Pre-Halloween

Halloween may be a week away, but we had a weekend FULL of Halloween festivities!

We kicked it off on Friday night with Lacey's Brownie troop attending a Halloween party/festival and I volunteered to chaperone the event, so we both had a very fun evening together.

The girls went around in several rotations and did cute little activities at each station.

There are two 2nd grade troops at Lacey's school with 25 girls among the two troops and they were all here together at this event.  Lacey (aka Candyland Princess) had a ton of fun!

I got home from the Brownie event at 8:10, threw on my costume, stopped to take a couple pics and was back out the door by 8:15.  We were in such a rush that we never double checked to see that the pictures of the one and only costume party (a good neighbor friend of ours was having a surprise 40th  birthday costume party) we have ever attended together in our 9+ yrs of marriage actually turned out. Apparently our camera was in the manual setting instead of automatic.  What a bummer.... but since these are the only pics we have, I'm posting them anyway!

And after that busy crazy Friday night, we had another busy crazy Saturday.  Soccer games for both kids, in charge of snack for both games, etc and then all getting ready for tonight's Trunk or Treat.  

In years past, we have tried to do a theme and have everyone dress accordingly.  We totally wanted to do a "Frozen" theme this year since I found the cutest little Olaf outfit with a white tutu on Etsy that I wanted Ella to wear. But alas, the older kids are now too opinionated to dress how I want them..... and my T who checks out "army books" from the library EVERY single week was dead set on being an "Army dude."  He was SO excited to put on his costume tonight!

And in contrast to my rough and tough army dude..... my sweet little Tinkerbell.

There was also a Jack-o-lantern contest for the kids.  Here was our entry.

After dinner and the pumpkin decorating contest, everyone headed outside to Trunk or Treat.  

Happy Pre-Halloween!

Goooooo Panthers!

Tanner wanted to give football a try this year.  Yet neither of us were willing to give up soccer.... solution?  Do both!  It was a little crazy balancing all those games, practices, uniforms, etc., but T had a great time!

His last practice was on Monday.  He's sporting his Ravens shirt for practice, but during games, he was a Carolina Panther!

Team pic

Last night was his last game....

This picture makes me laugh.  The coach was handing out trophies and all of a sudden Tanner stood up and was clenching his legs together.  I asked him if he needed to go to bathroom.  He said yes and took off.  By the time he got back, all the trophies had been handed out and he missed the whole ceremony.

But he made it back in time for the best part!

And alas, he was united with his trophy with a happy, pizza sauce covered face!

Going Pro

DC United vs Chicago Fire

A couple months ago, the DC United Players offered a clinic to Lacey's soccer league.  For $25, they came out and the professional soccer players did a soccer clinic with the kids and then stuck around for autographs and pictures afterward.  It also included a ticket to an upcoming soccer game (which happened to be last night).  What a deal!  I immediately signed Lacey up.  Of course, I didn't think about the fact that Lacey couldn't go alone and, therefore in order for her to go, I would have to purchase additional tickets.  Plus drive to/from DC.  Plus pay for parking, food, etc.  Or take into account that although L and T love playing soccer, they don't necessarily care about going to professional soccer games.  Or consider the fact that I might be totally exhausted from a non-stop, jam-packed weekend and not want to go.  So, admittedly, my awesome "deal" ended up being a bit of an ordeal, but it all worked out!  Dave agreed to take the L and T, so I could stay home with younger two and L and T ended up having a great time!  They got a total kick out of the hysteria that follows a goal (United won 2-1) and the fireworks that followed the game.  And, as a major bonus, of which I do not have any pictures, they somehow talked Dave into doing a "campout" just the three of them on the trampoline after they got home at 10pm.  It was cold and I thought they were all crazy, but it ended up being an awesome Daddy Date night.

Tanner's Trucks

Sweet ride.....

It wasn't Disneyland, but it may as well have been!

I took Tanner to "Touch a Truck" today, a one-day annual event.  He was a kid in a candy shop.... running around from truck to truck, "driving" them, honking the horns, climbing in them, on them, you name it.  Kid couldn't get enough!  And as my little boy, my only boy, gets bigger..... I ran around with him and soaked it all in.  

Apples are Awesome

There was no school yesterday and, in addition, it happened to be a beautiful day - sunny and in the 60's.  Perfect day for apple picking!  So, along with some neighbors/friends, we headed out to Larriland Farms.

Lacey with her 2nd grade buddies.

And Tanner with one of his best buddies, Matthew.

First item of business:  Hay ride!

Next:  Apple picking!

It was the perfect thing to do on a beautiful fall day with no school.

But..... for the record, Riley and Ella both had multiple meltdowns that just about did me in (lets just say that nearly the entire 20 minutes on the hayride and in the moments leading up to the hayride, I was alternating between tantrums.  SCREAMING tantrums).  But alas, we survived and, dare I say, had FUN despite the unwelcome interruptions to that fun :)  And, bonus, we have enough apples to last us for weeks! 

Spain Day

We didn't go to a parade or see fireworks, but we celebrated Independence Day regardless! 

Spanish Independence, that is.

October 12th is Spain's Independence Day, so because Spain is such a special country to us, we have tried to make it a tradition to celebrate Spain Day each year.

This morning, Dave gathered the kids around, showed them where Spain was located on the globe and went through his mission album with them.

Then, he got busy making his world-famous paella!

This picture doesn't do it justice.  But trust me, it looked and tasted delicious!!

We invited Dave's parents over to join in the festivities.

Olé!

As we delved into the paella, bread, green olives, etc., we tried to teach the kids a little more about Spain (capital, population, etc).

So grateful for Spain. And hoping our kids grow to love it as much as we do!