Friendly, Cute Halloween....

Well, every year we have been saying we were going to carve pumpkins, and we always end up putting it off and not doing it. So...we were determined...well, Alec was determined that we were going to carve one this year. So, finally a week and a half ago we did! It was a lot of fun, and Alec loved playing in the pumpkin gut goo. Ava was a little more dainty about it...picking out the seeds one at a time. I ended up toasting the pumpkin seeds with seasoning salt, and they were really yummy! Eriik was the actual pumpkin carver...Alec and I picked out a pattern on the internet...although, Alec wanted the scariest looking thing he could find, I like to keep Halloween as sweet and friendly as possible....not always easy. I had just told him the other day "We do cute, sweet, Halloween in this house...not yucky, scary Halloween!" Well...the next day he came home from preschool with a book he had picked out from the library called "Scary, Scary, Halloween". I had to give a little chuckle...that was his way of rebelling I guess. Boys are just fasinated with scary things I think. But no matter what I'm still keeping my front porch sweet!

Look at Ava's face...it says..."ooh gross"..such a little priss!

The Great outdoors!

We made a last minute decision to go camping this past weekend. It couldn't have been a more perfect weekend to go! The weather was BEAUTIFUL!!! We left our house around 3:00 Friday afternoon and the song playing on the radio as we were driving off was "It's a Beautiful Day" So fitting. Anyway...this was our first time to go camping as a family...(Eriik had taken Alec a couple times before) We had been putting it off because we weren't so sure how Ava would react to it all. Anyway...we got to Dangerfield park around 3:45 and got our camping spot. The kids had a great time "exploring" the woods while Eriik and I set up the tent. We did the typical roasting hotdogs, and smores thing for dinner. We took a long walk after dinner and the kids played on the play ground. We put the kids to bed around 8:30...well...they stayed up talking and giggling till around 10:00. Eriik and I stayed up late by the campfire talking and had a really relaxing evening. Ava was really doing great up until she woke up in the morning...it was cold and she was grumpy (even with all her layers of clothing). Eriik got up and had the fire built before I even got out of my sleeping bag. Eriik said that his favorite part of camping is the next morning waking up and making breakfast! Um...that is sooo not my favorite part...not a morning person so much...especially after hardly getting a wink of sleep due to hearing strange russeling noises outside the tent, and a symphony of snoring from the kids and Eriik! So in the morning Eriik made pancakes, eggs, and bacon...and even made coffee(he bought a percolator)! I was lovin life again after my coffee! Ava cheered up when she got her eggs. After breakfast we broke down camp and went fishing, and then decided to rent a paddle boat....which about killed our legs! The kids really loved watchin the ducks too. It was just a really great camping experience overall...I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Alec has his walking sticks in this pic...he said "When I go into the forest to look for weapons (sticks), you can just call me jungle man!" He makes me smile.

Checking out the tent before dinner.

Eating daddy's pancakes in the morning!

As they were walking closer to the water Alec took Ava's hand to protect her... it was so sweet.

Ava watching the ducks

On the paddle boat

Alec loves to fish!

Pickin Pumpkins

We visited Moore Farm today with some friends. It was chilly (low 60's) and cloudy and I loved that it actually felt like fall! This was our 4th or 5th year to come out here, and it was so fun to share it with some of our friends. We got to have little Mary stay with us over night because Mer was out of town. She is the sweetest little thing and we got to see a whole other giggly, silly, talkative side of her last night. Anyway...after the pumpkin patch we all went to eat a little Mexican food for lunch. It was great because all the kids sat at one table and we sat at our own..and they didn't kill each other. It's been a fun weekend...and it's still going...Alec and Eriik are at a Monster Truck ralley right now!

It was REALLY muddy! We were so glad that we had rubber boots for the kids!

Sweet smiles all around for Mary, Alec and Ava...they were happy with their pumpkins.

Not the best family pic, but at least it documents we were all there together :)

Carson, Ava, Mary, Alec and Matteos playing in the corn. Ava's doing her cheesiest smile!

Ava, Sophia, and AJ make adorable little pumpkins!

At the start of the corn maze. Matteos was our "leader" and did a great job of getting us through it. That's the top of Mary's head at the very bottom...for the most part she and Carson tried to stay out of the pictures.

Just another autumn day in Texas!

Last weekend was so warm that we decided to bring a little summer back and break out the pool and water balloons again. I actaully got a sun burn at Alec's soccer game and we were all sweating! I am so ready for some REAL fall weather!!! Fall has always been my favorite season. I love bonfires, cool weather, and the colorful leaves...we just have to wait for it a little longer for it around here. It will really feel like fall in November. Oh well...at least the kids got to enjoy their water fun for a little longer. This weekend is going to be at least a little cooler (70's to low 80's)!

Love Languages...

Well...if you haven't heard of the book The Five Love Languages, it's really great, and I highly recommend it. For the sake of not making this post too long...I'm not going to explain it since just about everyone I know is at least a little familiar with it. I read it all the way back in college, and it has stuck with me all this time. They have a book out about the love languages for children as well, but I haven't read it yet. Anyway...all this to say, within the past few months or so, it has become very clear to Eriik and I what love languages our kids speak.

Alec is very much a "Gifts" kiddo...no this does not just mean he likes to get gifts! He LOVES to give though! He shows his love to everyone by giving special things to them. Ever since Ava was born he has run to get her one of his stuffed animals if she cried, and now he gives her his cars. He gives cars and toys to his friends all the time...sometimes he even gives them a FAVORITE toy. He will randomly say "Mommy...I want to give Carson this car...I think he would like it a lot." He loves to color pictures, make books, and draw pictures for people. He found a book that a friend had given him for Christmas and when he remembered who it was from said "That was really nice of Blake...I want to make him a book"....and he did. When he draws a picture or colors for his daddy he always wants to make it extra special by hiding it somewhere in the house and leaving clues to find it. This is really amazing to me since "gifts" is very low on my love language list, and on Eriiks as well. Maybe he will teach us a thing or two about being a giver!

As for Ava...we are thinking her love language is "words of affirmation". She is always complimenting people....although they are mostly superficial compliments...but hey she's only 2. I've even heard her talking to her doll saying "Oh...I love your dress, princess ...so pretty". When Kelsey comes over sometimes she says "I like your hair Kelsey...or "I like your shirt...it's nice". It's almost always a conversation starter for her. She comes up to me out of the blue all the time and tells me "I love you Mommy!" Just the other day, after Awanas she told me "Allison is nice!" ..that's her Sunday school teacher, and Awanas teacher. Anyway...as for now it looks like she's a "words" girl....hmmm, wonder where she get's that from??? :)

I realize all this is subject to change, but it's kind of fun to observe. I think it's helpful to know what is most important to them, so that we can show them love more effectively. Anyway...this was just on my mind and thought I would share.

Soccer in the pouring rain!

Well, today was Alec's first Soccer game. The forecast said 100% chance of rain for pretty much the whole day...so I wasn't sure we would have a game. But apparently our little "Longhorns" are tough enough to play through a downpour! We all had a lot of fun...well...Ava was a little miserable off and on...but I think she was just too wet and cold. Anyway, I don't think there is anything cuter than a bunch of little four year old soccer players. You could hear all the parent yelling "Wrong way!! Kick it the other way!" Our Longhorns played against the Dragons and we won 5-0!!! I was surprised at how well they did after only a few practices! We celebrated with a little Sonic after the game. Alec said he had a good time, but "the game was a lot longer than practice...and a lot wetter!" We are proud of our little Longhorn, and thrilled that he had a good time! I have a little video clip at the bottom....he is #3. (you can hear Ava being miserable in the background)

The soccer mom and the little sis.

He fell a couple of times...thus the wet grass all over his face and body!

First Day...

Well, today was the first day of preschool for Alec and Ava and the first day of MOPS! Ava ran into her room without so much as a glance back and started playing with the toys as the teacher shut the bottom half of the door. I gave a quick "bye lady bug" and she barely looked up as she waved. So...needless to say she was good to go! Then I dropped off Alec and he walked in the room with a slight hesitation until he saw his bud Tommy and then all was well. So, then I sped off to our church for MOPS where I am a discussion group leader. On the way there the silence hit me and I was suddenly glad that I was getting to go hang out with some friends instead of back to my quiet house. Now...don't get me wrong...I am really going to love having free time a couple days a week, it's just a little bit of a shock to my system. MOPS was fun as usual, and I am really excited about getting to know the girls at my table better.

When I picked up the kids today after school Ava was crying because Owen tried to take her blankie (oh the drama). Alec on the other hand was so excited and said in a super excited voice "Mommy, I got a penny because I was really really good and I sat really still and listened and if I get five pennies, I get to buy something from the treasure box!!!" He then proceeded to tell me about a couple boys who were not as fortunate. Ava didn't have as much to report (she just told me "I played with girls"), but the teachers told me she had fun. So...anyway, here are some pics from open house with their teachers last week.