HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (like 2 weeks ago!)

Okay first off- I just updated a TON! So make sure to read all the ones I just posted-K!

So Here's the deal from our Halloween this year. It was seriously so fun. One of the best Halloweens in recent years. I think the main reason was the weather. It was absolutly beautiful! I think it was like 65 degrees or something perfect like that. The past few years have been so cold that by the time we get around to trick or treating we are frozen after 10 mins, not this year... But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Our first festivities for the season started with Brody's school party which you can read more about below. Then the gym I work at, Lifetime Fitness (Although I am quitting this week. I hate that word "Quitting". I mean I only teach one class, so it's not like I'm a real important employee to them. I've been there 2 years and I only do it for the free membership. Lately I've been super busy with doing hair and that's what I love doing anyway, So time to move on. I know you all cared, but anyway) They hosted a costume party. It was so fun to get the boys dressed up. I wouldn't let them play in their costumes before that night for fear that they would destroy them, so they were super excited. This was the first year I didn't have a hand-me-down for Tate, so I could dress them with a theme together. It wasn't hard to figure that one out. They love the movie Speed Racer. So, Speed & Racer X it is. (I'm so glad the power ranger costume phase passed!)

This is my favorite photo from this year. And it's the only one with their helmets on.
My "pit crew" sweatshirt wasn't ready yet, so I was just a
Boy Scout with one of Greg's shirts. He was golfing that afternoon and sadly missed the photo opts. He was able to join us for a little fun at the end.

The boys and I also vetured out to our Ward (Church's) Halloween Party. This night was not so fun. Greg was working late so I took the boys alone only to be totally overwhelmed once we got there. There were so many people in a little space. I couldn't keep track of Speed Racer running one direction & Racer X running in the other, then going to sneak treats. I was not a happy Mama and was about to leave, 30 mins after we got there, but then Greg called and said he was coming. He always has to be fashionably late! We stayed a little while longer enough to play a few carnival games and called it a night.

I thought it would be fun to include some pics from previous Halloweens with the boys. I just can't believe how fast they are growing up!

For the actual Halloween night a few friends got our families together at The Pizza Shoppe for dinner. This worked out so nice. There were too many families that we wanted to be with to sanely accommodate in any of our homes, so this was the perfect option. All you can eat pizza, no prep work, no clean up. Just show up eat, chat and move on our way. I can definitely see us doing this again next year. As the kiddos finished eating some of the Dads took them to a grassy spot in the parking lot to run off some energy. Tate almost pooped-out even before the trick or treating & Brody busted his lip, but it was all in good fun and they both were fine.

I had ordered a Speed Racer Sweatshirt for Greg too, so we could be the "pit crew", but it never came. He was bummed as you can imagine.....

I was only able to capture a few of the kids the rest didn't want to wait for pictures. We had about 10 or so families, so it was a pretty good sized group. That made it really fun.

After dinner we all went to the same neighborhood to Trick or Treat. I think this is my most favorite neighborhood for Halloween. Every home was deck-out in some form. Some very classy, other way over the top with grave sites and giant spiders. It was fun. That combined with the falling leaves and the beautiful weather made for a perfect Halloween night. Tate was so funny as he realized what was happening. He was so happy to be getting candy. Brody ran along and had as much fun with his friends as he did with the candy. Even Greg enjoyed himself which is saying something because this is his least favorite holiday. I can easily say this was our best FAMILY Halloween ever!

First Love

This is only Brody's second year of pre-school, so I'm still pretty excited by the whole thing. He goes three days a week with an extended day on Wednesdays. He loves getting to take his lunch to school. He also loves Avery.
She was in his class last year and became his "girlfriend". I didn't think he knew what that meant, that he just thought she was cute & fun to play with. Even over the summer he would say that he missed seeing her at school. So we were excited to find out that they had the same teacher again this year. But now I am starting to worry a little bit about this school crush.

(This is Brody with Avery last year at our Mother's Day Tea.)

I thought it was just cute until he told me he asked her to marry him a few weeks ago."WHAT?!" I said. "Yeah, I asked her at circle time" He said. "Well how? What did you say?" "I just said, Well maybe you want to marry me?.....(He hangs his head low) But she said no. She says she's going to marry her brother." (I'm trying not to laugh) "Oh, that's okay. You should just be friends right now anyway." "But I want to marry her!" "Why?" I asked. "Who talked to you about getting married? What do you think it means to be married?" "It means you get to be with the girl forever."
Now this was all still pretty cute, but that was about a month ago. I thought I had convinced him to just enjoy being four and not worry about getting married until he's Mommy & Daddy's age, but he still talks about marring her, like almost every day! I've tried all sorts of things to talk him out of it. Greg even tried to tell him that girls have cooties till they turn 16, He didn't buy it.
I mean I LOVE that he will talk with me about her. I really want to encourage that for the future, but this kid is way too interested with this little girl! He's told me that they will get married and move to California, but I will stay here in KC, because, "You like it here, right Mommy? But you can come visit us." He is so funny all the things he has thought of. I fear that he is going to get his sweet little heart broken. Where does he get this stuff? I just worry that if he is this excited about a girl at 4 what will he be like as a teenager??!!! SCARY!
You can bet that I have made the switch to Organic milk. Too many hormones in this little boy!

(Brody with Avery & Tate playing Harvest Bingo while Tate eats the candy corn game pieces)

Anyway-Avery isn't the only thing we talk about. He tells me all about school. He is learning to write his name and he's getting pretty good at it. He and his friends play power rangers & puppies during recess. He loves when it's his turn to bring snacks & show n tell. He was even super excited for Tate and I to come help out with their Harvest (not Halloween mind you) party.



Every day I drop Brody off it is a struggle to keep Tate out of the classroom. So he was really excited about the party too. He came right in a sat down to play with Brody & his friends. Luckily they are sweet brothers and Brody thought it was fun to show Tate everything he does at school.




The party was great. The kids played games, decorated cookies & crafts. At the end we got to join them in circle time. I love watching Brody discover the fun in learning. I hope he will always be this enthusiastic about school. I am so impressed with how well he is doing, both socially and intellectually. I just hope he doesn't let his interest in girls get in the way! Married at 4?Oh brother, We'll have to keep our eye on this one!

Mom's VIsit

My Mom came to visit a few weeks ago. It was fun to have her here. I love to drive her around and point out why Kansas City is so much better than Salt Lake. (And the only real reason I do that is because she is constantly trying to convince us otherwise. She thinks she can get us to move there..... I don't think so.) Anyway- It was nice having "Nonnie" around. We made yummy food, shopped a little and played with the boys a lot. One place Brody loves to go is called Paradise Park. It's this great discovery play place in Lees Summit. He couldn't wait to take Nonnie there.

We also went to another Pumpkin Patch with Greg. The reason we wanted to go to this one was because it had a train ride. We also got to see an amazing pig race! (Okay totally kidding about the amazing part. But it was fun to watch the boys get excited about the piggies). We had a great time with Mom and like every trip. It ended much too soon!

Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches

Last month we decided we really wanted to be festive for fall. We had heard about this fun Apple Orchard just out of the city that lets you pick your own apples. We got the boys in the car and headed for the drive. That in itself was fun to see the changing leaves. Once we got there we walked around the orchard, posed with the photo opts and had a yummy apple treat. It was pretty fun, but it was starting to get crowded.
We noticed across the street was a farm that also had a pumpkin patch. In the spirit of being festive we went to check it out. It was so fun. They had a big hay maze, animals and the most variety of pumpkins & gourds that I have ever seen. It was a really fun way to start off the fall season. I think we'll make this a tradition.