10.31.2008

trick-or-treat

It was a fun Halloween.  So much fun, in fact, that I didn't even get a picture with my three kids together.  These pictures are pretty fitting for how the entire day felt...a bit chaotic, but tons of fun!  I love a busy holiday.  I love having fun.  I love entertaining.  I love being with family and friends.  This is what we were able to do today...even if I don't have a Halloween photo with my kids on the porch in their costumes...it was a great day!















payton's parade and party

Payton's school did the traditional Halloween Costume Parade that I'm pretty sure is required in elementary school. You know, the one where parents come and sit in the overcrowded gym for 30 minutes to see your child for one second as they run by you.  Sarcasm aside, it was fun to see all the cute costumes! After the parade, we did a party with his class.  The kids had fun making crafts, decorating cookies and playing games.








10.30.2008

parker's halloween program

Parker's preschool class did a fun Halloween program.  They invited the parents to come listen to them sing about 10 different Halloween songs they learned.  It was very cute!  His preschool teachers are darling and are doing such a great job.  Parker loves preschool and is lucky to have two of his best buddies in his class.  





10.29.2008

i want to be a ghost


I took the boys shopping for Halloween costumes. We got to the store and I told them they could pick out any costume they wanted.

Parker said, "I want to be a ghost."

That's fine, but they don't sell ghost costumes. I tried to talk him into something much more commercial like, Bumblebee, Batman, Spiderman, Hulk, Power Ranger, anything that cost $20 and was easy to throw in the closet until Halloween, but Parker was not interested.  

"I want to be a ghost."  he insisted.

So, we left the store empty handed.  (Of course, Payton picked out his Dark Night Batman costume and was completely content.  He's a sucker for commercialization.)  We went home and picked out a nice white sheet from our closet.  We cut the sheet in half and then cut two holes in it for eyes.  

"Here you go, Parker."  I said.  "Here's your ghost costume."

He put it on for two seconds and then ripped it off.  He wanted to be a ghost, but he didn't really want to wear the costume.  Payton spent more time wearing Parker's costume than Parker ever did.  So, I knew that Halloween was going to be tricky.  This is a picture of Parker melting down because he didn't want to wear his costume to preschool.  Yes, he is underneath that sheet.  That sheet is his ghost costume.   

FINALLY, I talked him into wearing the costume just for a picture.  He did it!    


I LOVE these pictures of Parker in his ghost costume.  I'm so grateful that Parker has a mind of his own and cannot be easily swayed.  I'm grateful for his creativity.  I'm grateful for my darling little ghost...even if the 5 minutes that it took to take these pictures was the total time he spent wearing the costume.  In the end, it's my favorite costume that any of my kids have worn and it saved me $20.  

10.28.2008

pumpkin party

Our family had a pumpkin party tonight. 

we went to the pumpkin patch...



we picked out our pumpkins...





we walked through the corn maze...




we carved our pumpkins...





we enjoyed our hard work...


AND we enjoyed having fun together as a family. It was an awesome pumpkin party!

10.27.2008

yummy...

Thanks to Camille's post about edible playdough (you can see her mess and get the recipe), we decided to try one of our old favorites that we haven't done in awhile. Camille's Mom first introduced us to this fun idea and my boys have loved it ever since. We had some friends over and, as you can see, they ALL loved it!



10.26.2008

fall soccer season

Yesterday was Payton (& Tim's) last game of the Fall soccer season. We had a great season and a great team. The kids have made such HUGE improvements since last year. I like to think that the coach had something to do with that. I must brag a bit. Tim is an AMAZING coach. He does a great job helping the kids improve. He also does a great job keeping his distance and letting them play the game. (This is just my personal, unbiased opinion.)

Payton has learned so much and has become a much improved player this season. He played great defense and scored lots of goals. The last game of the season he scored two AWESOME goals. We are so proud of how hard he works. More importantly, he loves it! Recently he has been playing soccer every day at school with his friends. He says that's why he's so good (not his Dad's coaching). I think it's a little bit of both. I can't wait for the Spring soccer season. Tim's Dad took these awesome pictures with his new camera. It was fun to have so much support from family at the games.