A Fantastic Fall Weekend

Fall has finally arrived in Phoenix.  After living through an unusually warm week in the high 90's with a broken a/c, we were relieved to have a little rain, some cooler weather, and the ability to return to the great outdoors!
We headed out to Tolmachoff Farms for their Pumpkin Days.  The kids had a great time.  They fed the animals,

pumped water to race plastic ducks (the farm activity being the pumping of water, I suppose),

posed for Mom and Dad's required pictures,

hung out on Daddy's back,

went crazy in the bouncy house,

rode the ladybug train,

found their way through the corn maze (with minimal complaining of tired feet)

played in the corn,

and of course, picked out some pumpkins.  Somehow I forgot to take a picture of those.  They're more exciting when they become jack 'o' lanterns anyway.

Today we had a t-ball game for Kyle, our Primary Program Practice and Pizza Party (I'm really enjoying alliteration today), some last minute costume piecing, and finally our ward Trunk Or Treat party.  We enjoyed chili and hot dogs, played some fun games, and went trick or treating to the ward members' cars.  Marcus Emma guessed the correct number of jellybeans in the Candy Counting contest, but she was most excited for winning Best Overall Costume!  I was pretty excited too, since I made the costume myself.  Here are my cute Toy Story pals.

 Our weekend was fun but exhausting, and we still have one more day to go.  We are presenting our Primary Program tomorrow, and I still have a lot to do to be ready.  We asked the children to write many of their parts this year to try to make it more meaningful, both to them and to the audience.  They have worked hard, and I know it will be a beautiful program.

Then we can all stop walking around singing "Follow the Prophet".

T-ball

This weekend Kyle had his first t-ball game.  I'm sure it will be one of many we will attend over the next fifteen years or so, but the first one always deserves a little special notice.

Kyle is a member of the Cardinals, and their team colors are yellow and black.

If you've never been to a t-ball game, let me paint a picture for you.  And, if you have, enjoy the memories.

Kyle's team is made up of 3-4 year olds.  The players all stand in the field with a parent to help them.

The opposing team hits the ball, and everyone in the field runs towards the ball, no matter where they are standing.  Inevitably, someone will cry because another kid got it first, and you just hope it's not your kid breaking down next.  It's especially hard when every single player hits it to the same spot, and the same kid gets the ball ten times in a row.

When your team is up to bat, they wait on the bench for their turn.  They may or may not run off up the hill and have to be chased down by their mom.  (No, not me for once.)

 Each kid gets to take a turn hitting the ball.  They might whiff and get to try again.  Or they may hit it so soft it just falls off the tee, in which case they also get to try again.  Or they could actually send it sailing into the field.  Most of the kids run straight towards the pitchers mound instead of first base, since it's right in front of them and raised up.  They are oblivious to the shouts of "No!  Run this way!  Over here!"  First base is surrounded by dads and kids, so it's hard to know where to go.

They get to advance one base at a time.  No one is ever out, and when the last kid hits the ball, everyone runs around to home base.

T-ball is all about learning sportsmanship, the basics of hitting, catching, and throwing, and having a good time.  It ends with a team cheer, and, of course, a snack.

 Kyle had a great time and can't wait to go back next week.

Celebrate!

After dinner last night, the long awaited birthday celebration began.  Emma was incredibly anxious for Drew to open his present.  I don't know why.  First of all, it's not her birthday.  Second, she already knew what it was.

Drew knew something was going on, but of course, had no idea of the fun in store.  He sat ready in his high chair.

He was excited to rip the bright shiny paper thing placed before him,

with a little help from big bro and sis.

An activity board that turns into a push-behind walker!  What fun!

Now it's time for cake!  I made my first ever fondant cake by following the Make-a-Cake series tutorials at Make It and Love It.  I love how it turned out.

Drew thought it was pretty delicious, and handful by handful, ate his whole slice.

The he ended his night with some sound effects- spitting cake all over his face.

 It was a wonderful evening.  Happy birthday, Drew!

Happy Birthday Baby!

It's my sweet baby's birthday today!  It's been a long year.  I know people have had it way tougher than I have, but I also won't minimize my struggles with that argument.  For me, whether it's the addition of a 3rd kid, Drew's naturally grumpy personality, or just a combination of way too many sleepless nights, crabby days, serious arthritis pain, and the normal ups and downs of life- it's just been more difficult than I thought it would be to adjust.  We've had a lot of ups and downs, my grumpy baby and me.  However, I'm so glad he is a part of our family.   He makes me happy when I see his sweet smile, his bouncy dancing, his delight in his toys and in his siblings, his desperation to get to Daddy when he walks into the room, and when I hear his hysterical laugh as I tickle his tummy.

I'm thrilled we made it through this year, and I'm excited to see what year #2 has in store.

(We haven't officially celebrated yet, so those pictures will come soon....)

What I did this weekend

Can you tell what my kids are being for Halloween?

To me, there's a fine line on when you should buy a costume, and when you should make one.  Sometimes you can make a costume with things you have around the house, or from your fabric stash. Sometimes you have to buy a few pieces, but can mix and match with your own stuff.  

And sometimes, you'd have to buy material, base pieces like pants, embellishments, paint, etc.  Plus there is the time involved.  That is certainly worth money, don't you think?

I feel like I SHOULD make my kids' costumes.  So when it seems fairly easy and cost effective, I do.  But sometimes, it's just not worth it.  And you know what?  I still love my children.  They are happy!  So please don't judge me too harshly for buying the Buzz Lightyear costume.  I just didn't think it was one that was worth the time and materials.  Besides, I did have to alter a little to fit.  I cut the pants to shorten them, then reattached them.  Oh, and I hemmed the sleeves.  That counts, doesn't it?

The Jessie costume, on the other hand, was easy, even though it's not perfect.  A dress shirt and old jeans from Goodwill ($5.99), about $5 worth of fabric from the store, some Heat N Bond (on hand) and embroidery floss (on hand), and a few hours of my time= a great looking costume.  Way better than the polyester jumpsuit at the store for $29.99.  

I've still got a little to do- cuffs for Jessie.... accessories for both.  I'll show off the finished products closer to Halloween.  

Kyle's First T-Ball Practice

Kyle had a blast at his first T-ball practice.

A New Kind of Routine

Since Emma started school, we've been settling into a new routine.  Half-day kindergarten is short, and the three hours she is gone just fly by.  Still, it's amazing how much more I can get done when I'm not breaking up fights every other minute.

Emma has taken to school like a fish to water.  She loves it.  She thrives on it.  She runs off from the drop-off spot each morning without a second thought.  She does well on her school work and homework, and she is excited to return each day.

It's just me and the boys.  Kyle watches a little TV, Drew takes a little nap, I do a little exercising and cleaning, and then I have time to play with them.

We pick Emma up from school, the kids eat lunch, and then Emma does her homework while Kyle "learns" from his preschool workbook.  After lunch, quiet time is still in order, where I can craft or read, and then it is busy craziness until dinner and bedtime.

Sometimes new and different things happen.  This weekend I got to be part of a surprise for my sister-in-law Chelsea, who is getting married in November.  My mother-in-law and sister-in-law Julie flew in to surprise her for her bridal shower.  They stayed at my house so Chelsea didn't know they were there until they walked in to the shower.  It was a lot of fun.  I gave her these fun kitchen staples along with some mixing bowls from her registry.

Then I got to be the chauffeur as we drove around making preparations for the wedding.  It's going to be a fun reception, Earnest clan!

Kyle got to pick out a toy this weekend for completing his "potty" chart.  I don't like to go into too much detail for everyone, but it's been a struggle potty training him, and he worked very hard on this reward.  So while I was off with the girls, Kyle picked out his toy.

Marcus helped him build a Lego Toy Story spaceship, complete with Buzz and the "ee-pull whopper-er" Zurg.  I don't think he's stopped playing with it since Saturday.

So, life goes on.  Nothing earth-shattering, nothing too out-of-the-ordinary.  Usually, it's just another day.