Cotton

On our way from Gulf Shores to Mobile to get on the cruise, we passed a cotton field. The kids had been checking it out along the interstate the day before, so Alex pulled over for them to check it out up close.

I haven't ever seen cotton up close myself. It was kind of neat.
I was amazed at how far the fields would go. They were just as far as you could see at times.

Ashton and Maddie standing there in front of them.

Maddie holding her piece.

It was a neat little "unplanned" stop. :-)

A day in Gulf Shores

Before heading out on our fall break cruise, Alex took an extra day off and we headed down to Gulf Shores for a day at the beach. We got there just after lunch and immediately changed clothes and headed out. Ashton took off running, just like he does EVERY time he goes to the beach.

You can count on him chasing the birds at some point. :-)

Maddie loves to take her Daddy to the water's edge and then jump. I captured this one of them. She is so stinkin adorable and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing those two together. :-)

I'm not really sure she was doing, but it was too cute not to share.

Ashton and Maddie practiced their snorkeling in the pool before we called it a night for some dinner and of course, SHOPPING for Mommy. :-)

Day at the Zoo

With the kids on fall break, my sister and I decided to take the kids to the zoo. Since Casey lives so far away, we just met there so it wouldn't be as far for her. The kids were so excited about going. We got there a few minutes before Casey and her kids and my two sat there with the windows down watching for them the entire time. They love their KK and miss her tons!!!!

I got TONS and TONS of great pictures of the kids. I couldn't post them all, but thought these were probably some of the better ones.

This whole petting zoo section was TOTALLY baffling to me. My kids are absolutely terrified of animals in general and they went crazy over petting the goats!!!! I couldn't believe it. I had to call Alex immediately because it was so completely out of character for them.

I practically had to drag them out of there because they just wanted to stay!

We had a fun day and the kids got to spend several hours with Addison, Dax and KK. We will definitely need to do it again very soon!!!

Prowl Bounce Party

Coles Ferry is doing a new disciplinary program this year and as a reward for good behavior the kids got to have a bounce party. Each class and met the schools goal for compliments got 45 minutes of play time. I was at the school helping on the day of the party, so I got to catch Ashton and Maddie during their time. The kids had a great time and I was glad I got to be there for it.

Awards Ceremony

The first nine weeks of school is has ended. At the end of each nine week period, there is an award ceremony where a handful of kids are recognized for different things. Ashton was awarded the Cougar Award for his class.

Here he is going to get the award and then standing there with his certificate and license plate he was given.

He also received perfect attendance and got a free pizza for that.

After their class awards were all over, he let me get a picture of him.

I asked him for a hug after and he had to check to see if his friends were looking first. :( Pretty soon, he won't be able to acknowledge me at school anymore.

Limo Ride

Thursday morning, a limo picked us up at the school and took us to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Since Maddie was the only one that made it to the level to go for the ride, the school decided that our whole family should go. Ashton was pretty excited. Neither one of the kids have ever ridden in a limo, so that was pretty exciting for them. Here we are in front of Dunkin Donuts. It was a little weird with everyone looking at us like we were important. LOL

Ashton and Maddie standing next to the car and then getting inside.

Our driver took us by the tank and Ashton was stoked to get out and check it out up close and also get his picture with it.

We had a good time and after about an hour of riding around, we were dropped back off at school. :-)

McDonalds at the Park

Wednesday, Maddie got enjoy another one of her rewards for the read-a-thon fundraiser. She got to ride the bus, for the second time, to the park to enjoy a McDonalds happy meal and play. There were about twenty kids that earned that reward. Alex and I don't love the idea of the kids leaving school on a bus without one of us tagging along so I went with her. It was a nice day out and the kids had a great time and the moms and I enjoyed getting to watch them while chatting. :-)