Halloween 2012

 Two monkeys and a butterfly waiting patiently for candy

Halloween was a low-key affair for us this year.  To make things simple, I convinced Evie to use her bluebird wings from her ballet recital this spring for a costume.  She decided to be a butterfly, and a beautiful butterfly she was.  We made some antenna to complete the outfit.  The boys, I had decided, would be Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat.  I made red t-shirts and everything.  Zevon and Guthrie decided otherwise.  They had worn their t-shirts earlier in the day at daycare for their Halloween parade.  But when they got home they would not put their thing shirts back on.  Would.  Not.  A happy halloween picture in costume was not going to happen.  So, I put their monkey hats on instead and called it good.  I had to get over the fact I spent an afternoon getting the computer to print the iron-on transfers and making it all look nice.  Oh, well.

We enjoyed a warm day for trick-or-treating.  We took the kids around the block, and that was about all the boys wanted.  We taught them to say 'trick-or-treat' but at each door, Zevon would just say "Please?" and Guthrie would grab the candy and run. 

 Evie testing out her wings

Trick OR treat?  Hmmmm....

 Evie pointing out her jack-o-lantern (far right).  She designed it, scooped out the guts, and let me do the cutting.  Will and I did our own pumpkin carving with some 'help' from the boys.

 Guthrie: "Put the candy in here and no one gets hurt."  

Zevon: "Candy, please? Please? Candy? Please?"

Weeks later, the boys now will now wear their Halloween shirts.  Will caught a picture with his iPad.  At least I have proof that these would have been awesome costumes.  Thankfully I didn't spend days on the shirts.  Note, next year I will NOT be making elaborate costumes.

Thing 1 Zevon, Thing 2 Guthrie

October challenges

The month of October brought lots of new exciting challenges. 

Evie took a month a swimming lessons at the Y and she loved it!  She can really swim now.  I was amazed at how she developed into a real swimmer over the month.  Evie loves the water, but before then most of her 'swimming' involved her face underwater while she walked along the bottom of the pool.  Not so any more!  She can swim with a front crawl and a backstroke, as well as float on her belly and her back, all in water 5 feet deep.  Evie is very proud of herself and can't wait to take another round of lessons after Christmas. 

 Evie waiting to jump in! 

Speaking of lessons at the Y, I'm now considering enrolling my boys in some lessons.  No, not just swimming lessons but perhaps dance lessons!  One day, Evie brought the boys upstairs and they decided to play dress up.  They all came downstairs ready to dance in their dresses and tutus.  I've always said that I want my children to have well-rounded childhoods.  So here is the proof that there is no such thing as 'boy' toys or 'girl' toys in my house.  Zevon and Guthrie really love these tutus.  In fact, the day these pictures were taken, Guthrie didn't even want to take his off for snack and was upset when he realized he couldn't fit in his chair with the tutu on.  Zevon loves to borrow Evie's uke and pretend to play guitar while his sister and brother dance.  Perhaps I have a performing troupe on my hands!

 Guthrie (notice the heart bracelet, too)

 Zevon with his 'guitar'

Zevon, Evie and Guthrie, for your entertainment!

My new exciting challenge was taking my first teaching job.  I took a long term subbing assignment for a chemistry teacher in the area.  It was hard for all of us, but rewarding too.  I enjoyed the chance to use my teaching degree (finally!), especially in my area of expertise.  The boys spent their days in a wonderful daycare and did so well there.  They came home talking a lot more and I think even slept better due to all the activity during the day.  They couldn't rely just on their parents' ability to read their minds or their sister to talk for them.  As a result, their language has exploded.  Unfortunately, 'Mine!' and 'No!' and especially the combination 'No! Mine!' are their favorites.  We are thankful to have found such a great place for them.  Unfortunately (for me, good for the teacher I subbed for), my assignment came to an end and I'll be back to my usual stay-at-home mom gig.  I do miss my boys and spending more time with my kids in general so its okay.  But now we know how adaptable our family can be to changing situations.

Odds and ends from the summer

 Picnic in the backyard

 Tickling the ivories

 Trying on Daddy's shoes...

...and Mommy's shoes!

I'm so tough, I eat rocks for snacks!

Whoa! Where did the time go?

We've been busy, if you haven't been able to tell from the lack of posts!  Evie started school and it seems like we haven't stopped moving since.  Lots has happened and I'll try to catch us up before the end of the year.  Let's wrap up the summer first...

Zevon, Guthrie, and Evie at the Pictograph Caves

On labor day, we took a little trip as a family to see Pictograph Caves state park, not too far from home.  It was really the first real hike we have taken with the boys (without restraining them in a carrier or a stroller).  The path, while totally safe for normal people, is totally dangerous for adventurous exploring two year olds who don't yet know their limits.  Thankfully, there were no skinned knees or broken arms.

Looking up at the main cave

Evie and Guthrie sprinting up the trail.  Zevon decided to take the scenic view from his dad's shoulders.

 Tour guide Evie pointing out the pictures.  Will is just trying to stop the boys from killing themselves.

View of a pictograph inside the cave

 Evie and her mom in front of Ghost Cave.

 View of inside of Ghost Cave.  Supposedly, strange things appear in photos when people take pictures of this cave, but I don't see anything odd.

We explored the caves and Evie had fun pointing out all the paintings.  The view was beautiful and we had a nice day to do our little hike.  We enjoyed a snack and headed home in time for nap (or non-nap as the case was).  You would think with all that climbing and running that our kids would be tired.  Nope!  Just two very tired parents.

Later that afternoon we went to a Mustangs baseball game.  The kids loved watching the game for about an inning, and then we ran around the stadium and ate giant pretzels.  Not a bad way to spend our last day of summer!

Boys snacking and watching some baseball.  Yes, you can tell from their red faces that it was really hot.  Poor little guys were melting!