October 2013 {Halloween Festivities}

Pumpkin Patch

 

We went to the a pumpkin patch this year to pick our pumpkins. There was a corn maze and tractor ride and a lot of fun photo opts.

We met up with our friends the Ramsey's for some dinner after picking the perfect pumpkins.

Gardner Village

 

Tyson took the kids to Gardner Village to see the witches without me this year so I could do some homework. I hate missing out on fun family traditions.

 Our Ward Party

 

Claire's Preschool Halloween Program

She was adorable! Shy and silly!

She insisted on being a lady bug for this occasion so we went with it. 

I love her independence!

 I love this sweet and spicy girl!

Halloween

Claire likes to surprise people with her scary face.

Ava got to help Ms. Nixon lead the Halloween Parade line. Can you tell she was excited?

That night we put our pumpkins out and went trick or treating. The girls were really into it and could have gone all night but Tyson and I pooped out.

Having a one year old is so fun and those first few months of being one are filled with many "firsts". Here are just a few outtakes of some firsts for Talmage this month and some of the fun he had with his sisters (or the fun his sister inflicted on him).

 First Fudgsicle and Ava the Helper

First and so far only forward facing care ride.

 First sucker after 12 month well child check and shots. He loved it!

 The kids were playing house and they put Talmage in his "crib" to play. It was fun to see Ava coax him over there and shove him under. He didn't seem to mind and he played right along.

 

Claire Starts School

 

This girl was so excited to start school at Children's Discovery Preschool.  She and I had endured a rough week and a half when Ava started school and she did not.  She is a advocate of everything being "fair" and doesn't let you forget when someone gets to do something that she doesn't. She was so excited that she quickly got ready and barely would eat because she just wanted to leave. During our entire car drive she kept asking me the name of her teacher and we reviewed where she was going to hang her bag (by the picture of the bear--Claire Bear-coincidence or not?).

She came home with a cute first day craft and her first school art work. Of course we had to document it.

The week before school started we had gone to an orientation day. She was disappointed she didn't get to stay when it was time to leave. She loved their toy bike contraption and I think it might actually help us teach her how to ride and pedal on a two wheeler.

She loves her teachers Miss Brooke and Miss Marina and she comes home telling me all about her day. I love watching her talk while she does her little adult-like mannerisms. She really is a mini me but I hope she stays little for a bit longer. Today she showed me how she colored all the "baby a's". So far I am really impressed with her school. I didn't cry on the first day but I did on the third day. It hit me how fast these important years go by. I felt humbled by my opportunity to be her mother and a sense of urgency to arm her appropriately for the future. Good thing she is Heavenly Father's daughter first and foremost and he can help me live up to the task.

Also, I hope she always keeps her excitement for school, her eagerness to learn and her confidence in herself to achieve anything.

Crestview Cougar

Ava went back to school last week. 

She is in first grade and was so anxious about all day school. We actually had about two weeks of Ava waking up in the night until she had her back to school meet the teacher day. After we visited the class, met the teacher (Ms. Nixon), picked her desk, and practiced where to stand in line after getting off the bus she was able to sleep through the night (well until the night before school). We spent a lot of time talking about what to expect and how to handle different situations. She was a pro by the time school started.

Our great neighbor had donuts and juice in her drive way on the first day before the bus. The kids are all so anxious they can barely eat but it is fun to see everyone with their new back to school outfits and haircuts. You can kind of see Ava's anxiousness in her face as she smile. I know lots of mom's cry...but I just felt gratitude. Gratitude that I get to be her mother and that I get to take part in raising her, but also grateful for all the others that help me teach her and mold her into the woman she will one day be. I had flashbacks to pregnancy moments and that day she was born. I thought about her milestones and every memory made me smile more and more. I am really the lucky one...lucky to have her as my daughter. I heart my 1st grader!!!

 

Lining up for the bus! So many neighborhood kids.

Coming home! She was tired but excited to tell me all about it.

We celebrated a successful back to school week by going bowling with some friends over the weekend. It was fun but by the end, you could see how tired the kiddos were.

We love these three crazies!