Halloween

We started out our Halloween festivities with fun themed food with friends. Mummy dogs...

pumpkin shaped deviled eggs

spider web seven layer dip

We enjoyed zombie eyeballs (meatballs), zombie toes (bacon wrapped little smokies), and monster mouths (apples with pb and marshmallow teeth) too.  Delicous and fun!

Then it was time for costumes.  Percy Jackson from his current favorite series.  So glad Brandon is artistic and made his shirt. 

 Elsa - much like every other little girl her age.  Thank goodness for good neighbors who will braid your daughter's hair for you when you don't know how:)

 Stink Bomb - a character from Kyle's favorite video game Skylanders.  I think this is the first year he has agreed to, and left on, face paint.  It was still in tact when he got home to sort candy.

 It was hard to keep track of Evan because of his dark hair.  I kept looking for my blondie and he was nowhere to be found.  Thankfully it all washed out.

 The kids and their buddies we went trick-or-treating with.  

 Grace and her best buddy Adie were both Elsa.  So cute!

 I love Grace's hair - may have to learn to do that.

 Lowsy picture, but just so I remember, there was a firetruck coming down the street slowly and we got nervous there was a problem.  Turns out there were firefighters walking along side it passing out candy to all of the kids.  We took pictures with the truck and firefighters but none of them turned out.  So fun though!

Pumpkin Craziness

 We managed to find a nice, but cold day to head to the pumpkin patch.  It was very windy so we didn't hang around long, but we found three great pumpkins.

 Then two days before Halloween we finally started carving.  We carved 3 one day while Brandon was working, and 3 more the next day since we had inherited 3 extras over the last 2 weeks.  Thank goodness the kids aer good helpers now.

 Evan carved this sugar skull pumpkin all by himself.  Took him about an hour, but he was very patient and did great.

 Grace carved the left eye and part of the mouth on this one, and then Kyle helped her some til their hands got sore.  It's supposed to be the cheshire cat.

 Then Kyle's owl.  He carved the top then it got tricky because the lines were so close together and I took over.

 Brandon's creepy selection for the year.

 Evan carved this one to look like the pringles guy.  He was a bit disappointed it looks like a mouth not a mustache, but still cute.

 Random Frankenstein the kids picked out.  I carved it while they were watching a Halloween special, and when they realized I carved it alone they were very disappointed.  I'm glad they are taking over some of the carving duties now.

Pretty good looking bunch this year.  Brandon said lots of trick-or-treaters commented on our pumpkin assortment which is always fun.  Its over the top but since we all enjoy it we keep the craziness going.

Evan's Birthday

 Evan turned 10!  He decided on a soccer themed birthday this year and Brandon created this masterpiece.  

 One thing on his wishlist - duck tape.  He got three kinds and has since created an awesome wallet.

 He was very excited to see Grammie and Gramps bought him the next book in the series he was reading - House of Hades.

 He asked for a circuit set and we delivered with the "extreme set."

 He has made some fun stuff with it so far, a buzzer, alarm, spinner, and I don't knwo what else.  The adults were as amused with it as he was.

 Sometimes he still looks lie a little kid to me, but those days are fleeting.  He is turning into a young man very quickly and acting older and older.  

We love our big 10 year old.  He is still super goofy and funny, LOVES to read lately and is frequently caught staying up too late reading a book, is getting to be a better and better soccer player and loves his team, and is an overachieving Webelos scout who got 16 awards at his last pack meeting and is aiming to outdo that number this month.  I miss baby Evan but so far big kid Evan is pretty fun. Definitely a new phase of life but he is making it enjoyable for all of us.

First Day of School

 First day of 4th grade.  His eyes are closed, but it definitely shows how tall he's getting.

 First day of 2nd grade.  His teacher this year has been so good with him so far and he is making a ton of progress. 

 Last but not least, our baby girl's first day of kindergarten.  She was beyond excited.

 I think this was the saddeset day of the dog's life thus far.  For the first few weeks of school he laid by the door to the garage from the time the kids left until they finally returned home.  He looked so depressed.  He has finally adjusted and hangs out with Brandon and I relunctantly in their absence, and then goes nuts as soon as they walk through the door.

 All three kids are having fun and learning lots.  Should be a great year.

Photo Shoot

Labor Day weekend we took the kids out to get some new pics.  Love how they turned out.

 Evan looks too old

 This girl is a silly one

 Love the poses the kids came up with.

 They decided they needed pictures with their puppy too.  Finn adores the kids so it seemed like a good idea.

 Such a stud.

 We really do love this pup.  Evan had a seizure the week before these pictures, and Finn was up all night prior to it, and went nuts when it started.  After it ended he snuggled with Evan until he was feeling better.  He's turned himself into a service dog I guess, and it is much appreciated.