HAPPY, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

What a wonderful day! Halloween was perfect this year. Next Halloween when the weather is rainy and cold, I'll think back about this one and sigh...

I was able to go to both Henry's and Seth's class parties. There is nothing quite like an elementary school Halloween party...excited kids, costumes, sugar...fun, but a bit high on the stimulus scale. Caroline's school does not celebrate Halloween, but I did get to see her take her school picture, and help her smile her "real" smile :). When we got home from school, we took some pictures, and then went out almost right away to go trick or treating with friends. Evan did well once he figured out that his pumpkin candy bucket was not a hat! The older three were so fast this year. Evan definitely could not keep up, but he held his own in that he lasted for about 5 blocks. He would have made it longer if I didn't need to get home to make dinner...mmm...Chicken A La Ryan! He ran to the door as fast as his little legs could carry him every time we had trick or treaters! When Dave got back with Henry, Seth and Caroline, everyone was famished, so they ate really well. After dinner, the older three sat on our front porch with me to pass out candy. They almost liked that as much as getting the candy themselves (although Henry just denied that statement). We then went to a neighbor's house for a Halloween party and stayed out absolutely too late. But the kids, of course, had a great time! All in all, a day full of fabulous memories!

Seth's class...he's the red ninja!

Henry and one of his closest friends, Sam. They unwittingly chose the same costume!
Seth enjoying a treat at his class party

Can't wait to trick or treat!!!

The ninja brothers strike a pose...

Evan refused to wear his Indian headress for a while, going instead with the fashionable pumpkin candy bucket hat.

An almost two year old on a trick or treat mission

Evan and his friend, Ryan, checking each other out

Dave is a good Dad!

Passing out Halloween candy on the front porch

Kissing a ghost!

They brought home a LOT of candy!

Evan checking to see if his pumpkin is functioning properly

More Scenes from Halloween

Here's some of our favorite pictures from last Halloween...just thought I'd wet your appetite for what's coming tomorrow. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Scenes from Halloween

Pictures from past Halloweens...the one of Caroline peeking into the pumpkin was taken when she was about Evan's age. The others were taken the Halloween before Evan was born. Time is flying!

Caroline Walking the Line

For safety reasons, the kids' swimming instructors have a rule that when walking around the pool, the children must hold hands, walk on a line, and go slowly. We have been going to swimming lessons at this particular facility for about a year now, and even though I've seen the kids do this so many times, it always makes me giggle.

Pumpkin Palooza

It amazes me every year the sheer amount of time that goes into carving pumpkins with 4 kids. But what a ball!! After school, I had the kids take the seeds out of the pumpkins. The boys decided that it was such a messy job that they needed to take their shirts off. Caroline, not to be outdone, decided she needed to do the same! They designed the face they wanted on their pumpkin and we carved away. We fit in a hamburger dinner, watched a little Charlie Brown, and it was back to carving. When we were finished, they were so pleased with the results! We sat in the dark with the pumpkins lit up, admiring our handiwork, with Mom snapping oodles of pictures. Evan was fascinated, and kept taking the lid off his pumpkin to check that the candle was still there. He was a little chatterbox, and firmly has added the words "pumpkin", "candle" and "funny" to his vocabulary. By the time we were done, it was time for the kids to go to bed! (Click on any picture to view bigger.)

Library Fun

Our library has such nice programs for kids. We can't seem to get enough of it...Caroline has a Kindergarten readiness class, and both Evan and Caroline have storytimes. All said, we are at the library for a short period of time 3 mornings a week! This morning, Caroline and her friends were able to dress up in their Halloween costumes, and Watson, the library's mascot joined them. A few of Caroline's friends from preschool are also in her class, so she sees many of her closest friends 5 days a week! (By the way, if you hadn't guessed, she is the purple fairy with the pink crown!)
Because Evan is at the library so often, he has decided to expand his exploration beyond the toy area. Who needs toys when you and your buddy, Matthew, can play in study cubicles? That's what they say. I'm hoping that these two can go to preschool together. They are good pals.

Here's to you, Grandpa Nosek!

Evan's oral hygiene habits are second to none. Click on the arrow to watch Evan in action...

Anabel's Party

We headed over to Anabel's party today to help her celebrate her 10th birthday. Can't believe my niece is 10!! Ofcourse, all cousins involved had a great time. See that little troublemaker over in the bottom right hand corner of the picture? I guess Evan's just practicing again for blowing out the candles on his cake next month. (Anabel was a very good sport!) Can't believe my baby is almost 2!!

Friday Night Family Fun

Last night, we were supposed to go to the local high school football game for a scouting activity. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. A big thunderstorm blew in complete with huge claps of thunder and even hail. We made the best of it...we watched the lightning show out of the front window for a while(see picture), watched Stormchasers on TV, and had a fire in our fireplace. As fun as the football game would have been, I preferred this, being warm, dry and cozy in our house.
Henry wanted to add his own personal story about last night:
We thought the storm was over, so my mom and dad said that I
could go and get a hailstone. I had just run out of the garage and picked one up when lightning struck. It seemed like it hit across the street next to our neighbors' house. Everything lit up, and then I came running back inside with my hands covering my ears because of the huge thunder that came almost right away. It shook the whole house, and I was happy when I was back inside.

Boys in Uniforms

There's something about uniforms...I'm their mother, so I may be a little prejudiced, but aren't they handsome young men?! Just click on any picture on this blog if you'd like to see it bigger.

Tents

When the kids are getting squirrelly because they are stuck inside on a rainy day, there's nothing like building a tent under the dining room table to lighten their spirits. This one they filled with blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, miscellaneous toys. I am surprised they were able to fit themselves in there when they were done stocking it! Evan, of course, felt it necessary to wear Seth's backpack, so unworried was he about the space issue. It seems to be a regular fixture on him. Seth pretty much knows the routine: as soon as he comes home from school he needs to hand the backpack over to Evan ASAP.

Note to Self: Work with daughter on proper way to tuck in shirt (not in underpants).

Deep thoughts by Seth Nosek

Sethism: defined as a profound analysis from that famous deep thinker, Seth Nosek.
Example: Seth and I were having another conversation while I was tucking him in last night. Here's how it went...
Mom: How's Sarah doing? (refer to post "A Crush on Seth")
Seth: Good, but I think there's another girl that likes me. It's Jessica.
Mom: How do you know she likes you?
Seth: Well, she just keeps saying, "Seth, Seth, Seth, Seth, Seth, Seth..." (Think Woody from Cheers' famous ode to his girlfriend). He paused, deep in thought, for a moment. He then said, "But maybe she just likes saying my name."
You've got to love him!

Henry's Pumpkin Planet

Henry's teacher, Mrs. Messina, assigned to the children a "special mystery project" that would demonstrate and help them work on their knowledge of the continents and oceans. She also specifically said that this project was supposed to bring joy to child and parent, to bring us together and to have fun. Wow, that was a lot of pressure...

But we rose to the occasion, and he was so proud and excited about his pumpkin planet that he was literally counting down the days until he could bring it in to share with his class. He totally reminded me of Ralphie in the Christmas Story. Remember Ralphie's theme? Henry's illusions of grandeur were right up there. But really, he did such a good job, and it did bring a lot of joy. :

Special note to my sister: Lisa, please feel free to use this crafty idea when you get your blog up and running... :)

I'll break the suspense...here's your caterpillar update...

Obviously, we're still a little preoccupied with caterpillars around here :). Or at least Caroline still is. The boys felt that the caterpillars would be happier living outside, but Caroline is convinced that they love it here. Also, she and a friend were looking through a Halloween craft book, saw this Caterpillar craft, and just had to do it. Brave mom that I am (or maybe slightly crazy mom), I let them do it. We were cleaning up paint for quite a while. But they did have fun!

How to entertain Evan...

Our youngest son is at that stage where he can be very content if...

1. He is wearing something novel (stickers, his brother's backpack, cowboy boots),

2. And he can walk around enjoying it.

This can keep him happy for surprising amounts of time, which definitely comes in handy when Mom has to do mundane things, like cook dinner or do laundry :) .

My 20 Year High School Reunion!

Can't believe its been 20 years! I'm super tired this morning and my voice is a little scratchy after catching up for about 5 straight hours!

Tickling Henry

Evan was tickling Henry's hands with his eyelashes, and the kids were getting quite a kick out of it. It was fun to watch Evan's expressions at the end...don't know what he was thinking. We need to hire a baby translator. Just click on the arrow to watch.

Its my Birthday! (Ok, in two more days...)

My parents had a fabulous birthday party for me tonight, complete with hamburger soup, parmesan bread and pumpkin cake. The kids were dissappointed that we didn't put 38 candles on the cake, but I was ok with four! Evan helped me blow out the candles, which is good practice for him with his second birthday being right around the corner. We were trying for some family pictures tonight...can't believe we have to start thinking about Christmas cards!

Seth's Tiger Cub Den

Tonight we hosted a meeting at our house for Seth's den. He was pretty excited, but seven first graders in the house at once? Whew... I'll be going to bed now.