Friday, October 31, 2014

Harvest Festival 2014

Grandma Cindy was so kind to snap a picture in front of the beautiful tree in her front yard before we ran off to help prepare for the night's festivities at church. We were so busy at the Harvest Festival I hate I didn't get a better close up picture of the kiddos but I'm so grateful we do at least have this one.
A Ninja Turtle Family
We don't ever put a whole lot of thought into Halloween costumes. We usually just pull something together as inexpensively and as easily as possible and usually at the very last minute. In fact, I didn't even bother to ask Gabriella or Mikey what they'd like to dress up as until the very week of Halloween.  

Gabriella got a Princess Anna dress from the Disney movie Frozen for her fifth birthday. I just assumed she'd be happy wearing that but much to my surprise, when I finally took the time to ask her, that was far from what she preferred. She requested to dress up as Donnie, the Ninja Turtle and Mikey requested to be, why, Michael Angelo, of course. :)  And as always, Gabriella asked ever so politely and melted my heart.  I just had to (wanted to) do everything I could to pull it together for the both of them. (I'm still not fond of this whole Ninja Turtle movement but I'll have to document those feelings another time.)

After a bit of Pinterest and Internet searching I decided creating a ninja shirt, a simple mask and making some sort of shell was manageable. By the time I had done the research and bought the materials I had one day to pull it together. It was around the 2am-ish hour when my head hit the pillow on Halloween morning. 
I hadn't pulled my sewing machine out since our move so this was the perfect little project to get it out for.  I've since fallen in love with how fun felt is to sew and craft with. 

I had originally planned on using brown spray painted, cheap 98 cent, roaster pans for their turtle shells but when I came across this idea AND realized I already had everything I needed to pull it off, I was SOLD. Unlike the roaster pans, I knew these shells could take a beating. 
I love that they'll get quite a few wears out of their shirts and will also get to add a turtle shell to their dress-up/costume wardrobe. (I've washed their shirts at least three times since Halloween and they are holding up so well!)

We started our eventful day with a get together at what we've come to call our "Homeschool Class". We got an awesome science lesson in as we watched one of the moms make homemade root-beer with dry ice, we played a few games and ate a few delicious snacks.
Alyana was the best mummy! 
He's the perfect fix for my sweet tooth! 

Later that evening we headed to the church to help host Little River's Harvest Festival/Trunk of Treats. Daddy helped with the cotton candy booth for a little while and then eventually had all of the kids in an uproar as he drove them around on a hay ride. I handed out free chips and hot dogs to any and all and Uncle Phil helped keep the track of kiddos. (Thank you SO much Uncle Phil!) 


October's Treasures

Nathan and Eli enjoying the huuuuumongous magnetic wall...

Taking chances at the park...
(Thank you so much for capturing these, Emily!)

A wagon ride...

Daddy looks good in the kitchen...
Side profiles...

Daddy cuddles...

A mommy understands...we do what needs to be done. :) 

A very special poster Little River made from Bro. Bill who passed away from cancer....He will always hold a very special place in all of our hearts. We can't wait to see him again, in heaven! 

Up close and personal...

Family makes me happy...

Straight inside from playing with dirt to eating dinner...look at that dusty face! 


Mikey lazing, Josiah hanging out with his big cousin and Alyana cuddling with her daddy...LOVE! 

My little dancer...

Caleb and Gabby at the library... :) 

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of these two...the best of friends for life! 

A sunburst and my baby boy...
Super special memories being made...

Craft time with some of our best buds! 

Napping in his buddy, Dartanian's bed...

October, obviously, we've loved you! 

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Gillis Hill Educational Corn Maze

After scheduling and rescheduling and scheduling again we finally got the chance to visit Gillis Hill for their Corn Maze!  I've seem to have lost track but this very well may be our third annual Corn Maze event with our wonderful friends; Denise, Kanani and now adorable, Dartanian. 

The kiddos really only viewed the corn maze as a obstacle between them and the play area that awaited them at then end rather than an activity to enjoy all in itself. Ha! They were so excited to run from post to post guessing whether a left or right turn would get them to their next destination. With a baby on each of our hips, Denise and I enjoyed trying to keep up with them. 

Oh, Josiah! And just imagine that smile times a million..that'd be the size of the smile you put on my heart.
The HUGE dirt pile is always the star of the show. The kiddos spent 90% of their time here.
Dartanian couldn't get enough of the sand! He loved it! 
 
And of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a little ice cream after all of our hard work at the corn maze. I mean, it would be some of the very last of the season. Why not? :) 
It's so fun to watch the chickens run all around the farm! 
Josiah and his ninja self. 
Time to explore the farm! 
The picture above of me helping Gabriella jump the fence speaks to me. Even as I see Isaac on the other side I realize there will not be many more years I'm able to lift your whole five year old self up and carry you around, swing you about or help you jump over a fence like this. Such little, little things that I treasure so dearly. 
These goats were a BLAST!

I loved how eager, apposed to being timid and afraid, Josiah was to feed the goats. He might have loved feeding them as much as I loved watching him do it. ... Nah, that's probably not even possible. 
See! They were just adorable! 
Even the rooster and chickens gave us quite the show. We sure enjoyed it! 



Thank you, Denise, for your wonderful pictures. You never fail to capture every bit of joy and excitement in every moment that we're together. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

West Regional Library's Harvest Festival

Miss Debbie and Miss Rita never fail to surprise me with the time they spend making each of our Wednesday morning's special. 



We came in after our outside activities for a cute craft. The kiddos choose between decorating a pumpkin necklace or making a spooky ghost. I wish Caleb's picture came with sound. He made the cutest and spookiest, of course, sounds to accompany his ghost. 

Gillis Hill was so kind to donate beautiful fall decorations for parents to take advantage of photographing their adorable children and also donated small pumpkins for each child to take home. How sweet and so thoughtful. Thank you so much Gillis Hill. And thank you West Regional Branch Library!