Pumpkin Patch and Halloween

It was time for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.  This year Allie was old enough to really enjoy herself.

She ran through this big hay maze so fast I kept losing track of her.  She could fit through little spaces that I couldn't, and she was happy to be running free of me.  She enjoyed it a lot more than I did.

"What is this stuff anyway?"

"It might be edible"

"Nope.  No good"

"No good AT ALL!"

 

They took turns burying each other in the corn sandbox

This year they took their shoes off, so I didn't get corn all over my house.

Then it rained corn

 

The first slide was really slow and boring.  The second was thrilling, but painful for poor Joey since all the corn at the bottom was gone and he landed on hard ground.

Horsies!!

She was not afraid of them at all.

Bye bye horsies!

We went on a hayride around the pumpkin patch.  We saw wildlife like cows, donkeys, and the horsies, and exotic plant life like weeds and pumpkins.

They loved it! 

This year Jason was Luigi, and Tyler was a Minecraft Skeleton.  When I asked Joey what he wanted to be he would always say he didn't know in a very uninterested way.  When it came down to the time he had to decide he said he doesn't really care about Halloween anymore because he doesn't want to dress up and he doesn't really like most of the candy that much (like suckers and gum).  I was kind of glad because I didn't have to make or buy a costume, and besides he's on the verge of being too old anyway (I had already decided this was his last year), but I was a little sad too that he's growing up. 

So he stayed home and handed out the candy, which was just fine with him.  I also bought him some candy he likes.

I had a hard time deciding what Allie should be.  The boys wanted her to be a baby Minecraft Zombie.  I thought maybe something to match Jason.  I just didn't want a princess because as soon as girls are old enough to have an opinion it seems like they won't be anything except a princess.  There's nothing wrong with that, princesses are really cute, I just thought since I still have the choice I'd do something different while I can.

Then one day she kept putting on Tyler's black cat costume (she loves cats) and was getting cranky because it's way too big.  So I made her one just her size.  She loves it.

 

She loved trick or treating, and went to every house the boys did, and said "Treat!"  (she couldn't say Trick or Treat), and after she got candy she'd say "Thank you 'a much!"

 

They got loads of loot.  For the first time Jared and I got tired before the kids did. Our neighborhood is awesome, and we all had fun. 

More Summer 2013

We finally have a good yard to play in, so we spent more time outside this summer. 

 

Probably still more time inside playing stupid Minecraft. 

 

Our van turned into a truck this summer.  It hauled many things including cinder blocks, railroad ties, and sod.   We feel pretty stupid pulling up to these places in a minivan, but we don't have a truck, so what you can do?  We did put our foot down with the manure.  We borrowed a truck for that one. 

When we turn on the sprinklers it makes a little river down the street, and Tyler loved to play in it.

Breakfast outside.

Getting his hopscotch on

Allie liked the sandbox we inherited with the house.  It tasted good. 

One day I saw Allie with this little plastic circle and chess piece.  She would put the chess piece on the circle, then on her cheeks;  she was putting on her make-up!  My boys never pretended to put on make-up.  I thought it was really great.

Amy has the best toy ever; Bentley the Chihuahua.  Allie calls him "Bunny."  His leash is almost as much fun.  She wanted it around her neck, and she was pretty disappointed when it wouldn't fit.  She settled for her wrist.  :)

4th of July Fireworks!

They were "wowd"

But they were pwitty like fwowers.

Summer 2013

Yes, I know summer is almost a distant memory, but this one was a good one that we shouldn't completely forget about. 

 

There was baseball.  This year we convinced Tyler to play with Jason because they could be on the same team; they play with kids their age, but at this stage Jason could play with older kids or younger, so it worked out for them to play together.  Jason had a blast, as usual, and Tyler tolerated it for the most part, and will probably never play again, except in our backyard. 

 

His hat went down so low he had to tilt his head back to see anything.

 

 

We worked on our house A LOT, but that is a post for a different day, if I can somehow start the habit of blogging again. 

We didn't work on our backyard very much, even though it desperately needs it, because for one thing it was just so dang hot, and also we decided to put all our energy into our house this year, and next year we'll do the yard.  But we cut down some old ugly trees, and wanted to get rid of the stump, so we burned it (ceaselessly for 3 days, it was obnoxious smelling like campfire all the time).  It was a good opportunity to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows, and to take a picture to show off all the great, fun things we do all the time (ha ha, jokes on you, we mostly watch TV and eat chips). 

 

Joey received the priesthood, and both Grandmas and Grandpas came, and cousin Emmett, and that really was a fun time.  We did giant bubbles, which were both exhilarating and disappointing.  You kind of want them to stick around longer than they do, but as soon as you marvel at how huge they are, they pop.  Still very cool though, worth it for sure.

The boys all slept in the tent in the back yard with Grandpa Moore.

Jason and Tyler got short hair cuts for the first time anyone can remember.  They were happy.  They also looked like Joey.

I deserved a prize for making the coolest piñata ever.  It's minecraft Steve!  They were not sad to beat him with a stick to get candy, but they did keep his body parts for quite some time in remembrance of his awesomeness.

That is some of our summer.  There will be future installments. 

If the stars align, ha ha. 

No.  Not really.  I'm really going to do this. 

I think I am, anyway.

 

Allie with the hose

This is something she loves to play with, but just for a little while.  She doesn't like being wet, so pretty soon she wants to go in and change.  But this day she really had a lot of fun, and I was glad I captured it on camera.

And finally . . . the amazing gravity-defying hose . . .

Allie is 2

Happy birthday to my little pipsqueak!  Her birthday was really low-key.  She doesn't get it, so why make a fuss? 

 We had cake.  I made the flowers out of marshmallow fondant, which everyone says tastes good, but it really doesn't. 

She was really nervous about the balloons. It took her a day before she relaxed and played with them.  I think she remembered Jason's birthday party when all those kids popped balloon piñatas. 

Much happier when they were moved.

She even opened her own present, which was sunglasses.

Which she loved.

One month

One year

Two years

 

This will be the last car seat picture, since she is obviously too big for it (she still uses it though).

2 year old Allie:

Loves to play outside

Favorite food is Ramen noodles. 

Also likes pizza, cereal, peanut butter sandwiches, and any kind of junk food. 

She hates getting her diaper changed, washing her hands, and going inside (always cries)

She loves movies, taking baths, and playing with tiny things like beads, dice, marbles, etc.

She is strong-willed and doesn't want to be told what to do. 

She copies everything we do and makes us laugh all the time.

We love her, and can't believe she's already two!

We moved

It's been a crazy couple of months.  We searched high and low for a house to buy, finally found one, and yesterday we moved in.  It was the worst move ever!  I don't know why, maybe because we have so much stuff now, and also because we weren't fully prepared even though I started packing a month ago.  We have many many boxes that are just full of stuff we threw in, with no reason or order to it.   We can't find anything.  But we are so glad to be moved, and to have our own house again!!
I would show you pictures but the stuff I need to do that is in one of those boxes.
Now that I'm not so busy I am hoping to blog more.  I feel bad about all the time I missed because this blog is like a family history for us, and I don't want things to be forgotten forever.
The boys love this house!  They ran around all day exploring.  They said it feels like Grandma's house because it's fun, and doesn't feel like their house.  Allie can go outside all she wants now because we have a fenced backyard.  This is her dream come true.  She didn't seem to like the house much last night, though.  She kept waking up and crying, and hopefully she gets used to it soon.
Tyler desperately wanted his own room, but still has to share with Jason.  We have a really big storage closet in one of our hallways, and he spent most of the day in there, and slept in it last night.  He really wants it to be his bedroom.  We would be the coolest parents if we let him.  Or we'd be investigated by Child Protective Services for putting our child in a closet.  One or the other.
We love it here.  It's no mansion, but it's ours, and we're so happy to have it.