We have run out of "free" space at this blog address so we are closing it down ... but please come check us out at our new location:
deanmelbenjoey.blogspot.com
It's not pretty yet but that will come. Check us out if you want to continue to read about the boys antics!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Best Compliment Ever
I was at my desk typing this afternoon and my Benny came up behind, wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my neck. He said "Mom, you always smell the same. I love it." hmmm. "What does 'the same' mean?" I asked. Ben said "like a clean smell, like you wash your body 5 times a day."
I loved this comment because I know exactly what he means. I think we all know what the people we love best smell like. For example, if dean, my mom, dad or oma walked into a room and I was blindfolded I would know it was them in an instant. They smell like home to me; safe, snuggly and warm. I am thrilled that Benny already knows my smell and it brings comfort to him too.
I loved this comment because I know exactly what he means. I think we all know what the people we love best smell like. For example, if dean, my mom, dad or oma walked into a room and I was blindfolded I would know it was them in an instant. They smell like home to me; safe, snuggly and warm. I am thrilled that Benny already knows my smell and it brings comfort to him too.
I Have Something To Say
We have been watching a lot of Christmas movies at our house the past several weeks. A lot. One of the classics that has been enjoyed repeatedly is Christmas Vacation; not the most appropriate movie to be viewed by a 5 and 8 year old, but also not the most inappropriate choice either. We let it slide. Anyhoo...background info for what occured at dinner tonight.
We were gathered around our hot plates of spaghetti and garlic bread holding hands and listening to Dean give a lovely prayer. At the end of the prayer, Joey said "I have something to say." Okay, go ahead Joe, we said. He smiled his wicked little grin, stood up from his chair and said loud and proud "kiss my ass." Come again?? I immediately looked at Dean, saw the shocked look on his face, lowered my head, covered my face with my hands and started laughing hysterically. I laughed so hard that tears ran down my cheeks. Dean said "Joseph, that is a horrible thing to say. That is a very bad word." Joey immediately burst into tears. He had no idea what he said, let alone that it was a bad word or something mean. We had a family discussion about what the word "ass" means and that it is inappropriate and we don't say it and certainly don't encourage others to kiss it.
Order was restored a short time later and I couldn't wait to save this moment for posterity on our blog. Good lord I love that kid.
We were gathered around our hot plates of spaghetti and garlic bread holding hands and listening to Dean give a lovely prayer. At the end of the prayer, Joey said "I have something to say." Okay, go ahead Joe, we said. He smiled his wicked little grin, stood up from his chair and said loud and proud "kiss my ass." Come again?? I immediately looked at Dean, saw the shocked look on his face, lowered my head, covered my face with my hands and started laughing hysterically. I laughed so hard that tears ran down my cheeks. Dean said "Joseph, that is a horrible thing to say. That is a very bad word." Joey immediately burst into tears. He had no idea what he said, let alone that it was a bad word or something mean. We had a family discussion about what the word "ass" means and that it is inappropriate and we don't say it and certainly don't encourage others to kiss it.
Order was restored a short time later and I couldn't wait to save this moment for posterity on our blog. Good lord I love that kid.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Macy Told Me To
I always feel the need to document Mae and Joe stories. Even though I refer to Macy as my future-daughter-in-law (I know, I'm psycho, and probably single-handidly ensuring that will never happen with my obsessiveness), I truly do pray more than anything that Joe and Mae stay friends forever. These stories will one day be as funny to them as they are to Amy and I now. Hours of entertainment provided by those two, that's for sure.
1. The Kiss. One day Joey came home from school and said "I kissed Macy at school today." I asked him why he would do that and told him that we don't need to kiss our friends. Joe replied "Well, Macy told me to!" Later that week, at Macy and Joey's basketball game, we saw the two of them on the court and Macy was admonishing Joey with a sweet little sad face "Joooooeeeey. You need to pass me the ball." Sidebar: You know Macy means business if she has a frown on her face and a wrinkled up forehead because 99.5% of the time that child has a smile on her face. A huge smile. She is the happiest kid I know. Anyway, Macy told Joe to pass the ball and he nodded. The very next time their team was on offense Joey started waving his arms and calling for the ball. The minute he got that ball, he turned to Macy and handed her it to her. Hysterical. Macy is clearly the boss of this relationship! Another sidebar: There are varying stories of the truth behind "the kiss." Macy told her mom that their other BFF Drew told them to do it and Joey later told me, upon further questioning, that he wanted to kiss Macy and told Drew so Drew told Macy that she should kiss Joey (maybe Drew is the ultimate ringleader of the group?). Regardless, when I asked Joe where he kissed Macy (meaning on the cheek, the lips, etc.), Joey replied "in the spaceship (at play time)!"
2. Tookie and biscuits. Hopefully Amy won't kill me for telling this story but I just have to. Macy, Drew, Joey and their other buddy Camden were having a sleepover at Drew's house. Amy was reviewing the rules with Mae on how to behave. She asked her if Macy remembered the rules and Macy replied (with undoubtedly a big smile on her face) "yep, be nice, have good manners....and don't show anyone my tookie and biscuits!!!" (tookie and biscuits, in case you couldn't figure it out on your own, is the name they use for a girls bottom...front and back). Amy was a bit taken aback (as that clearly was not on the list of rules she had given her, though a good rule nonetheless) and Macy went on to say "Because if I did show them, Stacey and Melanie would say 'Macy! That is not appropriate!" True.
3. Getting Married. Amy kept Joey for me after choir last week and she told me a story (there is seriously ALWAYS a story when these kids are together) about what happened at her house when it was time for Macy to take a nap. This was the day after the sleepover and both kiddos were beat. They had school all day and bowled the night before, had a sleepover, played in a basketball game and had choir together and Macy needed to lay down and have some quiet time. She was unhappy about this as it meant that Joey got to stay up and play with her big sister, Alex. Joey told her "Macy, I have been with you for the past two days. I need to play with Alex now." And then, because he is wicked and likes to get Macy going, he added "besides, I may marry Alex." Well this set Macy off "What?? You told me you were going to marry me. You LIED to my Joey. You LIED!" Hysterical. Amy went to calm Macy down and explain to her that she is 4 and has no idea who she is going to marry and heard Joey ask Alex, "So, Alex, are you going to marry me or what?" Alex, very concerned, replied "I don't know, I'm supposed to marry my friend, Conner!"
4. The Elf. I took the amigos (Drew, Joey and Macy) to the Children's Museum a week or so ago to play and go down the yule slide. On the way home they were talking about their elves on the shelf and the places they like to hide. Macy started telling the boys a story about her elf and mentioned that she was a girl. Joey said, very seriously, "Man. I would be so mad if my elf was a girl."
1. The Kiss. One day Joey came home from school and said "I kissed Macy at school today." I asked him why he would do that and told him that we don't need to kiss our friends. Joe replied "Well, Macy told me to!" Later that week, at Macy and Joey's basketball game, we saw the two of them on the court and Macy was admonishing Joey with a sweet little sad face "Joooooeeeey. You need to pass me the ball." Sidebar: You know Macy means business if she has a frown on her face and a wrinkled up forehead because 99.5% of the time that child has a smile on her face. A huge smile. She is the happiest kid I know. Anyway, Macy told Joe to pass the ball and he nodded. The very next time their team was on offense Joey started waving his arms and calling for the ball. The minute he got that ball, he turned to Macy and handed her it to her. Hysterical. Macy is clearly the boss of this relationship! Another sidebar: There are varying stories of the truth behind "the kiss." Macy told her mom that their other BFF Drew told them to do it and Joey later told me, upon further questioning, that he wanted to kiss Macy and told Drew so Drew told Macy that she should kiss Joey (maybe Drew is the ultimate ringleader of the group?). Regardless, when I asked Joe where he kissed Macy (meaning on the cheek, the lips, etc.), Joey replied "in the spaceship (at play time)!"
2. Tookie and biscuits. Hopefully Amy won't kill me for telling this story but I just have to. Macy, Drew, Joey and their other buddy Camden were having a sleepover at Drew's house. Amy was reviewing the rules with Mae on how to behave. She asked her if Macy remembered the rules and Macy replied (with undoubtedly a big smile on her face) "yep, be nice, have good manners....and don't show anyone my tookie and biscuits!!!" (tookie and biscuits, in case you couldn't figure it out on your own, is the name they use for a girls bottom...front and back). Amy was a bit taken aback (as that clearly was not on the list of rules she had given her, though a good rule nonetheless) and Macy went on to say "Because if I did show them, Stacey and Melanie would say 'Macy! That is not appropriate!" True.
3. Getting Married. Amy kept Joey for me after choir last week and she told me a story (there is seriously ALWAYS a story when these kids are together) about what happened at her house when it was time for Macy to take a nap. This was the day after the sleepover and both kiddos were beat. They had school all day and bowled the night before, had a sleepover, played in a basketball game and had choir together and Macy needed to lay down and have some quiet time. She was unhappy about this as it meant that Joey got to stay up and play with her big sister, Alex. Joey told her "Macy, I have been with you for the past two days. I need to play with Alex now." And then, because he is wicked and likes to get Macy going, he added "besides, I may marry Alex." Well this set Macy off "What?? You told me you were going to marry me. You LIED to my Joey. You LIED!" Hysterical. Amy went to calm Macy down and explain to her that she is 4 and has no idea who she is going to marry and heard Joey ask Alex, "So, Alex, are you going to marry me or what?" Alex, very concerned, replied "I don't know, I'm supposed to marry my friend, Conner!"
4. The Elf. I took the amigos (Drew, Joey and Macy) to the Children's Museum a week or so ago to play and go down the yule slide. On the way home they were talking about their elves on the shelf and the places they like to hide. Macy started telling the boys a story about her elf and mentioned that she was a girl. Joey said, very seriously, "Man. I would be so mad if my elf was a girl."
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Naughty List
Santa visited Joey's class today and his teacher met me in the hallway at pick up and said "Come here, Mel, I have to tell you about Joe today." This is never a good thing, by the way.
Miss Stacy proceeded to tell me that all the kids did great with Santa and after they were done visiting with him, they noticed that Joey was standing off by himself and sobbing quietly. They asked him what was wrong and he finally managed to tell them, "I've been bad. I think I'm on the naughty list!" They tried to calm him down but he insisted that he was on the naughty list and was really worried about it. His brilliant teacher suggested that they should go get one of Joey's birthday cookies from his classroom and share it with Santa. Joey thought that was a good idea and when he gave his "gift" to Santa, Santa assured him that he was a good boy and definitely not on the naughty list. Phew!
Miss Stacy proceeded to tell me that all the kids did great with Santa and after they were done visiting with him, they noticed that Joey was standing off by himself and sobbing quietly. They asked him what was wrong and he finally managed to tell them, "I've been bad. I think I'm on the naughty list!" They tried to calm him down but he insisted that he was on the naughty list and was really worried about it. His brilliant teacher suggested that they should go get one of Joey's birthday cookies from his classroom and share it with Santa. Joey thought that was a good idea and when he gave his "gift" to Santa, Santa assured him that he was a good boy and definitely not on the naughty list. Phew!
A Whole Hand!
Joey has a sweet little round, chubby face and I remember staring at that sweet face and thinking how much I loved him and couldn't wait to get to know him. Joey was a perfect easy-going, chill baby. In some ways he still is...though he's kind of an anomaly. He is a wound up, crazy, laid back kid...which I know doesn't make sense, but that's our Joe. My youth group kids call him "cool." They adore him and truly seem to enjoy having him spend time with him. It's pretty sweet....though kind of annoying to Ben, I think.
Joe had a great birthday. Birthdays must bring out the best in him as he woke up in a super mood and was really good all day long. Joe woke up super excited to "finally be five...just like Drew." He loved his birthday gifts from mom and dad, Skylanders wii game and razor scooter with light up wheels. Ben wanted to spend some of his own money on a gift for his brother and put very careful thought into the Skylander "guy" he bought and Skylander trading cards...do you see a theme?
Joe was excited to go to school today and take his special birthday treat..."karen with the leg" cookies that she baked for him and helped him decorate. They were super fancy!
Drew came home with us after school and the boys played for a bit before it was time for Joey's family birthday party. Nana, Bampaw, Oma, Uncle Craig and Abby came for dinner as did the Matelics for cake and ice cream. Joey requested mexican food and angel food cake with blue icing and cherries and "plain" ice cream!
Joe cleaned up on presents as usual. He and Drew were most pumped about the wood painting kit thing that Uncle Craig and Abby got and couldn't wait to start painting.
Drewby spent the night and Joey went to bed with a big smile on his face, announcing sleepily that it had been a great day.
Friday, November 30, 2012
TGIF
I love Friday; best day of the week. I know a lot of people share my enthusiasm for this day but I, truly, am convinced that I have the best Friday schedule possible. I wake up to my alarm at 5 a.m. like every morning. I type for about half an hour and then head to the gym for one of my favorite classes, 6 a.m. pilates. After the gym, I head home and take Emmy for a short walk. I then join the rest of my family in the kitchen where I help make lunches, finish up breakfast, and just chat about the day with my boys. Dean takes Ben to school at 8 a.m. and I jump in the shower and then take Joey to school at 9 a.m. After dropping off Joe, I meet my dad at a local elementary school for our weekly session working with 2nd graders who are struggling with reading.
In August I called my dad on the phone one day and said "Good news! I signed us up to be mentors." My dad was a good sport and agreed to participate with me. Every Friday we work with kids from 9:30 - 10:30 and then go out for coffee afterward. I am pretty sure my dad enjoys this coffee date each week but I also am pretty sure he doesn't know how much I treasure it. I feel so lucky to be able to spend time alone with my dad each week. It is one of the highlights of my week.
After coffee I head to Benny's school, where I volunteer in his classroom from noon to 2 p.m. This is another one of my favorite ways to spend my time. I absolutely adore Ben's school. I love his teacher, his classmates, and really the entire staff. Just being in the building makes me smile and I feel like it is such a blessing to get to know the kids that Ben spends his days with.
I typically leave Ben's school about 2:15 and head to Joey's school to pick him up at 2:30 and then back to Ben's school to get him at 2:50. It is a full but awesome day and absolutely my favorite day of the week. I go to bed on Friday nights exhausted but with a full and happy heart. Life is good. Thank God it's Friday.
In August I called my dad on the phone one day and said "Good news! I signed us up to be mentors." My dad was a good sport and agreed to participate with me. Every Friday we work with kids from 9:30 - 10:30 and then go out for coffee afterward. I am pretty sure my dad enjoys this coffee date each week but I also am pretty sure he doesn't know how much I treasure it. I feel so lucky to be able to spend time alone with my dad each week. It is one of the highlights of my week.
After coffee I head to Benny's school, where I volunteer in his classroom from noon to 2 p.m. This is another one of my favorite ways to spend my time. I absolutely adore Ben's school. I love his teacher, his classmates, and really the entire staff. Just being in the building makes me smile and I feel like it is such a blessing to get to know the kids that Ben spends his days with.
I typically leave Ben's school about 2:15 and head to Joey's school to pick him up at 2:30 and then back to Ben's school to get him at 2:50. It is a full but awesome day and absolutely my favorite day of the week. I go to bed on Friday nights exhausted but with a full and happy heart. Life is good. Thank God it's Friday.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A Full and Thankful Heart
Once again, my blessings are too numerous to count. Here are a few of my favorites:
Ben
My first born baby boy. There are really no words for how much I love Benjamin Michael nor are there words to express my gratitude over how our relationship has evolved the past several years. I suspect this is the case for a lot of little boys but for a good stretch there Ben was on "team dad" 100% of the time. He would always choose his dad over me. Just this past year, however, the tables have turned and my boy is coming back to me. He still thinks his dad is the greatest but he is also super conscious of my feelings and often asks for me over his dad. For example, if we have two separate cars at an event, Joey will break someones toe as he sprints to Dean's car but Benny will 9 times out of 10 say "I'll ride with Mom." I know it's a small gesture but it means a lot to me. Ben and I have had great, meaningful talks lately, too, which I love and appreciate. As I have said before, Ben taught me how to love and how to be a mom and it is a continuing journey but one I am so grateful for. I love Ben so much and am so thankful he is in my life. He fills my heart to the brim.
Joe
Ah, my Joe Bug. He is a stinker with a capital stink these days...and that is putting it kindly. But where Ben fills my heart, Joey makes it happy. There is nothing that puts a smile on my face (and in my heart) quicker than seeing that little face in all its wacky forms. Joe makes the best faces...each one crazier than the last. He can make me insanely crazy these days but in the blink of an eye I will be cracking up and just shaking my head at his antics. Joe definitely keeps life interesting.
Joey is testing all of our patience right now. On a good day he is a lot to handle but I wouldn't have it any other way. My heart starts to crack a little and my eyes fill with tears when I think about him starting kindergarten next year and leaving me. I will miss my little partner in crime. I am so very thankful to be my silly, spunky, sweet Joey's mommy. I love him so.
Dean
I can't imagine a world without my Dean and I don't want to. I don't think a day goes by that I don't tell someone how thankful I am for him. He is my absolute favorite. I love him more every day. He works tirelessly to support our family but always manages to have enough left to give to us at the end of each day. He is my hero.
Friends
I have been beyond blessed in the friendship department my entire life. Truly. It is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the amazing women I call friends. I think you could probably survive in this world without friends but it sure makes the ride more fun when you have people by your side. I am so thankful for my girls.
I am also very, very, very thankful for my boys' friends. I love them all so much and truly feel that they are an extension of our family.
Family friends, I have decided, are the best kind of friends. We have several families where Dean and I not only love the adults but our kids are best friends with their kids. It is a special kind of wonderful when we are blessed to spend time with these friends. My life feels complete and I always go to bed on those nights with a smile on my face and a full heart.
Nana, Bampaw and Oma
Dean and I are so lucky to have the most supportive parents ever. I know that I can call on any of them and ask for help and with a moments notice they will all be there with open arms. I thank God everyday that my boys have such terrific grandparents. We are all so thankful for them.
There are a million other things/people I am thankful for. Brookie Marie, Landon, and Connor would top that list but also my sisters and brother, Clint and Abby, Deans siblings and their families, a flexible job that allows me to spend time at my kiddos' schools, a great home and in a community I love, Ben's incredible school and staff, etc., etc., etc. I love my life and I am so very thankful today and every day. Thank you, God, for the amazing gifts you have given me, especially in the form of the people I love and am lucky to have love me back.
Ben
My first born baby boy. There are really no words for how much I love Benjamin Michael nor are there words to express my gratitude over how our relationship has evolved the past several years. I suspect this is the case for a lot of little boys but for a good stretch there Ben was on "team dad" 100% of the time. He would always choose his dad over me. Just this past year, however, the tables have turned and my boy is coming back to me. He still thinks his dad is the greatest but he is also super conscious of my feelings and often asks for me over his dad. For example, if we have two separate cars at an event, Joey will break someones toe as he sprints to Dean's car but Benny will 9 times out of 10 say "I'll ride with Mom." I know it's a small gesture but it means a lot to me. Ben and I have had great, meaningful talks lately, too, which I love and appreciate. As I have said before, Ben taught me how to love and how to be a mom and it is a continuing journey but one I am so grateful for. I love Ben so much and am so thankful he is in my life. He fills my heart to the brim.
Joe
Ah, my Joe Bug. He is a stinker with a capital stink these days...and that is putting it kindly. But where Ben fills my heart, Joey makes it happy. There is nothing that puts a smile on my face (and in my heart) quicker than seeing that little face in all its wacky forms. Joe makes the best faces...each one crazier than the last. He can make me insanely crazy these days but in the blink of an eye I will be cracking up and just shaking my head at his antics. Joe definitely keeps life interesting.
Joey is testing all of our patience right now. On a good day he is a lot to handle but I wouldn't have it any other way. My heart starts to crack a little and my eyes fill with tears when I think about him starting kindergarten next year and leaving me. I will miss my little partner in crime. I am so very thankful to be my silly, spunky, sweet Joey's mommy. I love him so.
Dean
I can't imagine a world without my Dean and I don't want to. I don't think a day goes by that I don't tell someone how thankful I am for him. He is my absolute favorite. I love him more every day. He works tirelessly to support our family but always manages to have enough left to give to us at the end of each day. He is my hero.
Friends
I have been beyond blessed in the friendship department my entire life. Truly. It is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the amazing women I call friends. I think you could probably survive in this world without friends but it sure makes the ride more fun when you have people by your side. I am so thankful for my girls.
I am also very, very, very thankful for my boys' friends. I love them all so much and truly feel that they are an extension of our family.
Family friends, I have decided, are the best kind of friends. We have several families where Dean and I not only love the adults but our kids are best friends with their kids. It is a special kind of wonderful when we are blessed to spend time with these friends. My life feels complete and I always go to bed on those nights with a smile on my face and a full heart.
Nana, Bampaw and Oma
Dean and I are so lucky to have the most supportive parents ever. I know that I can call on any of them and ask for help and with a moments notice they will all be there with open arms. I thank God everyday that my boys have such terrific grandparents. We are all so thankful for them.
There are a million other things/people I am thankful for. Brookie Marie, Landon, and Connor would top that list but also my sisters and brother, Clint and Abby, Deans siblings and their families, a flexible job that allows me to spend time at my kiddos' schools, a great home and in a community I love, Ben's incredible school and staff, etc., etc., etc. I love my life and I am so very thankful today and every day. Thank you, God, for the amazing gifts you have given me, especially in the form of the people I love and am lucky to have love me back.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Make You Want To JUMP, JUMP!
The leaves are falling and the boys and I couldn't resist the temptation to play in them. Okay, in all honesty, I couldn't resist the desire to get them up off the ground and "cleaned up" and the boys couldn't resist jumping! At least they were willing to do some work raking and creating the perfect pile!
We tried to include Emerson in the fun but she was a little confused and totally unwilling to cooperate in my photo taking mission.
The next day the Matelics came over and I was able to enjoy some more free labor as we got more leaves up off the ground...but not before the boys attacked the pile as well!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Fall Getaway
We all know how I love traditions...and I hope a new one was born this year. We took off for a much needed getaway to Brown County with some of our favorite people on the planet during the kids fall break last week and had a fantastic time! This is the same crew we will be traveling with to Fort Myers Beach for spring break next year and I know we were all a little bit nervous about how our 2-day fall trip would go. I was worried if it didn't go well, we would all be dreading spring break. Well, fear not! I thought the trip went better than I even expected and aside from a few tears and tantrums along the way, it was a relatively drama free and super relaxed getaway. Amy and I even found ourselves laying down and reading books for a few hours one afternoon! Seriously. I never expected that. It was a treat for sure.
As best I can remember, this whole trip was kind of a spur of the moment decision made one night around our kitchen table when the families were all together for one of our monthly get-togethers. Someone said "hey, we should go to Brown County during fall break." Everyone agreed, and Dean, Stacey, and Amy got out the laptop to start searching...the rest is history.
In total there were 6 adults and 8 kids ranging in age from 2 to 8. The kids are all the best of friends so they were beyond pumped to get going and head south!
Our cabin had the perfect setup for our families with 3 levels and a bedroom/bathroom on each level plus 2 pull-out couches. Dean and I were on the bottom floor, which was also the game room. Macy, Joey (and I) ended up sleeping on the pull-out couch on that level. The first night Alex and Drew joined the party on an air mattress and Dean lucked out with a full size bed to himself.
As best I can remember, this whole trip was kind of a spur of the moment decision made one night around our kitchen table when the families were all together for one of our monthly get-togethers. Someone said "hey, we should go to Brown County during fall break." Everyone agreed, and Dean, Stacey, and Amy got out the laptop to start searching...the rest is history.
In total there were 6 adults and 8 kids ranging in age from 2 to 8. The kids are all the best of friends so they were beyond pumped to get going and head south!
 |
| our "before" shot...unfortunately the sun was a little bright :) |
The weather was absolutely perfect the first day...and absolutely terrible the second. It didn't seem to bother the kids though. They had worn themselves out the day before, hiking, playing football, cooking smores over a bonfire, and hanging in the hot tub. They seemed content to just bounce around the house playing ping pong, pool, coloring, and making lots of noise!
The girls all headed to Nashville for some shopping late morning on Friday and the boys went into town as well to check out a Boomer dunk show at a local school!
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent watching movies, reading, playing cards, and enjoying lots of snacks, beverages, and some more hot tub time. I was happy to accompany Mae and Joe to bed early again. The sacrifices I make ;)
We all headed home the next day with smiles on our face...well, most of us had smiles. Madelynn had a minor moment. Love her in this picture right before we headed home.
 |
| Nathan, Macy, Ben, Joe, Drew, Alex, Madelynn and Tommy Joe
We even had Nathan take a final picture of the adults, sleepy eyed but happy as well!
|
Love my friends and can't wait for the next trip...though I am dreading the 18-hour car ride. Bleh.
Trick or Treat!
I love our tradition of trick or treating with so many of our neighbors and though this was the coldest Halloween I can remember (the high was 48 degrees!), we had a wonderful time nonetheless.
Nana and Oma came over again this year to enjoy some pizza and breadsticks before we headed out and they stayed in to pass out goodies.
The boys were thrilled to have the Matelics join us this year too!
We tore up the neighborhood and didn't quit until our fingers were numb...or when it was time to go home and watch the Pacers WIN their season opener in Toronto :) Happy Halloween!
Nana and Oma came over again this year to enjoy some pizza and breadsticks before we headed out and they stayed in to pass out goodies.
The boys were thrilled to have the Matelics join us this year too!
 |
| Scary Joe, Vampire Drew, Zombie Football Player Nathan, Black Kitty Madelynn, and Zombie Baseball Player Ben |
 |
| Nathan, Grace, and Ben |
 |
| Drewby, Trey Trey, and Joe Bug |
 |
| Brayden, Trey, Drew, Joe, Nathan, Madelynn, Ben, Kirin, Amber, Audrey and Grace...the whole crew! |
 |
| love this guy...crazy wig and all! |
Pumpkin Carving
We invited Nana, Bampaw, and Aunt Mal Mal over to join us for some chili, hot chocolate and pumpkin carving. It was a wonderful night and by far one of my very favorite Halloween traditions. This year was especially fun because Benny was able to gut, design, and carve his pumpkin all by himself! Such a big boy!
Zoo Boo
The boys and I went to the zoo one evening for another of my favorite Halloween holiday traditions...Zoo Boo! Now this trip (unlike the pumpkin patch) was an overwhelming success....and free too! The crowds weren't too overwhelming, the animals were entertaining, and the candy was plentiful. My zombie baseball player and his coach were pumped!
Pumpkin Patch
Well, I think it is safe to say that this may have been our last year to enjoy the pumpkin patch. I use the term enjoy loosely. I seemed to be the only one who was truly excited for the pumpkin patch experience this year and even I will admit that we didn't get $50 worth of entertainment! It is insane how much the price has risen just in the past 7 years to take a hay ride, pick out a couple pumpkins, visit a corn maze, etc.
The boys and I were joined this year by Uncle Craig, Abby and Brookie as we made our annual pilgramage to Waterman's Farm. The highlight for Joey every year is the corn maze, which unfortunately, thanks to a major rain storm the day before our trip, was completely muddy and unpassable. Fail number one. Fortunately, the hay bale mountain was intact and a definite favorite stop for the kiddos!
Uncle Craig decided to sit out during the hay ride (darn allergies). But the rest of us enjoyed the bumpy ride to the soggy pumpkin field, searching for the perfect pumpkins (while keeping with my rule that you have to be able to carry your own pumpkin). Brookie enjoyed the bag of kettle corn that we purchased for the ride!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)