PaRtY #2

Bless Spiderman's big-headed heart. His sweet mask did not fit so well, and I post this not so flattering picture to make a point. This is how he has looked most of the time he has had on his "goggles."

But if you ask his ever admiring MomBE, I say, leave it off, for I can see that AMAZING face!!!

Oh, yes! Ours was the star of party #2 as well!!!!

HaLloWeEn PaRtY #1

One thing I have come to understand this Halloween is why parents always seem to be scrambling around at the last minute to find costumes. My kids have changed their minds too many times to count in reference to what they want to become for one lone night on All Hollows Eve. So I let them narrow to two choices and if they said "I want to be a so and so" then my response would be, "No, you can be a this, or a that" giving them a choice and the power they wanted. It has seemed to work so far................

We started the decision process with a catalog, and B quickly decided that he wanted to be Spiderman, and E, Spidergirl. I thought, "Wow, that was easy enough!" and I ordered the costumes straight away. A few days and fifty dollars later, they changed their minds!!!! E had settled in to a 'nice, mean witch' and B, a conductor. Both costumes I figured I could spent very little and give them option #2. So, for the first of many Halloween parties, E chose to be the 'nice, mean witch'

I know, I know! It DOES NOT get any cuter! Unless of course you get the chance to witness the attitude to boot!

After some reminding of the days to come, and some quality time with MomBE and Dad-O, B happily sat out of this party, knowing full well that he is the star of his school party on Friday. But the star of Halloween Party number one was OBVIOUS!

I wonder if we will be joined on Friday by a handsome conductor or the best Spiderman ever?

Dear Santa,

Last Night the "Big Book of Toys" from Toys R Us came in the mail. It claimed to have great deals for the parents, bragging of all the savings. {really?}

The elves had a ball looking through it and declaring " I want......" with every turn of the page. An hour later we would have a great (and expensive) Christmas list to hang on the fridge. It's October, but hey, Christmas is 60 days away.

B's list includes a hot wheel track, ball roller coaster, drum set, nerf gun, and airport

E's list is a vanity, strawberry shortcake cafe, little mermaid, magnetic paper dolls,an escalade and 'stuff for her doll babies'

And for the record, "Santa" has done pretty good so far, having already purchased a few things on the list.

By the way......

we will let E down gently on the 400 dollar Escalade.

Drink your fruit and veggies

Convincing him that the V8 Fusion is a 'smoothie' is a really good idea!

A New Patio/Sandbox

It depends who you ask about what Dad-O and Poppy worked really hard to build the other day. A great patio for 'manland' fit for a charcoal grill, gas grill, smoker and a small seating arrangement calling out for a few guys with Dad-O pops.

or

A really fun sandbox to drive cars, play with 'peoples' and dig up to heart's content.

either way

IT was a beautiful day full of fun memories

and SMILES!!

Almost WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

A Cousin's LOVE

Maple Leaf Traditions

MAPLE LEAF

"Its a Carthage thing". I used to say that about the parade, and the thought stopped there. I remember one year when Dad-O and I were dating, I was sick and missed the parade. I actually was, in a way, relieved that I did not have to get up and "fight the crowd and traffic." As the years have passed I have realized the parade is so much more than a passing of bands and clowns. It's a family thing, a friend thing. It's people coming together who may not normally exchange much more than a smile. It's aunt Kiley opening her home to a little boy she doesn't know because he may not make it to the out house. Its uncles Chet and Charlie serving hot dogs and making sales. Its Jen and Wade, Cate and Claire sharing laughs and stories of Maple Leaf past. Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup, adult coffee, warming our hands at Mimi and Papa's freshly cleaned house and napping wherever you land. Walking the square, smelling funnel cakes and feeling like you stepped back in time a bit. Its a tradition, and I am learning {and helping B and E} to love it!

Specific Instructions

At the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday B gave specific instructions that we needed to take home a few little pumpkins so we could paint them like "last time." I am not totally convinced that he remembers painting pumpkins last year because he is still in the stage of "last time, yesterday, last night, before breakfast" etc. etc. all meaning the same thing. Whatever the case may be, if he remembers our traditions yet or not, I am hopeful that eventually our little pumpkins will recognize our year to year traditions and have something to look forward to and to remember whatever time of year.......Always!

WHAT A MASTERPIECE!!!!!

Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

2 T butter, melted

1 T brown sugar

1 T worcestershire sauce

1 t salt

a few dashes of tapatio hot sauce (how brave are you?)

toss 2 cups seeds in mixture

Bake for 1 hour in a 350 degree oven, agitate every 20 minutes

Wow, they were REALLY good, and the kids liked them too!!!!

Jack

This year we went on-line and we found a build your own pumpkin stencil to determine what the kids wanted Jack to look like. Shocking as it seems, they actually wanted the same face. Triangles for eyes and nose and a "scary, happy" mouth.

We were sure to print out the stencil so both little goblins could show Dad-O what Jack was to look like. As you can see, E also wanted to act out what Jack should look like.

B was brave enough to dig right into Jack and scoop out the pumpkin mush and seeds. Soon after this picture, he opted for the spoon. (imagine that!) We were proud of him though, for his sister would not even touch the "pumpkin hair" protesting "I don't need to" when asked to just try to touch the pumpkin.

And as it happens time and again, the Dad-O was patient and perfect in his endeavor to create just the right jack-o-lantern for our sweet onlookers.

They are ALL very proud of the masterpiece named "Jack"

Next up........Sweet and Spicy pumpkin seeds!!!!

Yummy!!!!

The Pumpkin Find

A hayride, muddy shoes, several failed attempts at the perfect picture, and a few tantrums later we headed home with 4 pumpkins. You guessed it, a Dad-O and a Mommy pumpkin, and a B and an E pumpkin. A great day!

This time last year.......

Headed to the same place this weekend.......but with two VERY different munchkins!

"Tinker" TOY

We have many special people in our lives, all have amazing gifts they offer B and E in their presence. My parents, the Dad-O's parents, friends, aunts and uncles etc.....On this day, Poppy's gift of tinkering gave us a new (to us) toy to drive around our backyard.

The kids have been a bit under the weather lately, but when they saw this jeep in the backyard, begging to be driven, they obliged. Thank you to Poppy, for sharing your gifts with us, specifically, your ability to take a "broken" toy and make it into an out of this world experience for B and E on a day that fresh air, and smiles were MUCH needed!

We LOVE you and appreciate your gift of tinkering!!!!