Halloween Decorations

The boys and I decorated for Halloween.  I think that is their favorite holiday to decorate for.  I could take it or leave it, but they are so excited, that I get into it as well. 

Putting up the window clings:

On our first ever shopping trip to a Goodwill, we came home with this enormous pumpkin for our front step.  It was against my better judgement, but Carter insisted "because it is just like Grandma's".

We had to replace our previous Halloween lights in our front window with a new spiderweb (measures 4').  It looks pretty cool at night.  If I ever learned how to shoot photos at night and have them turn out well, you could get the entire 'night' effect!

The front entrance.  Ryan's window also has the enormous pumpkin in it that we made 2 years ago, but it is tough to see in this picture because I don't have the light on in his room to illuminate it.

Ryan's 'creative' ghost that he wanted me to 'put on the web'!!!!! :) {made out of none other than pumpkin erasers that are out all the time at our house now!}

We also put out decorations in the house and I have a craft up my sleeve this weekend for more inside decorations. Stay tuned (I'll share if they turn out)! :)

Homework

We pulled out the rolls of paper and did a little 'homework'.  Ryan's job: count by 2s, 5s, and 10s up to 100 and back down again.  He did great on all of them - the 2s were a little trickier on the way down, but he did it!  Carter's job: pretty simple - learn to write his name legibly!  He's getting there, with a little 'nudge' from us!

Kyle's School Picture

How on earth is it possible Kyle is in 7th grade already?  I swear someone's pressed the fast forward button...meanwhile, I'm still searching for the pause button!  :)

Rub a Dub Dub

Two boys in our tub!

Oh, what a treat it is for them to take a bath in our bathtub with jets.  That is about the only time our tub sees any use! 

Pumpkin Patch

The boys and I went to see the movie Dolphin Tale today and then met Evan at the Anoka County Farms pumpkin patch.  The movie was great - one of the best I have seen in a long time - the boys loved it, too.  The pumpkin patch didn't disappoint, either.  We played pumpkin bowling, jumped in the bouncy castle, rode on a hayride, sat by a bonfire, painted pumpkins, and picked out our own pumpkins to take home.  It was a gorgeous day for it, too.  Love this weather!  We ended our day with a bonfire and s'mores at home.  It doesn't get much better than that!  ;)

The sun was so bright and they had to look directly into it to take pictures - they were good sports, but I wish the backgrounds were at a different angle!
 

"I can even flip in here, Mom!"

Carter showing us his moves!

Checking out the bonfire - I love this design!  The only downside, your feet don't feel the warmth - a major drawback for someone like me that always has cold feet!!!

Heading out on the hayride:

Picking out our pumpkins in the patch:

Inside the shed, there were photo ops:

Hard at work painting the pumpkins:

Roses

Evan brought me home a dozen roses last week.  I forgot to take a picture until now (some were past their prime!)  I cut off the stems and put them in a glass bowl.  I love fresh flowers - they always put a smile on my face! :)

LCA Soccer

Kyle is on Legacy Christian Academy's Soccer team.  He just started soccer this summer (for the first time since he was much younger, anyway) after a mix-up with baseball registration left him off his baseball team and he really enjoys it!!  The kids love going to Kyle's soccer games to cheer on their older brother!!!  Go Kyle!

{Evan took all of the following pictures - I did remind him that we have a zoom lens after I saw them!  Kudos to him for remembering the camera and bringing the younger boys to the game, all on his own while I was at work!!!}