Civil War Battle, Space Man Batcave, and Christmas Lights

This weekend they held the Battle of Prairie Grove reenactment.  They do this every 2 years click here to see about the last time we went.  This was the 152 anniversary of the battle (we didn't know last time we were at the 150 anniversary which had a commentator and a LOT more people).  This time we borrowed 2 sets of noise reducing ear muffs from my parents and then got a pair of the ones you put inside your ears.  The plan was to give Elaina and Emmett the ear muff and Josiah the one that go in your ears.  That did not work AT ALL.  Josiah and Elaina started freaking out soon after we got into the park, Emmett not so much.  We stopped and got the ear muff on Elaina and Emmett and then put the ear plugs in Josiah's ears.  Elaina was fine, Emmett yanked the ear muffs off, and Josiah was still freaking out.  Emmett refused to wear them so I used my hands to cover his ears and we gave the muffs to Josiah.

Josiah was fine once he got the muffs and Elaina was picking up leaves and sticks and having fun.  She did like it when she could see sitting on Trey's shoulder. But she had the most fun once Emmett decided that he wanted down and they could play.

I think I caught her mid blink because of a cannon fire

Before long Emmett was laughing as the cannons fired.  When they started the gun fighting he would laugh and say Whoa Cow every time there was a big gun exchange.  He didn't even flinch as the cannons fired and some of them shook the ground.  Of course Trey's phone messed up so we didn't get a picture of him.  Trey had put Josiah then Elaina on his shoulders, and when he took Elaina down Emmett looked at him and said my turn.  So he got his turn.  That is when he started the Whoa Cow.

This was a much more pleasant experience than last time because no one was really scared or crying.

Before bed the kids got out the Batcave and some little space men that were maybe 2 inches tall.  They all played with it and had the best time.  They even discovered that Smokey the Firetruck would shoot them across the room.  So they had a blast doing that.  I was really impressed with how well (and long) they all played together.  I wanted to join them but was afraid I would mess up the dynamic of there game.  Normally if Trey or I (especially if both of us) play with them they will get a little crazy and at least one, if not all three, try to jump on us.  So I decided to just sit and watch.  I did get to play a couple of games of Don't Break the Ice and Boom Boom Balloon with them right before bed. 

This afternoon Trey and Josiah put some lights up outside.  It is not super fancy but the kids love it.  Trey has found the major disadvantage of our super tall and steep sloped roof is putting up Christmas lights.  Our old house in Magnolia had an almost flat roof so it was easy to get up on it to put lights up.  Josiah is so excited that we have lights up that it makes these the best ones we have had.  Last year between the early snow and Trey's surgery we were unable to get them up.