Tevis Austin

What are we going to wear?

Image is everything, right?  I'm just not sure that this is an image you want to remember.  A group of us left last Saturday to go the a mall in Columbus.  The goal was to try to blend in at the mall while a group of students showed up later to find us.  We called the event "Where's Your Peeps?" 

I'm glad we chose a mall in Columbus because no one questioned us.  I figured they were probably used to seeing some strange things.  One of these attractive young ladies was actually me.  Bet you can't tell which one.

Brendon had his costume party today at preschool.  Of course he had to be an OSU football player.

At Megan's Thursday school, her class dressed up like bees.  She is in the yellow class, so they actually placed black electric tape around them for stripes, gave them antennas, and wonderful bug eyes.

After buzzing around, Megan really enjoyed being a cheerleader for Trick or Treat.

Ready...Set...

Hike...

Timeout.  Time to visit our neighbors and get some candy.

After visiting our neighbors, we headed over to The Firehouse for Trunk or Treat.  There were about 20 cars at The Firehouse.  Someone actually carved a pumpkin for us.

Here is some of the gang getting ready to hand out candy to people from the community near The Firehouse.  Many of us decorated our cars and wore costumes.

We didn't know how many kids to expect this year since it was our first time having Trunk or Treat at this location.  I would guess we ended up having about 100 kids and adults come from the community.

We gave out candy, hot chocolate, and hot cider.  Some of the people we met had seen The Firehouse, but didn't know what it was.  It was neat listening to the people around me having conversations with people from our community and answering questions about The Firehouse.

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As I drove home, I called a family that served at Trunk or Treat to express my thanks to them.  This family actually had a neighbor where they live come and help with Trunk or Treat.  The neighbor had heard what we were doing, and asked if he and his spouse could come too.  They came and served with all of us.  I continued to listen as this family shared with me how when returning home, they watched kids and adults on nearby streets returning to their homes with bags of candy, smiles, and a cup of hot chocolate or cider. 

 

OSU - An Experience to Remember

I couldn't believe it, but we actually made it to an Ohio State football game.  It was something I have wanted to do for years.

Growing up, my dad would take me to see Kentucky Wildcat basketball and Cincinnati Reds baseball.  It was always so much fun and an experience I still haven't forgot.  Brendon was less than a year old when the Buckeyes beat the Hurricanes to win the national championship.  I can still picture him in his bouncy seat as we celebrated with friends. 

Since then, Brendon has attended many high school football games with me, and we often watch football on TV.  He loves to watch Ohio State, and he sits through the entire game.  Of course, during commercial breaks we have our own game of football in the house.  This year he even started playing flag football. 

I was so excited when we had the opportunity to surprise Brendon this past Saturday by actually going to an OSU game. It took Brendon all the way from Newark to Columbus to finally guess where we were going.

We arrived early enough to go to the Skull session.  Brendon has always enjoyed the band.  Brendon wanted a close up view.

He even got to hear Coach Tressel speak. 

We still had some time before the game started, so Brendon took time to help some wide receivers warm up.

He then enjoyed the slide...

and a picture with Brutus.

Of course, he had to stop and see the cheerleaders practice.

And there was the excitement of "Script Ohio"...

and the team coming on the field.

Brendon brought out the binoculars again.

It was fun watching the game with a friend.

We even had time to get down where Brendon could see the players up close.

I hope it will be an experience he will always remember.

Apples, Barrel Rides and Hoedowns

In the midst of getting The Firehouse started, the past couple of weeks have also been filled with lots of family fun...

Each year we like to go to the Branstool Orchard in Utica to pick apples.  Our favorite apple is the Jonagold apple.

Megan went with her Thursday school class to the Granville Orchard.

Here Megan is looking for the perfect apple.

Megan is trying to pull the perfect apple off the tree.

We spent a Saturday morning at Devine Farms.  They had a pumpkin egg hunt.  Brendon and Megan are opening their eggs.

They were able to paint their own pumpkin. 

 

Megan's art work is a little more abstract.

The most exciting part of the Devine Farms trip would have to be the barrel ride. Just two years ago Brendon was riding with me.  Last year Megan rode with me.  This year I am by myself.    

Is this a cat or a cat girl?

Brendon chose to have pumpkins on his face.  I guess that is better than being a cat boy. 

We participated in our family worship gathering called Merge. 

The activities, teaching, and resources at this Merge were designed to help individuals and families focus on learning how to be more giving, and especially on how to help kids and teenagers be more generous.  

Finally, we spent this past Sunday night at a Barnyard Hoedown.  At least that is what we called it.  Our vision for this was originally to design an opportunity for families and others to come together for some live music, line dancing, games, a hayride, and a chili cook-off.  

We planned for 200.  We were shocked by the actual response which I believe would have been at least double what we planned.  The hayride itself went on during the entire evening, and had over 300 people ride it.

 

The chili cook-off took place in the barn. There were around 40 people who made chili.  Every person got to vote if they wanted.  We had some secret judges who got to taste every chili  I haven't heard how the judges felt the next day.  Every family also brought a dessert to share.

Some people chose to spend their time out by the fire where we had hot dogs and s'mores available.

People were sitting inside and outside the barn.

 

There was plenty to drink.  If you are wondering why a toilet is on the drink table, that is because we served lemonade out of the toilet.  Of course the toilet had never been used.  At least, that is what we were told.

Several kids enjoyed bopping for apples.

We even had some square dancing and line dancing.