~ HaLLoWeeN HaPPenInGs ~

Halloween has come and gone but not without fully participating in many Halloween festivities...

And just in time to sport a Jack-O-Lantern smile, Addy lost not only her first tooth this week but a 2nd. She making the big bucks off the tooth fairy this week!

We attended our community event one evening and I'll have to admit it wasn't anything special and more of an annoyance of tons of kids running around so we probably won't go next year. The kids did enjoy getting some "Crazy Hair" done.



On Sunday afternoon we went to a Spooktacular Symphony. The kids enjoyed the music, the jokes and while we didn't participate, the costume contest.

The Trunk or Treat at our church was the kids favorite! Lots of games, hot chocolate drinking, pumpkin decorating and candy getting to be done! And because there were less trunks signed up than last year, I decided to decorate one at the last minute. It definitely wasn't prize winning, but by pulling decorations off our porch and out of the Halloween tub, I was able to come up with something. And I am pretty sure all the kids attending only cared about the candy anyways. And Reid actually ended up being the highlight of our trunk as he hung out inside while Wes passed out candy.

Jaidyn came with me early to help decorate.



It was pretty chilly once the sun went down so Addy and Levi wore their fleece jackets over their costumes most of the night.




I'm fairly sure if they would have given the "Cutest Trunk" award, Reid would have won the judges over.

Yes earlier in the week for his preschool party, Levi was Woody, but after seeing his best buddy dressed as a pirate he completely changed his mind for the remaining Halloween costume days.






Papa and Nana came for Halloween and brought the kids some treats! They love their glow marker boards and Levi really likes his "Letter" book. They were all laughing at Levi because he was being stubborn, giving his "I'm ignoring you" face and refusing to get in the picture.


The kids trick-or-treating with their friend Darth Vader and Optimus Prime!


Levi had enough candy getting and decided to stay with Papa (eyes closed, AGAIN) and Nana and do some candy giving while the girls went to their teacher's house.


Addy's Kindergarten teacher (Jaidyn's teacher last year) turned in for the night a little early, but she was a good sport and came out for a bit and even let the girls get their picture with her.

The last games of the fall soccer season were on Saturday and while I am glad for the break, I might just miss my little soccer team a little...

Halloween Pictures

We had the kids all decked out in some Halloween themed attire today for church and stopped by a nearby park to take a few pictures on our way home. They will probably be wearing Halloween holiday garb for the entire week.























And after our hike last week I searched through the Craigslist ads and found a baby carrier pack hoping to make this weekends hike a little more successful. I personally felt the hike was more enjoyable with Reid in the carrier pack rather than the jog stroller, but not sure that our pack mule aka Wes felt the same about it. :)














If we all "rocked out" like Addy every morning we would all probably get a great start to our day! Oh and having hot pink cowgirl boots on helps!




In conjunction with parent/teacher conferences the girls school holds a book fair and to reward the girls for the OUTSTANDING reports we received from their teachers we let them each pick out a book, Levi too! I loved their choices...Jaidyn, Judy Moody Girl Detective (Jaidyn has her own "Spy" club so this is fitting), Addy a Barbie Princess book and Levi a Disney Cars book.

One Tiny Starfish

Nikki from One Tiny Starfish is having a raffle for several great gift cards in efforts to raise funds for the educational progress of Andrielis in the Dominican Republic. Nikki continually raises funds in order to help send these kids to school so that they can better their lives. A few dollars will give you a chance to win a great gift card, but more importantly will help give a young girl an opportunity. And if you have never had a chance to read Nikki's blog find some time to do so and prepare to be inspired.

Oh and she also designed my blog header (and I seriously need to get it updated, but still trying to get a good family picture), so if you want your blog jazzed up a bit visit the "Blogs for a Cause" badge on my sidebar. A portion of her blog design proceeds fund her various charity work.

Pumpkins, Leaves, & Scarecrows

We just can't get enough of this gorgeous weather! My inside the house "To Do" list continues to grow, but I keep pushing it aside or hiding it under my computer desk stack of papers to continue to get outside with the kids and enjoy. I am going with the out of sight, out of mind concept. Friday night we enjoyed super loaded nachos and a great hometown football game with friends. Saturday morning each of the kids had a soccer game. Levi even scored 3 goals!! And 1 more if you count the one he scored in the other teams goal. Last week he scored his first goal ever and I think it really clicked that getting the ball in the net is the entire idea of the game. Nana came on Saturday for the day and we also got to enjoy her company at Campbell's Pumpkin Patch. The kids really enjoyed the magic show and the pony rides. After church on Sunday we packed up snacks and water bottles and took a drive to Busiek State Park to spend the afternoon hiking trails. While we chose the 3.2 mile "easy terrain" trail the terrain wasn't all super easy with the running stroller. Poor Reid was getting ROCKED! So Wes or I carried him much of the way while the other pushed the stroller up the rocky hills. And I am so proud of the kids as they walked the entire way...and with the exception of Addy complaining in the first 1/2 mile about how tired she already was there really wasn't any complaining. It might have helped that we promised they could have a soda at dinner (rare treat) as Levi will do anything for a Diet Coke.


Jaidyn on the field ready to start the game.

Jaidyn with one of her best friends from school.

Watching the soccer games.

Soccer games must have really worn them out. Will we ever get the the Pumpkin Patch?


Corn maze!

Front row seats waiting for the magic show to start.


The kids with Marty the Magician!

Jaidyn practicing tricks with her newly acquired magic wand.

Addy Upside down!

An afternoon Snooooozzzzeee!

Not sure what it was about the train ride but Levi refused to ride it and Jaidyn rode it 3 times...once in the very first car, the middle and in the caboose.


So instead of a train ride, Levi climbed hay bales.

The kids enjoyed their pony ride and while there wasn't the tiniest of a gallop in this pony's step, Jaidyn was rocking back and forth on like it was and Addy had her make believe lasso out circling it above her head. And after the many loops that this pony made, I can't say that I blame him. Levi wasn't sure at first that he wanted to do a pony ride, but with Wes promising he would walk right beside him he agreed to try it. I think he had the image of the bucking bulls and broncs that he has seen on tv in his head and wants nothing to do with that.








The sun was beaming down on the cute photo opportunity background so we made up our own. Nana snagged the stand-up scarecrow and a pumpkin to add to the wagon of mums.


I am not sure attempting a 3.1 mile trail hike in Busiek State Park with four kids 6 and under is considered adventurous or just plain stupid.

After seeing this sign, Jaidyn starts off down the trail tapping two sticks together (from Disney's Parent Trap movie with Lindsey Lohan) trying to scare away the bears. I can't say that I agree, but at the end of the hike the kids were disappointed to not see any bears. So they said next time maybe we should follow the yellow marked trail because that's where all the bears would be.

Addy's already lolly-gagging behind and complaining how tired she is and we just got started.

This was an approximate 10 foot boulder that we pretended to be a mini mountain. We three girls made it to the top!!


Reid has it made! Lucky little guy!

They were such serious hikers with their walking sticks.


Last weekend we attended our church parish picnic and the kids were entertained for hours with bounce houses, carnival games, water balloon tosses and yummy food.








And just some moments from home...


Levi was playing on the computer wearing his 3D glasses he got at the movie theater.

What a big boy sitting in his chair at the table. Reid wants to be a part of everything!


Reid isn't crawling or even attempting to crawl but instead just scoots around the kitchen and living room floors on his booty. Not sure how he managed to maneuver himself underneath the chair stools but he did.


Jaidyn and Addy had their army camo themed "Big Event" at school on Friday to celebrate the end of the 1st quarter. Jaidyn chose to get a mustache and goatee at the face painting station. Why?? She told me that she wants to be an artist when she grows up and it would be something an artist would have...I think she must have recently studied Vincent Van Gogh. Ha!


Jaidyn and Addy's class pictures of "Big Event".


I love that our cul de sac seems to be the gathering place for the neighborhood kids after school. On this particular day there were lots of great Lego creations taking place on our front porch.