Trick or Treat!

We had our annual neighborhood trick or treat on Saturday. We always trick or treat on the Saturday before Halloween unless it falls on a Friday or Saturday. The reason is because we have a great big neighborhood party afterward. We have about 35 houses or so total in our 'hood, so we kinda do our thing here in Springhill. It is so much fun. We have a bounce house, apple bobbing, hay rides, musical chairs, great friends, scrumptious food, and yummy drinks.

We started out at dusk to collect some candy. Abigail was all about the trick or treating this year! She would march right up to the houses and pick out her own candy. She didn't want you to put it in her pumpkin, SHE could do it HERSELF. The more houses we visited the heavier her pumpkin became, but do you think she would let you help her....No mam! By the end of the night she was dragging it along on the ground. It was hysterical! Hayden and Ethan also had a ball, so much fun we could barely keep up with them. If you couldn't tell already, Hayden is an astronaut, Ethan is a ninja, and Miss Thang is a ladybug.

Everyone on the front porch getting ready to trick or treat.

She had her antennas on in this picture, but they didn't last real long!

I'm ready to go!

Poodles first stop was at Ms. Amy's, where she loaded up!

She had to stop in the middle of the yard to check and see if all her candy was still there

Future Moon Walker Hayden Gilbert


Ninja Spy Ethan

Before all the trick or treating took place we had our annual family pumpkin carving.

Hayden would not stick his hand inside the pumpkin, to clean it out, for anything.

He could be his own Jack-o-lantern with all the teeth he is missing.
Poodle had a good time with hers daddy!

St. John's Road Race

Saturday was the the annual St. John's Road Race 5K here in Valdosta. Heidi and I ran it together again. It was a great course to run. The weather was perfect, 64 degrees with a light breeze. There were over 400 people in this race. Talk about scary. I had butterflies like you wouldn't believe. The greatest part was the last 3/10 of the last mile. There was a guy who I had been pacing and finally decided to pass. Shortly after I passed him, he was right back at my side. We turned the last corner and started down the home stretch to finish line. Mid way down there was a lady with a microphone cheering everyone on and giving updates about who was coming through...blah blah blah. So she could obviously see we were somewhat battling it out and started yelling over the microphone, "Don't let the boys beat the girls! Don't let the boys beat the girls!" So, he and I ended up in a dead sprint toward the finish line. My legs were moving so fast I couldn't even feel them anymore. Of course, I WON!!!!!!

I finished 101 overall and #3 in my age group

The kids awaiting mommy's finish.

My official time was 26.38.7

There is me crossing the finish line...You can see the boy who thought he could beat me eating my dust. My two bugs were cheering me on!

My time was improved from my last race (28.06)

Heidi finished at 27.14, also an improvement from our last race. This is a horrible picture of me, but that's about how I felt!

Herd Ball

Ethan had his first soccer game on Tuesday night. He did so GOOD. He didn't score any goals, but he played his little heart out and was great on defense. He always ran as fast as he could to the goal and try to block the other teams kick. He never got discouraged or upset and smiled the whole time, except when the game was over and he found out the girl who supposed to bring snack didn't show. At this age the snacks are all it's really about anyway. He had so much fun and I was so proud of him.

We call it herd ball, because it is just one big herd of 4 year olds moving together around the field with the ball in the center

This is how Abigail entertained herself during the game.

I hope these videos work, I took them with my camera so bear with me.

New Floor

John and I tiled the utility room this past weekend. When we bought the house brand new in 2002 I had no idea this room and the kids bathroom had vinyl floors. It was the vinyl made to look like tile. Well it dooped me! About 4 months after we moved in I noticed it wasn't real tile when I was walking on it with my bare feet. This room had two layers of flooring, go figure. It was as if the builder laid it, decided he didn't like it and put another on top of it. They also used about 20 gallons of glue, I mean my gosh people it's a utility room not the bank vault! So we have taken it upon ourselves to make a few improvements. We decided to do this room first since it is a nice square box. The bathroom will be a little tricky. I am the designated tile cutter. There is just something about power tools! I also repainted the room too. It is called Bonjour Beige. The other color had a more pink tone to it and made us barf!

Finished product with my washer and dryer back in. It looks soooooooooooo pretty!

Down in the Bayou!

Well, I guess we were up in the Bayou since Shreveport is in North LA. Anywho, John was able to do a cross country with the Air Force that weekend and meet us there. We all went to our favorite Mexican restaurant Don Juanz. We always get special treatment, being family never hurts!! We ate lots of food, had good drinks, and great company. We stayed over at My lovely Aunt Regina and Uncle Nick's house. The next morning Nick made his famous smorgasbord of pancakes. We had blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate chip, and plain. Not too mention eggs, sausage, and hash browns. It was sooooooooooo good.

If any of you are ever in the Shreveport/Bossier City area, you MUST go see my cousins at Don Juanz (on Airline Dr in the Airline Center complex). It is AWESOME food.

The owners of Don Juanz

Amy and her husband "the original" Don Juan

Me and my cuz
Aunt Regina and Mom

Me and my mama

Ol' man Tredway in the high chair

Yep it's time to go!

Louisiana Downs

We spent last Saturday in Shreveport at Lousiana Downs watching the horsies run around the track. It was a blast, the kids had a ball watching the horses and we even stood on the fence at the finish line and watched them come racing through. They also have the BEST hotdogs EVER....they are even better than the Varsity in Atlanta (and those are some good dogs)

Daddy Mike and Uncle Nick getting ready for the races

That's my horse. I stood over at the window and watched as they got the horses ready. This is the only one that wouildn't cooperate. He rared back at least 2 times, was difficult to dress, and walked sideways the whole time they were taking him to the gates......I knew he was a winner, and he WAS!!!!
I won a whole $14.60.....I'm rich now!!


The prepping area
The kids spent most of thier time here watching the horses

Mike and Nick still working hard, trying to find a winner! They were hilarious, they had their papers spread out checking jockey rankings, reading up on the horses. It was very technical! They should have used my method....they might have won something!

Mike did win $36.00
Two pretty girls

Grandma and the Youngins'

Let the Games Begin!!!!

Ethan has started his first season ever in Soccer. He normally plays t-ball, but decided he wanted to try something different. He is on a team with 10 kids, and the real kicker is, 8 of them are girls!!! Oh, he is in hog heaven being the little charmer he is! He has had two practices total, these are pics from the firstone. His Coach is awesome, her name is Charlotte, ans she used to coach the varsity girls team here at Lowndes High. She has great techniques, they are learning a lot and she is sooooo wonderful with them. Her daughter is alo on the team. After the second practice she came up to me and said that he was a little fireball, and she could already tell is going to be really good!! He gets very intense and serious out there, it's all business.

Hayden has started his 5th season of Baseball. This season is a little different though, because we have moved up to coach pitch. We have a GREAT coach too!! This was his first practice and he did awesome. He hit the ball 6 times and only dug in the dirt a couple of times!! He does great throwing and fielding the ball, we are still working on the catching part. All in due time. At least we have a decent team name this season, instead of the horrible Bulldogs or ridiculous Seminoles, we are the Blazers! Go VSU!

Look at that concentration, eyes nowhere but on the ball!