Halloween

The weekend of Halloween, my dad came and visited us. My boys (and I) love it when Bampa visits, and it's not just because of the toys he brings. We love having him around and showing him our life.

We had a jam packed weekend with a lot of fun activities. We went to Lake Farmpark (no pictures, sorry)

We  went to Amish country. Grant liked having Bampa sitting by him

 

We stopped at the place that my dad had purchased Lana's dog, Bandit, over 5 years ago. Seeing Grant with the puppies almost tempted me to get another dog...almost.

We stopped at an Amish farm that allowed visitors to visit their animals. I loved this, for one day I would like to have a small farm.
All of my boys love animals, but two of them are especially fond and sensitive of animals. That would be Roger and Grant. Nothing makes them happier than seeing animals. They even have a special touch with them.

The boys had their last soccer game of the season. It was freezing and very muddy. We had had a lot of games canceled this year for muddy fields and freezing temperature. My dad was shocked and wondered how cold and muddy it had to be for soccer to be canceled since the conditions were not favorable at all. Grant refused to play most of the game for he hated the mud so much, but he was willing to play with Bampa.

 

We went to church and took some pictures of the  boys all dressed up afterwards 

 

All though I had purchased my boys Halloween costumes this year, when it came to Trick-or-treating, the three youngest decided to wear the costumes I made for them 2 years ago! I don't know why I waste my money sometimes.

 

While my dad stayed at our house to pass out candy, Todd and I took the boys around the neighborhood. Michael and Roger were super excited and running from one house to the other whereas William and Grant would climb in and out of the wagon. I went with Michael and Roger so that they wouldn't be held back by the younger two. 

Michael and Roger got done super fast, not difficult since there's only about 25 houses in my neighborhood. My dad was shocked to see us back so soon. He asked if we were going to go out to another neighborhood. Usually I am not a big fan of trick-or-treating and only do it for the kids and to say "hi" to my neighbors, but the cool air was making me feel so good, so I gave the boys the option of going back out to get more candy or to just stay home. Responsible Michael, of course, said that he felt that they had enough candy (and sugar) and that they shouldn't go back out.

When all the boys were back, we did what we do for Halloween tradition- set out a blanket and let the kids eat all the spoils they want while we watch a movie. Grant didn't get to eat as much candy since he chose mostly to suck on suckers, and those things take a little bit more time to get through.

Halloween Celebrations

What is October without a lot of Halloween activities? I usually like to come up with some sort of creative costume for the boys, but this year, I decided that I would just pay the 20 bucks for them to have a costume. I usually don't save very much money making their costumes and I don't save any time. Plus I figured that they could use their costumes for dress-ups later. After going to the stores, here's what they chose

Grant chose to be a knight

So did William

Roger was some sort of a dragon

Michael was Zorro

Our first celebration was a ward Halloween party, which is what the above pictures are from.

Next, William and Grant had a party with their Joy School group

Then we had a family party put on by the PTA (yes, I homeschool and am a member of the early childhood PTA- more for social reasons)

Pumpkin Decorating

 

We went with some friends to pick our own pumpkins. This was so much fun in itself. But then there was the decorating of the pumpkins.

I had purchased some lite-brite type decorating nails several years ago, the boys wanted to use these. Then, they found some old yarn and decided to take it up a step.

After looking like that for a couple of days, Michael decided that it would look better if he were to color the pumpkins.

They had a blast and I loved the originality of it all. Plus I liked that we didn't have to carve the pumpkins since I got a really bad cut when I was a teenager from carving pumpkins.

Loving Parent?

Mikey: Mom, did you know that some parents think that their children are the most wonderful things

Pause as I try to not be offended

Me: You mean, parents like me?

Mikey: No....like parents that really think that their children are amazing

Did not realize that he felt that I was so indifferent to him

Though I really should be offended at this conversation, I am just grateful that I know and understand where it stems. We have recently finished the book Matilda by Roald Dahl, and in the first chapter of the story the author talks about how some parents are almost crazy in thinking their children are wonderful which leads to the contrast of the disinterest that Matilda's parents have in her.
Matilda is a book that I loved as a child, and read about 5 times even though it is a longer book. I found it very humorous, and as a often-neglected middle child I related to Matilda and loved her independence. I have such fond memories of spending afternoons reading about her absurd life.
Roald Dahl is also one of my favorite authors. He has written such gems as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. He is witty and has a great imagination.
So, if you are looking for a book to read to your elementary aged child(ren), definitely try one of Roald Dahl's gems.

Warm Day

After having a string of cold days, we were fortunate to have a warm day upon us. Since Todd was off of work, we decided to do something outside. We rode our bikes 5 miles away to this nature park.
Knowing that there was a pond at the park, Roger brought this butterfly net that he was planning on using as a fishing net.

We brought kites, but it wasn't quite windy enough. The boys had to keep running to keep the kites up.

Of course Roger had a great time looking for fish or other animals.

Apples

 

My friend Kara, who also has four kids, and I went to take our kids apple picking. Apple picking is one of my favorite activities. I love being outside, I love being able to pick these beautiful apples off of the trees, and I love tasting all the apples.

Well, my kids love it too. Especially the climbing the tree to get the apples (though I don't think they were supposed to do that)

But how could you get mad at that face?

Michael (as always) was a huge help. He carried one of the bags around for me, and it was not light at all. That kid is a saint.

A couple of days later we had the Kirkham's over for our annual carmel apple evening. This year we invited the Laux's as well. 10 kids, 7 and under.....we had a great time.

These three had the most fun, I think.

Last year we discovered that if we sliced the apples, they were easier to eat, plus you could get more carmel on the apples :). Because we don't like double dipping, and plus the carmel was really hot, we dished the carmel up into little bowls for the kids. Then we put some dippings on their plates. They had a great time.

But the kids didn't eat all that much. After they had had enough, they went and played, it was us adults who spent way too much time eating.

Jim helping Michael make the perfect carmel apple

It was a great night with great food and even greater company. Afterwards, I did feel very sick from all the sugar, but it was good. I was starting a sugar fast for the next month. I have a marathon in a month and I like to go off sugar in preparation....anyone who knows me knows that that is one difficult thing for me to do.