Gearing up for Halloween

After our recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch we have been gearing up for Halloween in full force. Last week we carved and painted our pumpkins and we got out our Halloween decorations. Mason found the scary masks and gloves and went about trying to scare everyone in the house. At one point I caught him wearing the gloves on his feet as "monster feet." Ian even got in on the scaring action! We can't wait for Halloween this year!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Last weekend we decided to take the boys to the pumpkin patch at TGR Exotics. It's a quiet little animal sanctuary set up in a residential area. The boys had a blast. It amazes me how much they have playing in a trough of corn. We did get to see several exotic animals - they even pet the small grey kangaroo. After checking out all the sites the boys made a couple of pinecone bird feeders and picked out some small pumpkins to bring home and pain.

Swim Lessons

I'm not sure how I could have forgotten to mention swim lessons before now because it was a huge thing for us this summer. Both took swim lessons from Amber K. and she was awesome with them (far more patient that I would have been). I highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone to come to your house or subdivision pool for private lessons. By the end of their 8 lessons she had both boys swimming at least 10 feet to the pool wall, "monkey walking" around the pool until they could get to a ladder, and pulling themselves out. Both boys also learned that if we every fall into the water "go to our backs," which Mason practices frequently in the tub! We started the summer in floaties, but by the end they didn't even want to wear them. They really exceeded my expectations!

Ian swimming to Mrs. Amber

So proud of himself

Mason swimming to Mrs. Amber

He made it!

First Day of School - August

Both boys had their first day of school on August 24th. Mason is attending the 3 yr. old half day program on T & Th, and Ian is attending the 2 yr. old half day program on Tues. They're both in school from 9:00am to 1:00pm which gives me at least one day each week to try to run as many errands as I can without kiddos. I've finally gotten caught up on doctor and dentist appointments! Both boys are loving school. Today (Oct. 19th) was the first day (with the exception of the first day of school) that I was able to drop Ian off without him crying. I'm sure it had something to do with the pancake breakfast they were having this morning, but I'll take it!

Ian's 2nd Birthday

Ian turned 2 on July 5th this year. We celebrated his 2nd birthday in Carthage with family on July 3rd. He had a tractor/farm themed party and after presents and cake we went swimming in my mother's FABULOUS pool! At this point Ian was very much into "MOOOOOO" cows and tractors, especially John Deere tractors or as he calls them "Deere Tractors."

His "Deere Tractor" cake

His "Deere Tractor" cupcakes and farm animals "ducks"

Opening his gifts while Bella and Ashlynn look on

Blowing out his candles! He is getting so big!

Lake Hamilton - June

In late June, Drew and I went on our 2nd annual trip with his former high school classmates. This year we went to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We stayed at the Lazy Lane Lodge and it was fabulous. There were seven couples and no children! It was wonderful to be able to spend the weekend with such good friends. We spent the days sleeping in and relaxing on the water. Good times!

Father's Day Weekend 2010

Drew spent most of Father's Day weekend fishing with friends in Port O'Connor.

While they were out on the water he was accidentally hooked in the palm of his hand. The were nearly a half hour from shore and no telling how far from the closest emergency room so they decided to remove it on the boat.

They couldn't pull it out because of the barb on the hook so Stephen P. cut it and they just pushed it on through. OUCH! This happened Sunday morning, and the boys and I didn't find out until after he got home that afternoon. He came in, loved on the boys, opened his Father's Day gifts, and then told me he probably needed to head to the ER to get a tetanus shot. It was only when I asked why that he told me what happened!

Upon hearing how disappointed he was as a child for never getting a Snoopy Sno-Cone machine the boys and I decided that he deserved one for Father's Day so here he is with his very own Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine! He left for the ER about an hour after this pic was taken.