Happy Halloween!

And the winner is...

Collin!!!




For the best hair in the fourth grade... on Crazy Hair Day!

Got Mums?

Homecoming these days is NOTHING like it used to be. I feel kinda old saying something like that, but it's true.

The kids that my oldest runs with are actually quite wonderful, though. Their parents are on top of their game which has resulted in a very tolerable bunch. The effort, on the other hand, that these parents put into making each year's experience bigger and better might be a little over the top, hence the incredibly detailed garder his date gave him above, but it's all for the love of the children, right?

And he absolutely did cherish it.



Gib and Nikki have known each other since we moved here 5 1/2 years ago. Besides her darlingness, she also happens to be the cousin of his best bud, Kent, which is common in our neighborhood. Cousins, that is. Children grow up here, leave to seek what the world has to offer and then return to raise their own families. The cycle is about three generations deep, as far as I can tell and no, we do not live in Arkansas.



Now, back to our regulary scheduled program... homecoming.

See these lovely little bonbons? Just a sample of what was offered to our privileged teens the evening of the mum exchange. Last year, they had a chocolate fountain.



Taylor and Anna at the victorious game. Go Mustangs!



Anna's date was also a long time friend that she has actually known since kindergarten. Noah is the kind of boy that moms and dads alike fall in love with. Intelligent, respectful and charming. Hmmm...



Most kids have a "group" that they dine, dance and after party with for the weekend. This was about half of Anna's group.



Anna, with her "All American" friends in their red, white and blue!



Sam and I had the pleasure of chaperoning Anna and Noah's dinner at Texas de Brazil. It was delicious and we were able to dine in the wine room which added an exclusive touch.



Gib, always the trend setter, in his suspenders.



And, if you'll notice, he, fourth from the left, is the only one not wearing a jacket. What a maverick, although, I don't know how impressed Nikki's parent's were of his fashion statement.



~Sigh~ The prettier half of the his group. And yes, they are only sophomores.



Nikki and Gib, right before they left in the limo. I should mention that one mom in the group is a wedding coordinator...which might explain some of the lavish details. ;)

And now, the festivities are behind us and I believe all i's were dotted and every t was crossed...until next year!

Beavers Bend

Isn't it beautiful? I think water is one of the most relaxing things on this green earth. So peaceful, serene and tranquil. My name, Jennifer, actually means white wave, which is significant, I think.



We left Sunday, later than we expected and arrived after dark. There was only starlight to help guide us to a suitable campsite. The boys set up camp like the pros that they are and we finally rested our sleepy heads well after midnight. It all seemed like such a good idea. The kids had Monday and Tuesday off from school and rumor was that this land in Oklahoma provided some of the best trout fishing known to man this time of year. So there we were, dreaming of what the next day would bring and then...

it started to rain,
and our air mattress popped,
and rocks were beneath us,
and the rain guard on our tent didn't guard... at all
and did I mention it started to rain?

As much as we wanted to wish it away, it continued drizzling raining pouring. Oh sure, intermittently the boys would fish (in the rain) catching some bass, but the glimmering trout was no where to be found. Eventually, our tent filled with over a foot of water and nearly slid right down into the river. Sam's entire bag of clothes was soaked as were all of our blankets and sleeping bags and of course our shivering bodies.



So, we spent about the next 6 or 7 hours together in the car waiting for the rain to stop, playing games and eating all the food we brought while laughing about our pail of luck because we certainly weren't willing to get any wetter from a shower of tears.



And then, just as the steam rose from the forest above and as Murphy's Law would have it, the sun came out to bid us farewell.

Without a doubt, I know everyone would agree when I say, this was by far the worst vacation, that none of us will ever want to remember,



without a smile.