Derek's trip to Chicago and Daddy time

We spent some time with Dad before he left for Chicago. We went to Landa Park in New Braunfels and rode a train and went to the zoo with our friends the Cohoon's and pet animals.

October 21-24

Chicago

Derek did an amazing job presenting at the anesthesia conference in Chicago about a case he took care of about a gun shot wound to the head and how to do the anesthesia for the case. You can see the crazy x-ray in the picture he was presenting on.

 If you have to be away from the family, the best comfort food is Czech food.

October Halloween, Parties and Elara's hair

I taught joy school the week of Halloween and it's all about food and presentation! 

It was so so fun! The kids had a blast and we did a parade for the parents to hand out candy.

Elara and I have been so blessed to be a part of this joy school group this year. These ladies and kiddos have been a complete joy to be around and have totally lifted our spirits each week and Elara has learned and grown so much this year.

 Joy school friends: Left to right: Adam, JJ, Betsy, Elara, Maeve, and Jack

We had a ward trunk or treat a couple days before Halloween we were able to go to.

Elara "Elsa", Kael "Mario", Connor "Superman", and Eden "Cinderella".

 Sydney and Elara the best of friends!

There was face painting and games and lots of treats.

Derek got back from Corpus Christi and just 3 short weeks later left for a conference in Chicago. He came home and went straight to Houston. He was home long enough for one quick photo, but he sent us tons of fun photos from his trip!

The night before Halloween Elara decided she was bored in the bathroom and took my nail trimming scissors and trimmed herself some bangs.

She felt sad about it and wanted that hair back...

But, we got into a stylist first thing in the morning and she got some cute bangs and a trim to help even it out.

Woke up to a beautiful Texas foggy morning that was perfect for Halloween!

Our usual of chili, and biscuits for dinner followed by way too much candy! Lots of Garfield's Halloween, and other spooky movies.

 Eden decided to be Pikachoo for Halloween instead of Cinderella. 

 The loot! There was so much!

 Connor discovered suckers and is now a sucker addict.

October parties and random stuff

We had lots of friends parties and Halloween parties all month.

This was the neighborhood Halloween party. The kids played games, ate pizza and cupcakes and won prizes.

Their friends Will and Halston had a birthday party.

Elara's eczema and bug bites that made her poor legs so red and inflamed and swollen.

Kael was crafty.

Kael is loving cub scouts and we had a family activity where we had a fire pit and roasted hot dogs and marshmellows with all the other families.

Elara taught Connor how to make mischief in the backyard. So, I encouraged it and kept bringing them water to make more mud.

I entered a mud run with my friends Nancy Maxwell and Jaime Lowe. We had the best time!

 We were the DC Divas. I was super girl.

 Riding a bull while soaking wet is rather difficult.

Pinkston's came to visit! They were buying property about 1 hour from our house! We are so thrilled to have family living so close!!!

Connor learned to climb on anything and everything and it has only gotten worse in time.