Texas Smith Family: October 2008

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Halloween Costumes!

This year Laurie decided to be a witch for Halloween. Aubrey decided to be a black kitty-again. Luckily, Aubrey's costume still fit from last year. I had to buy new ears, and then promptly found the ones from last year as soon as I got home. Figures...Here's their costumes. I am going to be out of town for Halloween, so I don't know if we will get a bunch of trick or treating pictures or not. Jason is getting good at taking pictures...there is hope! Plus, Jim and Diane said they would come over to help Jason with the girls. Keep your fingers crossed!

Transportation Parade - 10/24

Every year the girls' school has a transportation parade with the kindergarteners designing some transportation for them to be in a parade for the whole school. (Basically, whatever the parents make for them. =-) Aubrey wanted to be a 'red rocket'. Where did she get that bright idea from you ask? Well, at church her class is the 'red rockets' and that's what she wanted. So, I got boxes from my mom and Aunt Carolyn to make the rocket and bought the red paint and brushes. Jason and his dad designed it and put it together. Thank goodness, I don't think I would have done a great job. I think she had a good time. Here's the pictures Jason took from the parade: (Some of the parents went all out!)

She got a little upset that some of the blasters fell off:

But Laurie seemed to have a good time!

Pumpkin Carving Take 1

I think we carved the pumpkins too early (10/12). Considering we had to throw them away for rotting, but Jason and the girls had a good time doing it. Aubrey had gone to the grocery store with me and picked out the pumpkins. The girls designed what they wanted them to look like on paper and Jason carved them. Laurie wanted a cyclops with fangs and Aubrey wanted lots of eyes with sharp pointy teeth. Aubrey thought it was funny that one of her pumpkin's teeth ended up chipped. I thought I would share!

Something to Smile About...

Aubrey decided to tell me she was ready to go. Little did I know that she was being silly. She put her shorts on her head and her shirt on her legs. I just had to take a picture and share a smile with everyone. (I made her put her clothes on the right way before I took her to where we were going.)

Saddened by "Improvements"

Ok, so I am deeply saddened by the destruction of some beautiful big trees due to 'improvements' for the community. Normally, these things don't bother me, but it got me thinking. Did we really need another empty shopping strip sitting where some big beautiful oaks once grew? Did we need to chop them down to get a bigger tax base for our little town? Did we have to foreclose on the owl's home that now hoots at night outside Laurie's window and frightens her? Did we have to tear apart the ground and cover it with cement for the sake of the city? I have just been saddened by the destruction outside the entry to my neighborhood. The one we chose due to the fact that there were the big trees there and not a lot of economic development-more peace and quiet. Sigh...

The good news is, when I stopped to take the picture the girls asked me why. I got to tell them I was saddened by the destruction of the trees. Aubrey decided that when she grows up she will make laws about the trees and not cutting them down unnecessarily. She said, "I will make it against the law to cut down big trees unless they are dead." Laurie said, "Me, too." Big words for a five year old, but maybe it just means there is hope for the future. Or...I'm just getting sentimental in my old age.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Aubrey got a good report!

I got the nicest note in Aubrey's backpack saying "Aubrey was a good worker during workboard stations today!" yesterday. I was very excited and gave Aubrey a high five. Considering, she got in trouble earlier for trying to climb trees on the playground and had to be the 'Principal's helper'. Guess that means she walked around with the principal to 'help' them instead of playing on the playground. She came home from school that day and said "Mom, I got to be the Principal's helper today!" Hmmm...it sounded suspicious and I probed further and then found out that she got into trouble. Oh well, I will take the good and the bad-as long as she grows out of it!
Laurie went last weekend with her Girl Scout troop to two different events. They went Friday to A&M's observatory and looked at the stars. They earned their Star Searcher patch. I think she liked it. Saturday they went to Camp TexLake and spent the night in cabins. They had a fashion show and watched a movie outdoors. The troop leader said that the girls need to practice sweeping and mopping at home. =-) Hmmm, I can handle making Laurie do that! She is really having a great year this year in Girl Scouts. Oh, by the way, anyone want to buy some Fall Product? Sale ends today! (I'm only kidding, but remember who to get the cookies from!)

Texas Smith Family