Nutty for Books

I think this is the 3rd time we have participated in this contest.  The kids love it.  They have to read 100 books in the month of October to receive a free book.

They were so proud when they finished!  Such a great program offered by the library!!

Jack-o-lanterns

The kids have been very excited about Halloween this year.  From the Boo bags, to the candy, costumes, pumpkins...you name it.

Tonight was the night that they got to carve pumpkins.  They did great.  They both helped scoop out the guts.  Ryan used his hands and Leah refused to use her hands, and instead used a spoon.  

They each drew on faces and helped carve out their own pumpkins.  

We are all happy with how they turned out.  

We are also trying to roast the pumpkin seeds for the first time this year.  It was actually all Leah's idea.  I hope that they turn out and the kids actually eat them!

Movie night and a sick-o

This weekend was strange.  In hindsight I can see that something was bothering Ryan.  He came home and was eager to go down and start working with the "art cart".  After awhile we said that we were going to a restaraunt...yay!  Or so we thought.  Ryan started crying.  He didn't want to go.  We said we were going to Culvers.  He cried harder.  When we got there, he was okay.  He ate.  We chalked it up to him wanting to do art.

Saturday morning was exciting.  Mike and Ryan went to flag football.  Leah and I stayed home.  It was cold and rainy out.  When the phone rang after the game, I answered to hear a sweet little voice telling me he had 2 flag pulls, 1 first down and one touchdown.  He was so happy.  We were so proud.  (I am pretty bummed that I missed both of his tds this year :{)  Anyway, when he got home he went down to do some art.  Grandma Pam called and wanted to hear how his game was.  He cried again and didn't want to talk.  Pretty unlike him.

We ran a few errands and came home for movie night. We borrowed Rio from a neighbor.  The kids liked it.  Very cute movie.

After the movie, I realized that Ryan was a little warm.  Poor little guy had a low grade fever.  I was hoping he would sleep it off.  He did not.

Sunday morning I called to cancel their flu shots, that pepped him up a bit.  Then I called Grandma Pam to tell her that we couldn't come down to watch the game because Ryan had a fever.  He was super upset so Grandma and Grandpa came here (which was very much appreciated).  He didn't eat much...with the exception of the td Oreos, he ate 5.  His fever got up to 102.  He barely cheered.  In true Ryan fashion, he never complained once that anything was bothering him.

Even though his fever was gone by this morning, I decided to keep him home from school.  I kind of loved having him here.  The kids played, he was excited to take her to school and her dance class.   We played UNO, he helped with the laundry (and told me he loved doing it), helped unload the dishwasher.  He did ask if I was going to pay him though :)  It was a good day.

I hope Leah stays healthy!

Boo!

Ryan asked me a few weeks ago if we were going to do those Boo things again.  It took me a minute, but I remembered last year when our doorbell rang and no one was there.  We found little bags of treats and a note saying that we had been boo'd.  The kids loved it.  They were even more excited when we were able to make our own bags and sneak to our friends houses to make the delivery.  I had forgotten all about it.  He hadn't.  I love that he remembers these things!  Anyway, I held him off for as long as I could...but this weekend I gave him the go-ahead.  The kids eagerly packed up our treat bags and Mike and Ryan went to deliver them.  Adding Daddy to the equation added a whole new level of sneaky-ness.  They hid in backyards, hid behind garages, etc.  It was thrilling.

Well, today the doorbell rang and the kids immediately started yelling "we have been boo'd"...we opened the door to find treat bags.  They were beyond excited!!

Ryan often says that Halloween is his favorite holiday.  He says he likes it even more than Christmas.  I love how excited they are for all of the little things.  I love that we live in a neighborhood that Boos each other :)  

Lunch time visitors

Ryan has been asking Leah and I to come eat lunch with him again.  I don't want to go every week...but maybe every other?  Okay, I would go everyday if I could!  We all love it.  This time we surprised him with a Grandma Pam appearance.  We all chatted and happily enjoyed our Subway. eRyan took G Pam to his classroom and then Leah and I stayed for indoor recess.  Ryan even took Leah over and introduced her to his class.  It was adorable!  Adorable!!

Earlier this week Leah and I were in Appleton running errands.  We can't go anywhere near Diddos work and not bring a treat, so we picked up some Swedish fish and stopped for a quick visit.

This visit was pretty adorable too!!

Family Pictures

When the kids were little we did family pictures every 6 months.  I kind of loved it.  Unfortunately, I was the only one.  I promised Mike that once Leah was 3 I would stop.  So now it is my job to take our family pictures.  I took pictures of the kids and then Tammy took a few family pictures.

There was a lot of complaining, by Mike more than anyone else.  There were lots of bribes.  All in all I am pretty happy with the pictures.

I cannot believe how big the kids are getting.  I feel like they look so old in these pictures.  The other day, Ryan put on his backpack and it just looked normal to me.  Just a few weeks ago I thought it looked gigantic.  

Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the story.  Mike was insistent that Ryan get a haircut before pictures.  I said that I didn't think getting a haircut the day of pictures was ever a good idea.  Turns out I was right...although I could have never imagined this would happen....

We called it a reverse mohawk.  I think Ryan might have liked it a little.  Fortunately, Mike was able to fix it up the next day.  In the future...no same day haircuts!!  

Adios, Civic!

We have been talking about getting a new car for awhile now.  Both cars had over 100,000 miles on them.  Mike has to drive for work and doesn't have awd.  It was time.

I was not prepared for how sad Ryan would be.  He loved the "little car".  I guess I can see it.  It was the car to go special places with Daddy...Uncle Mitch's cabin, camping, Packer events, etc.   Riding in it was always a treat, both kids begged to ride in Daddy's car.  To him it was a speedy little go kart.  He cried when we dropped it off at the new owners house.  We let him have his goodbye time.

All was forgotten when he saw the new car,a 2014 CRV  He liked the back-up camera and the "little cave" in the trunk.  He even admitted that he liked it just as much as the other car.

Mike said that this car might even be his someday.  Really?!  I guess he could be right.  Less than 11 years until Ryan drives.  So crazy to think about.  We will see if the CR-V will one day be his.