Whoa! Back Up!

One of those much-anticipated days of the year...

Pumpkin Carving Day!

Dad gets the title of Chief Pumpkin Carver.

When my enthusiasm for the day is lacking, his is not.

Rather than carving his own pumpkin this year,
Dad helped out Josh who was unable to
dig in with both hands.

I love how the big kids plan, prepare, and, execute
all on their own.

Their personalities and creativity
really shine on this day.

My buddy this year was Matthew.

He was all about the goop.

Pretty intense...

Meet Matthew's pumpkin.

He wanted scary, but I got the eyes a little slanted, which gave him a more sorry than scary look.

Josh's pumpkin.

Now that's scary!

William's pumpkin.

Can you guess?

You got it! 

Darth Vader!

Carrie's pumpkin.

Captain America!

A pretty awesome cast of characters!

Fast forward two days to Halloween day.

We enjoyed our traditional Jack 'O Lantern Pizzas
from Papa Murphy's.

The day before, Josh exchanged his sling for a 

waterproof cast.

Waterproof!

Carrie and William not only had their costumes for Halloween evening to prepare (they procrastinate like their mother), but they were also preparing their Superhero costumes for my homeschool group class on elections the following day.

They were good sports and enthusiastically agreed to make campaign speeches for the K-2 kids.

Here are my trick-or-treaters:

Ceiling Fan, Iron Man, Holy Ghost, and Captain America

Cover those muscles, Son!

It's cold outside!

And now for the homeschool group Superheroes...

Captain Bacon

and 

Duct Tape Woman

Here are the kids listening so attentively as 

Captain Bacon and Duct Tape Woman 

give their campaign speeches.

"Notice my Bacon Boomerang with which I knock down the Evil Dr. Sausage."

"I promise that, if elected as your homeschool Superhero, I will fix your bike seats with Duct Tape!"

Promises, promises...

Who won the election?

Duct Tape Woman

She thinks it was because of her very stylish 

Superhero costume.

Actually, she thought her chances were all over after causing pandemonium with a bag of candy--poured out on the floor in front of the group of 25 children...

You can imagine the outcome.

Funny now that it's over.

:)

Halloween is over.

Election day is over.

Thanksgiving...here we come!

Looking forward to the Holiday season,

Happy Day

Perfect Day.

Paul is home from work.

I made banana muffins on a whim.

(It was either that or throw the bananas away.

Or get donuts...which make me feel really yucky 

by mid-morning.

Physically and metaphlysically.

Sorry--Duck Dynasty reference.

Which makes me happy, happy, happy.)

But seriously.

Donuts make me feel yucky physically and mentally.

Sugar and guilt are not a good combination.

Then it started to snow!

Banana muffins, coffee/hot chocolate, apple cider candle, snow, husband, and excited kids!

Perfect!

 The boys have been cooped up with colds this weekend, so this energy explosion was not a surprise.

I guess the snow is a signal to get out 

the hat and glove box!

You just have to try them all on!

I am really looking forward to many more snow days in the next few months.  Especially after the lack of snow last winter.  There's a coziness about snowy days.  

A silence.

Now...check out this sweetie!

My niece, Ciara, was two months old on Sunday!

U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E!

Carrie, William, and I made the trip north to her baby dedication at church.

Then we were invited to lunch at Brandy's 

grandma's house.

What a fun day!

My brother, Rob, is truly blessed.

Ciara's cousins.

What didn't I get pictures of this weekend?

William's first robotics tournament!

Basketball season and Robotics season 

are well underway!

I better get more intentional about 

using my camera and blogging.

It seems like taking pictures and writing blogs have seasons of their own.

Love and Blessings,

Finally Off!

The day that William has been waiting for 

has finally come!

 After 33 months of wearing braces, the braces came off!

He is excited to be able to eat corn straight from the cob and apples at the orchard 

without having to carry his knife.  

And Butterfingers.  

I forgot about the joy of Butterfinger candy bars.

Congratulations, Sweet William!

You are oh, so handsome!

And old.

And tall.

Much love,

     (Mom)