Halloween 2011

Both Noah and James were very excited for Halloween this year and were so much fun!  Noah wanted to be a "spaceman" not an astronaut, but a spaceman... he was a bit offended when people would ask if he was an astronaut... he didn't seem to get that that was the same thing... oh well:)  James was a rooster and had been practicing sounding like one... when it came time to wear the costume he started telling people that he was a baby rooster, who knows where that came from.  Benjamin was a cute little pea pod.  I did not make his costume largely because I couldn't find a pattern for what I had in mind, but I found this costume at a yard sale for cheap AND it was exactly what I envisioned... I am still feeling guilty about not making his first costume... hopefully he won't hold it against me as one of those terrible things I do to him being the 3rd child... at least I didn't make him wear one of his brother's old costumes;)  I have largely given up trying to get a good picture of the 3 of them together... maybe once Ben can sit up.  

Before we went out trick or treating Noah insisted on having a halloween party.... I think that he has watched "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin" one too many times.  He was also feeling badly that he wasn't invited to a Halloween party (like Charlie Brown).  So, we made our own Halloween party and he was very happy, I think that he enjoyed it more than trick or treating.  We played pin the nose on the jack 'o lantern, tried to eat marshmallows and donuts without hands, and bobbing for apples (which I think is one of the grossest and most unsanitary party games, but it was just Noah and James, so I allowed it;)).

Everyone had a great time going trick or treating around our neighborhood.  Ben slept the whole time, so he was a good sport.  Noah finally got it this year to go up to each door, knock and say "trick or treat" with minimal prompting from us.  After the first 3 houses I brought Ben back home with me to hand out candy while Gabe took Noah and James around to a few more houses.  I guess I have never been the one to hand out candy before, but I was a little taken aback by the lack of parental supervision and manners of most of the kids.... I won't belabor the point, but I think that it is important to say thank you and not try to grab the entire bowl full of candy when someone is handing it out to you, or asking for more, or a different kind because "I don't like that one".  ANYHOW, it was a very fun night!

** You may also notice that in the bottom pictures James's left ear it sticking out... it is this thing he is does... he insists that his ears stick out when wearing a hat.  It has gotten to the point now that he actually holds his ears out while I put his hat on.  He threw a pretty big fit  when he realized that his costume didn't allow for his ears to easily stick out, but this is the compromise he found.

Winter Arrives in October

So over the course of a week we went from playing in the leaves with sweaters on to playing in the snow with full winter gear.  We got only about 3 inches of snow, but it was just enough to play in and cause us to lose power for a day.  One of the pros of losing power every time we have a storm (there aren't many) is that the kids are learning a lot about electricity and what we can and can't use when there is no power;)  Gabe was working over night until noon the next day when we lost power.  But it makes me feel accomplished when I can get the generator started on my own (it wasn't pretty and it took longer than it should have, but I did it)... it helps that Noah and James cheer when the lights come back on;)

Also, last week I had my first "oh my goodness I am living with 4 boys" moment... I am sure it will be one of many, but this one felt significant... it had to do with the bathroom.  If I can be fully candid, I have been discouraging Noah from standing to pee since he started potty training.  I knew that it was just a matter of time before he realized that it is way faster and cooler to pee standing, but I was hoping that he would be old enough to clean the bathroom himself.  It is not that I am against the whole standing to pee thing, but I am against the mess that it makes, especially when you are little without great aim.  Anyhow, he has started standing to pee and he seems to have good aim since I haven't noticed any odors from missed marks, but now boy bathroom issue #2... I walked in to use the bathroom the other day and the toilet seat was up.  I realized that this is not a big deal and many of you are probably rolling your eyes, but I immediately had flashes of what it may be like living with 4 boys in a few years..... All I could think of was some dirty bachelor pad where I spend all of my time cleaning up after them. So, I feel like I have to be firm about the toilet seat down issue before they realized that I am severely out numbered here;) I wonder what else I may have to compromise on/adjust to over the next few years living with all boys... Growing up there was almost always a female majority where ever we went, so this is all new territory for me... I also have to say that this made me have a little more sympathy for my dad since I am sure he had many of these moments living with all girls...

"P" Day

Since being home I have had a cool opportunity to do some preschool things with both Noah and James.  One thing we have started recently is having a letter or number of the day.  Throughout the day we pick foods that start with that letter, go on letter scavenger hunts to find things that start with the letter, and read books and labels to find the letter. The kids have really gotten on board and a pretty excited to participate. Our most recent letter was "P".  We had peanut butter toast for breakfast, popcorn for snack, pumpkin pancakes for lunch, and made pretzels.  Both Noah and James loved to make the pretzels and learn about that process, but it was a little too long for James's interest, so I have a picture of Noah alone with the pretzels before they went into the oven.  A few days ago we walked over to the library.  For the first time Noah walked the whole way and Ben had his first ride in the stroller... he slept the whole way and James was very tolerant of sharing the stroller with Ben. Thanks to cousin Trey for lending Benjamin his warm fleece coverall... it was cold!  

After soccer finished Noah started basketball.  He definitely has some practicing to do, but given that he has never played before his is not doing badly.  It is so fun to watch him try to dribble and shoot the ball.  We have actually seen quite a bit of improvement from the first to the second week.  He is getting pretty good at the bounce pass... so is James;)

Oh, To Be A kId AgAiN!

Last Saturday was one of those perfect fall sweater days.  A great day to be outside.  Thankfully Gabe was home to enjoy it with us:)  One of the coolest things about having kids is that you get to relive some of those great childhood memories.  For me it is always running and jumping in leaves.  The boys had such a fun time, I am not sure I have ever seen Noah laugh so hard.  I have a really cool series of pictures that is in slideshow form just above the text here, but it appears to only work occasionally. I think that I have discovered the error- the slide show should run without problems now!  The expressions on their faces are of pure bliss  Click on them to enlarge if you need. I also threw in a funny series of trying to take a group picture of Gabe and the 3 boys;)  Benjamin was also a very good sport, as he slept through most of the photo taking time.  I love fall!!

Benjamin Meets Great Grammy Civiello

At the end of last week the kids and I took another trip north to have our car fixed... again.  The good news is that it is now running perfectly except for the air conditioning which we have chosen to ignore until next spring:)  Although it was a brief trip we had lots of fun and were able to visit with some family.  Grammy & Grampy Civiello came for supper on Friday night and brought Great Grammy Civiello with them. The boys were so excited to see them and had loads of fun playing and reading with them!  The pictures did not come out great because of the lighting, but I actually took some which I was pretty excited about.  The boys also got to see cousin Jacob (and Aunt Holly & Uncle Bryan) which they are always excited about... I am not sure if it was the 4-wheeler ride  he took them on (James's first) or the hot chocolate with fluff before dinner he gave them that keeps him on top of their favorite person list.... You are a good sport Jacob, especially since James can now say your name and starts every sentence with "Jacob, Jacob, Jacob".  

We continue to be very busy here and connect as a family when we can.  A few nights ago Benjamin got his first bottle which, in keeping with his brothers, he sucked right down without a problem.  I have come to accept the comforting fact that none of my kids will ever let themselves starve:)  In keeping with the norm, Noah wished he could feed Benjamin all by himself and James was marginally interested and really didn't care what was happening... Gabe however, experienced what it was like first hand trying to feed one while the other two crawl all over you and him... he wasn't impressed...;)  Noah starts basketball tonight, Gabe will be done with 2 big presentations on Thursday, and I have to get cracking on the halloween costumes since our music teacher so kindly encouraged the kids to wear their costumes next week (that is 5 days sooner than I would normally have had them done!). Enjoy the pictures!!