Pumpkin Days

The kids had pumpkin days at school; I guess this was the schools way of celebrating Halloween without recognizing a pagan holiday. No witches or vampires were seen at this pumpkin celebration. The kids had lots of fun playing with their friends and going to various activities in fifteen minute intervals. Some stations were not long enough and others were too long, even though each was just fifteen minutes. The activities include but are not limited to pumpkin decorating, petting zoo, Stretch N’ Grow, music and much more. The day was pretty full interesting for the parents who were in attendance. Bear went around with Isabelle’s class and I think he really enjoyed that. I just figured Isabelle would have more fun with her friends than Bears, and I did not want to have to run between the two classes.



Cooper was a trooper, he did get to get out and see the animals but mostly he was happy and content to stay in the backpack carrier. He even fell asleep.

Snow and Potatoes

Our trip to Minnesota was somewhat eventful. We stopped in Kansas because it’s a long drive and we exchanged children, Isabelle stayed with her cousin Gabby, and Noah came along to play with Bear. Let me tell you they had lots of fun.

For three days they played in the very wet snow, making a snowman, having snow ball fights, and sledding down the hill in Grandma Nana’s back yard. Now there was hardly enough snow to cover the ground but they had lots of fun anyway. Grandma Susie even got out there to help and play with the boys, it was a great adventure.


They went to see a man about a cow, at the sales barn and watched the process of farmers buying and selling their cows. Noah is an old pro at this and Bear is surprisingly well for his first time. I think he was mesmerized by the cows; how big they were and how close they get while at the sales barn. Too much fun!

Now of course we cannot forget about the digging for potatoes. Which ended up coming in very handy for Nana’s party, but that is another story for another day. All the kids helped dig potatoes from the field and were nice and dirty.
But they had a lot of fun, counting the potatoes and picking them up to take home. They collected over thirty (30) potatoes and that was just a small portion of the row, imagine if we went up the entire row.

Overall Noah and Bear had a great time and got a long really well. Boys will be boys, especially when there are just boys around and no girls. It was quite the experience, but lots of fun.

Bike

Just so those of you who are not close by don't feel left out, I am going to make a quick post about Bear and his new bike. As he reward for being potty trained we told him he could get a new bike. Well he has been done for quite a while now and we are just now rewarding him for all his hard work. (I really wanted to make sure he coud push the pedals, he had a hard time with the tricycle for some reason.) But he is a bike riding machine, he just has a challenge with turning around. I'm sure one day when it stops raining he will be able to figure that out pretty quick. Then Isabelle will be moving up to a world without training wheels. I told her she cannot get a new bike until she learns to ride without them. And since she is getting taller, everyday, she could really use a new one. Oh yea Cooper is rocking the walker, he really wants to be just like his older sibs. And yes the walker has been used and abused by both his older siblings, it started with Isa and has been used by Bear, plus it has spent quality time outside.

Just Wait

I have lots to chat about and post, and once I find the time I will put some stuff up. But I will say that I miss blogging when I'm out of town. Crazy I know.

A Few Found

I was down loading photos the other day and ran across some that I had taken but not yet posted about. Probably because I had not down loaded them, image how the two things coincide. So here are few of the goings on in our household.

It has been rainy and wet outside and one day there was a short break in the weather so I sent the big kids out to play. Cooper really wanted to play too, the windows were open and he could hear and sort of see all the fun they were having. But Momma said no, it’s too wet. So instead he stood by the window trying, desperately to see out. Too cute!


Cooper really likes taking a big boy bath with his brother and sister. I just worry about Bear he can be a little rough sometimes. But he loves to splash the water and make a big mess just like his big brother. He has so much fun during bath time.



For all for seeable Christmas’s and Birthday’s for both Bear and Cooper Aunt Penny got the boys bunk beds. Bear is so excited about them, and could hardly wait for the delivery guys to get the bed into the house. I had to pull up the window blinds so that they could see out better without creating any damage. I would show you the bed but I have a slight problem that I am hoping can be fixed without too much of an issue on my camera.

These are just a few of the recent goings on in our house hold and instead of boring you with multiple posts I figured one post would work out just fine.

Pink NFL

I have to give the NFL some pops. I'm sure that some of you have watched at least parts of some NFL games since the start of October. And many of you are aware that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Well in support of this the NFL players, coaches and extra personnel are wearing pink. All the players have pink ribbons on their helmets, some wore gloves, shoes or arm bands that are pink as well. I think I might have to get a new Packers hat with a pink bill to help support the cause.

So if you have not watched a game, check out highlights from ESPN or turn on the TV Sunday, to see more of the support the NFL is giving in the fight against breast cancer.

Laundry Day

Who knew that laundry day could be so much fun. At least the kids think so. Wait until they are older and have to do it themselves.

Ben

Ben is really staring to look like his Dad. I really noticed it in this picture today while I was going through them. Wow I can hardly believe it. Sorry I did not have a good picture of Bernie to compare. Maybe later.

Post wedding reception

In April a family friend got married and since he is currently stationed on Hawaii, and his new wife is from Hawaii they had the ceremony there. Now never mind that we were not invited, we have all gotten past that, but we were invited to the surprise reception here in Texas. Matt’s mom went all out for the Texas style Bar-B-Q for her new daughter-in-law. The newlywed’s acted surprised just for mom, since someone (Ben) spilled the beans. Apparently when I told him it was a surprise he tuned that out, oh well they did a good job at showing the surprise and made his mom very happy.

So there was Bar-B-Q, cake and remembering of old times. Or in his case just a few years ago times, since he’s not that old to be able to have old times. But life in the military does change ones perspective, so for now, we can give him at least one extra year of wisdom. Any more would be just too much, but I won’t go into that here.

I let Isabelle have her way with the camera and take some pictures of the guests, and I was very happy to see that I did not get a whole lot of knees in the shots. I did take over when it was time for cake and toasting, because we really did not want to have overly sharp or high angled shots, of people standing up, since she is just about too everyone tummy.

I think everyone had fun and we wish the happy couple a long and happy marriage.

YMCA Soccer

Another season of soccer has started, and the best thing about it is that Isabelle and Barrett are on the same team. I figure for a few years anyway, we will have that opportunity every once in a while. As usual it was pretty funny to watch the kids and see them “play.” They were very cute. No crying from either of our kids, but Bear did get bored and stopped wanting to play. I hope that changes, but who knows. I think this time they have too many people on the team and the rotation is not a quick as it can be. We still have some kinks to work out.

Isabelle is always very excited to get the ball and seemed pleased with the amount of ball time she had. She did demonstrate a new quality this past game, anyone who fell down on her team she would help them get back up. It was so cute, I wish I was a little bit faster and had gotten a chance to take a picture of her doing this, but alas I was challenged.

Bear was just Bear, he had his fun, going after the ball and kicking it. I know that he will have more fun once he figures it all out. He just needs to have a break away moment and he’ll be off. Or at least that is what I figure.


Most of the kids seemed to have fun and hopefully will return next week. Only time will tell on that one. So until then, I leave you with these messages from our sponsers.

Happiness

Now the items that I have picked for this weeks you capture are a little different and very much go for my state of mind at the time. First up is a beautiful squash flower from out garden. It just looks so happy in the early, gray morning that I could hardly pass up the opportunity to snap a quick photo.

This second picture is of my new washer. Yes that's right there is happiness in a washer. Our old one decided that it no longer wanted to work properly and rinse the clothes. I have a sneaking supscion that the laundry that was washed last weekend went unrinsed. Yikes. Now I mush also qualify this with the point of I did not really like my old washer and am very happy to have a new one. This makes washing diapers so much easier.

And third, I know we are supposed to get new pictures but I just had to include this one of Cooper from May. He just looks so happy you just want to squeze those cheeks and give this kid hugs and kisses all day long. I do often find myself doing just that.


So happy picutre taking, I hope you have fun.

Box Baby

Now I will be the first person to say that when my kids cry I do not usually run right for them and "baby" them, to find out what is wrong or what happened. I let the big kids come to me, usually and Cooper well I do get him, but rarely do I hurry.

So today while I was quickly checking e-mail or something (posting about Bear) on the computer Cooper crawls over and is trying to explore the wires. Well I tried to make it harder for him to get back to the wires by placing boxes (empty) and my scrapbooking bag in front of said boxes to deter the kid. Well that was just not enough to stop this one from checking things out. But instead of getting the wires, thankfully, he ends up stuck in the box.

What have I done? How do I get out of here?

That's right he had climbed in and gotten himself stuck. Now I obviously was not very far away from him so there was really no need to run, (read justification for not doing so) but upon seeing his condition I laughed first and then picked up my camera. Who could pass this moment up without a few quick pictures for his book.

There's Mom she'll get me out

What am I going to do with this kid. He is already getting into everything. Do you think he will grow out of this phase before he turns one or two? Will I have more of this to look forward to? I guess it is just he curious nature, but really he might give me a good run for my money, more so than Bear.

Wait I thougt you were going to get me out

Sleeping Danger

There is much danger sleeping with a three year old. Now I just want to say that I do not actually invite this three year old to sleep with me he just shows up, uninvited and climbs into bed. How rude! Now if I was a diligent parent I would get up when he comes down and take him back to bed. But I'm not, I actually do not remember when he even came down last night, I just remember the pain. Yes that's right the pain. I'm sure that I was either kicked, elbowed or hit no less than fifteen (15) times last night. I have now decided that I am going to try no matter what to get rid of my bed hog and put him back in his room, or at least on the floor. I went to bed at a decent hour and would have gotten great sleep but no because of a wiggly, kicking, hitting three year old, I am tired. Not fun!

Strange things growing

With all the rain that has come down over the past week, things have been growing. And I do not just mean in the garden. We have this one spot in our yard where mushrooms grow, the kids think they are great, Mommy does not. Today I decided I should take a picture of these mushrooms because they were so big. I could hardly believe it! You could almost put a little fairy underneath the mushroom.

So then I thought I should take a few pictures of the garden. We planted our fall garden in two spots. Most of the greens are in the garden bed, while the tomato plants are in five (5) gallon buckets in the back yard. We planted everything from plants except for the spinach, which is finally coming up. Ben was worried that we had some bad seeds but at last we have I think about eight (8) plants. I’m pretty excited because we really like spinach and so do the kids.

We also have lettuce, Swiss chard, greens and Broccoli and winter squash. Although I think the bunny has been eating my broccoli, I’ll have to have Ben put an end to that and move the bunny to a new home. Our Cherry tomato plant is going wild, but we have tons of flowers and some fruit already growing on it, so hopefully we will have lots of cherry tomatoes in the fall. I can hardly wait to see what happens and how much we yield from our fall garden.

I also hope to break up some garlic and pop it in the ground but we’ll have to wait and see. Some time in the New Year we will plant onion sets and probably a new set of lettuce, spinach and big tomatoes. One day we’ll have this down with wonderful crops.

Macro Shots without the lens

Well this weeks You Capture is Macro. Now I don't have a macro lens, but would love to get one, some of the best flower shots I think are done with a macro lens, they can just capture the beauty and detail of the item so well. But I did do my best with this picture and I think it looks pretty good, but I took it so I guess I would like it. I hope you enjoy.

Modern Art

Yesterday, the kids and I headed over to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, also known as The Modern. I know Forth Worth and modern art do not seem like two words that would go together. But alas they do. On Wednesday's they have a free day for the entire museum and they have also started a program called Wonderful Wednesday's for kids to attend. Wonderful Wednesday's is a program that starts at 4pm and includes an art project, held the second Wednesday of the month. This is why we went. I'm all for museum day when it is designed to be kid friendly. Couple of weeks ago we went to the Amon Carter for a kid and stroller friendly visit. Anyway, our journey took us through the works of William Kentridge and the Five Themes. He produced some movies of him creating art that were interesting. The stills he had were different. Do you read my meaning.

I feel that, modern art provides the artist and viewer a chance to explore their world outside of the standard box that society puts on people and open the world to something less than perfect. I had to remember this while Bear was tracing his project, that it did not have to be perfect, it can represent anything he wanted. I feel that artist who decide to create modern art can sometimes take this point a little to far. There are just some pieces I do not understand, and probably never will. They truly are in the eye of the beholder.

I think that it would take more time than what we had to visit the Modern to truly be able to contemplate the meaning or purpose of some pieces, but you can not always do that with three small children. Plus I'm not sure Ben would want to explore modern art, but who knows. I will say this one piece I really enjoyed was a ladder that was suspended from the ceiling and when you look up at it from the bottom it looks like it could go on forever, the perspective was fantastic, and I did like that is was not a straight ladder but wiggly. I wish I had brought my camera to take a picture of that one, but I'm not sure I would have been able to do it justice.

Until another day, when I have more time for contemplation, the Modern will just have to wait. But I'm certain that not all of the artist are in a stable frame of mind while creating their works. Just a little trippy. Oh yea, Isabelle really enjoyed this museum and I asked if it was because of the art or project and she said project, go figure.

Something New

For this week You Capture, I have decided to post pictures of the fireworks and the sun rise. I was going to post pictures of the kids at the beach but felt people had probably seen enough of that. I do hope you enjoy. If I had more skills I would have combinded these shots to make a much more amazing fireworks display, maybe later.

Labor Day Beach

Over Labor Day weekend, this year we chose not to labor and instead relax by the beach. Now some of you know that I grew up in California, so the beach in Texas is very different than those we went to as kids. Oh well, the kids had so much fun playing at the beach and swimming it made it worth the trip. Let me tell you, Texas is big. I knew this already but seriously when traveling with three small children you really want to get to where you are going in a timely fashion. Once we got the directions all worked out, on our way down, we finally arrived, only a couple of hours later than our originally intended time.

All of the kids loved the beach. I have three water loving children who can hardly wait to go again. Barrett and Isabelle did really well on the car ride down and were very patient with us about not having all of the correct information. But once we arrived, we quickly changed our clothes and were off to the water. The first day was a day of exploration and fun.

Since this is a beach in Texas, you can walk out from shore I would say, three or four hundred yards before not being able to touch. Plus there is no worry that a giant wave is going to crash on your head, since the waves are not even two feet high. The waves off the gulf are perfect for the kids to ride in on bogie boards, if you give them a little push. And of course we must not forget that the ocean is salty. I do not think I will have to salt my food for about a week.

One of the best parts was the adult fun. My cousin has a kayak that we all took turns on, that was so much fun. I really enjoyed that. Ben had so much fun that he dumped himself out a couple of times and he even dumped out Bear. Bear did is usual Bear thing and was quite happy with his fun time in the kayak and wanted to go again.

Isabelle was really entranced with finding shells and discovering ocean life. We found a mollusk that would come out of its shell and “crawl” around in Isabelle’s bucket that was pretty cool. Plus the little sand crabs that burrow into the sand after the water has receded were very entertaining.

Over all we had a great weekend and I finally got some fireworks pictures. So much fun!