Happy Halloween!

Introducing, our Pumpkins!! Scary aren't they!! The big one isn't so bad, scarred up a bit, but that other big guy...

...don't you agree, really looks like butt!

The boys are wearing their Halloween shirts, tons of stickers, and can't wait to get dressed up.

Grandma Louise and Grandpa Bob are coming today. They'll take Miles to the Clinton-Graceville vs. Walnut Grove HS football game here in Marshall. They'll be in box seats at the new stadium. Should be fun. James and I have some errends then his nap.

And finally the boys will get into their super cute costumes and head out to trick-or-treat at a few friends houses and then off to a party!

I try to post photos tomorrow before we head out to Great Grandpa's birthday party and the farm!!

Sad Little Pumpkin Patch

A week and a half ago we went to pick out a few pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. The previous weekend was the jack-o-lantern jamboree, and apparently there was a good turn out...

...it really wasn't as barren as the photos look! But these are some sad photos!

Miles kept trying to run around, but those pesky vines were catching him.

And I have to say we may have ended up with the ugliest pumpkins EVER!

The boys got to pick them out. A green and orange one, a pale flesh colored one (kind of looks like a butt), and a little dark orange squash.

Stay tuned for pumpkin and costume photos on Halloween!

MAJOR Talent!

Okay, so I have a fellow scrapping friend, Kristina, that creates beautiful scrapbook pages.

And I just found out she also has an etsy shop and blog.

Both are quite noteworthy!!

First up Polka Dot Mama!

Kristina makes and sells these adorable infant/toddler blankets!

And these little burpies!
I LOVE these fall ones, makes me wish my guys were still spitting up.

Just a couple of other favorites!

I encourage everyone to check out the shop, the holidays are coming!!

And if you are up for a fun blog, check out Sew Domestic ~diary of a resourceful housewife.

I just got back from a scrap retreat, checked out Kristina's goodies, and am feeling to inspired to create! Hope you find your inspiration too!

Oh, the possibilities!

What a weekend of fun!

So many looks into potential careers for my little guys...

Drummers?? Sure, why not, as of now Miles definitely does NOT have a future as lead singer, and James, don't know, Miles doesn't stop singing long enough for me to hear James.

Pilots! No thanks! I want my guys on the ground, safe!

So they can just pretend!

And I wouldn't mind a couple of architects. Maybe they could build Mom and Dad a house some day!

Back Tracking

I was looking back at my blog entries and realized I missed some VERY special photos!

Ben's brothers kids were staying with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Louise a few days this summer and I just had to take advantage and get some photos of all the grand kids together. And of course some with Bob and Louise!

Ana came out to the fair grounds and did another great job!

The three big kids were easy, it was my two little guys that had their own agenda.

The photos turned out wonderful and were VERY overdue!

Hopefully we'll be able to get all five together for photos a little more frequently.

Pre-Halloween Horror

Just a little pre-Halloween horror. Or so it appears!

I just have to laugh, it looks like my sweet James ate someone!

Don't worry just red paint.

And I had to keep the red eye for true demon effect!

It's even in his teeth!

I "learned" from the last painting to limit his colors, so I only gave him red, orange, and yellow.

And his wooden heart for Grandma and Grandpa's birthday was a masterpiece!

On another note, I've started orientation at the hospital, which is full time days (not what I will be working), so I haven't been able to post much. I wake around 5:30am, get home around 4:00, feed the family, try to play with the boys a bit, get them to bed, and don't have much energy left, so head to bed by 9:30 at latest. Tonight after work I also had CPR recertification, blah!

So how do all you busy mom's juggle?

Some Weekend Family Favs!

We were at my parents this weekend and finally remembered to take some photos.

Mostly in part of Great Grandma Diane, she's been wanting a family photo to update the 8x10 on their wall (and it's a really awful one, so I was game).

We took a ton of them, but getting 4 adults and 2 kids to look, smile, and keep their eyes open, only leaves a few. There were some better than this one, but I this is the only one with both boys smiling (even though James is looking up at Ben) so it's my fave!

Not sure which is funnier, Miles' super cheesy smile, or Mom singing one of her MANY songs to try to get the boys to smile.

The boys worked VERY hard together "putting together" the train tracks.

Or Miles and Grandpa put the tracks together while James played and kept sitting on the tracks causing horrible derailments.

Ring around the rosy...

Only Miles fell down!

Little Bug Boy.

Grandma Mary was holding James when he saw a daddy long legs on the chair. Of course he started poking it and Grandma quickly removed herself from the equation. The spider is hiding from James' curious fingers. He can see it and was saying, "dare dis!"

Okay, I know I'm bias but that is one of the cutest smiles EVER!!!

This just makes me smile.

Hmmm, who's having more fun here, Grandpa Paul or Miles?

And this would be the other greatest smile!

Miles' giggles are seriously contagious!!

Last Little Bits

There's not much more time left to play outside before the snow and ice arrive!

So I've been trying to get the guys out as much as possible before we're stuck inside.

We have a little sand box, just enough room for two little guys to play in.

Miles found a pine cone and some twigs! It was quite exciting for him! I told him they came off the pine tree.

So my funny guy decided to make a "garden" with the pine cone and twigs. "I'm growing a pine tree mommy!" He was VERY proud!

Until this super cute, but naughty shoe clomped all over the "garden". If you could have heard the cries it really was a tragic loss!

Early Potty Training

It's never too early, right?

James LOVES sitting on his little potty!

He sits (for about 10-15 seconds), jumps up, claps, and then is down again.

Tonight he actually did victory laps!

Nothing in the potty, but it sure was fun to see him so happy and excited about sitting on it, oh and wearing it as a hat!

Of course with all this attention on James, Miles wanted me to take some photos of him.

These were just two of the goofy faces he made!

I missed having my guys around the past 3 days, it's good to have them home!

Cooking and diaper paste?

I decided to try out a fellow blogger's pumpkin bar recipe.

I even used real pumpkin.

Of course Miles helped. Much more of a help than the last time he "helped" me bake. I believe that time the cupcakes weren't edible due to a ton of licking.

Much more sanitary this time! I didn't take a picture when they were done, but let me tell you...

...they were damn good bars. I'm making more today!

And on a different note. Was recommended this Corona Ointment last time I was at the pharmacy in Blue Earth to use as diaper paste. It's really thick, provides a tough barrier, and works!

I LOVE that it's for horses, cattle, small animals (my kids), and pets!

Painting Techniques

I know age has something to do with it, but the boys have very different painting techniques!

I am way too type A to use anything other than washable kid paint!

Other than this photo, Miles is a VERY serious painter. No smiles, just pure concentration! And he gets into a zone, like when your kids are watching TV and they can't hear you, that's how he is when painting. So, after numerous attempts at getting him to look up for a photo, this is the quick smile I got.

Miles' palette, clean and neat.

And then there is James. He not only paint with the the brush and his hands, he actually eats it! Yes, it's also non-toxic!

Miles decided that if James kept eating the paint, it must taste alright... so he dipped his finger in the purple (his favorite color) and, "BLAH!! It's ICKY! YUCK! BLAK!" Pretty comical watching him spit and drool!

And James palette, his project was pretty much brown and gray from mixing all his colors. Next time I'll only give him 2 colors.

Oh, the project is a special surprise, so can't show it yet!!

Nice!

I know it's just a boy thing, and James is a pretty tough one, but I can not believe the bumps, scraps, and bruises this guy gets!

This picture doesn't do it justice (darn flash), but yesterday, when he stopped to pick up a rock, he tipped over and landed face first in a freshly gravel parking lot. I couldn't even react right away because it was so random, he wasn't even moving! But then he started crying and when I picked him up he was bleeding and I had to pick gravel out of his nose. Funny thing is his cry seemed more angry than hurt. Like he was ticked he fell at all! So now his forehead, nose, and upper lip are scabbing over.

Oh, did I mention his perpetually runny nose. The poor boy is obsessed with noses, mostly due to his constantly needing to be wiped I assume. So the whole wiping with owies is not too fun. He is now running when he spies a Kleenex. And yelling, "NO! NO!"

And on another "nice" note my little apple thief is still on the prowl. If you recall the apple orchard you'll know Miles feels that if the food is within his reach then there is no reason not to eat it.

Well, I am a picky fruit eater, and I have to make sure I find the perfect, bruise free one. So I rummaged through our giant bag of apples and found it. Rinse it off with cool water, polished it with the kitchen towel, set it on the counter, turned to get a cold glass of water, and when I turned back around it was gone! I was pretty sure I left it on the counter... maybe in the sink?

And then I heard it! The crispy crunch of my perfect Honeycrisp!

I poked my head around the corner and there was Miles on the couch, with no remorse!

And, as if that wasn't bad enough, after a few bites, he put it back on the counter and told me he was done!! AUGH!