Trick or Treat

This year I had a hard time with the boys costumes.  They could have been train engines from Thomas the Train, and I could have painted really cute boxes for them to wear.  The could have been Mario and Luigi and I could have made cute hats and painted on mustaches.  Instead they wanted to be superheros.  More specifically, Batman and Superman.  How do I make that cute?  I could have sewn. I could have painted.  I could have done anything they wanted and they wanted to be plain `ol Super Heroes.

I considered it the low point of my parenthood life when I checked out with two store bought Halloween costumes. Talk about a parent FAIL!

 I pouted and complained about having to finally hand over the reigns and not be allowed to pick out the cutest Halloween costumes.  Then I saw how their faces lit up when they were finally allowed to put the costumes on.  I saw how excited they were to fly around the house with their capes.  I realized that Halloween is about what they want, and I accepted that I have BOYS, who dream about saving the world and crushing bad guys.

So there you have it, Superman and Batman.  Good thing we have been working out and have a nice set of ab muscles to fill out the costumes.  ;)

First, we went to the trunk or treat that was held at the school.  We loaded up our bags with lots of goodies.

There, we met our bestie and fellow fighter of crime, Spiderman (aka Kayin)

The Three Amigos (another costume idea they wouldn't go for) continued around the parking lot gathering lots of loot.

Then, we hit Aunt Amy's house.  She invited us in and gave us the yummy chocolate that she had hidden in the kitchen for really special Super Heroes.

We swung back by our house to make sure there were no villains and gather a few more friends (and empty our full candy bags so we could fill them again), then we set out for some serious trick or treating.

At the end of the night, we had a laundry basket full of candy, and after a few threats that Daddy would take away our candy, we passed out in a blissfully wonderful sugar coma.

Superman, ready to save the day!

Batman, protecting the innocent.



Pumpkin Carving

This past weekend, we had our close friends, The Hannas, over to carve pumpkins and eat.  The boys had a blast pulling out the yucky stuff from the middle of the pumpkins.

"Dude, you won't stick your hand down there!"

The Dads were quickly ditched for more fun and exciting toys, and they were left to do all the carving themselves.

I think they did a great job!

Spider man

Cannibal Pumpkin

Superman and Batman

What's for Supper, Mummy

Hot dog wieners (Cut in half long way to prevent choking)

Crescent Rolls (or in this case, pizza dough sliced into strips)

Wrap it up

Bake it

Decorate it with Mummy Eyes

Eat it!

If the amount of Ketchup on their faces is any inclination, they liked it.

Ouch, That Was Written for Me

I have recently started following a blog called The MOB Society.  The MOB stands for Mothers of Boys.  They give a lot of inspiring articles on how to raise young boys into Godly men.  I really enjoy reading this blog.

Today when I clicked on the link to read the update, I felt really put into my place.  Number 1 hit me hard.  I am that parent.  I am the helicopter mom.  I have a really hard time allowing them to "fall" in any manner.  I'm going to try really hard from this point on to turn their safety over to God and to allow them to experience the adventures they were created to crave.

Number 2 hit me hard too.  I have a wonderful husband who loves to rough house with the boys and more often than not, I am the one that pulls the "no-rough-housing-in-the-house" card.  I'm going to be better at that one too.

Here is a copy of the first part of the article, but don't forget to go by and check out The MOD Society yourself.


Three Ways a Mother Can Negatively Impact Her Boys


1. Being over-protective.

All three of my boys have a heart for adventure. My oldest son has already joined the Army National Guard and is excitedly looking forward to his two week summer assignment which will include camping, shooting guns and driving humvees.

As babies, they were climbers. I should have had a special chair in the waiting room at the ER when the boys were younger and our days were filled with tree houses, dirt bikes and other adventures. My instinct was to say no to anything that would put my sweet little guys in danger. Thankfully, their father spoke the truth into my life that a girly girl like me doesn’t have to understand their need for adventure for it to exist. When we keep our boys from feeling the rush of a new adventure, we are injuring their heart. I would rather make a few trips to the ER for some stitches than damage the inner man God is creating.

Sometimes, we mother’s need to look the other way and let our boys experience the adventures they were created to crave.

Reducing the risk our boys are exposed to when they are still under our influence and protection pretty much guarantees they will go looking for it the minute they can get out from under our over protective thumbs. Trust your son to the God that entrusted him to you in the first place.

2. Limiting physical outlets.

I have to admit, rough housing gets on my nerves. My sons are all taller than me now and still like to wrestle around with their dad. I roll my eyes and sometimes even leave the room or send them outside but I don’t stop them.

The book Bringing Up Boys (affiliate link) by Dr. Dobson helped me tremendously with this issue when the boys were smaller. Apparently, God purposefully designed them to want to prove their masculinity. It is normal {I know, it surprised me too} for them to be so stinkin’ physical. So, cover your eyes and plug your ears, but whatever you do, don’t keep your sons from having an outlet to release their physical energy and prove their strength.

The 3rd one is great too, check it out at the following address.
http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/10/three-ways-a-mother-can-negatively-impact-her-boys/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMobSociety+%28The+MOB+Society%29

Hair Cuts

Momma wasn't overly thrilled and I know it will grow out soon, but don't we think Daddy got it a little on the short side? All their beautiful, naturally sun bleached hair is gone. I guess I should have clarified my idea of a trim.

11 pm is Not a Preschoolers Bedtime!

It's been over a year now and the bedtime routine is still not working. 

This is our nightly routine:

• Supper
• Bath
• Play with cars/trains for about 30 minutes.  Until 8pm
• Read book
• say prayers
• go potty
• tuck into bed
• turn on soft lullaby music/humidifier
• turn off lights...Good Night boys.

Where are we going wrong?

This is how the rest of the list goes from here:

• Boys lay down until I get into the shower and Daddy gets preoccupied
• Stand up and throw all blankets, pillows, stuffed animals at each other
• Hear Daddy coming- dive back onto bed and pretend to be asleep.
• receive strong lecture from Daddy
• as soon as Daddy is gone, they start playing hide and seek in their closet, pulling clothes off the hangers in the mean time.
• hear Momma getting out of the shower and checking on them- dive back onto bed and pretend nothing is wrong.
• receive physical punishment from Momma.
• cry like they won't live through it
• complain loudly that Momma is not nice
• wait until Momma goes into the kitchen, then climb on top of their dresser and play balance beam from one bed to the other.
• ect
• ect
• ect.....

They have their funny moment, thus the 17 Pull-Ups episode.
They have their aggravating moments, they unmatched their entire drawer full of socks.  Then got to spend their afternoon the next day matching back up the socks.
They have their scary moments, Heath fell off the top of his dresser a few nights ago and busted his nose.  He came down the hall way with blood covering his face and his pjs.

I'm tired of these moments.  We have tried everything.  We have punished, put up gates, tried different bed times, taken away naps, and put them down at separate times.  If you have the magic answer, please let me know.

Starting now, I'm going back in.  I'm going to sit with them (not speaking) until they fall asleep.  If this doesn't solve the problem with in the next month, we are moving one of their beds into the living room so they won't be together. Any other suggestions?

They've Out Smarted Us, Once Again

The bedtime routine is still not going well.  We thought it had gotten better for a week or two, but we were wrong. 

Last night, Chris and I were sitting in the living room after putting the boys down.  We could hear them talking but it didn't sound like the normal, jumping, tumbling, rough housing, ect... so we weren't too concerned.  After a while, Hunter called Chris to come down there.  After much scowling and reluctance, Chris finally got up to check on them.  This is what he found.

The boys had taken the entire box of Pull-Ups (yes, we still sleep in Pull-Ups) and put them on.

Heath had 5 on.  He's not that fast at dressing himself.

Hunter had on 17.  No, it's not a typo, the child had on seventeen Pull-Ups at one time. I counted as he took them off. 17.  I'm guessing he was calling Chris because it was getting a little tight and uncomfortable.  I can't wait to show his girlfriends this picture.

They weren't too concerned about a spanking, I guess they knew they wouldn't have felt it anyway, so what else was there to do but flip on the lights and take a picture or two.  Chris and I did control our laughter until we got the boys back to bed, but we laughed all the way back down the hallway.

Gender Reveal Party

I read a blog a few years ago about a Gender Reveal party a couple had, and every since then, I have been stalking pregnant women on a search to find one who would let me throw them a party to reveal the gender of the baby they were carrying.

Coy and Ashley were finally the couple that gave in and we had the best party ever.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love to throw themed parties.  So, a Football themed Gender Reveal Party, it was.

They had the sonographer write down the sex of the baby and seal it in an envelope.  Ashley brought me the envelope still sealed on Wednesday and I promptly handed it off to the baker.  Only the baker knew the gender of the baby. She was asked to die the cake pink if it was a girl and blue if it was a boy.

 Football Cake Balls

 Question Marks?  Boy or Girl?

The greatest part is that Coy and Ashley really got into the theme and fun of the party.  His shirt says, "House Divided" and hers says, "Team Girl/Team Boy"

The Old Wives Tales board.  Ashley's answers were very indecisive as to what gender the baby was.

Pink and Blue Punch.

Football Party Foods. (By the way: I can not take total credit for any of this party, the ladies from our church helped with the food and drinks.  Lori was awesome for letting us use her home and for organizing the games.  Thanks Ladies)

Name the Baby.  Coy and Ashley already have names picked out, but they are not telling.  That doesn't mean we can't guess/suggest our own names.  The names that some came up with were very creative!

 The cake!  It's either pink or blue on the inside.  Nobody Knows!

 Team Blue.  The majority wanted a boy.

 Team Pink.

 Pictonary.  Blue vs. Pink

 

 All baby words (FYI: Men are not very good at baby words)

This is where we got to the moment we had all been waiting for.  Coy and Ashley finally cut the cake to find out what they were having.  Be sure to notice the faces of those in the background. Please excuse the blurry pictures.  I was snapping so fast because I didn't want to miss a moment of the excitment.

 I love this picture.  They are leaned in close together and at the very first cut they knew what it was.  Coy even said, "I see it!"  To which the rest of the crowd watching said, "What is it?"

 Ashley slowly (to torture the rest of us) continued to cut the cake.  Look at David's face in this picture. Funny!

 Creek can't believe it's pink!

IT'S A GIRL! 

We can't wait to meet this sweet little blessing!