A Pumpkin Hunting We Will Go

On Saturday we took our third annual trip to Waterman's Farm to get our pumpkins.  It's fun to visit the same place at the same time each year because you see how much your kids have grown.  I told Ryan that it's crazy to think that next year our boys will be in first grade and pre-k and our baby will be in preschool.  Unbelievable! 

This year Grant had so much fun and was super active, racing to get a pedal kart and wanting to ride in the pumpkin ride that freaked him out so much last year.  (We skipped it, though--too many other things to do).  Caroline had fun walking around, and Jack was just like last year, racing from place to place and deciding what we should do next.  I don't think that will change next year!

The boys had to fight for these!  I hate to judge or think badly of other parents, but if your children have been hogging the rides and other kids are waiting, shouldn't you pull your darling child aside and say, "It's someone else's turn now, honey."  Just a thought...

Grant would have spent much longer climbing up onto the combine and sliding down if we'd let him.  However, it was a little chilly just standing and waiting for him, so we shuffled him on to the next place.

Jack the farmer

On our way to the pumpkin patch, I told Ryan that this would be our last time to get a fall picture.  We took around 8 or so, and this is maybe the best one.  Oh well.  We thought it was kind of funny (though I loved the one where Grant was chewing on a piece of hay, too), but don't look for it to be our Christmas card!

This maze freaked Ryan out last year because he kept thinking it would go up in flames and trap everyone inside if there was a fire.  Cheery thought, right?  I finally went in there this year, and there was this little boy in front of me who was maybe three and was totally freaked out.  He refused to move, and I was literally pushing him through the maze, sliding his little tush on the boards covering the hay.  What killed me was when we got to the end and his mom and aunt were standing there, pushing Grant out of the way so they could get a picture of this poor frightened little boy emerging from this pitch-black maze.  I told them he had been freaked out and hadn't wanted to move, but they seemed too distracted to care.  Poor kid.  Hopefully they didn't make him go back in later.

gotta love old-fashioned tractors!

Grant enjoyed hunting for the perfect pumpkin, both for him and for me.  So sweet.

He chose this one, but I told him he had to be able to lift it.  We left that one on the field. :)

Jack also enjoyed picking out a pumpkin, and I think this was the third perfect specimen.  I'm not even sure this is the one we brought home.  It's hard to choose.

Caroline loved the pumpkins and walking in the field.  It was so precious to see my little pumpkin among the pumpkins.  (Yes, cheesy, I know!)

love this picture of my little boy

We chose a bumpy pumpkin for our family pumpkin this year.  I'm not sure we will do it again this year as this thing was super expensive, but it was something novel.  It's definitely fun to touch!

So there you go--fun times!  I used to think fall was my least favorite season, but I feel like, since having kids, fall is maybe my favorite season because of all the fun activities--the pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating, zoo boo, the Children's Museum haunted house...plus all the candy!  If only we could bypass winter and go straight to spring...

A Y Halloween

 This year we had a lot of fun at the Y celebrating Halloween.  With Grant being in preschool there and me teaching preschool there, we were able to dress up and enjoy the holiday.  (As a sidenote, I think it's so sad that kids cannot do Halloween stuff anymore in public schools.  Where did all the fun go?  No Christmas, no Halloween??  Okay, off my soapbox now.)

The day before Fall Break we had our annual Fall Festival (a.k.a. Halloween party) at school.  Grant wore his elephant costume, and I dressed Caroline in her ladybug costume so everyone in child watch could see how cute she is. :)  I dressed up as...drumroll, please...a Y preschool teacher.  One of these years I will just have to make a costume.  I looked at several stores for costumes this year, but it is so disappointing when the only female costumes I see are definitely inappropriate for school.  The boys and girls didn't seem to care, though.  We all had a lot of fun on Wednesday, and I even snuck away from my class and snapped a few pictures of Grant with his class enjoying the party.

my little elephant

Apparently he refused to put on the ears for his teacher, which is too bad since they really make the costume!

Another thing we decided to do this year was the Halloween Extravaganza Friday night at the Y.  They had a haunted house, face painting, Chipotle (um, YUM!), s'mores, caricatures, games, and hot chocolate.  We all had a great time, and it was fun to hang out outside on a lovely fall night.  

For $15 we all got Chipotle burritos along with all the other fun things they had that night.  I love the Y!

Ryan and Grant roasted marshmallows for all of to each s'mores.  Caroline and Grant loved them, but I don't think Jack ate any because he doesn't have much of a sweet tooth.  That's okay--more for me!

ZooBoo!

A few months ago, when Ryan's brother and his wife came to visit with their kids, we decided to get a membership to the zoo.  We'd discussed it previous years but never purchased one.  However, it's been nice to have something else we can do with the kiddos on nice days.  I even took them one day by myself and lived to tell the tale--crazy!

So when we saw ZooBoo advertised, we thought that would be a great way to utilize our membership!  The boys and girls get to dress up in their costumes (yay for wearing them more than 2 hours!) and trick-or-treat.  (Take that part with a grain of salt as there really isn't that much candy, but for 2/3 of my children who do not eat candy that was just fine.  The other child who might have cared was too sick to really care.  Poor Grant--he was a sad, sick elephant...but he looked so stinkin' cute!  And in our defense, I just thought he was being tired and whiny because we had to wake him up since he fell asleep on the way to the zoo.  Oops.  Bad parent moment #722.)  Anyway, we suggested it to my parents who were visiting and decided that would be a fun way to spend a cool, sunny fall afternoon.  We had a great time and will definitely do this again in the future!

An attempt at a family picture--does it get easier as they get older?  The sad thing is that this is the best one of about 5 pictures.  Oh well--maybe at the pumpkin patch...

Mimi and Papa with their grandchildren--at least you can see their costumes if not their faces!

Grant, the sick, sad elepant--Doesn't that sound like a good book?

Happy Ladybug on Papa's shoulders

exploring her candy bag--She was so funny because she refused to be carried and had to walk the whole way.  She also wanted to stop at all of the benches she saw and climb up onto them.

"Hmmm...what's this?"  She ended up eating it before we finished trick-or-treating.  Halloween is going to be interesting!

Jack preparing to race the "cheetah"  (They simulate the cheetah's speed.)  Notice the cheetah in the background.  The animals were so active on Saturday!

Jack racing.  He may need a bit more practice before he becomes a track star, but he did look cute running!  I am sure his space explorer costume slowed him down.

Grandparents' Day

On Wednesday Jack had Granparents' Day at school.  He was so lucky that three of his grandparents were able to come, especially since everyone lives out of town.  They all joined him in the cafeteria for lunch before the program.  Because Jack had several grandparents come and other kiddos weren't as fortunate, his teacher divvied out two of the adults and paired them with other kids who didn't have grandparents.  It wasn't as much fun for Mimi and Grandpa to be grandparents to other kids, but I think they still enjoyed just seeing Jack and his classroom and the other children in the class.  They were able to see his class, play games, and hear a song.  Thank you, Mimi, Grandpa, and Nana, for coming to Jack's Grandparents' Day.  He loved having you all here!

Jack in his classroom

Jack played a game with Nana and read a story to her.





Jack drew pictures for his grandparents, as did all of the other children.  I think it's interesting to see how kids this age draw so differently.  (For example, some kids draw whole bodies, some just draw heads, etc.)

The children sang "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" to the grandparents, and it was super cute!  (I saw the video.)  I think Jack knew where to look for the pictures! :)



Overachiever

This week Little Miss gained a new interest: the potty chair.  Not only is this an interest, but it is also a hobby.  She loves opening and closing it, taking out the parts and replacing them.  And, on top of that, she has begun sitting on and using it.  Okay, begun may be taking it a bit too far, but she did use it three times.  Because it took so long to train Grant, I will take whatever I can get from my 20-month-old! 

Oh, and as for the pictures, these show her sad face, full of dramatic emotion, when I took her off of the potty chair and put on her diaper after 15 minutes of sitting.  The child was quite distressed!  I am a mean mommy!

Homecoming

Yesterday was Taylor University's Homecoming, so we decided to head up north to see our alma mater.  Of course, we probably visit the campus once or twice a year in addition to Homecoming, but it is always fun to take the kids there and let them see where Mommy and Daddy met and went to school.  Going back for Homecoming adds a different twist because you get to see other alum who now have kids and are in a different life stage.  And it's always a bit of a wake-up call when you see people who were a few years older than you in school looking older than you feel they (or you!) should look!

We met some good friends for lunch and then headed over to Taylor.  By the time we got there most of the people we normally see must have left, but it was fun to see the children enjoy the football game and the whole atmosphere.  Every time we visit I feel at home.  There is something special about being back at the place where I grew so much intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually and still holds a dear place in my heart.  I pray that my children will be able to experience the same feeling of "home" when they attend college, wherever that may be.

Grant chose a foam finger at the bookstore and used it to cheer on the Taylor football team. 

I wonder if Ryan would have ever pictured sitting with three little monkeys at a T.U. football game.

The boys found a girls' basketball scrimage game going on and wanted to cheer some more from the top of the stands.

Caroline even watched the game, though from a much lower level and with a much sillier face.

To complete our Taylor experience we drove by the Smurf house, where I lived senior year with a couple of girlfriends.  Ah, memories!

The Other Side

As a teacher, I have had my fair share of dealing with parents.  Some parents are amazing and supportive, bringing me Starbucks or encouraging me in various ways.  Other parents I never see but still support me and their child through communication with me.  And then there are those who seem to be out-to-lunch and just don't care.  I can see it in the way their children dress or through other manifestations.  I try not to judge, but I must confess it can be hard.  For the past few years, I have been on the parent side since Jack's been in preschool, but I was slightly spoiled in that I worked there so the teachers generally didn't judge me (or so I assume) based on his mismatched socks, shorts in the winter or long sleeves and pants on 80 degree days, shoes on the wrong feet, or constant snotty nose. 

I think we've entered a whole new world with kindergarten.

I went to eat lunch with Jack on Friday, which was a great way to see the kids in his class and to have some reassurance that they all seem like pretty nice kindergarteners.  The classroom assistant (who seems like a very sweet lady) came up to me and, in a hushed voice, said, "I've been helping Jack blow his nose today, and it's been kind of green."  I said, "Oh yeah, he has a cold."  She replied, in a kind but wise manner, "Well, I just know that sometimes that can mean a sinus infection so I just wanted to let you know." 

And then it hit me.  She thinks I may be one of those parents--the unaware, needs help, clueless parents.  I think I had better double my amazing, supportive, encouraging e-mails to Jack's teacher so that she knows I'm not out-to-lunch!  Maybe I should also stock up on vitamins so we don't have these conversations all winter!

Bikin' It

This afternoon we went out again with Jack to see how he would do riding his bike.  This time he did it without his "paper boy" bag and did great!  We could not believe it!  He was able to start by himself and only fell a few times.  When Ryan suggested that we all go on a walk with Jack riding his no-training-wheels bike, I wasn't so sure how it would work and forsaw tears and refusals to go any further (hmmm...brings back memories of learning how to drive a stick shift!).  However, he rode the whole way!  Now maybe the rest of us should get bikes.

Some shots of Jack riding at the beginning of the walk with Ryan close at hand--by the end Jack was way ahead of us.

He did stop a few times and became frustrated with getting back up.  There was one point where Ryan said, "You want to know what will make it easier to get up this hill?"  To which Jack replied through clenched teeth while trying to put the pedals in the correct starting position: "If you destory all the bikes?"  Not the right answer, bud.  Try again!

Lest I leave out our other little riders, here is Caroline in the car we got out of our neighbor's trash.  It's in perfect shape.  This is probably only the 4th time she's been in it.  Jack has probably ridden in it, oh, about 50 times.  It's tough being the youngest!  As I was taking this picture, she kept saying, "No, no" and tried to get the camera.  The child is getting a bit feistier, but I guess she is inching closer to two.  Yikes!

Mr. Smiley--He does just fine riding this little toddler bike around the neighborhood, but I know next summer he'll want to chase after Jack on a real bike.

Summertime Fun in the Fall

Last weekend was definitely fall-like.  We had temps in the 50s and clouds.  I planned my meals for the next couple of weeks according to that weather.  Soup is not quite so delicious and comforting when the temps are in the 70s and 80s, though! 

However, after this gorgeous day, I am not going to complain!  I know snow is just around the corner, so I will soak up my vitamin D while I can!

We decided it was too nice of a day to sit inside and that the weather was too warm to go to the pumpkin farm.  What was left?  A visit to a much-hyped park (Holliday Park) that we'd never visited.  I have to say, it was maybe the best park we've been to in Indy!  There were three playgrounds with varying heights of slides and climbing walls along with stairs, ramps, ladders, etc..  There were also miles of hiking trails through hilly, tree-filled terrain and a path that led to an area where we could throw rocks into the river.  So, if you come see us, this park may be on the agenda! :)



Ryan and I watched "60 Minutes" last week, and it had a segment about this rock climber who uses no ropes, harnesses--basically anything that would prevent instant death in the event of a fall.  We could picture our daredevil middle child finding this form of excitement someday.  So, when he immediately began climbing this wall at the park, we exchanged a look.  Lord, please protect this one from any activity that may cause him to be on Extreme Sports!

Jack took the promise of a hike very seriously and brought his hiking hat, backpack (with camera), and binoculars. 

Her face is kind of dirty but look at those eyes!

An attempt at a picture of the kids--post-hike. (This was the best out of four!)  Grant was so tired, and I'm not sure what the other two were enjoying.

Speaking of eyes, look at this boy's beautiful pair! 

After the long hike and playground fun we stopped at McDonald's and enjoyed a tasty ice cream treat.  What could be better?

Other highlights of the day were Jack learning to ride a bike without training wheels (he did awesome!) and Ryan and me cutting his hair for the first time.  (It was a two-person job!)  I have video of the bike ride but no pictures (maybe tomorrow).  (One quirky thing he did while he rode the bike was that he carried a bag as if he was a paper boy.  Who learns to ride a two-wheeler with something strapped to him to throw off his balance?  Our kiddo!  Too funny!)  I tried to get a picture of the aftermath of our first time cutting Jack's hair, but, as usual, the boy acted like a goofball!  I got a great shot of his tongue but not so much of his hair!  Actually, the hair doesn't look too bad, but I think we'll practice a few more times before we attempt to cut Grant's hair. 

Tomorrow we will be stuck inside all day, so I'm glad we were able to enjoy such an amazing day full of family fun.  It's been so neat to enjoy the kids at these ages (something I am working on daily).  I have either been pregnant or had a little one the past 6 years during the summer so it's great to feel more "normal" and enjoy outdoor life with a bit more rest!  I love my family!

Confessions of a carbaholic

Hi, I'm Jennifer, and I think I tend to be a bit of a carbaholic.  I love bread, pasta, sweets (I think those are carbs, right?)--basically anything except veggies and all of the other stuff I should be eating.  So, last night when my child (who shall remain nameless but is the one who sits in a high chair) REFUSED to eat her  (oops, that gave it away!) soup but continued whining for a biscuit, I was definitely sympathetic.  Hoewever, it has dawned on me recently (as in, last night) that she has become a bit of a beggar, and who can really deny her when she is just so stinkin' cute and pathetic?  Well, last night it was her mean momma who denied her.  Ryan had a migraine and was out of commission, so I was left to deal with dinner drama by myself.  The poor child ended the meal with a bright red face, tears streaming down, and only one biscuit and no soup in her tummy.  I'm sure she learned her lesson, right?  It is probably a good thing I didn't take a picture to post on here because I would definitely come off as the "bad guy!"  Sometimes this mealtime training ("eat your food," "stay in your seat," etc.) is the hardest of all, and I just need to keep it all in perspective.  Jack and Grant went through the same thing, but they will generally now eat (though with a bit of persuasion at times) and enjoy.  Ugh!

Friends

When I was growing up, we moved around quite a bit.  I went to 3 different elementary schools, 4 junior high/middle schools, and 2 high schools. (Although one was for just a month, I still count it).  All of these moves had both positive and negative effects.  On the plus side, I think it made our family closer.  I think it also made me more adaptable to different situations.  On the other hand, I think it made me hesitant to build strong, deep friendships.  I suppose I may have had that issue anyway, but who knows.

So, the other morning when I was praying that Jack would be able to form some good, positive friendships, I realized I may not be helping matters when he doesn't see me spending time with friends.  Is it hard as a mom to form deep friendships, or is it just hard as an adult in general--or is it just me? 

To that end, I am thankful for MOPS.  It is such a wonderful time of getting together with other moms and sharing our struggles and successes (generally more of the former than the latter!) and realizing I am not alone.  This weekend there was a fall party with our MOPS group, and the house where it was held was PERFECT for kids!  It looked like it was in a state park, with woods and a hill in the back and a creek at the bottom of the hill with lots of those little green ball seed things that the boys could throw into the creek or at the trees.  There was also a fire pit for grilling hot dogs and marshmallows, and the boys enjoyed helping by collecting sticks.  Even better, my boys played with a couple of boys they'd met through this small group we're in, and they all had fun tromping and collecting and playing.  And as we were leaving, Jack said, "It wasn't as much fun after Elijah and Josiah left."  Awww...how sweet!  I think this showed me that not only do I need to put all my children in situations where they can more easily make friends, but also that I need to put myself out there.  I need to go to MOPS parties and work parties and become more vulnerable to share things that are deeper than what I thought of "Modern Family" or what I did over the weekend.  It's so hard!