An evening Thriller

Thank you to my amazingly creative friends for an even more fabulous evening than last year, can't wait to see what next year brings! Happy Halloween!! Still trying to figure out who Susan is? -Carol & Greg Brady

Hey Santa

I would really love these boots in brown or black and promise to wear them all the time, if you want to bring them to me for Halloween or Thanksgiving that would be fine too!
Never been a big Ugg fan, thought they have always looked kind of bulky, but I got my Athleta magazine today and these caught my eye, aren't they beauties?

Project Pumpkins

We did a little pumpkin carving this weekend, getting the 2.88 pumpkins from Walmart. So as I carved into Monroe's, it was nice and moldy on the inside, still cleaned it out, it was the exact consistency of mec fluid I see in L&D, gotta love wally world. We tossed those seeds and proceeded to carve Xander's, that was fresh, yeah for pumpkin seeds. Too bad I burnt the pumpkin seeds and they tasted like salty ashes.

Can you tell the kindergarten theme is patterns, we turn everything into patterns!

finished product turned out pretty good, recommend the templates!

Parrafin, Punch and a Parade

One of the kindergarten moms is a stylist and brought in parrafin dip, this was an absolute hit among these little ones and the moms too!!

Wesley fit right in with the kindergartners and will be a pro next year.

Luigi hopped in line at one point as well before soaking up the sun, what a beautiful day for a parade!

We are one of the only schools left in Manhattan that gets to dress up for Halloween, hope the tradition stays till my littlest gets through school, the kids and teachers love it!

Swamp juice made with some gummy eyeballs, my only party contribution.


more cute paraders, I love seeking out the fun unique costumes, there were great ones this year!

let the Thunder Roll!

Vegas and Garth here we come, thanks Tia!!

Parade of fun

the Mario Bros

Monroe got to flip through the parade with her fellow gymnasts, missing several friends related to the sickies.



a sweet treat Ms.Mara at the end, could they get any cuter?

Coon farewell

In denial that great friends Korey and Heidi and boys will be leaving us in a couple of weeks, talk about an amazing family, you guys will so be missed!! Thanks to the Walkers for hosting the Taste of Manhattan for their farewell.

Have I told you that Im surrounded by these perfectly pregnant bellies, can't keep my hands off of them.

A Spirited Evening

the boo crew

Willie let Luigi fill his hat up with candy

face painting

Mario Kart

We went bewitching at the Union tonight it was great, not a big crowd, lots of crafts, games and candy!! Perfect temp too!

Monroe's moments

I had no idea how excited I would be to watch my babes learn and experience new things. It is not necassarily the things they learn, it is more seeing their proud faces that is so precious and priceless. Monroe got her dismount on beam this week, is finally tying her shoes and reading like a champ.

Falls Finest

I love how close these guys are even at 5 years apart, Jude is turning into his brother. He has mastered the superhero moves and busts them out much of the day. He carries around little batman lego guys everywhere,has to sleep with them and makes them (the lego guys and occas Roe's American girl dolls) poop on the potty.

Organ jingle

Christmas songs already?? Xander started playing with 2 hands and found the organ button on our keyboard, kind of fun, didn't know it existed.

Wyld-Night

The kids sat on the porch couldn't wait for the "customers" to arrive.

We got to host these wyldlife leaders tonight for dinner with a little baked potato/ chili bar, it was a really sweet experience. Gotta love these young dudes that invest time talking to middleschoolers about Jesus. Probably should have spent more time with people like this when I was at MMS.

Super Jude

Superhero

Jude-Man
& Supermodel

Jude-Eve

Babysitters Club

We left our kiddos with Makenzie and Maddie (Juno), they were amazing! They did tie dye t-shirts, with no mess after and baked brownies, the kids loved it! I think they need to start a babysitters club, weren't those the best books, do they still exist?

Happy 7th Birthday Kennady!

(Monroe, Kennady, and Paige) These little girls put some serious gym time in together every week, its nice they could haves some playtime too celebrating Kennady's birthday. These little girlies we come to know and love through gymnastics, seriously don't think I would let Roe do gymnastics if I didn't love these girls and their parents. If anyone has some great girl birthday gift ideas, I've been running out lately with not so great gift ideas but lots of parties!

Picture Day

had the kiddos practice smiling for pics this morning on the porch, lets hope he doesn't smile like this...(first year with Big Teeth BTW)

Fake, but still cute...I so remember what I wore for pics in 1st and 2nd grade, my favorite black velour jumpsuit with a ruffle shirt underneath, loved it so much, I wore it two years in a row for pictures, remember that mom? and you let me?

Invest in your kids

I think Todd, our church pastor, was talking to me yesterday at church. The topic was investing and valuing your kids, and how their lives should not be a merry go round of activities, that kiddos need time to breath, imagine and relax. This doesn't not mean breathing in front of the TV or nintendo DS, so convicting.

Little Chefs

Xander and Madeline attended a cooking class today at Hyvee, I think they had a blast and Xander, Jude and I finished off the gourmet ghouly dish. Can't wait for him to start cooking for the fam.