ALIEN

Today Olivia and Nick were sent outside for some fresh air. An hour later, Livi came back in the house dressed like this:

Who knew a lawn bag could be used so creatively?! The front of it says, "We Come in Peace" and the ears are very carefully taped to the sides of her face....

NICK

 This morning, while practicing flash cards, Nick had me busting up with his latest "talent"....

"This is my thinking face..."

"I know the answer.....!"

CHRIS' BIRTHDAY

We had a great time celebrating Chris' 36th Birthday this week. (Why is it suddenly feeling like we are getting old???) The kids had fun making cards and decorating for his birthday breakfast: Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms. No, the kids didn't choose that.....Chris did. But they were SO excited to finally be getting a large supply of sugar cereal in the house! Chris' Birthday has always been about the sugar. (Note the "surprises" on the table: a 24-pack of Dr. Pepper, chocolate covered cherries and lots of candy. That's my guy.)

He took the day off and we went to lunch at a great mexican place downtown with his parents. Then we drove out to this cute little town in the middle of nowhere that he wants to move to. Since it was his special day, I didn't have the heart to tell him he is totally and completely out of his mind...

We had planned a little birthday shopping spree for the afternoon but he was starting to get sick and opted to take a nap instead. Birthdays are good for that, doing whatever you want to!

Later on, we all went to Culvers for some yummy cheeseburgers and then headed home to make homemade ice cream. We almost had a  tragedy when the motor on our ice cream maker burned out just as we were getting started! We both went into panic mode, me especially since I had already messed up the first batch of ingredients and had to go to the store for round two. Thankfully, our neighbors bailed us out with their machine and totally saved the day. Hurray for amazing neighbors!

It was a fun day, celebrating an awesome guy! I love ya honey. Thanks for being the man of the house and the hunk of my dreams! You are truly amazing. XOXOXO

P.S. This card that Chris' Brother-in-law sent was the favorite of the day:


The inside says "However he wants to!" We laughed all day...

  

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

Halloween was as crazy and exciting as ever this year! We had our annual Pumpkin carving contest on Wednesday night while we were waiting for Grandma and Grandpa Smith to arrive. Man, these kids get into it! This was the first year Ben gutted his own pumpkin so that was a big hit. And he came up with an intraquite design for Chris to cut out, too.....

Olivia worked feverishly to creat her design on paper while Nick managed the scene and made sure his dad was doing all the work on his pumpkin.

We had a blast. Grandma and Grandpa arrived just in time for the lighting ceremony and to judge our creations. Guess what?! All the pumpkins were winners this year cuz Grandparents are like that....

Grandma Jen brought jammies for each of them and cute reading headlamps for the boys. So stinkin cute! (Well, cute until a frantic spotlight zoomed into my room at 4am the next morning, nearly blinding me while requesting a bowl of cereal...I kindly insisted he turn off his headlamp...)

All three kids had classroom parties that were really fun. Chris and I went to the big kids' parties last week and I went to Ben's on Thursday afternoon. It was the first time I have been in his class this year and he loved having me there. He held my hand everywhere we went and kept turning around for kisses in between whatever activity he was doing. LOVED IT! All of them had Friday off so we decorated some fun Halloween cookies with Grandma Jen.

Thank you, Nick....

Ben's cookie are frosted on both sides...

Friday night was our Church's Chili cook-off and Trunk-or-Treat...

Two tough KC Chiefs

Dad in his crazy "Ute" fan costume

Mom...nice fitted pumpkin t-shirt

The sweetest devil ever

And then there was Trick-or-Treating the neighborhood......

Nick's best friend, Drew, walked with our family

Liv saw two classmates on the street

Checking out their goods

Ben's "circle of candy"

Please note that his circle of candy is composed of individual
piles of candy sorted by brand...

After picking up hundreds of candy wrappers scattered all over the house, I told the kids they had exactly three days to make their candy vanish. Sure enough, the night of the deadline, only a few less than desirable pieces of candy remained. The week-long sugar high is officially over!