Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Wyatt picking out his pumpkin

The girls picking out their pumpkins

Tractor ride into the pumpkin patch

Who knew a pile of hay could be so much fun to play on!

Angelina petting the goats.

In front of the chickens

Homecoming Parade

I love living in a small town. When an event like homecoming happens, the ENTIRE town shows up! You can be walking down the parade route and see your kids' teachers, dance instructor, sunday school teacher, neighbor, etc all within a few steps of each other.

We had a lot of fun at the parade!

Little boys are so creative!

Wyatt likes his toys clean. He often slips his toys into a running washing machine, a running dishwasher, or the toilet bowl to get them good and clean. On this day, he wanted to make certain that his elephant was shiny and clean, so he took a more "hands on" approach.

A few other random August pictures :)

Playing at the Park

Angelina, Saige, Ozzy Bear, and Azalea at the park

Angelina's First day of school!!!

A few new members of our household

THEN, on the third day of school, we added two new members to our household! Welcome Angelina and Azalea. Two very sweet, very beautiful little girls! I don't know how we keep getting so lucky to have such sweet, cute sisters join our family each time we open up our home. It had been 8 months since our last kiddos left, and we were definitely feeling that void. So many people ask us how we are able to do foster care, hearing so many sad stories, opening our hearts then saying goodbye......I think these pictures answer that question rather well. Look at these sweet, happy, innocent faces! These pictures were taken on their very first day in our home. I can't even imagine all the feelings they were having on the inside that day, but look how they are glowing on the outside! It is so worth it! :)

First Day of School

Wyatt starting his second year in the ECSE program. Doesn't he look handsome!


Of course Mater had to come to school his first day too.

Saige starting her first day of 3rd Grade! Hard to believe we have a 3rd grader!

Ozzy Bear joins the Carlsons

In August, we welcomed a new addition to our family. Ozzy Bear Carlson is our labradoodle puppy. It took us 2 weeks and about 20 votes to pick the name! Everyone had an opinion, but I think Ozzy Bear suits him well.


No, this isn't him. I swear Wyatt climbed in there himself and he loved it. He definitely could have stayed in the kennel all day and been happy. Crazy boy! :)

Wyatt was so excited the day we brought him home, that he fell asleep on the bench in our kitchen. Well, at least halfway on the bench.

Here he is! Ozzy Bear Carlson at 8 weeks. Puppies really are almost as much work as newborn babies...and you can't put a diaper on a puppy.

I've been reprimanded, so here goes...

I've been reprimanded a few times over the last few weeks for not keeping up our family blog...so here goes a major catching up! We did do a few things over the summer, and had a few changes to our family.

In July, Saige went to Girl Scout Day Camp and had a blast! She came home every day with a million stories to tell about all the fun things she did. On the last night of Day camp we went up for family night, then Saige and I camped out over night with all of the Smithville Troops. Yes, camped....in Missouri...in July. It was fun, but hot and humid. Fortunately we had a decent breeze coming off the lake that night so we survived the 90 degree weather. Here are a few pics...

Our favorite vacation ever!

The greatest sandcastle ever, and some boogie boardin' fun!

John and Saige spent some time creating this beauty! Completge with clam shell accents aroung the edges, a bridge and a moat.


What a nice big sister! Saige let Wyatt destroy the castle not long after it was finished.



These are out of order a bit, but this is it. The completed castle, the artists, and the soon to be demolition team.

Hard at work.

Working on his tan!

We got to spend a day with our friends the Craners. Here is Saige with Allison and Sarah heading out to boogie board. These girls could have boogied all day!

Wyatt doing "frog jumps" over the waves

Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

We did take one day of our non-touristy vacation and drove 40 miles up the coast to Galveston where we went to the Moody Gardens Aquarium. A bit pricey, but worth it.


Saige, Wyatt and I at the start of the tunnel 'o' fish

Saige with a big reef-looking thing behind her

Wyatt observing a stingray up close

Oh yes, I need one of these at home! Too bad they didn't sell them in the gift shop! :)

Entering the tunnel 'o' fish

Surfside Vacation continued

There is definitely still a lot of damage from Hurrican Ike. Not all of the building have been repaired. I'm guessing this one will have to be demolished...


Evening wagon ride along the beach.



Taken a break in the shade

You know that SOMEONE had to be buried in the sand! :)

Saige heading out to boogie board to her heart's content!

Ummm, I think this is a new form of yoga...Toddler Beach Yoga??

Surfside Beach, TX Vacation 2010

This was absolutely the best vacation we have had! Vacations are supposed to be a break from a routine, vacations are all about trying something new, vacations are about experiencing a new environment. When you have a child with Autism, vacations are absolutely the furthest thing from relaxing! Children with Autism like routines. Children with Autism like "sameness". Children with Autism are usually NOT content in a new environment, or with trying new things. Every vacation we have taken up until now has been....stressful to say the least. This summer we tried to plan a vacation that both Wyatt and the rest of our family could enjoy. He loves sand, he loves water, so do we. We looked for the closest beach we could drive to, and found Surfside beach texas to be the perfect vacation spot for us. There is not much to do in this town except the beach, and several miles of beach homes, two restaurants, and a convenience store. We didn't care. We were there for the sun, sand, water, and some relaxing family time. We didn't have the distractions that we would have had in a more "touristy" town with lots of stuff to do. We established a great routine...wake up when we want to...hang out in our pajamas all morning...put on our swimsuits...walk the 50 steps it took us to get to the beach...and relax. Nice. Can't wait to go back!

Saige collecting shells in her bucket. The beach was full of clam shells, I've never seen so many in my life. We also saw a dead baby shark wash to shore (no it wasn't the tar balls that got him), and a few jellyfish.

Wyatt taking a break, relaxing with a refreshing CarpiSun in hand.

The view from our condo. 50 steps. That's all. Oh how I wish we could be there now!

(more to come, couldn't fit it all in one post...)