Day 30 Halloween

Halloween started out...not so good, but it ended on a high note. I think that the kids were tired out from their big weekend and I was just a little down about not having Brent there to share Halloween with us. Consequently, all the little stressors turned into one big stress ball and it left us a bit frazzled. Here's one on the reasons...

Children were allowed to wear costumes to school today, but only Everyday Heroes. Which meant that I was scrambling to put together another costume this morning. I know, I should have done it this weekend. Just didn't happen!!

Halloween night, though, was something special. The kids were so cute that I wanted to eat them up!

Lighting McQueen

Our Bald Eagle

CRAZY EYES! He was desperately searching for someone to give candy to. He loved handing out the sweet treats!

Trick or Treating with Uncle Micah! Tristan loved being out with Uncle Micah. He held his hand for most of the time we were out trick or treating. I'm so glad that Tristan has men in his life that will fill in the gaps a bit when Daddy is away! Skyping with Daddy rounded out our evening and made it perfect!

Day 29

29 down, 91 to go??

Nan and Poppa gave me the gift of a "free" weekend, but like all things it had to come to an end. I travelled down south to meet Nan for a child exchange and we took the opportunity to do something that Maura has been asking about for the past year--Dinosaur World! It's easily one of the most underwhelming parks I've ever been to, but the kids LOVED it!

Maura, the T-Rex.

Nan hadn't seen Bennett all weekend and ALREADY she was feeding him to the dinosaurs!

SO happy to be reunited with my children again. I sure do love these kids and missed them so much!

Smile, kids, for your Daddy in Afghanistan!! No, really Tristan, smile!!"Tristan, SMILE!!!" Apparently, Tristan just had a little too much weekend!! I think we all did. They're all sleeping like babies upstairs right now! Thanks so much, Nan and Poppa!!

Day 28

This kids has got game!! He's turning into our soccer star extraordinaire! I think he can dribble better then either of his siblings and he can really pitch that ball!! He LOVED kicking the ball, throwing the ball and just playing around the foyer. I could hear him in there just giggling and squealing and this is what I found when I investigated. He's all boy and he's just precious. I could eat him up!

Love this baby!! I had such a wonderful time as a one child mom this weekend. We went shopping and it was so easy to just take one child in and out of the car. Bennett loved the extra attention and liked sampling everything at Sams. He especially loved just playing one on one when we got home and he got the biggest kick out of playing with the plastic fire hats they got at the MOPS meeting on Friday. We were quite a pair with our hats on! I guess it's back to being the third child again tomorrow when I pick up Maura and Tristan...but I know Bennett will be thrilled to see them!

Day 27

The Grandparents offered...and I accepted! They want to keep the two older kids for the weekend, and I'm so excited! I'm looking forward to an easy laid back weekend. Bennett and I are going to relax! As for the other two, we met Nan for dinner at Cracker Barrel which was as much fun as you can have with three children eating at the table. After dinner, they loaded up and we went our separate ways. I just heard from Nan that Tristan is asleep and Maura is hanging out with Poppa eating popcorn. They'll have so much fun...and I will too!! :)

Day 26

School party--I was a bumble bee. Those are my stripes all crumpled up in Bennett's hand!

Bennett, the clown, entertaining his audience yet again.

Bennett "carving" his pumpkin.

Celebrating the release of Breaking Dawn a few days early!

Tonight was pumpkin carving night. With three of them and only one of me, you can imagine how that went. I was in perpetual motion, cutting off tops, helping them scoop up goop, keeping Bennett fed, cleaning goop up off the floor, getting markers for drawing faces, cutting out eyes... They really loved it, though, and I'm glad I did it. I'm a lucky mommy to have three such cute, curious and fun kiddos!

Day 25

I'm beginning to lose count of how many times we've been to the orchard this year! This time it was a little different--Maura's field trip. I loved having the chance to chaperon. Not only did it feel good to do something for her school, but I knew she would most likely come home from her field trip unharmed if I went along. I've been at the orchard before with school groups and the complete lack of parental supervision appalled me! I'm so glad I got to share my girl's special day!
My little group of charges: A, I, L and Maura. Poor I. I know he would have loved to be in a different group!Maura's favorite part of the day...feeding the Red Kangaroo. He was really cute!It was interesting to watch Maura interact in a social situation. She's definitely improving. She tells me that A is her best friend at school and they did seem to play well together. She lives just up the street. Maybe it's time to get to know some school friends better. Unfortunately for the kids, we started to get some rain, so we headed back to the busses and I took of with my girl for some girl time! GREAT field trip--especially when you get done early!

Day 24

What can I say? We're pumpkin patch fools!! We had a wonderful time today at Boyd Orchard. The kids were thrilled to be there...except Bennett who was ready for a nap. Guess who likes the Taggie blanket that I made before Maura was born. At least someone likes it. I may have to make another on in a more manly color!

I asked the kids to sit down and take a photo "for daddy." This was the best they could do. Bennett managed to find the only rotten pumpkin in the place and fall into it. He smelled like rotten pumpkin for the rest of the afternoon. Consequently, so did I.

My little daredevil. This kid is going to be the death of me. He discovered the joy of sliding headfirst at the playground today. He even took on the big side, but was a little more cautious, stopping himself with his feet on the way down!

Day 23

It was a beautiful autumn day for some outdoor play and basketball. Bennett is quite the pro. He got pretty upset when that ball got stuck under a car!

My little explorers wanted to climb trees in "Fruit World"(my parent's fruit "orchard"). Those little monkeys loved being up there and even talked to daddy on the cell while aloft!

Day 22 Harvest Time Happiness

Southside's Fall festival=AWESOME! We had so much fun this year! The only thing missing was YOU! They had a train with about five cars that the kids just LOVED. Bennett asked to ride it a second time. He just watched and watched the world go by. Meanwhile, Tristan wrecked Lightning McQueen.

He looked really cute, but wouldn't leave the hat on. Maura looked really cute too...for a cheerleader. Also kind of spangly. MUST pick up the eagle costume this week! She really did love being cheerleader at this festival...let's hope it doesn't stick. She kept trying to remember and do Titan's cheers!

Cutest monkey I've ever seen! He was so precious and he never even tried to take off the monkey hat...kept walking out of the feet, though!

We had such a fun day...but we missed you so much!

Day 21

I'm not sure if they could have been prouder if they'd won Olympic medals!

There really isn't anything like catching up with old friends. The kids had a wonderful time at Leah's party at the apple orchard!

Day 20

Oh, my son, what will I do with you. Here's the damages!

Believe me, it was far worse in person. I got the same sinking sensation that I did after Maura wrote all over the couch with a pen.

Posing with his handiwork. We had some serious talks about what was and was not acceptable behavior during rest time.

Precious. Simply precious!

Day 19

We went to the store to buy items for care packages and Tristan just couldn't live without a ride on the "school bus." Fifty cents!!! How is that possible? Well, I was going to get my money's worth, so I threw in Bennett too. Not a fan. He did his best to escape during the ten second ride!So proud of my girl.

So very proud. I expect wonderful things from her in the future!