Family

We spent this afternoon admiring God's beautiful fall day. It was absolutely gorgeous! We packed the kids in the car and headed for a local park - B* had never been to this particular park so that made it extra fun. We also thought we'd try to get a few family photos (possibly for the Christmas card) while we were there. We've never done them this early - but it seemed like a good idea.

So this is the best shot that we got. The girls are both looking at the camera - even though little J* isn't looking. Bummer. But I still think it is really cute!

We had a really nice time. I wish we'd gotten a few more family pictures, but you do what you can! Maybe next year the kids will be a little more willing - but right now you take what you can get!

Precious

Okay so I couldn't help posting this. It is just so sweet!!!!

Someday when they're older and fighting I'm going to pull this out to show them that they really do love one another! :)

Fall Family Fun

It was our big Fall Family Weekend. We do this every year and always have a lot of fun. Some years we take a big trip and some years we just chill close to home. This was a chill close to home year and I have to say it turned out well. I did have a really nice time!

Thursday was my day to plan from start to finish. We ate breakfast at my house and then just hung out for a while until lunch. We ate lunch and then headed for the Zoo. The girls were so excited to get to take everyone and show them their favorite things. Since it is so close to halloween the Zoo is fully decorated too - the girls really got a kick out of that!

Jn* got to ride the roller coaster for the first time and had a blast! She absolutely loved it! Jh* was a little upset that she didn't get to go, but by next year she should be tall enough to join her sister. They both got to ride the train and the merry-go-round though.

Jc* had a good time being passed back and forth between Grandma and Grandpa. And of course he is sporting the Colts hat this year! GO COLTS!

And before leaving we paused for a family photo. We'll have to work on the cheese as everyone didn't want to cooperate! :)

Friday was Aunt J's day to plan. While I went to my MOPS meeting the rest of the crew headed out for brunch and some shoe shopping. I caught up with them at the bowling alley. This was the first time the girls got to bowl and they had a lot of fun! My first game was awesome - I stepped up to the alley and hammered out a strike on my very first try. However, my second game was pretty sad! :( Fun was had by all though!

Friday afternoon the women went shopping for stuff for the wedding while the men kept the kids. Later that evening Brett and I got some alone time....yeah. We went out to Bennihanna's for or 7 year anniversary. It was really nice to be out just the two of us (yep - even the baby stayed at home!). The food was fabulous and the comapny couldn't be beat! I had a great time just chatting with my hubby with no interuptions!

Saturday was the conclusion to our weekend. We started out with brunch at Uncle N's. We all came dressed in our costumes for the Family Costume Contest - also a family tradition complete with ballots and awards.

Picture 1: Jn* being hidden by the cane is Snow White, the man in the mask is B* doing his impersonation of Uncle N* in his old age. Then it's me, the doormat. And Jh* as Cinderella.
Picture 2: Jh* as Cinderella, Grandma as Snow White, and Jn* as Snow White.

Picture 1: Aunt J* as the Goth Bride, and Uncle A* as a convict.
Picture 2 Grandma and the girls

Picture 1: Dad as the clown, Uncle N* as Dr. Justin Case, and Mom as Snow White
Picture 2: Me and the kids

Picture 1: Jn* with dad's nose
Picture 2: My siblings and me

Aunt J* and I tied for Most Creative Costume. Mom won Most Realistic Costume. And I can't remember who got Best Costume....okay I'm gettting old.

It was a great weekend I must say. Next year Disney is on the radar.....so I've got to start planning now! :)

What are you giving out?

So, it's almost Halloween and time to start thinking about what you'll be putting in the treat bags of the kids who come by your place on Trick or Treat night. I've always wanted to be the house that handed out something "healthy" or "fun" but practicality has always told me that was just ridiculous! First, I don't want my house egged later. Secondly, who really wants those things anyway - WE WANT CANDY! So I was reading an article on Yahoo regarding the 10 worst Halloween treats.....

1. Toothbrushes - seriously who hands out toothbrushes? The only time you're happy to get a toothbrush is at the dentist. Really - if you think you're doing us a favor by handing out the toothbrush you're only kidding yourself!
2. Raisins - okay so yeah they're healthy but now dentists tell you they aren't a good snack for the kiddos anyway because they stuck in the teeth and cause decay. So nice try on the raisins - just pass them by and buy the candy!
3. Candy corn - okay just gross. I'm sorry if any of you "love" candy corn! Suck it up and buy real candy!
4. Smarties and Necco Wafers - Okay I disagree with this one. I LOVE smarties and quite frankly tend to always give them out. They are AWESOME. So if you don't like the smarties don't come to my house for candy! I can't comment on the Necco Wafers as I've never heard of them before!
5. Dum Dum Lollipops - Again I TOTALLY disagree with this one. I LOVE these little suckers. And they are great for toddlers up to adults. Just the perfect amount of candy. Again I tend to give these out...
6. Apples - gotta agree with this one. I HATED it when I got an apple and a pat on the head. You know they were feeling bad for giving you the apple and hence the consoling pat on the had. Seriously, save yourself the guilt and just give me some candy! I'm not eating that apple just out of principle!
7. Tootsie Rolls - ohhhh LOVE the Tootsie Roll. I don't give them out, but I never thought this was a bad treat. Yummy
8. Miscallaneous Wrapped Candy - really if you don't know what it is don't give it out as a treat. I mean really. I know it's cheap and comes in bulk but save us the trouble of having to sort it and throw it away. Just leave your porch light off if you really dont' like the holiday!
9. Laffy Taffy - really, I like this stuff too. How can you not. You get the candy and a joke. So fill me with sugar and tell me something funny. Sounds like a good combo to me!
10. Anything fun sized - I don't agree with this either. Big or small - I will eat them all! No big deal to me. Seriously - so they aren't a full candy bar, who cares. Eat three instead of one - it's all good!!!!

Here's the article if you are so inclined to read....
http://food.yahoo.com/blog/edlevineeats/13401/the-10-most-disappointing-treats-for-trick-or-treaters

Jc's* New Trick

Look what I can do!!!! I'm a big boy now! Watch out I'm on the move - nothing can stop me now!!!

Just makes you want to have 100 of these cutie pies doesn't it????? :)

NUTS? Maybe, but it was fun.

It's that time of year. I LOVE it. I love going romping through the pumpkin patches and looking at all of the pumpkins - pretty and not. It is amazing to me to see all the different shapes and sizes and know that each started as just a seed, but grew so differently. There are always some really gross looking pumpkins too - the ones that the animals have gotten into and they've started to rot. I can always see them from far away and it amazes me that the girls never seem to notice them - or at least never comment. Jn* is always in search of the BIGGEST pumpkin while Jh* knows what she wants when she wants it and just picks. It is so cute to watch them both process so differently.

Saturday morning we ventured out with several of our friends to a local farm. It was a cool, yet beautiful morning. The sun was shining bringing us some warmth. There were 7 adults and 10 children (all between the ages of 2 months and 4 years). This is where the NUTS comment came in. But realy it was wonderful. The kids were all wonderful and seemed to have so much fun!

Here are my two little cheeseheads posing for pictures! Jh* was not fond of the "weeds" in the patch. She kept getting her feet caught because she was trying to go to fast. So she plopped herself on a pumpkin and waited for everyone to finish! Jn* is just a big cheese and LOVES the camera!

Here's the whole gang! Little J* was so good in the snuggly! He even fell asleep and just relaxed as his sisters played and had a good time. Next year I'm sure he'll be out there terrorizing the place! Oh my! Watch out! I can't wait - it will be so much fun!

The girls LOVES the straw stack. They would climb to the very top and then jump into the pile below.

And then of course we had to ride the horses. My girls really love horses. And aren't they just so cute - the girls not the horses! :)

We left and ended our monring with lunch at McDonald's and then home for naps. Even mommy got to take a nap! Yeah!

It was a good day and B* had fun too. He doesn't always get to do these types of things because I usually take the kids during the week. But it was a lot of fun and will become one of our family traditions - even when they are teenagers and we have to DRAG their whiny butts out of bed! :)

Our Day

We had a great Monday today! I love Monday's because our calendar has no pre-commited commitments. We own the day! We choose what we want to do! It is a sweet day. We don't have to rush to get out of our pajamas. We can leisurely eat our breakfast and see where the day takes us! I love it!

So this morning we met friends at a local park for a little playtime. The girls loved it - and it is one of my most favorite parks in our area. There are play structures that the girls both love, a really fun covered bridge to explore, lots of walking paths through beautiful trees, and a rambling river. It is just beautiful and realxing. The girls played on the playsets, we walked through the covered bridge, explored the walking trails and the river. It was a full morning!

In the afternoon the girls played with their new sand and water table (new to them anyways). Since we just bought it today and most places only carry the play sand as a seasonal item - we couldn't find sand. So quick thinking - we bought rice and put in there. It worked like a charm and the girls played for over an hour! Yeah!!!! We'll see if they love it as much tomorrow!

While we were outside Jn* was totally cracking me up. She told me that when she grows p if she has a girl in her tummy she'll name her Sally, but if it is a boy his name will be Jared. How cute! ut then came the real rocket science. She said "You know if it's not a boy, it's a girl." Where does she come up with this stuff!

While we were outside playing Jc* was loving the outdoors. He was all smiles and giggles. Check out this video....

Here are a few cute pictures of the kids.....

So the day is now over. All the kiddos are tucked away in their beds sleeping soundly. B* and I are sitting on the couch watching How I Met Your Mother.....awe - what a great day it was!