Cherry, Mom and I took the kids to the Flower Mound pumpkin patch. It is complete with hay mazes, hay rides, bounce houses, and plenty of other jungle gyms and objects for kids to climb on and enjoy. It was fun to go with cousins. My kids keep begging me to go back.

I also wanted to post this picture of Lydia playing dress ups with the little girls. This particular evening gown was found in the memory closet at my mom's house - Cherry wore it to prom in NJ. Lyd, you are so much fun and glamorous - I wish you lived closer to me.

trains, rockband2 & ranch

what have the robinson's been up to lately?
1. nate has been busy playing with trains. he has developed a deep admiration for THOMAS, and aunt richelle was kind enough to lend us some of her train set. he carries an engine with him everywhere, and absolutely LOVES to play with the tracks. he even sleeps with a few engines and track or two!! even when he is exhausted, he lays his head down on the floor and keeps playing with his trains. i just love him so much! what a nut!
2. we have purchased rock band 2. we are big fans of the whole rock band game, and i must say so far we are quite pleased with our purchase. on top of the songs downloaded from the original rockband, the new rockband has TONS of new and fun songs to play together as a family! it also has some more features, and the new drum pedal is reinforced with a metallic plate! (our old one was patched together with a piece of scrap wood). PLUS, it is all wireless - a definite bonus.
3. we went to the ranch last weekend. i seriously love that place. joe's brothers (jeff, steve & dan) and their families as well as cherry and scott & their kids came along for the party. the weather was beautiful. the kids had a blast riding on the canoe, roaming, riding bikes and also riding the mules and 4wheelers. i had a blast sitting and enjoying the view. we caught the byu game, and even a few talks from conference (mom will be proud). we played rockband 2. the boys played frisbee golf. we gorged ourselves with food. it was a very relaxing weekend. i feel so lucky to have a place in the middle (between dallas and houston) so we can meet up with cousins.

nate's hair after the inaugural mule ride.


yay for the ranger - equipped with seatbelts for joe's crazy driving...


Aaron ready to go!


the cows....


why is it so fun riding in the same field as the cows? maybe it has something to do with getting manure on the tires, smelling the stink, or making the cows run away...


the staging area



kids canoeing on the lake


dirty kids... time to go!!!

the view in the morning


the view at night


we'll be back!!!

the things kids write

I was the luckiest little girl in the world. My parents were amazing. One of my favorite things about my awesome parents was their creative parenting style - especially when it came to punishments. The most common infraction in our house (5 of their 6 children were girls) was cat fighting. Sometimes they would make my sister and I balance together on a tiny popcorn tin for 15 minutes (this usually ended in laughter). Other times they would separate us and make us write poems containing 5 nice things (or reasons we love our sister) before we could come out. I have a very specific memory of being stuck in our Finley drive bathroom writing a poem for Dawn. This particular exercise planted a seed in me - a need to express myself on paper when I am emotional. When I was a teenager, I was very emotionally charged - dramatic is almost an understatement. I would write my mother notes when I was mad or felt I was suffering from some injustice. One time I wrote out this entire verse from one of my favorite hymns: "Who am I to judge another, when I walk imperfectly..."

I secretly think my mom enjoyed the letters I gave her. She always said that although I was trouble, I was still very fun and enjoyable - I think it was because I left her gems like this:
I left this on her bed one day. My mom caught me and some friends being stupid 13 year-olds. This is so mean. I have such a sharp tongue. I am glad my mom knew I still loved her. I am glad she kept this so I could see and remember what a drama queen I was at 13. I am glad she was able to laugh at this - not in a cruel way, but in a sweet motherly way that understood that I was just a stupid teenager doing stupid teenager things.

Writing has since become my therapy; after writing my emotions in a song, poem or letter, I gain new perspective, and emerge with a new ability to cope or understand. I don't write hate letters anymore. Joe would claim that I write hate songs now, but I also write love songs, and I don't keep the really mean ones. ;) I am glad my parents were able to find the humor in my teenage, over-emotional, snake-tongued self.

My mother was a saint. I am not.

I know I am in for a wild ride with my children. Here is a sampling of some of their most recent writings:

Aaron:
The other day, rather than finishing his math homework, Aaron decided to protest. He didn't yell or stamp his feet - he simply turned over the worksheet and wrote me this note:
Oh my...

Charity:
She is dramatic like her mother. Sometimes, time-outs don't help her calm down. This did:
I wonder if my kids will be like me...
I am so excited to see the things they will write! ;)