State Fair of Texas

Random facts about the fair:

• It opens on the last Friday of September and closes on the third Sunday in October
• It is the largest state fair in America, by attendance
• It has the tallest ferris wheel in North America
• It was the location of the World's Fair
• It holds the Red River Rivalry Football game at the Cotton Bowl Stadium
• It has a full blown car show AND test drive track
• The State Fair has been held at the same sight since 1886
• A 52 foot cowboy, Big Tex, is the symbol of the fair

This was our second trip to the fair, and it was a great one! Evie was pretty tired and mellow, but she enjoyed it. She wanted to go on rides, watch the dog show, eat, listen to a band, and look at piggies. She did not want to get near a cow, or go in the petting zoo! We were there a quick 4 hours. We got home feeling very full, tired, dusty, and dirty! It was a great time!

Evie was able to ride in the Kid Way!


35 inches!

Evie didn't like the crazy tea cup ride. :-( I don't blame her!


Pointing the the Dumbo ride!



It doesn't look like it, but she REALLY wanted to go on the swimgs.

Can you see her smile?

Action shot!
 FOOD!

Lunch! Fletcher's Corny Dog at the Wine Garden.




Enough said.
JUMP! Dog Trick Show


3-legged dog


Big Tex, where's his head???

This band didn't have an audience, but they were pretty good.
Evie insisted that we stay and listen. She is becoming VERY
interested in music, especially guitars, just like her daddy!



Evie's Words

Evie talks all the time. Her mind is constantly churning with ideas and things to tell us. She is very much in the mimic phase, but also has cute sayings she comes up with. Pretty often, she amazes us with what she says and what she knows.

Evie says:
Oh goodness! 
I'm sorry. 
I love you.
I like...
I don't like...
Bless you (after a sneeze)
Achoo (after a sneeze)
Please and thank you
I did it!
Good job, mommy/ daddy.
Let's pray
Read mommy
I'm hungry
I'm scared
I cry
Sweet dreams, close your eyes

Things Evie knows:
Recognizes ABC's
Counts to 9
Recognizes numbers to 9
Shapes
Colors
Directions (upside down)
Reads books to herself
Memorizes portions of books we read to her
Prays to Jesus

Songs Evie sings:
ABC song
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Rock a-bye Baby
Jesus Loves Me
I'm a Little Tea Pot
Please, Thank You song from Yo Gabba Gabba
Don't Stop, Don't Give Up from Yo Gabba Gabba
Clean Up Song
Naptime Song

Evie plays:
Dressup as Mini Mouse
Puts dolls/ babies to bed for naptime
Puzzles
Colors
Reads
Rides three wheeler
Collects acorns
Swings
Slides
Helps with chores (feeding Wilson, sweeping, unloading dishwasher, unloading grocery bags)
Playing music
Playing with Chase
Pretend play

Dallas Arboretum

Judd's mom surprised us with a long weekend visit! It was so great to spend time with her! We really needed family time. Too bad Judd and Evie were sick most of the time. Despite that, we still managed to get some fun activities in while she was here. The first thing we did was go to the new H&M at NorthPark Center. It was GREAT! We also replaced a lighting fixture, grilled out, and hung out!

We had already planned to go to the Arboretum with some friends to take family pictures with our camera.

Stella and Evie were so cute!

They found a worm at the bottom!

Evie kept trying to jump in on the Swindle Family pictures.

Evie and Stella could pass for sisters.

Stella trying to get Evie to scoot over.

There Evie is again....joining another family!

Heidi, Andy, and Henry

Happy to you!

On September 20, Judd celebrated his 31st birthday! I tried to teach Evie to say happy birthday, but it ended up coming out as, "happy to you or happy daddy!" She also kept asking for a cupcake. Instead, we made birthday brownies!

We went out on a Saturday with some friends to honor Judd getting older. He wanted to eat at Babe's a really popular family style fried chicken joint. It was good.