Happy Birthday Becks!

Our little Becks turned 2 years old today! I can still remember standing outside the door when he was born. Mom and I had taken Priss, Swee, Coop and Ains Trick or Treating around their neighborhood and then it was off to the hospital. It is so hard to believe that that was two years ago! We love you so much and are so happy to have you as a part of our family!

Happy Birthday Becks!

Carving Complete

We managed to complete our carving expedition last night. The kids were so excited to have their selected pumpkins carved. I actually assisted this year! Jason carved Priss's and I carved Swee's. They turned out pretty cute! Swee just wanted to blow the candle in his out.

Carving in Phases

It is here yet again! What you ask BASKETBALL SEASON! It began yesterday with a very late practice so we were unable to carve our pumpkins like usual so to speed the process up on Sunday I (the one with all the artistic talent - yeah, right) drew the jack-o-lantern faces on. Priss wanted a spooky face so she kindly drew what she wanted hers to look like and then I recreated it onto the pumpkin. Swee wanted a paw print (a Blue's Clues as he calls it) so I searched the Internet for one that I could print out and then trace onto his. Here are the results and the carving is to take place tonight with Jason's help.

Primary Program

Priss's Primary Program was Sunday and we were able to have lots of family there for it. We had a slumber party Saturday my Mom came, and Jason's parents were there also. Priss did a wonderful job with her part in the program and enjoyed having everyone who was able to be there. Following the program the Primary kids went to a Nursing Home to sing to the residents. She really enjoyed getting to color a picture and give it to a resident.

PS - We missed those who couldn't be there! Lots of love you you all.

Haunted Train

Since Jason's fall break was this past Thursday and Friday we decided to go to the Children's Museum on Friday. The kids were really excited to go since the museum was to have a Haunted Train. We we finally arrived we quickly realized that a large majority of the state had fall break on Friday also. After standing in line to get tickets to be scared, for what seemed like an eternity, we spotted a sign that said they weren't having "friendly hours" that day, and it wasn't recommended that children under 8 go to the "frightening hours". All the kids were disappointed, Erica's included since we went with them. We fought the crowds for what seemed like all day when in actuality we were only there about 3 hours, and managed to see the dinosaurs, ride the carousel, eat lunch and go to the science area. Doing those stops usually only takes up an hour and a half at the most. The kids did enjoy being with the cousins. We will miss them terrible when they move next summer!

Riding the carousel as a family

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday afternoon following nap we headed out to Batesville where a neat family run pumpkin patch is located. The kids were so excited to ride the tractor out to the field and to be able to pick out their own pumpkins. When we finally arrived the pumpkin patch didn't look like we remembered it from last year. There was hardly anyone there, there wasn't any ride or jump tents set up. We began to wonder if maybe the person who ran it had passed away or something. Jason went up to ask the woman taking the money if there was a tractor to ride this year. He was informed that her father was away for the day but would be back on Sunday and they would then be taking the tractor out to the field. She continued on to say that we could drive out to the field. So we piled back into the Saab and took off toward the pumpkin patch. As soon as the car stopped and kids were unbuckled they took off running to find their perfect pumpkins. Priss wanted the largest one she could find...she was finally told she could have any pumpkin as long as she could carry it. Swee couldn't make up his mind. He would choose one then would find another he wanted instead. Finally we just picked up one that he had chosen and allowed him to just pick out others he liked.

Priss's Perfect Pumpkin

Swee's Perfect Pumpkin

Mommy and kids

Daddy and kids

Halloween Costumes

We have known for awhile now what Priss is going to dress up as for Halloween but Swee has been another story. I had been bidding on costume after costume and losing them as the last couple of seconds ticked away. After losing another costume that I thought I had won I began brainstorming what Swee could be. I finally realized that we had everything we needed for him to be...

A cute Cubs baseball player

While Priss wanted to be...

Beautiful Belle

And I fell in love with this picture that just occurred on its own...

Rock Hunters

For some reason one night last week Jason suggested to the kids that we go roam around the field behind our house since it had just been harvested. The kids had been itching to find out what the field held. As we all ventured out it was suggested that we look for large rocks. The kids really got into trying to find the largest rocks they could lift. As we searched Jason or I would point out a rock we found allowing the kids to be the ones who actually pick them up. Over the past two or three days the kids have wanted to hunt rocks during any spare moment we have. They have found some very large rocks and our deck is becoming the storage place for them until we decide just how we are going to landscape the yard with them.

Vanilla Greens

This past Saturday we met up with my Dad for some fun putt putting. The kids got addicted when we were on vacation at Pompano Beach this summer and my Dad was excited to witness the excitement first hand. The kids loved putt putting. Priss was determined to get her ball in the hole each time and Swee wanted to see if he could drop his ball directly into the hole. Swee also managed to toss his ball into the ponds on multiple occasions. We finally removed from his possession any item that could be tossed.

Following putt putt we got some ice cream and then it was nap time for Swee. As we drove away after tell Grandpa David we would see him soon, Priss proclaimed that she thought putt putting at Vanilla Greens should be our special activity to do with just Grandpa David.

Thanks for all the fun Saturday!

Priss's First Kindergarten Field Trip

Jason got volunteered to chaperon Priss's first kindergarten field trip to Stapp's Farm. It was an afternoon field trip and since Jason had taken the entire day off he went early to have lunch with Priss. He observed at lunch that she is the only girl at her table and when asked about it she simply stated this is where I always sit.






Priss got to ride a real school bus for the first time to and from Stapp's Farm. Jason said the field trip was a lot of fun but tons & tons of walking. I guess they had to walk all over the farm to see all the animals. He said an hour into the field trip Priss was done and was simply exhausted. Also one of the workers got agitated when the kids got excited to pet the camel and the camel got antsy and bit the worker's neck. Jason said the guy just quit being their tour guide and kept saying to the parents "I am not a babysitter". A little while later a parent made a comment about the grizzly bear's cage looking like prison and the grizzly bear handler got upset with the comment. He was completely offended that someone in the group would think that he would mistreat one of the grizzly bears.




Megan, Lexis, Priss

Watch out for the camel

Grizzly bear, Grizzly bear what do you see?


All in all Priss enjoyed getting to ride the bus, having her Daddy go on the field trip and having lunch with him at her school.

Pop Rocks

Every child should experience Pop Rocks sometime in their childhood. Our kids experienced for the first time this past week. Their reactions were exactly what we expected!

I Dispise Them

Jason for some reason decided to get out his video game systems and the kids were immediately addicted. Priss loved playing "Frogger" and was actually pretty good at it. Swee played an off road racing game with Jason. And both loved playing "Duck Hunt". All I could do was sit and roll my eyes. I am the girl who only enjoys playing the original "Mario Bros" and after about 20 minutes I am sick of playing. Priss and Swee have been begging to play the video games and thankfully Jason has been saying "no".

Sweet Serenade

Jason loves to nap on Sundays when Swee is sleeping. Emerson usually is asked to do something quiet and I do something that has been waiting for everyone to be occupied. Last Sunday I caught Priss serenading her Daddy as he tried to sleep. I later found out that he was already comatose and didn't get to enjoy any of her "sweet serenade". It is moments like these that remind you that you too were once little and that the big things in life really aren't that big, it's the small ones that mean the most when you look back.

Thanks for reminding Mommy, Priss, to enjoy those small moments for they truly are the ones to treasure.

Zero Hero

Priss was selected to be Zero Hero last week. Zero Hero is the Superhero who comes to school on days ending with a zero. She was so excited to be the one to bring in the treats. She choose mini Oreos and mini Chips Ahoy. I think the best part of the day was getting to wear the Superhero cape.

You looked adorable Miss Zero Hero, now we just have to wait for the next time you are chosen as Zero Hero.