Halloween Part 1

Halloween has officially begun! Here's the rundown of our day:

Lee's school held a mini fall festival for them. He was so excited to see me there to help. Everyone had a great time playing games and collecting prizes.

This afternoon was our town's "Merchant Trick-or-Treating," so we got all dressed up and went from store to store collecting goodies.

Lee as a giraffe. This was my first year making costumes from scratch, and I was pleased with how they turned out (and so were the kids!). :)

Jess as Princess Leia

Batman and Leia duking it out while the giraffe stands quietly by...

The high school held a mini carnival this afternoon, so that was our next stop.

Banana Toss

Peanut Toss

Football toss

And a fun time was had by all. This was a great warm up for the weekend!

Halloween

I'm very behind on posting, but am trying to catch up. I still have pictures from our visit with George, Jenny and the girls to go through and post. I'll get there soon, I promise! In the meantime, here are a few photos from all the Halloween fun we had:

Uncle Mike makes awesome Halloween pinatas!

Trunk-or-Treating

Fall Festival

This kid loves him some basketball...BIG TIME!

R2D2 (aka JJ) and Jess

Isn't Ren the cutest little Kermit you've ever seen!?

Love that smile!

Mother's Day

Some highlights from Mother's Day a few weeks ago:

Me and my kiddos. Gosh, they're cute! 

A slew of handmade goodies (from both children!). I sure love those kinds of gifts!

All the moms and children at our celebration. I missed my mom that day...she was jetsetting with Daddy in Italy! But I was thinking about her!

This necklace is one of my favorite gifts of all time. The cross is especially appropriate dangling there between my children's names. Not only are they both blessings from God, but they are the answer to earnest prayers and each a rainbow after a storm.

My Week In Review

or: Why I'm so tired and behind on my blog. (warning: photo-heavy post ahead!)

This is all about last week, but could just as easily be this week since we haven't seemed to have slowed down too much.

SUNDAY & MONDAY

No photos on these days, but I was busy making aprons and chef hats for Saturday's make-your-own-pizza birthday party. I also went to the house to help Tom install ceiling boards.

TUESDAY

Went to Jessalyn's school to have lunch with her and read to her class. She was thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to have me there. It's nice to be adored so much! :)

After school I helped Tom prime the 12 foot ceiling he had just finished installing. A pain in my neck. Literally. Tuesday night I made cupcakes for Jessalyn's school party the next day.

WEDNESDAY

Birthday celebration at school. Jessalyn had such an awesome week. Turning six is FUN!

After a fun-filled afternoon, the children and I were off to AWANA, our weekly Wednesday night church activity where I am Jessalyn's class leader.

THURSDAY

Back to Jessalyn's school for the third time in one week to hide Easter eggs and help with her class Easter party.

"Batter-up!" We enjoyed watching Jessalyn at her t-ball game (after her piano lesson).

She even got to be pitcher!

Monkey boy LOVES t-ball games!

FRIDAY

No school because of Good Friday. Perfect opportunity for Jessalyn to help with final party preparations by making our "pin the pepperoni on the pizza" game board.

Lee also wanted to participate. Every time I cut out an olive or a pepper, he'd request a "suh-ka!" (aka "circle"). He ended up with quite a collection. I finished making chef hats and baked Jessalyn's cake while Tom took her out to the movies for a birthday treat.

SATURDAY

Church egg hunt. Apparently Lee was the only one who did not understand the urgency of finding eggs. He also was not interested in relinquishing his cookie for a measly plastic egg. He did, however, enjoy me pointing out eggs to him and holding his basket for him to deposit them into.

Me with my little egg hunters (Lee still clutching cookie).

After a full morning and a nice afternoon nap (for Lee), we were off to the pizza place for turning-six festivities. More on that to come in a later post. It was the best. party. ever!

EASTER SUNDAY
 

All dressed up for church (including "Peter Rabbit" which the Easter Bunny had delivered). Then changed into grubby clothes for getting messy.

After church (and another egg hunt), Tom helped Jessalyn dye eggs.

 

Then we were off to MawMaw and Brick's for Easter lunch, family portraits, and our very last egg hunt for this Easter.

Now, are you as tired as I am?

Makin’ Valentines

Christmas Catch-up

I completely fell behind in my Christmas posting. Too many activities and too many photos to go through to get them up in a timely manner. So, here's the summary (warning: LOTS of pictures!!!)

Jessalyn and I at her kindergarten Christmas party.

 

Christmas Eve at home.

Christmas eve at Tom's parents' house (Lee, Russ, Jess, Anna Grace)

Lottie and Lee

Uncle George, the kid magnet!

Putting out reindeer food so Santa and the reindeer can find our house!

Milk and cookies ready for Santa!

Jessalyn's bedtime prayer Christmas eve: "Dear God, Thank you for this wonderful day. Please keep Santa safe on his trip and give the reindeer energy. Even Rudolph. In your name I pray. Amen."

Christmas morning: Jessalyn with Lucky the Incredible Wonder Pup!

Lee enjoying his new puzzle.

Lee and his new puppy dog blanket.

This is the only photo I got of Christmas morning at Tom's parents' because Lee was so fussy the whole time. I remembered (later) that Jessalyn was the same way at their house at this age. It's high-energy chaos there and it was overwhelming for Lee. Next year, though, he'll be completely into it! The photo above is of Jessalyn in Ricky and Jake's new "Giga Ball," a large inflatable ball that your friends roll you around in!

Jess and Anna Grace with their new stuffies in Anna Grace's new tent.

The rock stars with their new guitars from Maka and Grandandy.

Jess totally feelin' the music!