PUMPKINS!!!

Well, another year, another chance to shock and awe.  I'm really starting to look forward to this every year.  Once again, though, I made the mistake of allowing the kids to choose pictures they wanted carved on their pumpkins, and once again, I spent way too many hours making that happen (this is Lance, by the way).  However, I'm pleased enough with the results, and so were the kids, that it was all worth it.

Kristy also produced a fine specimen, though I had to gut hers before she'd go anywhere near it  (spoiled).  Here it is, in all its physics-defying glory:

And, in reverse order of the number of hours involved, here are my creations:

BTW, I had something in mind for Elise, but life came at me fast on All Hallow's Eve Eve.  Sorry, sweetheart, I'll get you next year.  Maybe I'll be ready to trust Mikey with a knife, and maybe I'll make Kristy gut her own, both of which will ease the load a bit.

#4 Joey's tribute to his favorite mouse in the world

#3 Luke's favorite character from Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games

 

#2 Mikey's throwback tribute to the Thundercats (sorry it's pink, we had a bit of overexposure)

 

#1 Last, but not least, my own homage to the current presidential election

 

(because it was a very round pumpkin, and the faces are a bit distorted together, here's each one from a more aesthetic angle)

 

This pumpkin was neither produced, nor paid for, by either campaign.

 

Happy Halloween!

Big Boy Bed

Joey has done it! He now sleeps in a big boy bed. Or as Joey says, his "boy bed." The transition was actually pretty easy. Naps are still a little tricky, but he's even getting used to that. As long as he has his "pillow-blankie" he's good. Sometimes he gets up a time or two, but he usually runs right back to bed and stays put. Love that kid!

Fall Sports

For the past month and half we have been spending every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night at a sporting event. 

Wednesday nights are for Luke and soccer. 

 See what a good, hardworking, effort-giving player he is?

 Alright, this is actually what's going on 99% of the time. But hey, at least he's having fun.

And of course, he's a cutie no matter what he's doing :)

The other nights are dedicated to Mikey and flag football. He has loved it and it's been really fun watching him.

 The black thing coming out of his mouth is a mouthpiece and that is his BFF Ethan.

 Getting ready to hike the ball...

It's been crazy and mostly fun. Though we will enjoy having our nights back for a little bit (until winter sports begin :)

First Day of School

I know you all posted your "first day of school" pictures a month ago...when school started. Well I pretty much always run a month behind, so here you go. 

Luke is starting his second year of preschool at Challenger.

 

 

And Mikey is starting First Grade. (Stop with the growing!!)

 Mikey is loving it!

Joey's nose

We've never had a child put things into their nose...until now. It might not come as a surprise to anyone who has read this blog much lately, but of course, it is our little Joey. He has discovered the joys of stuffing things up his nose. The first time was at lunch while he was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Suddenly he started saying, "Nose!, Nose!" When I went to investigate, what do you know, there was bread and peanut butter up his nose.

The difficulty with this is that bread crumbles. It just breaks into tiny little pieces. So pulling it out was extremely difficult as it just kept breaking off into tiny crumbs. I won't go into further details about how I solved the problem that first time, or any of the many subsequent food-in-nose events, but it was not always pleasant.

Luckily, we are so crazy in love with our little Joey that all of his "adventures" are just pretty endearing. He is in the most adorable talking phase. We understand much of what he says, but it's usually two and three word phrases in that just super cute toddler manner. We are really just both so crazy about him right now. 

Summer 2012

We wanted to get some good 4 month old pictures of Elise and also wanted some pictures of her in her blessing dress. Since she was getting all dressed up we thought, why not just give the boys' hair a once over with a comb and bring them along. So here are my beautiful children :)

Elise 

4 months

Sometimes I just can't decide between the color version and the black and white!

 

 

Luke 

4 years

Joey 

2 years

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Joey's cute little face, however, we were a little disappointed with these pictures only because he was a little grumpy so we didn't get his big, huge Joey smile that we love.

Mikey 

6 years

The Whole Crew

No, we never got a perfect shot. A 4-month-old and a 2-year-old? We didn't really expect it. But these are still pretty cute.

Could not love them any more... :)

Duct Tape and Saftey Pins

Remember when I said we never actually used duct tape? 

Scratch that.

We've used duct tape.

In fact, now Joey will hand me the tape in the middle of the day when I change his diaper and say "Tape, mama!" until I put a strip on the front of his diaper. Then he says, "Thank you, mama! All better."

Doing bad things

As Lance was finishing up his clerkship last month we went down to see him do his thing in court. While we were waiting for the judge to come into the courtroom, I sat with Mikey and Luke. Mikey started asking about why people had to come to court. So I started telling him about how sometimes people have disagreements and need a judge to work them out. Then I talked a little about people doing things that are bad and how the judge helps to decide what happens to those people.

Mikey sat and thought for a second, then whispered to me, "like guys who get their ears pierced?"

Yes, Mikey, yes. If you pierce your ears you will go to jail. I'm sticking with that.