Our Halloween

So here are some Halloween Pictures for your enjoyment.  The hubby and I took our darling children to our churches Trunk-or-Treat!  It was a lot of fun!  We had Chili dinner, Cinnamon roll desert and lots of fun and games for the kids.  I tried to get picture of the kids with normal smiles, but it seemed almost impossible.  So this is what you get.

I mad both their costumes and was pretty happy with how they turned out.  A few weeks ago when we were trying to figure out what to dress the kids up as, Brian and the kids were on the computer looking at different costume ideas.  I was hoping to go with some more original ideas, but Ian saw Superman and was hooked.  For the next 2 weeks all he could think about was being Superman for Halloween.  So I worked hard to make it happen and he is a very darling Superman indeed.

Kenya was a little harder.  I didn't know what to do for her, but I eventually thought that she would be a darling 50's girl in a poodle skirt.  So I set about to make it happen.  It was a fun project and I only had to redo the waist band 3 times.  I also decided that a little kitten would be cuter than a poodle, so that's what I did.

Silly Smile, like I said, I couldn't get anything normal out of them.

Little Trey used Ian's old costume and was a soccer ball.  Brian was a soccer player.  Pretty cute boys. :)

And here we are, the whole FAM!!

(Yes I know, I'm boring, I didn't dress up.  But I was too busy worrying about all the other costumes to dress up.)



The Bitter Cold!

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate the cold.  While the beauty of the first snow is something I love to look at and enjoy (before it's destroyed by the dirt and sludge) it's not something that I want to be out in.  In fact, snow and cold makes me want to curl up with a good book, warm blanket, and a great mug of hot chocolate.  This happens to be my GREATEST weakness.  You see, typically I spend all winter wrapped in layers of warm clothing with a cup of hot chocolate every morning, avoiding any need to leave the house.  But this tradition is what makes it rather difficult to keep my weight the same, much less on the decline over the 4 months that the snow is falling and the temperatures are low.  So far this year I haven't touched a mug of hot chocolate, although I have wanted to.  I, in fact, haven't even bought any hot chocolate yet this year and am particularly proud of that.  But today, as I watched the snow fall for hours and hours, I almost lost control.  I searched the internet for ways to make homemade hot chocolate (because I was not about to go out in the cold) and found several recipes I wanted to try.  But here it is, 10 pm, and I have resisted.  I'm happy to say that soon I'll be in my warm bed with my warm blankets and I'll have faced another cold day and won.  How long will that last??  I don't rightly know.  Will I be able to keep my slight decline in weight loss going over the next 4 months?? I hope so.  I'm down about 20 lbs since having Trey and feeling good, but my biggest challenges are in front of me:  Halloween, Turkey Day & Christmas!  I hope I can win, or at least stay neutral. 

**Of course, there is one problem;  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!**  (Let's hope that only applies to the Borg.)

Pumpkin Guts ... and other fun!

We've had some fun the last few weeks, so I guess I'd better share. :) 

About a week ago, Ian attend his first school field trip.  The teachers wanted parental help, so I decided that the other two munchkins and I would join Ian.  On the appointed day we headed over to "Nick's Garden Center" to meet up with Ian's class.  The kids were so excited to get to go on the train ride and jump in the castle and pick a pumpkin.  (I don't have any pictures due to the three munchkins in tow.  Needless to say I had NO free hands. :)) 

When we got there Ian went ahead with his class while Kenya, Trey and I waited behind them.  This created somewhat of a difficulty for Kenya, as she is not big on patience right now.  See, Kenya and Ian are so close in age that Kenya thinks she can do everything Ian's does and be right in there with him.  This includes his Soccer team, preschool class, church class, etc... She's just not quite grasping the concept that he's older than her.  So while Ian went with his class on the Train, Kenya stood crying at my feet saying she wanted to go.  I had no problems letting her go, she just had to wait in line for her turn, and that's where she was lost to what I was saying. 

Needless to say, the trip was fun, but crazy.  Around ever turn Kenya would cry about wanting to do something with Ian and I would have to hold her back to wait her turn.  Poor little Trey was totally neglected, but he's seemed pretty happy anyways.  At the end of the trip was a tractor ride through a little haunted maze.  Ian went with his class and came back clutching one of the other moms, terrified.  Kenya went with another group of kids (and a teacher cause for some reason they wouldn't let me on with Trey) and came back on the teacher's lap crying.  Apparently the ride was way more scary than the employees let on.  Oh well.

The other day I was doing laundry in my room with Trey on the bed and Ian came up stating that he needed to read Trey a book.  So he promptly sat down on my bed and started telling Trey the story of the Great Pumpkin.  Soon Kenya joined him and all were enthralled in Ian's book.  (Well, I'm not sure if Trey really knew what was going on, but it was cute regardless.)

This picture was taken by Brian.  On Sunday before church, while I was getting ready, Kenya came to Brian, showed her Mr. Potato head and said, "Grandpa!"  For those of you who have never met my father, this is quite the striking resemblance to him -  of course though, my dad has eyes.  :)   The picture made me laugh.  She probably spent most of Sunday, other than church, saying "Grandpa!"  It's always fun to know that my kids know their grandparents well enough to simulate their looks or point them out in a picture. 

I was trying to get pictures of Trey smiling, which does very often now, but he wasn't exactly game for the task, so this is what I got.  :)  

Trey is growing so fast.  he's got chubby little legs and arms and giggles and coos and I love it!!  He's also rolling from him stomach to his back, but not he other way.  He's really not a huge fan of his belly, so I'm guessing that is the motivation for rolling onto his back. :)

The last pictures are of us carving our pumpkins.  Every year when we carve, Brian cuts and I scoop out the gooies.  This year, before we began, Brian announced, (I'm quoting this) "I'm manning up this year and I'll scoop out the innards!"  Needless to say, I was quite impressed that he was going to atempt it. :)  Of course that didn't keep him from making funny faces and squealing each time he stuck his hand inside. :)  

Ian's pumpkin's face.

Hard at work.  The kids colored theirs before we cut and Brian was working on the big pumpkin.

I was quite impressed that both our junior pumpkin carvers scooped out their own pumpkin's innards.  They did an astoundingly good job too.  I barely had to help at all. :)

The fam and all our pumpkins!  Don't they look fab!!

Pictures Of Trey

Sorry it's taken me so long to get these posted, but here they are.  Trey is 6 weeks old here.  I wish I could get new pictures of him every 6 weeks for the first 4 months cause they grow and change so much.  He's much more chunky now.  :) Enjoy!

All About Them

I must brag.  I know it's not usually a good thing, and I guess it could be deemed that here, but I just must. :)

MY KIDS ARE TOO DARN ADORABLE!  I JUST LOVE IT (and them too, of course).  :)

Ian:  Participated in his very first Primary Program and I was just so very proud!  I can't believe he's getting so big and I just love to watch him grow.  I will admit, I had tears in my eyes as I watched him on the stand singing and doing his part.  Every time he looked at us I'd smile and he'd smile his big goofy smile at me and then try and hide it so he could be serious.  What a great kid!  I'm so proud of him!

He's also big into numbers these days.  He loves counting and adding and subtracting and playing with Brian's calculator.  It's so awesome!  He's gonna be just like his dad, totally number smart. What a kid!

Kenya:  She's quite the spit fire and I love it.  Every time I look at her I'm in awe of what an amazing little girl she is.  She is growing so fast.  She'll be turning 3 next month and in just 3 months she'll be a little sunbeam.  It's awesome but at the same time makes me cry (tears of joy of course).  I just can't believe my babies are getting so big. 

Today Kenya was playing with Mr. Potato Head and took off everything by the feet, mustache and nose and turned to me and exclaimed, "look mommy,  it's daddy!"  I couldn't help but laugh and then as Brian walked up I asked Kenya who Mr. Potato Head was.  She again exclaimed, "It's daddy!"  I smiled and said, "Are you sure??"  She pointed and said, "yes, look!  It looks like daddy!" 

So funny I tell ya... but then again, you maybe would have had to be here. :)

Trey:  He is becoming quite the hoot!  I love the little guy and have forgotten until now how fun it is to have a chunky little baby around.  He's very into cooing and playing with his toys and his smiles are to die for.  Every time I go to change his diaper he breaks out into huge, adorable smiles.  I LOVE it.  He's also giggling and it's so CUTE!!  AHH!!  I love, love, love it!

So there it is, I bragged!  I can't help it, they are just the light of my life! What would I do without these three wonderful blessing from God?  And of course, what would I do with out a wonderful husband and father to make it all complete. :)