The pumpkin fun continues!!

Now that we had the pumpkins we had to decorate them.

Luke's first attempt at finger painting his pumpkin...with help from his sister of course!



I think he enjoyed it :)



Ella worked hard to get all the seeds out. She really did a great job!



Happy Halloween from the Burdines!

Pumpkin Festival

Fall is in the air and no better way to celebrate than a trip to the pumpkin patch at the arboretum. It couldn't have been a better day!





Our attempt at that perfect picture!





My little boy!



My little girl!





Ella was wiped afterwards...it was great!

First Annual Girls' Shopping Trip!

My sisters and my mom came down for what we are hoping will be the start of a shopping tradition. All of us girls love to get a crazy headstart on Christmas shopping so we shopped like maniacs!! It was wonderful! Thanks to my awesome sisters and mother for making the trip down. I am already ready for next year!

Guess who came for a visit??

Our friend Chase!!
Chase and his wife Amy are good friends of ours from UTSouthwestern and they just recently moved to St. Louis for Amy's residency. Chase was back in Dallas for a quick work trip and paid us a surprise visit. Amy and Chase have been very good to Ella over the years and she loves them. Thanks so much for the visit, Chase!! We are looking forward to seeing you and Amy in St. Louis in December!

(Luke looks pretty weird in the pic but my good camera was dead so I had to take it with my phone, sorry)

The Texas State Fair tradition

Going to the Texas State Fair is a big tradition in Lyle's family. His father has very fond memories of going to it every year when he was a little boy and for the past 20 years he has worked at the fair as an auditor so Lyle also has memories of going to the fair. Since I have been in Dallas and a part of the Burdine family, I have gone every year and we have done the same with our kids. Ella went this year for the 4th time and this year it was Luke's first.

This year we....

Saw a BIG tractor..yes we know Papa yours is bigger!!




Toured the petting zoo



This little sneaky goat stole Ella's grain cup. She thought that was pretty funny!



Ella got to play farmer

She watered her peach trees



Collected eggs from her chickens



Planted vegetables



and drove her tractor to the fields where she fed grain to the cows and pigs



At the end, she took everything she had produced on her farm (peaches, vegetables, eggs, milk, and wool) to market where she sold it and was able to buy chocolate cookies from the store. What a deal!!

Ella also got to ride a bucking bull--well if you consider two seconds actually riding.



and last but not least...the traditional picture in front of Big Tex!



I think Luke had a great time!



A little look back at Ella's first trip to the fair...

Pa taking her through the petting zoo



Her first picture with Big Tex



We can't wait until next year!!

Sweet Ella

In the car one day last week, Ella was very quiet. Then she said, "Mommy, I love you so much. I just can't stop thinking about you, I love you so much." My heart melted. I love you too Ella!

Can I help you find something, Luke?

There seems to be a running theme in these pictures.

Luke investigating the iPod



Luke investigating the refrigerator. I don't even know how he got in there but he was thoroughly enjoying himself!