Pumpkin Carving Party!!!
Month: October 2018
Tonight we hosted our 13th Pumpkin Carving party in our 6th state and our 7th house! (If you are trying to do the math – we took our first and only year off last year). We had pumpkins and kids everywhere. We also added s’mores to the activities this year which my kids thought was the best idea ever!
All my big kids inside playing dodgeball. Alex loves the days he’s allowed inside, but not enough to start classes.
Grilled cheese anyone?
My only child that likes cucumbers – and he loves them.
We have our annual Halloween Party this weekend and I was making a list of all the food and when it needed to be prepared. Kaitlyn wanted to make her own list just like me.
Reading fluency homework.
Costume crafting.
It’s evidently another purse day.
This sweater brings back so many memories of Alex wearing it!
I know my picture is a little crazy, but the important part is there. I have noticed recently that Pepper has gotten really smart when playing with Madison. She is too small to have any physical advantage, but she has realized all she needs to do is grab Madison’s collar. She will bite Madison’s collar and then pull her around the house. It is hilarious to watch. Madison is a good sport about it all and will let Pepper know when she is done with the game.
Puppy love.
Their teacher requires 10 minutes a day of reading. I require 20. They easily read at least an hour. I love it.
Just one more purse, Mom?
Do you love your toothbrush as much as Ben loves his?
My kids and the laundry! Ben was playing in the living room and I was doing laundry in the tiny room off the living room that my washer and dryer live in. Then I turn around to find that Ben is playing in the laundry piles just like the big kids do.
Alex’s teacher always has the most creative ways to work on memorizing spelling words. Today they had to write them out in play-doh and email her the pictures.
Rolling ball sculptures are the best.
Ben’s evening nap yesterday never ended. He woke up this morning in yesterday’s clothes having slept 13 hours.
I know Kaitlyn reads after I put her to bed at night, but it’s not always quite as obvious as this…
After school books.
Big brother entertaining.
Teague has been begging to make these cookies since his Raddish kids kit arrived but we just haven’t seemed to find the time. Finally tonight we made it happen. They were delicious – chocolate cookie with icing and sprinkles!
Soccer has a playground nearby so of course we check it out afterwards.
The boys – all dressed up for church.
Madison has always been my dog and the vast majority of her care falls to me. It’s really nice to be somewhat hands off with Pepper. Alex and Wade always bathe her. Alex showers with her and Wade feeds her treats as Alex does the drying (which she hates).
More costume creating. This one is going to be awesome.
They requested a headshot at taekwondo. We got a very nice formal one but this was my favorite.
Teague’s cooking tools are some of Ben’s favorite playthings.
(Thank you Raddish kids)
Kaitlyn really got into the game part of soccer today and it was so fun to watch! And how cute is their group huddle at the end of practice?
When does baby’s dinner become baby’s breakfast? I put Ben down for an evening nap at 5 and at 7:30 I decided he probably wasn’t going to wake up and join us for dinner. (Normally he would take a 45-60 minute nap and then go to bed at 7 pm.)
Update: Ben slept through in his clothes till 7:30 the next morning. That’s a record 14 hours!
Alex and Pepper enjoying this weather.
This is Teague’s camera smile. He’s trying so hard to please me and smile for the camera but it is the most unnatural looking face.
(Also he really wanted a mohawk when he got a haircut and I said no. The man gave him one with hair gel instead.)
Kaitlyn loves to put all the pins in the tomato and then take them all out again.
Another messy breakfast. Another sink bath.
One minute your son is eating popcorn and the next your decorative pumpkin. Ben puts everything in his mouth right now – everything. He is great about trying any new foods, but he will also attempt to teeth on any item he can reach. Today I said goodbye to some of my Halloween decor and moved some other decor to higher locations.
Kitchen table fort – the best.
We have never really had baby gates in our other houses (We did have one in Milwaukee but it was honestly more for Madison than Alex at the back door). Either the house wouldn’t allow them or my kids just didn’t need them. I am finding this one a game changer. Between Ben and the dogs, cooking dinner was impossible. Now I cook in peace.
It’s Thursday so of course we are at playgroup!
Caught still having fun on the playground.
The boys’ bus lets them off in between our house and the park. The other mom at the bus stop was nice enough to let my kids know to walk to the park instead today.
Sharing a snack and a conversation with her buddy.
Busted eating mulch at the park.
Fall must be in the air because gingerbread cookies sounded just right today. Kaitlyn was so excited to pick cookie cutters and then help with the cookies start to finish.
This cabinet is a necessary evil. It’s the art cabinet and nothing but trouble. Alex spends as much time trying to find things as he does having to clean it. (Draw your own conclusions…)
It’s October. That means costume making is underway.
Soccer practice sideline shenanigans.
Popcorn. Currently it is everyone’s favorite snack.
This crib has been with us since Alex. In 2009, it was brand new and white. It is now almost 10 years old and has been painted black. It’s on it’s last legs. It has been raised and lowered countless times. It has moved 4 houses and countless rooms inside those houses. Wade lowered it this last time and told me this was it. The brackets are shot and it can’t be manipulated again. This morning Kaitlyn wanted to play with Ben and I didn’t think when I put her in the bed. If you look, you can see just her weight has bent the bracket significantly and the entire bed now has a nice slant. We’ll see what kind of magic Wade can work when he gets home….