When you don't sit in your chair correctly....

...... this is what happens!

 Chair 1 - Isaac 0

LOL. I am horrible for taking these pictures before proceeding to help him. Every time I would say, "Isaac, get out and sit in your chair the right way!", he would continue to push the chair further and further into the table (ha ha ha). Do you find yourself saying the same thing over and over again to your children? I think Isaac finally learned the hard way, and since then has sat in his chair the correct way. 

Happy Friday!

Spaghetti

Don't you just love spaghetti? It is simple, kids love noodles and slurping them up, and something different from the same old PB&J at lunchtime. This is how much one of my little munchkins loves spaghetti....

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Our Halloween

All my hard work paid off! My kids had the best homemade costumes out there but I guess that could be because there weren't any other hand made costumes. That kind of makes me sad. I know it is easier to go buy a costume and this year I was tempted... but there is great pride associated with Halloween when your kids go crazy after seeing the costumes you made them.

My supplies consisted of children cardboard t-shirt forms, felt, boas, puff paint, elastic, flickering tea lights, craft paint, and these shiny plastic pieces.

Isaac's Buzz Lightyear wings blinked like an airplane with red and green tips, Caroline had beautiful butterfly wings and buggy antennas made from pipe cleaners and boa pom balls, and I already gave you a sneak peek at Samuels awesome Dino costume.

This was a: "Stop and say trick-or-treat" picture

It was impossible to get a good picture of them all looking so you get this:

Okay, on to our pumpkin carving extravaganza!! One of my most favorite things to do around Halloween time is to dig in and get dirty. We use spoons to scrape the sides of the pumpkin but it is all extraction of pumpkin guts glory by using your hands. 

Isaac's true personality shinning through! :o)

Daddy's scary pose I asked him to do 

(don't be scared he really is a gentle man)

Finally, for all my adults out there that are looking for a spooky beverage to serve on Halloween... this is a must have for next year's festivities. 

I give you BRAIN HEMORRHAGE:

1.5 ounces of Peach Schnapps 

1 tsp Bailey's Irish Cream

1/2 tsp Grenadine 

Pour Peach Schnapps in first then slowly pour Bailey's on top to give it the "organ" effect. Lastly drizzle the Grenadine on top of Bailey's for an even spookier look! 

Happy Halloween....now on to holiday decor.... coming your way soon! :-)

Dino Sneak Peek

First let me start by saying that I boycott the Halloween industry by putting much love and thought into making my children their costumes. They may not be perfect, someone else probably wouldn't choose mine over a "store bought" but mine are still made with a tremendous amount of love that is over and done with in about 3 hours on Halloween night.

Toy Story is a family favorite and that kind of is the theme for the boys. I wanted it to be the theme for all of my kids, but procrastination let to the boys in Toy Story character and my baby girl as a bug. You'll have to wait for pictures of Isaac and Caroline but because Samuel had a Halloween party at school today you get a special sneak peek!!

Toy Story "Dino-Sam"

And I'm sorry, but I just can't resist her sweet fat legs in tights with her "Uggs" and cute little booty. :o)

Schaake's 2010

Last weekend was the perfect weekend to go pumpkin huntin' at Schaakes! Not too hot, not too cool, and luckily the ground wasn't too wet where our feet would start to sink, or too dry where if the wind blows you have to hold your breath and close your eyes because of the dust blowing around. Nope, none of that, it was just right.

Headin' out into the patch on the tractor

I personally have always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt for my perfect pumpkin. The size, shape, and color vary from year to year but when you find it you feel victorious! I hope that Joel and I are instilling those same feelings in our kids. I also hope they'll have fond memories of Schaakes like I do.

The Hunt

Sometimes I forget how little my boys are. When we stay at home all day and we aren't around other kids to compare, they seem like such big boys! Then after a trip to the patch and looking back on my pictures I sit and stare at my computer screen at these and remember that they are still my little boys. 

I start to feel bad about treating them so much older than they really are, but I guess we all probably do that at some point or another. And of all the "things" the retail stores try to promote... this is still their favorite!

Caroline couldn't fully appreciate the pumpkin hunt, so this was her favorite part of the trip.........

Freshly squeezed lemonade, and let me tell you, it was the BEST lemonade I've ever had in my entire life-- no joke! As you can see, I think it was Caroline's too. :o)

Finally after about 2 hours of pumpkin hunting, playing on their jungle gym stuff, drinking lemonade, etc, etc, we couldn't leave without the traditional "How Tall This Fall" pictures. 

If I would have been thinking I should have gotten a picture of them with their respective pumpkins, or of them all passed out in the car 5 minutes after we started driving, but, I was just as exhausted as the rest of them so I didn't do any of that. Pumpkin pictures will come after carving time this weekend. Happy pumpkin picking everybody!

Caroline's 1st Birthday

I figured since missy's birthday was over a month ago, now would be a good time to blog about it. ;-)

I had such good intentions to make Caroline's 1st birthday a huge pretty pink party, but this was all I got around to doing/getting:

Caroline's brothers got in on the pretty pink birthday fun while the birthday girl was napping. Goofy smiles and all ready to go!

Can you resist this shot?

The menu and guest list was kept simple. Immediate family members and all grandparents were welcome to come and join in the fun. Everyone enjoyed pizza, cake (that I made), and homemade ice cream (is there a better kind)? :o) 

Cake Shots

(Don't you just love her?)

I'm sure it isn't a surprise to you when I say we had to remove her cute tutu after the cake feasting event was done... so we moved right into jammies so she could be comfy while opening all her gifts.

Open it Great Grandma!

Did someone say tea time?

Like a true child....who cares about clothes? Get outta here!

My 1st Cabbage Patch Doll

The entire day was very nice, the weather was fantastic, and my birthday girl (and her mommy) was exhausted by the end of the party. How time does fly, 1 year ago Caroline Marie was born in just 2.5 hours. Crazy!