Fall fun

Everyone knows Halloween is no my thing but this year I tried really hard to have a better attitude about it and it lasted right up until we were about half way done trick or treating Halloween night. As posted in a previous post we made Halloween lanyards, carved pumpkins, went to trunk or treat at the church and even did trick or treating Halloween night.

Pumpkin carving this year was a lot more fun than work because the kids are getting older. They helped clean them out and picked how they wanted them be carved. Justin helped Madisen while Tanner and I worked on his. He punched out the holes and I did the actual carving. Madisen gave words of encouragement to Justin as he patiently carved hers out and them she took all the credit for how awesome it turned out.

Madisen's pumpkin

Tanner's pumpkins

The fact that I didn't have to go to a store to buy the kids costumes this year helped keep my attitude in check. I wanted Madisen to be the cute Mad Hatter last year and she was not interested. So when I suggested it this year and she immediately agreed that it was a great costume was fantastic. She looked so cute! Tanner's costume was a little more complicated than Madisen's. He is getting to the age where he wants something gross and bloody and I draw the line at that. When he finally decided on Prince Caspian finding one was difficult since it was last years "it" costume. I tracked one down 10 days before before Halloween and it arrived at the house just a couple days before his big party at school.

Halloween night getting ready to trick or treat with our friends.

The cutest kids out trick or treating Halloween night

Last but not least...after a few hours Tanner had had it with the itchy knight costume but still wanted to go with his cousins around grandma's neighborhood. So Justin gave him his funky teeth and wig and off he went as "the black hoodie puncher", which is really funny to our family who knows the back story behind the phrase "black hoodie puncher."

So here's to surviving another Halloween and to planning a party at a friends house for next year!!!

The other night Justin and I drove separate cars to a family party and the kids split between us on the way home with Madisen riding with Justin. I pulled into the garage right after Justin pulled up and Madisen got of the car. I always pull in and put the car in reverse to use the backup camera to make sure I'm all the way in and this is what showed up on my backup screen. It was so funny I couldn't stop laughing.

Tanner in the backup camera.

Madisen in the backup camera

Recipe's

I made snickerdoodle cupcakes with a carmel buttercream frosting yesterday and posted about it on facebook. I had several people ask me for the recipe and since I don't want to post the recipe on my blog and get in trouble for calling something mine that isn't I've posted the website that the recipe's came form instead. They were really good and I hope you all like them too.

www.marthastewart.com/recipe/snickerdoodle-cupcakes

www.marthastewart.com/recipe/caramel-buttercream

Craft night with the kids

I only have pictures of the finished project not the process since my hands were covered in paint. After school we went to Hobby Lobby to get supplies to make our halloween luminaries that my sister said were so fun and easy that even I couldn't screw them up. I invited a friend nd her little boy to come make one too. The kids had a blast playing and as you can see they did theirs without any intervention from me, the total control freak! Tanner made the orange pumpkin and the non-striped ghost. Madisen's are the striped ghost and she painted a little of the green goblin and quickly got distracted. I, saved/finished the green goblin and saved/finished the purple goblin as well. The pictures suck because my camera is in the car which Justin is driving tonight.

Tanner...when did you grow up?

Tanner...where do I start? He is the light of my life and cute to boot. He started 4th grade this year and thinks he is so cool because he gets to play on the bigger playground now. His favorite thing at school is P.E. and his least favorite is art. He turned 9 a few weeks ago and we took him and some friends to Pole Position Raceway to celebrate. (actually we felt like crap parents because we were in Puerto Rico for his actual birthday so we bought his love and affection with a super awesome birthday party prior to going.) It was a blast the kids were so cute. I have never seen them so serious in my life. They drove with white knuckles clutching tight to the wheels and straight faces and exploded with excitement as they exited the course. Lastly for Tanner he is playing flag football this season instead for soccer. He seems to really like it. He plays offense and is actually pretty good. Being fast on his feet and little seems to be working to his advantage.

Just a handful

I don't have enough time right now to tell you all about our trip to Puerto Rico. I will post details later. Here are just a handful of my favorite shots.

Justin and Jenessa

In the rainforest

The city after it rained. It was so clear and beautiful!

My friend Mary has almost this same picture from her trip to Puerto Rico and I love it.

Entering the main shooting area at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro fort.

So it's that time again...back to school! This year the kids are in first and fourth grade. The morning was uneventful since I had ironed and hung up their first day of school clothes a week earlier. Lunches were packed shoes were by the garage door. We had plenty of time to shower, do hair, eat breakfast and get to school. Madisen kept insisting she wasn't nervous she was just excited. Being in half day kindergarten was hard for her since she got board easily waiting for Tanner to get home. She couldn't wait to go the lunchroom and eat with her friends. Tanner was a little nervous since he's more like me and likes things to run the way they are planned out in his head. He hugged and kissed me at the car and then it was onto the playground to meet our new teachers. The kids walked side by side ahead of me which I didn't like. I wanted At least Madisen to hold my hand but she insisted on walking with Tanner. He put his arm around her walked her to the lines. Suddenly Tanner announced he was going to find his class and called out "bye Mom." My heart sank until I realized I was still holding all his school supplies in my hand so I would "have" to go find him to "give him his stuff." I walked Madisen to her line and met her teacher. This is where she grabbed my and and asked me very bravely to stay until they walked to class. I traded places with Justin for just a minute to take Tanner his supplies where I received a fist bump and a "see ya later." Then it was back to Madisen who was still insisting on not being nervous despite her pounding heart. We said the Pledge of Allegiance and walked the few feet to her classroom where she hugged me and walked into her classroom with a huge smile on her face. They had a great day and love their teachers. Lunch was a success they even ate their snap peas!!
The next day she jumped out of the car and hugged me. I went to take her hand to walk her in and this is where she said, "I don't need you." and ran after Tanner onto the play ground. They got to the playground and I got in my car and called Justin and cried!!!