Wrapping Up October/On to November

Dunedin

     We spent a day in Dunedin with my mom and dad while they were visiting. They have been to Dunedin on a previous trip and liked it. And it's one of our favorite places, too! The little kids and I had a birthday party in New Port Richey to attend. It was for one of my best friend's daughters. Ryan, the boys, and Mom and Dad got an early start in Dunedin, and we met them there. Ryan took this photo of Googie and Tornado at the marina.

    walking through lovely Dunedin to our car

    Dunedin is a fun place to shop. We especially love the tea & spices store. At the end of our day we got snacks at the newish Nature's Food Patch downtown, and then ate at a brewery across the street. Something my dad (and now the kids) like to say (when we are in Dunedin and "done eating") is "Well, we're DUNEDIN." haha

Homeschool Academy

  

I love their school pic previews!

     The following week after my parents' trip, it was Halloween week and time to dress up at school.

Halloween

     It seems like most people in Florida sit outside their homes to give out treats on Halloween night. The kids wanted to trick-or-treat of course, but they also always want to experience the other side. We bought 2 or 3 big bags of candy, so these three could have fun meeting all of the early trick-or-treaters. They even added a little decor to the stool with the candy bowl. Our street was so busy, it was gone in 30 minutes!

     We had lots of big plans to dress up as a group again like we have done in years past. But...money was a little tight this year because of buying the house. So Ryan and I wore things we already owned. He was a Storm Trooper like he was two years ago. Ninja requested this because he wanted to match him.

     And I was Waldo, a costume that has been used by both Tornado and me during book parades at his old school.

Aaaaand...Tornado was a very awesome shark.

     I never let the kids be really scary things for Halloween. However, Dash was 13 this year, so I finally let him.

He was a super scary Grim Reaper!

     Sis, as a sweet little pink bunny, helped offset the scary!

     It's fun to trick or treat directly from your house in an active neighborhood. The streets had a big flow of people. There were a few AMAZING haunted houses/mazes at houses/in yards/garages. I so admire these people who go all out and help make it festive for everyone around. There were some really impressive set ups.

    Captain Rex was with us to protect us, though!

Field Trip

 

I took these two on a field trip with a group of my friends and their kids to the corn maze at Harvest Moon Fun Farm.

   There was this huge place to bounce,

a big slide,

vehicles to ride,

     (I love this pic of Sis with Ninja and some of his besties. I feel like it so perfectly describes them.)

Tug-of-War,

and other fun activities and games.

     My friend from Missouri and I both commented how nice it was to spend a day like this in a setting that felt more like "home."

     Our big group attempted the corn maze, which was fun but made a little more difficult with all of the younger kids with us and mostly the ant hills that a few of them unfortunately stepped in. There was a little mayhem after that occurred, but overall it was a lovely, successful outing.

Tampa Bay Veg Fest

     It was time for one of our favorite Tampa events: Veg Fest. This year it was held in a park we had never seen, a bigger space for this popular, ever-growing event. THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people were there.

     We shared this coconut water, which was super fun.

     Although we did sample lots of yummy food all day, I think the heat caused us to enjoy the drinks most of all. These natural slushies were soooo delicious.

     The slushies were my second favorite thing of the day. My very favorite thing was getting to listen to Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepard fame. He was great! Ryan and I have been big fans of his since we used to watch the television series, Whale Wars. He was a very inspiring speaker. It was a good reminder about we are all capable of doing SOMETHING to help the world.

Election Day

     November 6 was a very festive day for us. It was Tornado's first time to vote! I had helped him register a couple of months before, and we spent a lot of time talking about the different issues and candidates. Our polling place was close to our house, there wasn't a long line, and the whole process was so smooth. He did great! I have a sort-of adult child, agh!!! I am very proud of him. We were especially proud to be able to vote to stop greyhound racing. (We won!) I was also able to show him how important our votes were - how every vote counts - since there were some very close races, including the one for Florida governor.

Field Trip: Desoto National Memorial and Anna Marie Island

      My mom and dad flew into Tampa toward the end of October to visit us and see our new house.

    There were plenty of shopping trips (like this one to IKEA - bless poor Papaw and his patient self)...

     ...and restaurant going. (This is a place in Bradenton I really like a lot called Sage Biscuit Cafe, and this is the Southwestern Skillet (minus corn).)

     One day we went Desoto National Memorial which is in a lovely spot in Bradenton, south of St. Petersburg.

 

 Lovely, yes?

 

 inside the museum

 

     The kids started working on their booklets for their Junior Ranger badges.

     We walked the circle trail that goes along the coast to find some of the answers and also to just admire nature and get some exercise.

more exploring outside the museum

     I feel like I'm still getting used to Florida "forests" - the different trees, mangroves, etc. After almost 6 years, it still feels so different than everything I knew in Missouri and Arkansas.

     Ryan and Dash headed home after that to take care of the animals. The rest of us stopped at Small Town Creamery, a cute little place with vegan options on Anna Marie Island.

 

     Anna Marie Island is located near Bradenton. I showed them a little secluded spot with a narrow beach right beyond parking. It's easy to get to and walk around.

 

     It is by the city pier.

 

     Sister, whose whole world is a gymnasium

     We lucked out and got a table out front at The Waterfront Restaurant, which is right across the street from the ocean and has good views. It would have been a perfect experience, but it started getting pretty chilly out!! We were shivering by the time we finished.

 
My go-to at The Waterfront is the quinoa black bean loaf.
Small, expensive, and tasty!

On to October

Theater

     Before our Texas trip, these two auditioned for a local homeschool group's play, Aladdin. We couldn't make the live audition, so they sent in audition tapes. They made up a little Charlotte's Web skit, which was pretty cute. I am always so proud of my children when they have enough bravery to do the things that I was too afraid to do when I was young. Sis even sent in a tape of her singing Like I'm Gonna Lose You (Meghan Trainor) because she wanted a singing part. There is no part of my 11 year old self that could have done that! (I would have wanted to, but I don't think I could have followed through.) She's so much like me, so much like I was back then - painfully shy at times. I love to see that she takes my encouragement and advice and challenges herself to overcome. 

     AND they were rewarded for their effort. Sis got the role of Princess Jasmine, and Ninja would be Razoul. Now they would be preparing for two plays. They were already working on The Cat in the Hat in their homeschool academy theater classes.

Homeschool

     We always have our regular game of Kahoot! to review our history/geography lesson. That's Dash's very creative typing abilities/person.

practicing addition

Field Trip

     I had signed Ninja and I up to attend a field trip at the fire station with our homeschool group. The other kids had been to the fire station when they were young, and he hadn't gotten the opportunity yet. Plus, I like to plan little outings like this for one kid at a time. It's nice to have some one-on-one bonding.

     I don't know what it is, but I always just love fire station field trips. It literally makes me want to become a fire fighter. After one guy said there really isn't an age limit, I was mentally trying to decide whether I could get in shape to pass the fitness part! (I'm laughing at myself right now.) I asked so many questions because I find it all fascinating. Their job. The station itself and the living quarters. I think I might have missed my calling haha. (However, when I have since told my kids that I want to become a firefighter, they expressed adamantly that they do not want their mother going into burning buildings.)

     It really bothers me that I didn't crop that random arm out of this photo, but it seems too exhausting to edit it now. More importantly, my little man sure is cute.

     Speaking of cute, he specifically asked if we could wear our matching constellation shirts. I can't remember who got dressed first. (I don't know how we both ended up with constellation shirts, either; they were bought at different times.) But it was totally his idea for us to match. That makes me so happy.

     Speaking of matching (and nothing to do with the fire station field trip), this was another random day that he asked if we could match - with royal blue tops and black bottoms. I will be grateful for the rest of my life for this kind of sweetness he has brought into my life.

Homeschool Academy

 building (beautifully colored) bridges to hold weight in Junkbox Wars class

more craft stick building for Ninja

and more bridge building for Dash

     Dash and Tornado have Robotics class together.

Friends' Birthday Parties/Sleepover

     Dash got invited to an air soft gun birthday party for one of his friends. He had shot air soft guns before with friends in the neighborhood, but this was his first full air soft gun battle experience.

     Several of his school buddies were there, and they also played with strangers.
 

     It was pretty serious! (He had lots of fun.)

     Ninja attended a friend's birthday party this month, too.

          It was held at a gymnastic's place. They also got to swim.

      Ninja is so social. He is always in the middle of things. My big kids have commented before that at school, they often get the "Are you ______ (his real name)'s brother/sister?" Like, I am often "_______'s mom."

      Sister's friend spent the night one night. They baked cookies.

Exercise/Special Kid Time

     We miss the RV park life of riding bikes around more freely. Tornado and I decided to ride our bikes to Dairy Queen, which is almost a mile from our house, so he could get a smoothie. It was a lovely ride, and he is anxious to do it again sometime.

Travel

     September and October were busy months for us traveling. There were a couple of events and reunions I had to attend. During one of my trips, the kids spent a few days at the farm with their Grandma and Grandpa. Ryan had a business trip in Indianapolis, which is only a few hours away, therefore he was able to join them for all but one day of the trip.

     sibling/cousin fun

going out to eat

     I hope these two are friends forever.

Momma's Night Out

     I had a rare night out in Tampa with a few of my friends. I got to try out The Melting Pot (and its 4 course meal), and I am now a big fan! (Next time, though, I'm going to cut it down to 3 courses, though; I was too full!

Kitty Update

      Cali still lets the kittens nurse. I love that my Baby Girl is into attachment parenting just like her Momma (me). :)

     And they are still unbelievably irresistible.

New Recipe

     Our favorite new recipe we have tried at home is buffalo cauliflower. It's something we are always delighted to order at restaurants when they have it. It wasn't too difficult to make, and every little piece was devoured. 12 thumbs up.