Great Weekend in SC!

This past weekend was a great weekend.  Serious good stuff... I'm serious!

Is there anything better than seeing your husband after a 2 weeks absence, and spending 2 days with him?

Is there anything better than going to a birthday party for an adorable 5 year old and having a great time?

Is there anything better than having your children play their hearts out, and their legs off, for more than 4 hours on an incredible play ground?

Is there anything better than seeing two of your dear, dear friends--after 5 years of not getting ALL together in one place?

I really don't think so.  Even with the time-change and Titus being crazy and waking up at 4:30am, it was a great weekend. 

   Me and the boys went up to SC after their last soccer game (post on soccer to come) to spend the weekend with Matt, but also to attend my good friend's son's 5th birthday party.  AND our other good friend came down from NC for the same birthday.  The 3 of us together again!  And between each of us there is a total of 7 boys.  Yup, 7.  

   I met each of these outstanding ladies my first semester at BYU-I.  They were my neighbors, and took me in!  I think the initial bound was that we were all from the Southeast ;)  

We each took a turn in the middle.
Yeah, that was my idea.  But I can't decide which photo I like best!

Love Isaac's face!

Also, we had a great time with Matt the rest of the weekend, haha.  The boys love him.  I love him too. We left Monday morning, so Isaac missed a day of school.  Worth it!  

2012's Hallow's Eve: Days of Celebrations

Oh man, what did we do for Halloween this year?

Mid-October
First there was the pumpkin carving, which Matt did with the boys.  Titus refused to leave the store without "my pumpkin!"  A tiny one, just like him--which we carved, of course.  Isaac is all about doing smiley faces, so that worked out great.. and no gaging from anyone this go around!

Some of the boys may of may not have been naked during pumpkin carving,
and ALL them may or may not have been holding themselves when the picture was taken.  

Friday, October 26

Second, we had our ward's (LDS (Mormon) church congregation's name) Trunk-or-Treat.  It was fun... I'm pretty sure. 

It was just me and the boys--Matt stayed in South Carolina that weekend.  My mom and dad had got the boys all "Blue Batman" outfits, which they all wanted to wear.  I then decided to be their "Robin."  However, not having any extra money/time to put an outfit together, I kind of through something on myself.  

Anyway, the Trunk-or-Treat.  I was one of the judge's for the chili cook-off.  Which was a little overwhelming.  Hello, 30 pots of chili?!  

Then lots and lots of candy from all the trunks (vehicle trunks).  Also, there was a hay ride.  

OH WAIT!  Funny story:  Titus saw a little girl with a pumpkin candy holder (he didn't have his at the time), he runs up to her, snatches the pumpkin out of her hands, and yells: "MINE!"  The girl was shocked, but I restored everything.  

I took pictures before we left for the shin-dig. 

Titus refused to lay down the sword.  He really was the "Dark Knight."

Those blue eyes.  Kill me now.

Isaac... RUNNING! 

Eli... RUNNING!

Titus... STANDING!

Saturday, October 27

Third, me and the boys went to a little Halloween party at friend's home.  There were rice crispies treats to decorate, which Isaac really enjoyed doing.  It was fun to see him be creative in a non-LEGO way!  And the boys played hard.  It was great to have that experience, especially since Matt wasn't with us that weekend to get the extra boy wiggles out. 

Eli was Blue Batman, Titus and Isaac were Spidermen.

Monday, October 29 

Fourth, the Monday before Halloween Titus and Eli were supper pumped about costumes.  

They decided to get dressed up right before we left to get Isaac from school.  Titus was "Blue Batman," and Eli squeezed into the size 2 "Black Batman."  Neither of them took a nap that day, and I was really hoping they would!  The bike ride seemed to do the trick! 

Titus holding up his "shield" for the picture.
That shield would in fact be a small children's symbol. 

Wednesday, October 31

Fifth, Halloween arrived.  Finally! 

Isaac couldn't find his Blue Batman mask, so he decided that he needed to be Captain America.  We went out with my neighbor's grandson, a really cute 4 yr old.  His parents walked with us, of course.  Another friend of mine came with us too.  She had her little 3 month old in a bjorn baby carrier.  We were quite a crew!  And thank goodness I had all those other grown-ups with me; it's really great to have extra help/hands/eyes.

Trick-or-treating was a lot of fun!  Though a bit crazy sometimes, like I hinted to.  We walked like a mile and the boys got a ton of candy.  We were all exhausted at the end.   Hopefully next year Matt will be here with us for the candy adventure!  

Also... I LOVE WARM HALLOWEENS!  Mid 60s.  Yes. 

Halloween to present

Sixth, we go through "my pumpkin!" every night.  Oh the goodies they did get!  I've already picked out all the peanut butter and chocolate treats, and devoured them.  In one sitting.    

It's been serious fun around here.  Though I hope these pumpkins run out of treats soon!

The treat Isaac has is a lolly-pop dressed up as a ghost with tissue paper.
Written on it is "Holy Ghost."  I think we're in the Bible Belt!

Their Games Bring Pains

I am not a very cautious mother.  I'm like: "If there is no immediate danger, if they are happy, if they are exploring, and if nothing is getting destroyed, I say go for it."

That being said, my boys get hurt and they get mad at each other (cause they can work it out); but that come with being a child, and having siblings, and enjoying childhood.  Err... Right?   

Case and point: Eli on Sunday morning.  

Church is at 11, and the boys are having some good play time.  Eli screams, I go and see what's the matter, and it looks like he put his teeth through the top of his lip.  Fabulous!  

I fix him up, anti-bacterial and band-aid, and he goes right back into the living room to play.  For "jump off the couch onto Titus' mattress and land on yoga blocks to see if we can still stand" is just too much fun to miss!  

Yup, still no pictures on the wall.  Or any other decoration.  

I'm feeling very modern around here. 

Thankful Leaves for a Thankful Tree

Okay, so here's what I created for our "thankful tree":  "thankful leaves."  

Took me a bit to figure out what I wanted to do, but considering I haven't designed anything in a really long time, I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out.  One day I'll get a really awesome design program, but until then word and power-point will just have to do!  

I also do not know if this is printing friendly, but if someone wants to try feel free.

So new tradition, here we come!   Every evening I write down what everyone is thankful for, 

last night:

Isaac, "Jesus."

Eli, "Trick-or-Treat.  Halloween at Church!"

Titus, "This." (a sucker he was eating)

Mommy, "That all the boys ate their dinner."  

and then hang it on our "thankful tree."  (I hole punch a corner to it'll hang on the branches.)

Here's what the tree looks like right now... Spanish Moss on the branches.  BOOM!  

It should be less creepy looking when I find some happy ribbon, etc.  On the wall behind I might even hang a picture frame with a "be thankful" saying.  

Okay, so what are some of your Thanksgiving/ pre-Christmas traditions?  I'm really trying to be on top of it this year.  I feel like I've been dropping the ball way too many times.  

Love to hear your thoughts!  

Much love, 

Shannon 

Failed. Twice.

Attempted Fortune Cookies, chocolate drizzled.
They didn't bend,
didn't have smooth edges, and were all different
shapes and sizes.  

Tuesday night I get online and see people posting on FB about making treats for their childrens' elementary classes.

Umm... Maybe I should make something?  Since Isaac's teacher is out on bed-rest/maternity leave I haven't gotten really updated on what's going on in his class.

So let me think, let me think.  Something Halloween-y, doesn't require anything special.
Goodness gracious, every thing I'm seeing on-line is cool, but I'm missing an element (or 2... or 5).
Okay, I'm gonna do Fortune Cookies.  I am.  And I'll stuff em with Halloween stickers.  It's 11pm, but I can do it.

I make them.  I fail.  I go to bed at 1am.

...............

6:30am I get up.
Hmm... well maybe I can try to make some chocolate chip muffins with M&Ms in them.

I make a batch, using *gasp* all-purpose flour and *gasp* no veggie puree.  This is the real deal, folks.

The cute little mini muffins are baked and left to cool on the counter.  I have visions of giving some to the front office and other helpers in front.   But they don't come out of the pan.  They won't budge.

Every. Single. One. sticks to the pan, and comes out as a crumpled mess.
Well, I guess no Halloween treats for Isaac's class this year!

A broken batch of chocolate M&M muffins.  

I'm tired the rest of the day.  Oh, so tired.  And Halloween trick-or-treating is in the evening!  So what do I do?  I curl up in a ball, on the floor, in a sunlight patch, and rest (sleep) on and off for an hour while Titus and Eli make a mess of their room.  Joy.