Fall Fabulous

It's still not quite Halloween, and we have been in costume for several weeks.  Batman (aka Zachary) likes to go everywhere in costume, mask and all.  Lately, because the costume is beginning to unravel from every seam and there is food that is crusted and hard, I have lied and told him that Batman is at the cleaners and will be coming back on Thursday.  There's a few tears every morning, but he's beginning to understand.  

Ariel had her face painted at our church's trunk-n-treat. This will also be her Disney Princess costume when he head to Mickey Mouse's house in February.

 The Khoury family and us!

Helping Alex celebrate his 16th birthday.

Pumping carving for the second time.

Picking out pumpkins for our third carving experience.

The Price's annual pumpkin carving party.  These people know how to throw a party for the kiddos.  A pinata for the kids, filled to the brim with candy and goodies.

Pumpkin carving with Daddy.  We'll show you our final product on Thursday :).  Let's just say, Helaina and Mommy have a good chance of winning the best Jack O' Lantern.

These pictures make me smile.  Zach has had a rough week as he's been fighting an ear infection for over a week.  He seems to be turning the corner which is a prayer answered.  Let me just say, he's not a happy camper when he's not feeling well.  We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

House Update

Our house is starting to look like a home.  We still have a long way to go as we're not planning to move till mid-November, but things are coming along nicely.  So happy to have our yard sodded before the kids arrive permanently as they will find dirt and mud anywhere they go.  In a last minute decision, we also decided to have the front landscaping completed before winter, and we are very happy with the end result!

This picture was taken at my parents this past weekend, but I can just imagine these two kiddos in our new house in our new sub with their John Deere tractor and wagon :).

Wishin' We Were Fishin'

This past weekend, the kids and I were able to travel to Indiana for my second cousin's wedding. Unfortunately, Randy had to stay back as he was working both Friday and Saturday :(.  We hate to leave him behind, but the kids also don't like to miss an opportunity to visit Indiana. 

The weather cooperated for us, and we had an awesome, long weekend that was busy with all things "fall." 

Friday morning, the kids wanted to visit the kitties at Uncle Nathan's house.  They are a bit bigger since we saw them this summer, and Helaina and Zach love cuddling and feeding them. 

Friday afternoon was spent drawing and tracing pictures onto their pumpins.

Later that Friday, we spent a couple hours at Grandma and Grandpa Walter's farm (Great-Grandparents to the kids).  They took their shopping bags and went hunting for corn.  Grandpa's new combine cuts the corn a little lower these days so all we found were corncobs, but they didn't seem to mind.

Nathan was brave and took us all out in the Jeep.  I tried to relearn driving a stick-shift in the back bean field.  Needless to say, quite the adventure for all!

Saturday was time to carve our pumpkins.

Saturday evening we attended the wedding reception for Sam and Jordan (Jessen).  It's always nice to see generations of family and friends and enjoy their company and some dancing for the evening.  We originally had a dilemna though, as it was hard to find a babysitter for the kids because most of the family was at the reception.  But Great-Grandma and Grandpa McGinley did not let us fret for long as they volunteered themselves to watch the kids for the evening!!!  I was so happy to hear that the kids behaved wonderfully and my 87 year-old Grandmother and 85 year-old Grandfather actually enjoyed their time together with the kids!  Epic success for everyone. 

This is what we call a little bit of hillbilly heaven...riding a decorated golf cart through the yard and cornfields. 

And then it was time to go fishing with Grandpa!

She caught one...

And so did Zach...

Trying to convince the kids that they should help throw the fish back into the water.

Batman (aka Zach) and his finished Jack-O-Latern.  Zach insisted that I carve him a sad face with tears. 

Helaina and her star.

A bonfire with smores, could this day get any better?!?

We couldn't be more thankful for such a wonderful weekend in Indiana.  I love seeing these pictures and knowing all the precious memories that were made in just a few short days.  Beyond blessed and grateful!

Candy King and Queen

It's possible that just looking at the pictures below will give you a cavity, precede with caution!  Our kids love sugar and it's quite possible that gene is from me (or probably their Uncle Omar, who am i kidding?).  It is definitely not from their Daddy.  His definition of having a "treat" is eating peanut butter...really, peanut butter?!? Anyways, if we keep it out of the house then we don't have problem.  However, last week was full of delicious goodness.  The kids and I made confetti cupcakes for Aunt Abla's birthday, and they licked frosted every single one by themselves.  I was quite surprised by Zach's coordination in icing the cupcakes.  They turned out really well.    

Ummm, I don't think I've ever seen Helaina smile any bigger than she did for this picture.  The perks of going to work with Seedy...a shopping trip to Dylan's Candy Bar, a chain of boutique candy shops owned by the daughter of Ralph Lauren.  

Helaina LOVES going to work with Seedy.  She has her own security badge, knows what level in the parking garage to park their car, and most people are on a first name basis with her.  She likes to call out the order number for the customer to pick up their food and somehow manages to come home with more money than she left with.  I'm pretty sure she's our next business girl in training.

Making her own lunch at Taco Bell.  One chicken taco coming right up.

This is what tired and precious look like in the same picture.

I needed a close-up of his cheeks :).