GOAL!

JP just completed his first round of soccer lessons.  The four week Monday night lessons gave me a snapshot of what life will soon bring: more chaos.  Certainly organized sports and other activities will foster JP's personality, team builiding and listening skills, coordination, friendships, and talents ... but these events will also cut into precious family time.  Just making it to these lessons was a feat for me ... picking the kids up from daycare, changing, eating dinner in the car and making it to practice by 6pm was my workout.  I suppose we were still together as a family, but our nights were far from the normal routine.  By the time practice had ended, we headed home and went straight to bed.

Each week, JP's attitude toward soccer changed.  A few of the nights he was an aggressive little guy, dribbling with actual precision and scoring goals; other nights he ran off the field with tears in his eyes since the other kids weren't sharing the ball with him.  Some nights he'd squeal with delight when the coaches sang silly songs to stretch and warm up; other times he'd run off with the ball with his buddy instead of listening.  The entire experience was a great one to witness; my little boy is growing up so fast.  These four weeks of soccer presented many new lessons for all of us!

And AA?  Well, this whole process was really hard on her ... they let her warm up with the older kids, but when the actual practice started, she had to sit next to me on the bench!  I cannot wait until she's old enough to play!

HALLOWEEN: PART II

We bundled the kids up in a hand-me-down furry dragon costume (two sizes too big) and a hand-me-down lion costume (one size too small) and set sail (well, wagon wheels) for trick-or-treating.  Despite my technology meltdown (and therefore, lack of photos!), we had a great night.  

As we pulled the kids from one neighbor to the next, we'd hear AA call JP an alligator; to which JP would shout, "ADDIE ... I'm NOT an awhagattor; I'm a dragon. RRROAAR!"  Then I'd turn around, flip AA's lion mane back over her head to keep her warm, and she'd flip it right off.  This continued again and again.

 The kids really got into the whole process this year.  We let JP find and ring the doorbell on his own.  Most of the time he initiated the "trick or treat/RROARR/thank you/Happy Halloween" conversation while AA repeated everything she heard.

In the past, A and I would take the Halloween pails after the kids went to sleep and never bring them back out ... somehow, I don't think that the kids will be forgetting tonights treasures in the morning!

HALLOWEEN: PART I

This year, the kids will get to celebrate Halloween in two different costumes.  Their real costumes were for the inside party we had tonight at the daycare center.  Tomorrow, they'll wear warm and fuzzy hand-me-downs from the neighbors.  It's just not practical to wear something like this outside in MN this time of year! 

I'm not sure if AA quite understands what she is dressed up as ... but I don't think she really cares!  Her sparkle shoes and red scarf brought out her sass factor!  And JP was so happy to dress up like his daddy.

For the first time EVER, I curled AA's hair and let her play with my makeup.  When I told her it was time to get going to the Halloween party, she told me, "I'm getting wready, Mamma, just wait."  Oh dear.

The party tonight was really well done- much more than we anticipated.  We had so much fun seeing all of the teachers dressed up.  We played games and the kids collected little trinkets ... no candy!

I was able to watch JP interact with his friends that I hear so much about.  We met many of the parents too ... normally I'm in such a hurry to drop off and pick the kids up from daycare that I don't know his friends well.

Our close friends in town also attend our daycare.  Brayden's daddy, Mr. A flies with A.  How appropriate that he showed up as an airplane to the party!  We tried to capture a photo of the entire flight crew ... but, well, no such luck!

We're so excited for part II!

PUMPKINS

Getting ready for Halloween!  

BUSY WEEKEND

We made quite the rounds this weekend ... first stop: Great Grandma H.  I don't think that JP quite comprehends how I can have a Grandma!  AA didn't know what to think of Great Grandma either; although that sparkly and speedy red scooter was enticing!

Second stop: a tour of Uncle M's new house!  Grandpa T led the way ... his bag full of treats and tricks sure kept the kids entertained all afternoon.

Third stop:  a walk to Aunt J's park.  The kids took turns walking Chole the dog; I'm sure Chole is still sleeping after her long afternoon with JP and AA!

 Our Saturday evening ended with cake pops from Aunt K!

 On Sunday we drove out to the pumpkin patch and played hide and go seek in the corn fields.

 We let the kids each pick out their own pumpkin; 

 I'm actually quite impressed with their selection.

 When these little legs grew weary we hitch hiked our way onto a tractor to get back to the entrance.

As each week passes by, I can definitely say that the fun:to:work ratio in parenting is improving!  

GROWING

It's so hard to imagine that my little sweetheart is almost TWO!  She is filled with more spunk and sass than I've ever possessed (A may disagree!).  Just a few months ago, this little one could barely say "mamma" and now she can consistently count into the mid teens.  She can sing her ABC's (well, she still thinks L-M-N-O-P is pronounced "M&M-O-T") right on tune.  She loves reading books, taking her dollies potty (though she never goes!), and jumping (she can actually get a few inches off the ground). 

Her tiny mouth is still speckled with mismatched teeth; just this week her bottom front ones popped!  Her hair becomes more and more blonde each day and she actually holds still when I comb through the tangles after bathtime.  She loves when I clip fancy barrettes around her pigtails and she'd wear her pink tutu every day if she could find it. 

As much as AA loves hanging on to me all weekend, I'm told she's Miss Independant at daycare.  She drops everything and runs to "take Daddy down" the moment A walks in the door.  She holds JP's hand when walking in parking lots and plays with his cars when he's feeling generous.

Just how can I freeze time?

SHAMPOO

I think every mom has snapped a picture of her kids taking a bath with shampoo spiked hair ... 

figured I better join the crowd tonight!