Halloween Steps

STEP 1:PICK YOUR PUMPKINS

 I hate going to the pumpkin patch in shorts

It just feels so wrong

In the past we have made numerous visits

during the season to the PP

to play and take pics

So we usually can get in at least one trip

in long pants

This year we only went once

PARENTING TIP:

NEVER buy your pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

It's highway freaking robbery

Buy your big guys at the grocery store

better yet-WALMART

This year they were $3.88

The big ones at the patch will run $10+

We buy the baby pumpkins that we paint for less than $1 each

That way the boys can pick out a few each

STEP 2: CLEAN THE PUMPKINS

 This is quite possible the most important step

mainly because it's the most fun

what's not to love about playing in 

soap and water

 and you can clean your kids at the same time

BONUS

 PARENTING TIP:

when providing your children with water (and soap) to play in

it is best to remove their clothing first

weather permitting of course

especially their $50 stride rite shoes

that will take 3 days to dry out

STEP 3: PAINT THE PUMPKINS

 PARENTING TIP:

painting is messy

but so much fun

under NO circumstances should leave the room

hold your pee

or you will return to find someone painting the other

and himself

STEP 4:PLACE THE PUMPKINS

 It is very important that each child

can place his very own pumpkin(s)

otherwise a fight is very likely to break out

STEP 5: CARVE THE JACK-0-LANTERNS

Be prepared to stick your hand in and get the goo out

Your kids will NOT do it for you

PARENTING TIP:

Have enough non sharp tools for everyone

or a fight will break out

(fights can start among 3 children quite easily)

STEP 6: DRESS UP IN COSTUMES (not necessarily the brand new ones mom just spent $$ on)

STEP 7: BRING MOM CHOCOLATE

Halloween was great! Hope yours was too. Now please don't forget about the turkey! We don't, especially now since we celebrate Christian's Thanksgiving birthday. I can't believe my last baby is about to be 2 in just a few weeks. It makes me sad. On the plus side, I only have about 2 more years until I get my sanity back...HOLLA!

I think I should start a parenting tip segment. But not about what to do, about what NOT to do. I have a lot of knowledge in that department, seeing as how I screw up bunches and bunches. 

Sorry for being so MIA. This working mom thing is kicking my butt. I promise to catch up on all my favorite blogs soon and too catch you up on our super exciting lives here in OKC!

Halloween and Family Time

Better late than never

Right?

We were invited to our first birthday party here in OKC

It was the Friday before Halloween

Costume Party 

of course

For our neighbor Charlie

He obviously does not live in our cul-de-sac

since he is 3

not 83

I had talked to my dad that morning and already decided

to head home on Saturday

So I had a million things on my mind

But did not want to miss the bash

 It was a weekday, morning party

Never been to one with that kind of time

It was great

Made a mental note that it worked well

 The kiddos decorated cookies and had pizza for lunch

We left a bit early to get Connor off to school

Met a few mom's

Did not get numbers though

I say this every time

But man, I need a pick up line or something

to score the digits

Got Connor off to school

Got the little ones napping

Got some laundry going

and then....

the phone rang

It was that call we all dread

caller: Hi is this Mrs. Lenzer

me: Yes

caller: Hi, this is so and so from Connor's school

He's had a little accident on the playground

HEART POUNDING

a million visions flash before my eyes in 2 seconds

caller: His nose is bleeding out of both sides and he won't stop crying, can you come 

me: On the way

So I literally grab the 2 sleepers from their beds and run to the car

Luckily we just live a couple of minutes from the school

I get there and toss the little boys into the stroller and rush in

to find my big boy sitting there with red eyes and and ice  pack on his nose

And tissue on the nostrils
looking so tiny in the big kid school

Just a bump

Nothing broken

THANK YOU GOD!

He fell on the playground

No ones really knows what happened

However he had a really nasty knot on the back of his head as well

As we were leaving the school office

His eyes welled up with tears again

He looked so frightened that I almost started to cry too

He was upset

Not about his nose or fall

But because he did not get to show his spider man for 

show and tell

So me

being the rock star mom that I am

Walked him directly to his classroom

for show and tell

Then I took my baby home for some TLC

We headed to Mississippi the next morning

Mark drove us, then flew home Sunday morning

The boys were concerned about missing trick or treat 

So I

still being the rock star mom that I am

promised to take them

Why not?

My parents live in the country now

but it's just a few miles from Collierville, TN

where I grew up

I can make this work right?

Connor did not want to be a Ninja Turtle though

I think he was having buyers remorse over his costume

He decided to wear his Buzz Lightyear pj's

Which meant Colton wanted to wear his Woody pj's

Hey...

those are easier to pack

We met up with my Tony and Shea
and their clan
Tony and Shea are my BIL's borther and SIL
I couldn't get my 2 to stand still long enough for a photo
And this was before the sugar high began

Their youngest
 Lola
 fell asleep while trick or treating
Literally
Went up to a door, got some candy
Came back to the wagon
And
was out
like a light
for the night

This house was the cutest
They had the outside all done up
Fog
Music
Spider webs and such
Plus these ghosts and a spider man
Made to look like trick or treaters
LOVED IT

Trick or treating was fun
Now I wish the candy would go
AWAY!!!!
GGRRRRRR

So I spent Saturday and Sunday with my mawmaw at the nursing home
On Monday my sister and I went in shifts
One being with mawmaw while the other stayed with our kids
On Thursday morning she passed away
We had a grave side service for her on Saturday
It was the hardest week of my life
wondering why
cherishing memories
But the family being together made it a little less painful
(if that is really possible)
Mark's support and strength helped more than he knows
(He flew back in on Friday night and then drove us home Sunday)
And all of your thoughts and prayers got me through

Stay Out of the Water

1st Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

October is one of my 

FAVORITE

months

of them all

The weather is turning cooler

The leaves start changing to their gorgeous fall colors

My birthday occurs

(all though sometimes I try to forget)

There is Halloween

and 

PUMPKIN PATCHES

We usually go at least once a week

I remember last year it was so wet

But still we went

We run around

We get lots of baby pumpkins for art projects

We dress up and take pictures

We went this week to 

Southern Hills Christian Church

They just have pumpkins for sale

No bells and whistles

But that's all we needed

I have found a a few patches/farms in the area

I am going to try and visit one this weekend

when daddy can join us

They cost money

SERIOUSLY???

I have never paid to visit a PP before

But we'll give it a whirl

And this little pumpkin is....

Enjoying his first Halloween

NOW WASH 'EM

BOYS

I'm such a slave driver

Time for painting

And since Christian can't paint yet

He entertained us with music

I love October