A New New Year's Tradition

This year we started a new tradition for New Year's with the boys.  (At least it might be a tradition - it's only the first year, so we'll see...)  After dinner we all went out in the backyard and Russell lit the firepit.  After the fire burned a little bit and the boys had fun running around in the dark we roasted marshmellows.  The boys were very interested in the whole process, but not so interested in the actual roasted marshmellows (although they loved the "raw" ones out of the bag!).  Russell is a master marshmellow maker (everyone should have their own personal Eagle Scout!) and hopefully will pass along his skill to the next generation.

Lighting the fire

 Josh (with marshmellow)

 Not to be outdone

 Daddy and Josh admiring the fire

 Sharing his wisdom

YUM!!

November pics

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - Halloween 2010

I must admit, Halloween has never been that big of a deal for me. It's not that I hate it, I just never really got into it. (I guess it has something to do with my birthday being the day before - my parents always made sure to separate the 2.) However, since becoming a mom I've made sure to give my boys the whole experience and I must admit it's pretty fun. This year Russell even convinced me to dress up for our church's Pumpkin Patch. We were an entire family of pirates and I'll admit we looked pretty cute and it was fun. Pumpkin Patch was Saturday night and then we stayed home Sunday night to pass out candy to the neighbors and do a little trick or treating ourselves. The boys also got to go to the Panther Creek shopping center trick or treat evening on Friday with Gigi and Grandpa while Russell and I enjoyed a night without children for my birthday. We definitely got our money's worth out of their costumes. Enjoy!! (The title is from a VeggieTales song "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" - see the video here)

Josh

With his pirate hat
Such a cute little stinker

Mommy and the boys before Pumpkin Patch

Mommy and Josh

Russell the pirate (pretty cute, isn't he??)

Daddy and the boys off to conquer the Pumpkin Patch

Drew's favorite part - a purple Tootsie Roll pop

Look at my purple tongue

Daddy and Josh

Hayride

Getting ready for Trick or Treating on Sunday night at home

Drew doing sidewalk chalk in the driveway while we waited

Josh drawing with chalk

Drew

Josh

Here we go!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

October pics

Pumpkins Galore

Pumpkins are one of those things that truly signify the beginning of fall around here. It may still be 95 degrees, but you know it's fall when the pumpkins show up on church lawns and grocery stores and your neighbors porches and just about everywhere else you look. We took the boys to one of the local churches that does a great pumpkin patch for the whole month of October. On the first day that we went they were waiting for a new shipment to arrive the next day, so there was pretty slim pickings. We did manage to get some cute pictures and the boys each picked out a little bitty pumpkin to take home. We came back the next weekend and came home with a bigger one.

Drew measuring himself next to the pumpkins

"What are you doing?"
2 boys

Josh looking so sly next to the pumpkin

Mommy and Josh checking out the pumpkins (photographed by Drew)

Scarecrow Drew

Scarecrow Josh

Drew next to a "really big" pumpkin on the second trip

Josh found a bumpy pumpkin

Such silly boys!

I LOVE these boys!

The boys with our pumpkin