Autumn / Halloween Enjoyment

I'm behind... but thought you might still enjoy seeing a bit of our holiday fun!

The kids had a field trip out to the Pumpkin Patch. This was Gabi's last year for this field trip and she's already asked me to take her out next year anyway. They had fun and I was able to take Peter and Jacob along too. The kids got to go on the wagon ride, check out the old tractors, see the animals, listen to Halloween stories, get a snack, race through the hay maze, and get a pumpkin. Since Peter was not part of the school group, he did not get a pumpkin there - but he had a nice one grown right in the garden.

The next week was Trunker Treat - and seeing that Halloween was on Sunday and we weren't going to go Trick or Treating this year, we decided it was worth the crowd to go. The kids were so excited!


Normally I make costumes for the kids - although last year I did buy a couple of them. This year, well, I've been swamped with other projects in addition to having the new baby, so I opted for easy. Thanks to a couple of friends, my four older kids were outfitted in costumes they just loved! I made a couple of adjustments to Gabi's angel wings and made a crown of ribbon for Beth's princess costume. Jeremy required nothing - Stitch came complete! And Peter, the Pirate, just needed something warm underneath. And Jacob was able to be Little Mr. Roo - you know, Roo of the Winnie-the-Pooh crowd - which I did make.... just not this year. It was the costume I'd made for Jeremy when he was a baby five years ago! The costume was a little big - as you can see with the hood!



They had a great time doing the "cake walk" and winning cupcakes. And, of course, going around and around and around trick or treating from car trunk to car trunk. Bob and I also dressed up - I have a picture, somewhere, of Bob as the "ever prepared Boy Scout" but once again, there is not picture of me... I was a pioneer woman.


The next night was the annual "Have Dad Carve My Pumpkin Face" night. The kids get there pumpkins out, sit down beside them with paper and pencil and draw the face they really want. Then Bob goes from kid to kid and cuts out their design (sometime talking them through alternations such as ultra thin hair that just won't work). Anyway, this is what they came up with this year!

Music

After dinner at grandma and grandpa's, Peter comes home and pleasantly begins singing "Keep the commandments".....

And now he's rapping it.

Soccer Season

Soccer season is over.... and I never blogged about it! Life with a new baby (and four other children) has certainly kept us busy. I'm sure I have better (more active) pictures - but I wanted to get this up soon... so there's just one of each kid.

Interestingly enough, though we had two teams to deal with, all three kids were the same colors - and they went in number 2,3,4. I kept thinking I would get a picture of them all together, but that just never happened.

Due to Jacob getting his first two big colds during the season, I was only able to see a few of the games. And I took the camera to even fewer - one active preschooler and one little baby didn't leave much space for hands on a camera.

Bob coached Beth and Jeremy this year - he's thinking about coaching their team again next year and adding Gabi's team to his plate. We'd work together if that happens... but we'll see. He really enjoys coaching and the kids (and parents) all really seem to enjoy his methods.


Gabi bumped up to the next level this year - and she really picked up her game too! She's always enjoyed the sport, but she's not always been completely aware and good with positioning... that changed this year. She was very good at that. She even found that she (most of the time) really enjoys being goalie too - I think she must have played goalie for at least half the season.


Jeremy was just so excited to be playing on a team this year! Like his picture? Note he's not in a traditional soccer stance... but rather a FOOTBALL one....shhhhh, don't say anything.... he likes soccer enough and I'm not ready to think about concussions and tackling.... but if he decides (some day) to go that direction, well, I guess it's just in him. (He has no idea that this position looks anything like Football). He was a speedy little guy - and learned how to get to the ball and get it out of there.


Beth was less of a dancer on the field this year. She was much more interested in the ball - that is, getting to it to get it out of there, not just to get to it with the others. I think, having played last year and having had a year's growth, that she understands better the "game" of soccer and not just the "joy" of soccer. She was still happy to out there and happy to play. - The picture of her is not active... because (with the little thumb nails) I couldn't guarantee I'd be uploading one of her otherwise.... but I do like to take pictures of them not just on the field.


As for Peter... well, he had a hard time being on the side lines - he can't wait until it's his turn. But for all that, he did really well. We learned to take snacks for him, and his workbook, and to let him have space to run and be silly. He was a huge help in running water bottles to our kids when I'd end up carrying them to the field instead of kids. And he LOVED to make me nervous by running down the stairs to the parking lot and then stopping very suddenly right at the bottom before running out! I'd always end up yelling for him to stop - and he'd always turn around laughing with that huge grin of his.

Jacob was great... most of the time he slept in the sling. Then he learned to sleep with friends holding him. He was completely okay with that since he just loves to interact - and he was able to sleep any where. The picture I choose of him was actually on my lap - his stomach muscles are really strong, he's pulling himself up towards me..... now if he'd only realize he had that much strength while on his tummy, maybe he'd learn to be happy there and to roll from place to place... then again, maybe I like him just enjoying people and not being so mobile yet!