Pumpkin happy

Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins. Good thing we didn't stop and buy any from the side of the road in Wisconsin! It's been fun watching you gain some independence in the carving business. 

"Whoa, I did it!" Is what you screamed when you made your first square cut in a pumpkin, Julia. 

Carving a pumpkin 3x the size of your head put you in your "flow" and you impressed everyone by picking it up, Jacob! 

 

We resorted to glow in the dark paint for the last few...we shall see if they work. 

Happy Halloween Eve! Looking forward to new traditions in our house! 

School pictures

I thought I'd get these in the blog before I delete them off of my phone. This year we actually remembered school pictures, but didn't go crazy to do anything to make us want to purchase them. With that being said we saved at least 70$ maybe close to $100 because we didn't buy flag football pictures either. 

Sorry grandparents and aunts and uncles... you don't have any little wallets for the fridge 

A fog

Last Sunday I woke to a fog over the water in our back yard and I'm pretty sure it stuck with me for the whole week and some. Jacob, I don't know how you are functioning at school, because I can tell by your eyes, the "fog" hasn't left you. It might for periods of time as you use every ounce of energy you have to play street hockey with neighbors or run around and just be a boy with a friend who stopped by. Anyhow, you amaze me. Your energy, your quest to be social, your yearning to explore and then to just be a brother would leave me on empty or dragging for days.
Yesterday, (or was it today, i can't even remember??) you set the record for fewest minutes needed to get on the bus. What  a trooper you are. Thank you so much. Your sister doesn't get moving like you do and hopefully she will grow out of that next year.



Now off to make costumes...here's a couple flashbacks from 2 years ago. How are you 6 and just 4? 

Oh Julia

"I like Andy's breath at night because it warms my legs!" 

Flag Football

 Let's just say this is the best $35 (minus the $11 for gloves) dollars we could have ever spent on a sport. It was something new for all of us. It helped us meet new families at your new school. It started out the weekends together as a family, and for the most part, you liked it. Plus, it sparked an interest in playing 500 at recess and bringing your own ball to school to share. Thank goodness we had perfect fall weather. I was dreading the "we have somewhere to be" start to the day, but it was actually quite nice to leave the house as a family and escape the looming to do list at the house.
I'm pretty sure my favorite part about watching you boys play was that you all had very similar personalities and had fun. Half of the time you all were biting your flags, while the other half the coach was more or less having to physically get you into position.
You covered the field like you cover the ice. You are naturally aware of where players are going, grabbing the flag was the tricky part! Thanks for having a great attitude. It made it just plain fun.

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We even had some time to play together before we would head home only to hear the request for neighbor kids instead of us. 

Oh Jules

"I don't read stuff, I just make up stories."

- Julia 4 yrs old

That you do my little 4 year old, going on 13. 

Enjoying a beautiful fall day with the neighbors. Leaf angels, now that's pretty cool. We even left some of the leaves in your hair for the dentist appointment and mustard stains on your jeans. We had to make it look like you didn't skip school today! 

Julia Moody

 Julia, you really are the spark in our family that keeps us silly and happy. However, some days you just get in a funk, and it's really difficult to snap you out of it. BUT it CAN BE DONE! It might just make me crazy or moody as well. Lately, I have some help getting you out of it...and boy do I appreciate it.

Other days, you are content. You don't plop down on the couch and turn the television on. You eat your breakfast, brush your hair, gladly put on underwear, unlike your brother, and find a spot to use your imagination! You talk to yourself, call for "mom" but your just pretending, or get lost listening to music. I love our time together and don't know what I will do next year.

Tonight you helped me with baking. Boy do you test my patience. I hope its a pleasant memory we are making!!!

This is what the softened butter looked like after you "checked it out". Geez. 

Here are some pictures of poppyseed roll making steps...a few are left out. However, if I want to learn how to photograph food, I know where I'll get my assistant! 

Oh and a couple selfies while you were at it...that explains how you got side tracked.

 (You love lookin in the mirror)

And there's my Julia again. 

A week of being spoiled

How did we luck out with good neighbors, again?! 

Steak dinner, popcorn, corn for the deer, the best caramel apple pie with the leftovers for breakfast, a candy dish and movies for the kids while the adults had fun!

Our other neighbors let us feed their cat while awat for the week. You really could do it all by yourself, but the novelty wore off after a couple days and it was left for me. 

 You guys were so good this weekend that dad stopped and treated you to Pokemon cards! This picture is of Julia who "pulled" a break from the pack! Jacob, you took it pretty well. 

We were a split family unit on Tuesday. Dad took Jacob to hockey and football while we experienced family night at preschool. You had fun and even played with a container of rice for two days...Andy might disagree. Poor guy. 

On Wednesday, we all got our flu-shots in the arm. Once again, Julia was brave a didn't hesitate. I'm not sure why Jacob was ready to leave without one...where did my brave little boy go? 

Instead of stopping for a treat, you voted to save money for Pokemon. However, I totally forgot it was Family fun night at a local church! 

So what does the best mom do? Invite the neighbors!!!

The next day we checked on Drew and Gwennie. And then I grew tired of spoiling my kiddos and needed an intervention! Or someone grew crabbier and I so wished they took naps! I still love you...but it can be long days of doing so. 

And then the weekend came and all will be better:) phew! 

A week in pictures

Neighborhood leaf clean up on the streets. Your leaf pile had to come from somewhere! 

If you wake up early enough you might get a couch snuggle! 

If you ask in the sweetest voice, you might just get a lunch date at dad's work. Your excitement after you dad said yes was priceless! 

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! You lucky ducks scored take out from Longhorn and Aunt La scored a three night sleepover! 

We had some wild nights!! And you and aunt la enjoyed your day off! 

I got to see what "side kick slushies" 

are and if school walking tacos are legit.  

Which they are! 

Recess was filled to the brim with children...a couple hundred. Whoa. You seemed to be doing ok socially. 

We captured this crazy looking caterpillar,  in addition to having a Wednesday adventure to Grundy filled with kittens, goats a pony and pumpkins. 

You guys are growing! 

We had some good time together since we didn't host any friends. We even picked up our van from the auto store and treated you to a small come because  you couldn't believe you made it that far on your scooter! 

I painted and cleaned, met up with good friends, baked and cooked just a little. It's Friday. I'm pooped. 

Jacob, you should be as well. You had hockey and football:) not to mention a Friday night football game with the neighbors. 

That doesn't even include the weekend. We were all busy, stayed up late, had lots of Friday fun day treats, and even had great weather to take a dip. Life is good, thank you. Amen.