Mopping the Floor

Boo at the Zoo, "Dry" Party & Gymnastics

Last weekend was Boo at the Zoo. Let me explain what that really means in Andy's terms "Hundreds of other kids willing to sacrifice my boys for a piece of candy!" But guess what? We have done it every year since Dane could walk. So here they are getting in their first line to get candy.
From the front...

From behind...Drake puts his whole head in there.

We met up with Aspen and her parents (Bill and Mary)
Ring a Round the Rosie...

And we all rode the train together

Family picture before saying goodbye

Must have been a good day!

I made a deal with Dane: "Have a dry pull-up for 10 days, not in a row, and we'll have a party" So it took a few weeks, but with putting stickers on his calendar we finally got 10 stickers. And because it's close to Halloween that was the theme of our party.

Drake started gymnastics last night. He's been trying to do gymnastics with Dane since Dane started, but you have to be 3 years old.




And you can't have the fall without Caramel Apples. Plus what am I going to do with all of the ones we got at the orchard?

Fall Activities

We've been staying busy with Andy gone; since I have alot of energy and ideas it's fairly easy.
Here's a fun kit I found. It's like a gingerbread house but haunted and made of foam material:

Drake tired and not in the mood to smile

But, now he will....it's a new day:)

My superheros

I shouldn't be surprised that they stood and took a picture and that was 20 seconds too long...time to wrestle...


Hot chocolate in front of the fire

Yesterday we went to an orchard and here they are going through the corn maze. I thought it was huge until I went on Dane's field trip with his preschool this morning... THAT is a HUGE cornfield maze (7 acres huge). We are for sure taking Andy there this weekend.


Hands of Change...in the spare bedroom. They insisted on putting this years' hand prints next to last years. I like things to be symmetrical so I was hoping they'd chose a different wall. But it's like the Christmas tree; if I say they can help decorate I have to leave the ornaments where they place them all...at my knee level!

Vegas Baby, Vegas

Andy's in Vegas with the guys. He left early Saturday and will return home in 2 more days. We've kept ourselves busy, but it's not the same as when Dad's with us. Sure, we did our regulars: went to Six Flags and the pumpkin patch and church, did some crafts, had movie night and visted with friends, but without Dad with us, there's a small void.

Dane sang in church this past Sunday and wore his first tie; I had to buy a clip-on because I don't know how to tie one. I can guarantee there wouldn't have been a clip-on if Dad was home. But did anyone care or even notice? No! And Dane was proud to dress like Daddy.

2 more 1sts

Our first 1st: Dane has started playing soccer and had his 1st soccer game last Saturday.

Here's Dane getting his pre-game single and team pictures (another way for us parents to spend our money on photos of our little ones:)


Now practicing...

The pre-game pledge, "I promise to play nicely, and fair, ....."

Dane as the goalie...

"high five, good game, high five, good game,...

Feeling proud after his 1st game...


The above pictures are all of last week. Here's a picture before today's game...And Dane scored 3 of the 5 goals today! (I only saw two of them)


And now for our Second 1st: We visited the Emergency Room last weekend. Drake was chasing a Nerf football and tripped and fell, hitting his head on the concrete step on our front porch. That probably wouldn't have warranted the visit, but the small rock (shaped like an arrowhead) that made a puncture wound into his forehead did make the ER visit a requirement. Good news-no stitches, just some glue and a grape Popsicle and a new bathtub toy they let him bring home (large serenge they cleaned wound with). So here he is sporting his spider man band aide over the hospital tape and glue.