoodies. 

Playing at Michelle's - (standing) Allyse, Tiffany's daughter and "Lute's" buddy from school (she calls him that all the time! She is also in kinder, but a different class); Gwen and Luke

Learning to multi-task at an early age -driving while on the cell phone. Later she also added drinking to the tasks! 

Just hanging out in Michelle's yard

Sweet Berry Farms

Last Saturday was our family outing to Sweet Berry Farms, a strawberry/pumpkin patch about an hour from our house. We had never been there, but I found it online last year and wanted to check it out. The weather was beautiful, although it was over 90 so we ended up sunburned unexpectedly, but there was a breeze and thankfully I was over my allergy problems or that could have made me miserable. We started at the hayfield maze, opting for the child one, not the one in the shape of TX that someone said took them 4 hours! We spent about 20 minutes in it, with Luke leading the way and Mia hitching a ride on daddy's shoulders while carrying a long, green stem. Luke was so proud when he led us out of the maze! Next we headed to the hayride. We rode on a short hayride that took us to a large field of flowers. For $1 you could get a cup to fill with fresh cut flowers. I don't know right now what kind they are but sure someone out there can tell me from the photos. Some kind of gerber daisy maybe? Again, Luke was leading the way, picking out flowers for me to cut, and not even freaking out at all the bees around us. At this point, you could also pay $2 for Okra, but seeing as we don't like it, we skipped it. But somehow Mia ended up with a large, stolen piece of Okra when we climbed back on the hayride! This part of the hayride took us through trees and fields where we went right by goats and donkeys. I was sitting right behind the tractor, so by the end my legs were black from dirt! We took a short break and shared a homemade strawberry lemonade and then it was time for Luke to ride the horse. I really thought that after we paid for the ticket, he'd get up there and refuse to ride, but he surprised us by getting right on Puddin, the beautiful brown horse. He later said the horse ride was his favorite part of the day. Before leaving, we tried to take lots of photos on the hay and pumpkins. Luke was all about the photo opportunities but Mia was either too preoccupied or too tired to "pose" with Luke and the pumpkins. Before leaving, we bought some little gourds and some homemade strawberry ice cream.

We were tired, sunburned, and so dusty and dirty, but everyone seemed to have fun, even Marc. I loved seeing the kids, especially Luke, experience new things like the hayride and horse ride, and just them being happy little kids. We get so busy and tired at the beginning of the school year and all week long, so I am glad we made this day all about them. Now, I have to convince Marc to go back in the spring to pick strawberries! Not sure that I'll make jam like mom always did, but it would still be fun to go strawberry picking again!

There are way too many pictures for me to comment on them all, but they are pretty self explanatory!


This is the kiddie maze through the hay field

This picture just makes me laugh! Luke was too funny, chillin on the haystacks while Mia wanted nothing to do with photos!

Flower field where we cut our cup of flowers

Dress Rehearsal

Mia's costume came in the mail yesterday so we tried it on her. Seeing hers on, Luke finally decided to put his on. He's been weird about not wanting to try it on. They were too funny, because they sat and played in their costumes for the next 2 hours. I had to be sneaky about taking photos because Luke would have hid if he'd seen me doing them! Mia will have black antennae and tights added to her costume, and Luke has a sword. 

On another note, I am so glad it's Friday. The past 2 weeks have been exhausting with being sick, but I am now on steroids and antibiotics and allergy meds, so I am feeling so much better! The only problem is that the steroids make me wired- I was up so late last night! I even had energy to finally go work out again after work today. We have had such a lack of family time lately, and since we're nearing basketball season, I decided we needed a day out. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are going to Marble Falls to a pumpkin farm. I will take lots of photos and post about it when we get home.

For some reason, the kids were pulling themselves around the house on their bellies using their arms. They are too silly together!

Miss Independent - wouldn't let anyone feed her yogurt

Dress Rehearsal for Halloween