Light Up the Night with Excitement!

What a great night for a parade! Especially a light up parade! The kids enjoyed all the moving lights and YES we go more candy! Shouldn’t we spread the joy of sugar throughout the summer a bit more instead of cramming it into a 3 month fury?! Oh well, all that more to share!

As they finally stopped the 4-lane traffic on the usually VERY busy main street, Supergus and I crept out to stand on the double yellow line! It was such a weird feeling, almost eerie, standing there looking up and down the deserted street with thousands of people anxiously awaiting the arrival of the parade. My adventurous little one!

As non-appointed judges, we thought that the mini-van completely dressed like a Christmas tree that opened to reveal the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz was really cool! Also the fire trucks were completely lit up too! From dancing twirling presents to electrified tubas & trumpets, the night lit up with fun! And thankfully, the only snow and ice was on the floats and not nipping at our nose!

Welcome wonderful holiday season~marching your way down the street and into our hearts! We’re ready to celebrate~our family complete!

Build-a-Memory

Today, we welcomed a new member to our family~Hermie (Herman) the Monkey! He began this morning empty and lifeless, but with the help of Supergus he came to life! We stuffed him with love all the way to his toes and sealed him with a kiss & a wish~ Supergus kept the wish a secret! Hope it comes true!

Then we made a personalized t-shirt that proudly exclaims “and the crowd goes wild!” complete with a glittered “H” on his back! Since we were one of the first five people to show up for the event, Hermie also won a complete Santa outfit, beard included! He looks very cute! What a styling Monkey!

So, tonight as I tucked my two little Monkeys into bed I reflected, realizing that best of all~we got to spend the day together....laughing, snuggling, smiling, sharing, and loving each other.... That is priceless.

Twisting the Night Away!

We tried something new, just for fun! We made some cinnamon pretzels! It's not as easy as it looks to make them twist like pretzels should, but we sure got some good laughs!

We spent the evening watching Madagascar bring in the holiday season

and munching on our homemade sweet-treats!

Yummy!

Motherhooded

The other day as we were hustled out the door to another busy-busy day, I was slightly overwhelmed by the details that make up motherhood. ~Things that in a few years from now, or even possibly after a good 15 minute time out, would be funny.

This day, I was not more than surprised to find a petrified peanut butter sandwich in the front closet. Of course it was in there. Why not? We found the missing MILK sippy cup weeks later under the van seat, so why not find a stone-like sandwich next to my coat? ~So bad the dog wouldn't even go near it?

So as I finally found two shoes that matched, or at least were both white and looked similar enough to pass for a pair, we grabbed our jackets. Little Miss Growing More Independent wanted to help with hers. As we got to the van, I welcomed a good moment of laughter when I noticed her hood was on her bottom and smile was on her face. Just another day in my Erma Bombeck style life! Love it!

Square Dancing

Love that new sideways smile, Supergus!

Do-see-do and promenade'r home!

Friday night we got to put on our dancing boots and go kick up a good time at the high school at a real square dance! It was a nice turn out and the kids got to show off their newly polished skills they had been learning in gym class. Supergus was a little worried when his partner didn't show up but he quickly found a new one. He even had the principal of his school in his square! There was a lot of fun and quite a few dizzying moments for everyone. We even got to do the "chicken" and show off our talents during the Hokey Pokey.

Cupcake crashed early in the evening and snuggled up with Granny and Pappy Moo when they weren't helping groups with instruction or snapping pictures. The kids were moving so fast to the live music that taking photos was nearly impossible. We look forward to next year's square dancing celebration! Yee Haw!

Honoring Veterans!

There are very few things in this world more precious than an entire elementary school and their families saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag simultaneously ~led by kindergarten! Everyone reciting it at different paces...the mumbled message of dedication was refreshing! Today as I sat and enjoyed the Veteran's Day program I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Thankful that we live where we do, in this quiet, sleepy town where family values are still present. ~Where you have school leaders that aren't afraid or prohibited to say God during speeches and where Veterans are referred to as Super Heroes. As an ambitious Francis Scott Key boarded his cardboard painted boat and declared that our flag was still there, we all felt a little prouder. And as our son bravely recited his lines as "Narrator #2" we held our breaths, sucking in the pride because there was so much it was leaking from us. We were reminded of flag etiquette and how the flag still stands for freedom. ~How important it is to realize how free we are, including voting. And where students could ask real soldiers from the audience, some even in uniform things like: "Have you ever driven a tank?," "What kind of guns do you use?," and "Are you ever afraid?" If they were ever afraid, it didn't show today, it was pride and honor that they were outfitted in today, and every last Veteran deserves that kind of respect. I just wish they could have all attended our elementary school program because I know that those children would have thanked anyone who came. Praise God for America, its brave and praise God for the freedom to honor those who insure it!

Happy Veteran's Day & thank you!

Boo!

What fun Halloween was! Dr. Pepper and Lil' Duckie got enough candy to keep us content until NEXT Halloween! and then some... Super Daddy and I wore all blue and wore name tags that said "Hello, my name is Jean (Gene)" ~we were a PAIR of BLUE JEANS!

Cupcake wasn't too sure about trick or treating (actually we went Trunk or Treating-out of people's trunks). People looked funny to her with all the makeup and costumes on, and it was dark & noisy. She did like playing some games that were indoors at the event.

Supergus, of course loved every minute of it and thinks that every holiday should include getting candy. He and his friends enjoyed hanging out in costumes and celebrating at school too. Trunk or Treat and the annual Halloween Parade were a success and the weather cooperated, too. Our annual Fall Festival had almost 500 people in attendance! The great indoor-warm and dry event was such fun!

It was fun dressing up! I think we should do it more often! However, I wear my tiara on a regular basis anyway, so I guess that's pretty close! It makes cleaning and chores a little bit more bearable. I encouraged my kids to enjoy being creative. For the longest time, Supergus would wear safety goggles and a dinosaur costume wherever we went. After that it was a cape... and goggles! Do you know how hard it is to get dinosaur feet through the feet holes in a shopping cart?! He is so funny! And one day, rather recently, we were walking together and he was all hunched over while he was walking. I asked him what he was doing and he very seriously replied, "I'm being aerodynamic". But of course you are!

Three days, three events, 4 exhausted, sugar overloaded people.

Who says Halloween is only on October 31st?

Togetherness

With the leaves at their peak of colored glory, we ventured out again to one of our favorite places~the bike/hike trail! The path was camouflaged into the forest by a blanket of golden leaves. The kids wondered together exploring fall's greatness and natures wonders of sticks, bugs, nuts, and fallen leaves. The afternoon was an awesome opportunity just to spend some quality time together.

Watching our kids grow closer together is a gift I cherish more every day.

Beloved, Baby Jane

We have another new baby in the house by the name of "Jane". Jane's soft body and clumsy hard arms, legs, and head are lugged lovingly around the house. She is plunked down on her head numerous times a day and never sheds a tear. Her little blue eyes are picked and gouged at with every loving snuggle session, but she doesn't mind. She's even surprisingly okay with having her fingers chomped upon and being force-fed Cheerios. She is loved by our little Cupcake. To watch her mother our new friend Jane is priceless and I'll cherish every moment of this "tenderness"...

Enjoying a fall afternoon...

The leaves are so beautiful this year! Cupcake loved having Supergus throw the leaves up into the air! She liked it so much that she tried doing it herself! Her efforts were sincere, but all she did was end up stuffing them down the back of her shirt! Later, when we changed her diaper, there was quite a deposit of red & yellow leaves! Perhaps she was saving some fun for later!

Mud Boggin' (A.K.A. Soccer)

Supergus helped his team win last Saturday's game~in the freezing rain, mud, flurries, and wind! Are we crazy or what for going out there!? Honestly, yes.

The laundry should have gotten bonus points for even beginning to restore that uniform!

His last game of the season is tomorrow... We'll miss all the fun, but enjoy the warmth of being indoors on freezing Saturday mornings!

Great Birthday!!

It was a perfect day of hiking on the bike trail, admiring the leaves, picking out pumpkins, eating deep-fried dill pickles, playing board games, and snuggling by the fire with Super Daddy! It was fantastic~so much so, that I don't even feel a year older! I love you guys all very much! Thanks for a wonderful day I'll never forget! Perfect.

Camping out!

Well, the boys are officially breaking in the Tree House tonight! They are camping out there all night! They plugged in two heaters (It's in the 30's here!)! I packed them some some hot cocoa, marshmallows, a candy bar, tissues and a lunch box full of football cards and sent them on their way with hugs and kisses! They are having a blast out there...me? Cupcake and I enjoying this toasting warm fire inside!

Big Corn!

Cupcake enjoyed corn on the cob for the first time tonight!

~ Sadly, the corn season is coming to an end, and even freezing the fresh crops never really taste the same... Savor the flavor, baby!