Lately...

We've been busy with work, school, soccer, and karate.

A couple weekends ago Below and Maddie were over watching the Eagle's game.  I told the boys they needed go to play in their rooms for a little while so the adults could have some quiet time without crazy kids running all over and jumping on them.  When we didn't hear them, I went up to check and this is what I saw...

notice the listening ears

Last weekend was so much fun.  Aunt Beth and Eric were here and shared their exciting news with the boys!  I can't wait to be an aunt!  Last Friday was Mike's birthday and my sister and Eric offered to watch the boys so we could go to dinner.  I surprised Mike since he thought we would be going out to eat with the boys. It may not sound like much, but a kid-free night is definitely a nice surprise.  He turned 36 years old!  That's really close to 40.  Eek!!!

 

We had a nice time and then Saturday night we had another date.  I don't think we've ever had two consecutive date nights.  This one was to a benefit dinner for a local friend that was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 30th birthday.  Thankfully she is doing really well!  They had a bunch of baskets of goodies they were raffling off and would you believe my sister and I took home 2 baskets each?!!!  Mike and I were tempted to go play the lottery after all our success that night!  That night I wasn't feeling well and ended up with some sort of flu/fever/nausea/aches all over virus.  Thankfully it was short lived, but I was pretty much useless on Sunday.

Owen earned his next belt in karate this week!!  We are very proud of him for sticking with it and working so hard.

He really enjoys it and never complains about going.  I love that it's so different than soccer.  We think it's important that he experiences different sports and activities.

We have had lots of enormous spiders in our house lately.  The boys enjoy looking at them under the microscope.  Yuck!

Owen had a soccer game today and they tied!!!  After loosing every game so far, a tie certainly feels like a win to us. 

After soccer we headed to the pumpkin patch for some pumpkins and mums.  I was sure it would be packed so I didn't know if we'd do the hayride today.  Turns out it wasn't full at all and we were the only family on the hayride!

I kinda wish it would have been cooler out and I would have had my boys dressed in cute, fall flannels, but being on the hayride ourselves was fun too!  Maybe that's a perk of going early in the season.  We wouldn't get these wacky photos of the boys being silly either!

 

This may not be an appropriate story for the blog, but the hayride was VERY bumpy.  I should have worn a sports bra if you know what I mean.  Since we were the only people on the hayride I was "holding myself in place" (in a subtle way).  The farmer driving the hayride kept looking back, but I thought it was to make sure the hayride wasn't going to tip over.  Next thing I know he has his cell phone out and it appeared as if he was recording us (me).  Instead of getting upset, I just waved, smiled, and gave Mike a big smooch for the camera.  Weird!

See the cell phone/camera in the farmer's hand?!

Some times my boys are just plain dirty!  Today was one of them, but we were on a farm so it didn't really matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A few seconds after I took this picture of Adam holding the enormous pumpkin, he walked and tripped over another pumpkin and his felt to the ground and cracked. 

 

 

 This is my new favorite meal.  I've made it twice so far.  I LOVE the Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup and this is almost identical. 

Lots more family fun planned for the weekend!

Big News!!

I'm going to be an AUNT sometime this April and I couldn't be more excited!!!!!!!!  As you can tell, Adam shares my excitement.  He's so protective of Aunt Beth.  He didn't want her to race today because she has a baby in her "belwie".  He shows us how he's going to hold the baby and it's the most adorable thing ever.  He also said he's going to hold her hands and dance wif her (they aren't finding out what they are having).  Owen isn't that interested, but I know he'll be a great big cousin too.

Chasing girls

Some of my best conversations with Owen happen when we're in the car, just the two of us.  Yesterday as I was driving him to karate we had one I don't want to forget....

Owen: Mommy, when you were little did boys ever chase you on the playground?
me: Well, I don't really remember.  I wasn't that in to boys when I was little.  Why?  Do you chase girls?!
Owen:  Yeah, it's really fun and they don't tell me to stop
me:  Well I guess if they don't tell you to stop and your teacher is OK with it then it's not a problem
      So, are there certain girls you chase or do you chase any girl?
Owen:  I don't just chase any girl (big grin on his face).  There are certain ones.  (he didn't share who and I was trying not to be annoying and pry)
me:  Does Tyler chase girls too?  (I had to ask this because it seems that he really only plays with Tyler on the playground)
Owen: I ask him to help me and he does and sometimes the girls chase us. 

Oh my goodness.  I would totally expect this conversation from Adam, but not from Owen.  I was shocked!  He has shown zero interest in girls, in fact he acts a little grossed out by them which is why this is so funny to me.  But it is cute at the same time because boys chasing girls on the playground (and vise versa) is one thing that hasn't changed in kids in many, many, many years.

Another reason this was special was because Owen shares little to nothing with me about his day at school.  I ask him how his day is everyday and I get a very brief response.  I rely a lot on my friend, that has a daughter in the same class and gets a lengthy, detailed report each day, to clue me in on anything major.  So I was soaking all this new information in that he was telling me about recess.

Happy Friday and Happy Happy birthday to Mike!!!  I'm pretty sure he chased girls on the playground.

***If you read this, please don't joke with Owen about chasing girls or even let him know I wrote about this.  He would be really embarrassed and maybe upset with me and then he wouldn't tell me anything anymore. It's one of those stories I think he'll appreciate when he's much older.***

Favorites

Claire Palella finished editing pictures from Maddie & Shaun's wedding.  What's really nice is she gives you access to all the pictures she's taken.  I tried to pick out a few of my favorites, but it was really difficult because they were all so good!

Paige did the writing on these signs.... amazing.

Such a wonderful wedding.

Pictures for Aunt Beth

My sister texted me this morning telling me that she's waiting for pictures of the boys.  Here are a couple photos from our weekend.

Miss Beatrice turned 1 and her party was Saturday.  It was a beautiful party.  Lots of guests, a photographer, live band, delicious food... so much fun! 

This was her smash cake...

The birthday girl

Below played and played and played with our boys all night.  They were covered in dirt and grass stains when we left.  A sure sign of a good time to a 6 year old.

Adam is loving Sunday School.  Today they made listening ears.  They were talking about listening to Jesus.  I told him they are also for listening to mommy.  He refused to clean up his toys before church, but when we got home and he was wearing his listening ears he cleaned them up right away :)

My boys are ready for some football.  Go Eagles!!

Happy Sunday!

First Soccer Game

Owen had his first soccer game of the season on Saturday.  U8 is completely different from U6... bigger field, keeping score, need to know the rules, longer games, etc.
It's so much more intense and I wasn't quite prepared for that.  I was really anxious and exhausted by the end and I wasn't even the one playing or coaching.

I think I was really nervous for the team since they seem to be younger (and smaller) than a lot of the other teams.

Every picture of Owen that I took he has his tongue out

They lost 2-1, but we were all shocked at how well they played.  I couldn't believe it!

The best part of the day was Aunt Beth surprised Owen & Adam and drove up from Baltimore to see Owen play in his first game.  She definitely wins the Aunt of the Year award in my book :)  She arrived just as we were getting in the car to drive to the game and she stayed all day to play with the boys before going back to Baltimore that evening.  Mike & I are going to have some VERY big shoes to fill.  Beth & Eric go above and beyond their duties of Aunt & Uncle and our boys love them so so much!!


I started decorating the house for fall this weekend.  I spent a good hour, by myself, in Hobby Lobby on Saturday and loved every minute of it.

Adam has been asking since July if we can "Pwwwwwwwease make pumpkin cookies".  I told him he had to wait until it got cooler out.  Well, Saturday I went grocery shopping and they finally had them out.  I bought 3 boxes and Saturday night we made one box when Aunt Beth was here.  They were yummy and gone before bedtime!

 

Now we just need some real pumpkins and mums.