Halloween - trick or treating

"Last minute" was the term we used to describe this year's Halloween. Normally, we start thinking about it early... but not this year! For some reason it's been simply crazy around here... I even managed to forget Caleb's project! (read more about that HERE!)

So although we originally outfitted Josh as Zorro, he changed his mind at the 11th hour... 5:00 pm Halloween night... (1 prior to trick or treating). The end result?... Zombie. (shutter)



Caleb is a black ninja as planned 3 days before Halloween.



I knew I made a mistake when I took Brooks to the costume store to find a costume after he pointed to every costume in the place. We finally decided on Batman but the costume was $30... so I went the cheaper route a.k.a. batman underwear, girls' black stretch pants, Josh's blue baseball socks, scrap black satin from the attic for a cape! And I don't think it looks half bad!



Happy Halloween!

Carving 'em up!

This was the first year Josh did the carving all by himself... he did GREAT, don't ya think??
Caleb did as much as he could... I filled in when he got tired! Carving pumpkins is hard work!
Brooks picked out the template... and poked a few holes... Yours truly did the rest!

PUMPKINS: (from left to right) Josh (skeleton grim reaper), Caleb (boy looking in mirror and seeing a skeleton), Brooks (traditional ghost face)

Pumpkin Patch... Mike's Birthday

We went to the Pumpkin Patch on the afternoon of Mike's Birthday! It was a fun day!
Here we are on the wagon heading out to the field.




Prized pumpkins....







The Birthday boy blowing out his candles... Brooks had to be right up there ready to blow if Dad didn't hurry up!




Happy Birthday Mike! Thanks for choosing a fun activity for everyone on your big day!

Fall Ball Under Way

Josh is playing Fall Ball again this year...


Nice slide!
Coach Dad and Josh

Brooks turns 3!

Brooks Wesley turned 3 on October 3rd!
He's quite a character... always photogenic... and usually has something funny to say! While the older boys were at school, me and Brooks had a private little party all on our own. Here he is playing with some fun stuff from Grandma Grover!


We also went to the store to pick up his basketball hoop that he's been asking about for months!



He loves blowing out candles... so we did it every chance we got, including at dinner in his twice baked mashed potatoes!


He asked for a helicopter cake... so there you go! (made by yours truly!)




And then a little Wii time with Caleb before bed! He has recently mastered and become obsessed with the Wii!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKS! We love you!!!

Caleb gets glasses!

It took him a while to get used to them... especially after a few not-so-nice comments from other kids. In fact, it took me several days to get a picture of him, because he kept running away from me!


But he wears them ALL THE TIME now! And I have to say, that he looks pretty darn handsome in them!


And now whenever I see him without his glasses, I have to do a double-take! So, it's official... Caleb comes with the glasses!

1st day of school

Wouldn't you know it? The first chilly day we had was the 1st day of school. And don't forget the rain... it was rainy and chilly. And it couldn't have been more perfect... it made me feel right at home!
Caleb - 1st Grade - Mrs. Stem

Josh - 4th Grade - Mrs. Jacobson

As far as I know, the first day was a success!



And look at them in their matching t-shirts! I would've thought they would not want the same shirts, but they picked them out together.... and then I was even more shocked that they both wanted to wear them on the same day. But they did! Brought a little silent tear to my eye.
Here's to the 2011-2012 school year!