Funny things they say

While watching the Disney movie Pocahontas, John Smith refers to Pocahontas and her people as "savages".  Charlie says "savages, like the kind you can eat from the garden" (cabbage)

Sammie our cat was sleeping with Tommy one night.  Tom came downstairs complaining, but not crying that Sam had bitten him.  I asked if he was being nice to Sam and he said "yeaaaaah"...um NO!  Then he said "Sammy bite me.  He thinks I am yummy for breakfast".

Every Sunday after church Daddy makes us pancakes, eggs and bacon.  One Sunday we were just sitting down and Charlie was munching away on some bacon.  "I never knew that a dirty pig could taste so good".  Had us both rolling!!

While watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of the Misfit Toys, better known in our house as the "Toy Stealer" movie, Charlie pipes up "Momma,  girl elves don't make the toys at Santa's workshop.  They just tell the boy elves what to make".   Smart boy :)

Magic Whooloween 2011

It wouldn't be Halloween without a trip to the Magic Whooloween Event at Penitentiary Glenn Park.  Penitentiary Glenn is part of our amazing Metroparks and it offers so many different activities through the year.  Magic Whooloween just happens to be a family favorite and we wouldn't miss!  This year Daddy and I packed up the boys while Penny stayed home with Nana in her nice warm cribbey.

This year the craft was making spooky trees out of toilet paper rolls, tissue paper and stamps.  Simple and fun!

Waiting for our train ride

The BEST part of the night is the TRAIN ride through the not so spooky forest that is decorated with Jack-O-Lanterns.  It is sooooo fun, even for us grown ups!!

Tommy holding our train sign, we are next in line!! 

Tommy was old enough to ride by himself...He was SO excited.  I was sitting in front of him and heard his little voice "Hey Dada, you doin ok back there?".....SO CUTE!!!   He did great!

Charlie and I had fun getting spooked by all the pumpkins and hanging ghosts. 

After our train ride it was time to grab some hot chocolate and donuts and sit by the campfire for a bit.

After we ate and drank our fill we decided to call it a night.  Within minutes we had little people sleeping in the back of the van.  Something that NEVER happens, so you know they had fun and were worn out.

We can't wait to take Penny with us next year!  I know the boys will enjoy showing her all the fun stuff.

HaLLoWeeN of ThE pAsT

Besides Christmas, Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays. I have always loved it, but now with three little ones it is even SO much more fun.  We spend months, literally, agonizing, changing our minds and then creating most of our costumes.  This year, Daddy and I are even dressing up since the boys have only begged us for two years now to do so! I LOVE Fall and all the fun activities to do around this time of year, I LOVE the cool crisp weather and changing of leaves, I even love the rain and wind.  The colors are fabulous, the food is outstanding and there is just fun to be made at every corner!! I LOVE HALLOWEEN!

I started a tradition last year of pulling our pictures of Halloween past, the kids in their costumes, at the pumpkin patch etc, and decorating with them around the house. It is so fun to see how the kids have changed and what they were "into" that year, or what cutesie costume I got away with putting them in!

Bobafet and Yoda, 2005

Charlie the little Lion, 2006

Charlie, 2006

Charlie as Thomas the Train and Tommy the Great Pumpkin, 2007

Tommy the black kitty and Charlie the orange kitty, Charlie picked out the costumes and Nie Nie made them, 2008

Tyler as Percy, Charlie as the Space Train, Andrew as Thomas and Tommy as a Knight, 2009

Charlie came up with the idea of the Space Train and Mommy made it for him, 2009

Charlie as a Robot, awesome costume that Daddy made and Tommy as a Skeleton, I was induced to have Penny after we went trick or treating this year, 2010

Some of these pictures were taken years before I started keeping this journal, so I thought it would be fun to include them now.  Plus, who can resist a precious kitty cat or pumpkin with striped legs?!
So much fun!!!

Tender Mercies

 When Charlie went off to first grade, one of the things that I worried about was the relationship between the boys.  They are a a little over two years a part and for the most part have done everything together, and that is the way they like it.  Yes, one minute they can be throwing each other down on the floor or trying to decapitate each other with their fierce pillow fights.  But I think that is how they show each other their "love" if you will.  Because the other will be the first to stand up to a rude friend it he doesn't allow all brothers to play in their game, and they run to each other's rescue over big tumbles and scrapes. 

 There are tender moments too between brothers.  Whether they are snuggled up watching a show together, loving on their sister together or playing their favorite Lego Star Wars Wii game.  These two love to spend time together.  So, my worries of if these two would remain best friends was proven to not be a worry at all when on the second day of school Charlie came bounding in the house with two new library books in hand.  A Clifford Kitten book for himself and a Clifford "mimi" fire truck book for his brother.  Charlie went on to tell me how he had been thinking of  his brother and how he just knew that Tommy would love a "mimi" book.

Tender mercies....Thank you God!

The First Week and Missing the boy

 The first week at school has gone better then we all expected.  Tom or Thomas as he introduced himself to his new little friends, he is pure cuteness!, fit right in to his new routine.  The mornings that he is at school literally are a blink of an eye and then he is back at home.  The big news from Prek is usually what snack they had.  They sure know the way to my boys heart!  The rest of the day he is my right hand man, and thoroughly enjoying it!  He is eating up all the attention and one on one time.  The change has been good for him.

  Charlie has done well too.  He aced his first ever spelling test, woot! woot! and his handwriting has improved immensely this week.  He had a bit of homework which he finished in no time at all, and with no complaints!  He also seems much more relaxed,  and his "motor" seems to have settled a bit.  I think the day is long for him though, and he is usually pretty tired when he comes home.  But that makes for good snuggling time with Mama!!!  He has LOVED riding the bus and has had some great teachable moments.  He has had the opportunity to teach others how to be a good friend and our little evangelical even talked to a boy in the bus line about God!  The conversation went something like this:

Charlie:  "God is the BEST!"
Boy in bus line: "No, my Dad is the BEST!"
Charlie: "God made the WHOLE world!  So He is the best!"
Boy in bus line: "My Dad made a world too"
Charlie:  "Your Dad isn't God, so he only made a pretend world.  Like a globe"

Love it!!  I couldn't get out of him how the conversation started between him and the bus line boy.  But it doesn't matter! And what was even cooler what that he connected what he said to the boy about God with the lesson he learned at Sunday school last week. Which was about how we shouldn't keep Jesus to ourselves, but give him away to others so that they will know him too.  He told me all about it at bedtime, sweet boy! I told him that talking to that little boy about God was the greatest thing he did all week and that I was very proud of him.

But I can't help but miss the boy something terrible!  And I am not the only one either!  The day is just too long for all of us.  We are all carrying around Charlie's Lovie during the day, even Penny.  Tommy told me that Lovie was crying for Charlie, then patted Lovie on the head and in the sweetest voice said "it okay Lovie, Charlie love you and be home soon".  Pitter patter my little heart!

And after we dropped Charlie off this morning I hear a little voice from the backseat,
Tom: "Mom, I miss my Charlie"
Me: "I know buddy, I do too.  But he will be home soon"
Tom: "I all alone back here.  I need Charlie to sit with me.  Mom, when you grow up you sit with me back here?"  Too cute!

So the week has gone good.  We are all adjusting.  There have been no tantrums or tears, expect on from me...tears, not tantrums :)  But each day is a bit easier.  And I can tell you that I have never looked more forward to the weekend then I do today!!! I don't want to do anything but all climb in our bed, snuggle up with the boys and stay there all day!

Boys, we are so proud of you!  You guys are doing great at school and we are excited to see all the fun stuff you will learn!!  Love you tons!
Mommy

Lake Trip Part II: Fishing with Daddy

*fishing off the dock with Dad, both boys caught fish this year and after one fishing adventure where 3 fish were fighting over Charlie's worm, he came running to me on the beach yelling "it is AMAZING MOM!!, just AMAZING!!"  I think he finally caught the fishing fever!