Happy Halloween

We're outta here!

NO Parking

It's been a long, exhausting day

all I want to do is relax on the couch

this is what I find

I tell you, the boy is obsessed

Pumpkin Patch

Well, we did it! We made it to a pumpkin patch this year. It was this time last year that I was feeling very unfestive. AND since we’re missing Halloween this year I’ve been quite bummed. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. When else can you rake in this much candy in under an hour?

Girls candy – Halloween 2008

With Jason old enough to participate this year can you imagine the loot we could have come home with?? I can. Of course, we are very excited for our vacation to the Caribbean, but who can blame me for wanting both the tropical destination and the piles of candy to delight my sugarloving taste buds?

We had a super tight schedule Saturday with just enough time in the afternoon (skipping Jason’s nap) to squeeze in a trip to Spooner Farms. This is our first time visiting this pumpkin patch, but we heard it had a great corn maze and lots of fun picture opportunities.



Justin and I have never done a corn maze and we were both shocked with how complex this maze was. I imagined straight pathways, clear right and left turns. This maze actually had a face carved into the corn (of course you wouldn’t know that unless you were looking down on the entire thing). Without a map I can’t imagine anyone figuring out where to go.

If you look closely Abigail is holding the map of the maze – crazy complicated!

To make it more interesting they had 6 mailboxes throughout the maze – if you find all six you get a prize at the end.

Here’s Abigail ready to punch her card at mailbox #4

When we found out the course was at least 2.1 miles (more if you get lost or take any wrong turns) we knew we needed to hustle. After a weeks worth of rain the paths were a muddy mess. Justin ended up carrying Jason through most of the maze.

Look at all that mud on Jason’s pants.



After the maze we picked out a pumpkin to take home. I asked Justin if we should get a few extras for the kids to carve and he immediately shot me down. He said he didn’t want them using knives, but I think he just didn’t want to fork out anymore money. I guess we’ll leave carving pumpkins for another year.

Jason thought he was strong enough to handle the wheelbarrow. He tried with all his might and was able to push it an inch or two.



The kids were each excited to pick out a mini-pumpkin to bring home.

We had a great time and could have easily spent another hour at the farm. While we were in the maze Abigail told us she wants to bring her kids here when she gets older. There was so much to do and see that we didn’t even know that we had missed out on seeing all the farm animals. Next year we’ll try and give ourselves a little more time to enjoy it.

Random

Perhaps we need a new favorite character…

Over the years I’ve really tried to limit the amount of TV my kids watch. Each of them from a very early age (like 6 months old) have been fascinated with the TV and would sit in front of the TV in a zombie-like state for hours if allowed. Sure that does have its advantages at times, but it’s something I try to avoid. However, with me not feeling very well over the past few months Jason has watched a show or two practically everyday. His favorite is by far Curious George “Ooh Ahh” as he calls it. As I was sitting on the couch with Jason the other day watching an episode of Curious George it dawned on me that George doesn’t speak at all. I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing my speech delayed son a disservice by encouraging his love of a character that can’t speak a lick of English and grunts and points when he wants something. Maybe we need to find a different show were Jason may pick up a word or two.

Future fashion divas?

My girls are easy, non-fluff girls. We don’t do hair bows, fancy braids, or gigantic Mormon headbands and floral hair décor. Not that they would be opposed to any of the above, but I’m just not one of those moms. Abigail’s hair style consists of a dollop of mouse, a little hair scrunching, and a simple brown clip. With Carly’s stick straight hair it’s not unusual for us to leave the house in the morning and neither of us have even thought of running a comb through it.

They wear whatever I purchase them (or gets handed down to them) and couldn’t care less about fit, color, or style. Makes shopping for them really easy and relatively inexpensive. Abigail has been wearing the same winter coat for the past three years so she was overdue for something larger. I finally got around to getting her a coat on Saturday and she immediately put it on and headed back outside with friends. Carly quickly scooped up Abigail’s old coat and with a huge grin on her face asked if it could be her coat now. Of course that was my intention, but I didn’t imagine she would be quite as thrilled as she was to wear a coat that has half a dozen huge safety pins holding on the hood and is definitely well worn.

Sure I wonder if I should be more concerned about how put together my girls appear, but there’s definitely lots of advantages to keeping it this way too. I hope they will always have the confidence to look past all the exterior stuff and just be happy with who they are.

(Abigail obviously wasn't very excited to pose for a picture)

Sweet Treat

Justin’s idea of a yummy treat

honey, sweet honey

Jason at 2

As I was putting Jason down for a nap this afternoon I kept thinking about how quickly he is changing. Everyday I find myself taken back by just how great he is, seriously – everyday. No he is not our easiest child, but we just love him to bits anyhow. Since I’m so incredibly behind in my scrapbooking (how the heck will I ever catch up with #4 on the way???) I decided I need to jot down a little bit about Jason at age 2 and share a few pictures from the last month or so.

• Jason really does run the house. He who hollers the loudest get what he wants and Jason can holler.
• Has decided he doesn’t want to miss a thing in the morning so he is the first one up at 7 am (well, the first one besides Daddy).
• Has decided he was missing far too much of the action by taking 4 hour naps each day so he now tries to keep it under 3 hours.
• Is picking up new words every week. He tries so hard with his speech therapist and is really improving. We’ve even gotten a few words together – like “more please”.

• LOVES books. We’ve finally reached an understanding that we will only read 2 books before nap or bedtime. He selects them before we sit down and he can choose which one is first and which book is the LAST book before I lay him down. I’m so grateful we are able to communicate better.
• Although so much about Jason is “all boy” he doesn’t like messes. Sure a messy playroom – no big deal. But if he drips a little yogurt on the table he wants it cleaned up right away. When he knows he has a little food on his face he picks up a napkin and wipes it away.
• Jason is sensitive. If he ever hears his sisters crying he’ll be there first one there trying to give them a hug. He hates getting into trouble and if we really get after him for something it breaks his little heart, then of course he looks so darn cute that he’s forgiven on the spot.

• Thinks that being in the car is endless snack time – and does not like being told “no” or “wait til we get home”.
• Gives the sweetest kisses. I think the girl’s kisses at this age were wet and slobbery, but Jason gives us the real deal. My favorite is when he gives me a kiss on the cheek then wants to give me a kiss on the other cheek as well.
• LOVES taking Carly to the bus stop. He started blowing kisses to her as she watches from the window – seriously just tugs at my heart. Then he yells “BYE” as loud as he can. The bus driver thinks he’s just the cutest thing ever.
• Jason is hilarious – he cracks us up every day with the silly things he does.
  

• LOVES going to school twice a week. Even though it’s a huge time sacrifice for me I also enjoy it. He gets to paint and make all sorts of messes all under the watchful care of three amazing teachers. Occasionally I even take the opportunity to run to the grocery store during class – shopping without Jason is quite the luxury.
• He sure can get wild. One of his nursery teachers at church told me that for the most part he is very quiet and calm, but occasionally he gets this “look” on his face and totally breaks loose. He loves to tackle his sisters and they enjoy it when he acts like a monster and chases them around the house growling.

• Jason is still obsessed with cars and trains. They are definitely his toy of choice.
• When we are in the car Jason points out each and every fire engine, police car, construction equipment, big truck, and train. Then every adult in our car needs to acknowledge his findings.
• Jason is currently going through a Mommy phase. Although he’s thrilled when Justin gets home from work. Jason wants me to change his diapers, brush his teeth, and put him to bed. This phase needs to change here quickly.
• Jason is a non-crust guy. I don’t remember cutting crusts off sandwiches for my girls, but again Jason does tend to get his way.