Pumpkin Carving....

While I was off clomping around the streets of the Ft Worth Stockyards, Remi was getting to have his own fall fun!

He spent the evening at Elle's with her family carving pumpkins and watching scary movies. According to the votes tallied up, Remi won the carving contest, but I think they all did a great job! What a sweet family Remi gets to spend so much of his time with! Truly, their sweet little relationship has been so wonderful to watch and I just adore her entire family! Not to mention her older sister is dating none other than an old Wildcat golfer who used to caddy for the boys back in the day, Boo! He is like an older brother to the boys, and so yeah, Remi has been spoiled by all these special people in one circle!

A Day at the Stockyards...

This was one rare Saturday that we had nothing going on! So we headed on down to the stockyards for the day! The weather was perfection, the company the best,  Joe T's was delicious as always, and the window shopping successfully got me in the holiday spirit! 

Of course, I found some cute little sidewalk art that I had to document... you know my little art heart seems to find it wherever I go!

Bridgeport Open HS Tournament...

This was one tough tournament. There was so much talent and we were the only 3A school there. However, zero excuses, both boys could have played better. Remi did get a chip in bird and Roen was the top scoring freshman of the whole tournament, tying for 20th out of 56. High hopes, that they can come out next tournament and be in the lower 70's for Ro, and lower 80's for Remi. 

Remi 87

Roen 79, top scoring freshman of the tournament, tying for 20th out of 56

But regardless of scores, you know this mama took as many pictures as she could snap!

A Wrap on September...

September was decorating for Halloween, buddies bringing over their new ride to check out with friends, Roen who still wallows about, a quick nap while we wait our turn for haircuts, the perfect Saturday brunch, half-mast for Charlie, a boat ride with the furries, Saturday night snuggles while Remi was at Elles' HOCO dance, Roen's first pedi while we waited for Remi and Elle's movie to end, a Boo Basket Remi let me help with, my little library helper, and the first day the boys drove home from school solo! 

September was little moments of perfection, kicking off autumn with hints of lower temps and mugs of pumpkin spice hot tea. 

Now and Then...

So back in high school, there were 5 us of girls.... the best of friends, The Fab Five we called ourselves. 

Some of us cheered, some were state qualifying athletes, some were top of our class, some of us were managers for the baseball team (because, duh, baseball pants), we also dabbled in basketball managing, some of us attempted tennis and were really terrible at it, most of us were far more interested in boys and socializing than school, one of us was the class clown, most all of us were very gifted in art class, a few of us had the time of our life in chess class (never really learning anything about chess except the name of the really cute boy we obsessed over).... all of us were so different, but I can tell you right now, there was never a group of girls that had as much fun as we did! 

I think this was our junior year maybe, but it was definitely high school... anyways, we decided when they called for picture retakes, we were gonna do a group picture! We reenacted this at our 10 year reunion and then at Joslynn's shower, three of us were there, so we did the best we could without Lindsay and Brandi. 

When I think back on these days, it's filled with football games, endless sleepovers, chasing boys, wrapping houses, Hello Kitty, sharing clothes, Matchbox 20, going to the movies, and the best fun the 90's had to offer!

All I can say, is thank goodness for lashes and letting those eyebrows grow out!

A Little Trip West...

When I found out one of my most closest high school friends was having her bridal shower on the same weekend as my high school homecoming, I knew it would be hard to keep me away. With Remi having his license, I knew it would be much easier for me to sneak out of town for a few nights!

Icing on the cake, and if I'm being honest, the main reason I went, was to watch Mallorie cheer in her very first Wall Homecoming pep rally, her Thursday home game and watch Kase bring home two wins in flag football. I love seeing the cousins together, but RARELY do I get the treat of just being on Aunt duties! It was so much fun! Not to mention, Mom and I spent every night on the couch watching a full season of Doc on Netflix... another treat, because I don't ever watch tv at home!

I also had my little cookie lady make cookies for Mallorie, Kase and their friends... every cookie survived the flight with not a single break!

Licensed to Drive....

Well, I really thought this day was gonna be a quick, little, in and out, ace the driving test, and boom, all done, license in hand.

First off, it starting raining as soon as we pulled up to the DPS.

They started off with the very dreaded parallel parking. They had it set up in the parking lot, with a spot curbed in on three sides. Roen and I were watching intently through the window, holding our breath, but having zero doubt, Remi had it in the bag. He started backing in, cut it too sharp, so was pulling up to to start again, and just barely clipped the curb with his front right tire. And just like that, they failed him, didn't even make it out of the parking lot. 

Somehow, it went from bad to worse when everyone started blaming mom. Questioning why I didn't book him a driving test at the mom and pop place.... as if I suddenly was the only one with a phone and booking capabilities. Of course, Remi was beyond disappointed and so were the rest of us. But I did tell him, bottom line, he didn't practice enough and it was what it was!

Well, we just so happened to have that day off of school and Micah didn't want to have to waste a school day coming back to retake. So, dad to the rescue, he found another place that would test him that afternoon, at 2:00. They went out to the driveway and practiced until we had to drive back to Sherman. He passed with flying colors the second time, we popped into DPS, got his paperwork and just like that, he was a licensed 16 year old! We stopped for Mexican before leaving and then let Remi drive us home! And really, I haven't seen him much since!

Roen stayed home with a buddy the second time around (probably traumatized, haha), but you better believe, that next morning he popped out of bed with an enthusiasm for going to school that have not seen in all his years! It was pretty cute!

The picture of them sleeping is on the way back home after he failed the first text.... it was an emotionally exhausting day for us all! 

On the Day He Turned 16....

Remi turned 16 the very next day, on a Sunday.

As I mentioned previously, we visited church in town and it really was good getting sit with family and see old friends! After church, I came home and made TWO batches of dirt cake (birthday boy's request) while Micah started work on a late lunch, early dinner. Once the dirt cakes were all finished up, we sang happy birthday, had a bowl or two of dirt cake and opened presents! It was a low-key day, wonderful in every way! It ended with yummy steak, storm watching, porch sitting,  and the anticipation of Remi taking his drivers test the next morning!

I caught the boys out on my swing, visiting and no doubt planning their next day for after Remi got his license!