Halloween

The boys had an appointment with the doctor to see how they checked out on having pneumonia.  They were still sick of course but they checked out fine at their visit.  I decided that it was probably okay to take them trick or treating.

Mike had to work this Halloween and wasn't able to be with us to go trick or treating.  Quinn had been excited all week to go and has been practicing his "boo" to scare people.  When it was time to go, he didn't want to.  He had just woken from his nap and was still feelings groggy.  I wanted to get out there and going before it got too dark, cold, or they just weren't interested anymore. 

Since Mike couldn't make it, Wyatt, Kirsten, and Grandma Karen came trick or treating with us.  It was so nice to have them there.  Wyatt carried Quinn most of the time since he was being uncooperative.  We took turns carrying Paxton.  I was going to bring the stroller but they said they didn't mind carrying the boys.

Once they left, I got the stroller out since there was no way I was going to carry them for the rest of trick or treating.

 I didn't get any pictures of them while they were trick or treating.  I had them put back on their costume when we got home so I could get one.  Quinn actually dressed up as Spiderman.  It was too bad that no one could really tell since he was wearing a coat.  He was kind of bummed about that.

Paxton wore Quinn's last year Thomas outfit.  He was darling in it.  It was perfect to wear over his coat.  I made him wear a winter hat and then put his train hat over top.  It worked well since the hat was too big for him anyways.

The boys were so cute trick or treating.  Quinn had to be the one that rang the doorbell.  They would stand there in anticipation.  If they said they could take as many pieces as they wanted, they still would only take one or two.  It took them forever to decide what they wanted.  Most were really patient with them.

There were a few doors that scared them in their decorations or loud abrupt noises.  Sometimes it was the dog there were afraid of.

Each year trick or treating gets more and more fun with kids.  I hope next year will be even better as they grow!

Halloween Party at the Church

We couldn't get Quinn to dress up again...no big surprise!  Instead, we just painted our faces.  Quinn wouldn't get his face painted without us getting it painted too.  I had a skeleton shirt already for them so I just had them wear that.  I think it turned out pretty well.

 Paxton was kind of dressed up as two things.  When he didn't have his jacket on he was a zombie skeleton like the rest of us.  When it was on he was a skunk. 

I was hoping his paint would like it was on purpose for the skunk.  Since trunk or treating was outside he was a skunk during that time.

Playing in the Leaves

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I hate the fact that the weather is changing and around the corner is snow. I definitely hate raking those leaves. I love our trees except for this time of year when they are so messy!

It was a beautiful and decided I was going to try to tackle this annoying tedious task.  The boys made it more fun.  I love their spirit and energy.  I love seeing the little things through their eyes.  They looked at this like such fun.  Immediately, this changed my attitude.

I was nervous having them outside being sick.  They needed to get out and run around.  They were running circles in our house.  I can't believe how much energy they have for being sick. 

I had started coughing and not feeling well.  I thought I had to be awake anyways; why not do something?  Mike had come home and told me to not overdo it.  He was so concerned about me.  He stayed outside and helped.  He had a lesson to plan.  He had just gotten off work.  He wasn't feeling the best either.  This little act showed he loved me. 

He was right.  I got tired fast and started fading.  I needed to save my energy for the boys so I didn't finish raking the leaves.  Mike had made us lunch and that was a good reason to break.

Quinn running and jumping into the pile of leaves.

Quinn saw me rake the leaves.  Once the leaves weren't really into a pile anymore, he would take the rake and pile the leaves back up.  I was impressed.  He didn't ask for my help.  He just did it!

Halloween Party at Grandma Karen's house

Quinn is really funny about Halloween.  He says he wants to be Spiderman or Thomas the Train but when it's time to actually get dressed into his costume he doesn't want to wear it.  In a way, it's kind of frustrating.  How am I supposed to help a child when he himself doesn't even know what he wants?

We had a Halloween Party over at Grandma Karen's.  The plan was to be Thomas the Train but at the last minute he changed his mind and wanted to be Spiderman.  I couldn't get him to put it on.  I wasn't about to fight him over it.  It just wasn't worth.  I just brought them with us.  He put it on for about 2 seconds.

Karen had lots of games planned for the kids.  They had a ball with all of them.  They played fishing, the doughnut hole game, and frosting cookies.  I think there were more games but my mind is failing me now.

You have to know that during this time the boys were super sick.  I took them to the doctor and they were diagnosed with walking pneumonia.  I was so glad to have a diagnosis because looking at them they didn't seem that sick.  They would just run around like there was nothing wrong.  They would work themselves up and then just cough and cough.  Night time was the worst.  I was worried to take them out.  I didn't want to expose them to anything else while there immune system was down.  Uncle Wyatt and his Kirsten came to visit during this week.  I figured our house and Grandma's house was okay.

This was the week that Mike also had to student teach.  It was a busy busy week.  The week before and the week after wasn't all that bad.  Mike wasn't supposed to student teach until the next week.  That would have worked better for us since Wyatt wouldn't have been in town.  Hopefully by then the boys would feel better too. 

I remember staying up late so Mike could bounce ideas off of me for his lessons or so that he could practice.  A lot of times we wouldn't get home until way late.  I wanted him to do the best that he could.  We really want this.

 This is basically how they treated Wyatt the whole time he was here; as their personal punching bag.  Wyatt was really patient with them and seemed to enjoy playing with them.  These little boys are so full of energy so it was so nice to have Wyatt there to help them get it out.

Ha Ha!

Quinn was setting out cereal pieces for Paxton on the floor to get him to follow him. Quinn wanted Paxton to play with him. It reminds me of Monster's Inc. where Kitty (I think that's his name) is setting them out for Boo to get her to go to sleep.  I think this is clever of Quinn especially because it worked.  I had to document one of the few times these boys were actually getting along. ;)

Quinn and his dance party

 

Quinn had just finished watching Calliou.  Calliou went to preschool that day and had a dance party.  He decided that he needed to have one too.  At first he got me and Paxton dancing and then asked for me to take some pictures of him.  By the time I took the pictures his dance moves were extinct and he was mainly just running around.  I thought it was still cute.

 

I tried downloading a video but it said there was an error. 

 I think he's trying to do a flip here.

More funny things...

Quinn has been talking a lot about houses lately.  This is how a typical conversation goes...

Quinn: I want to build a house.
Me: What's wrong with our house?
Quinn: It's cold and old.  We need a new one.  I don't like this house.
Me: Oh, how are you going to build this house?
Quinn: With a hammer (while making the gesture of hammering) and a flashlight.
Me: What is the flashlight for?
Quinn: So, I can work while it's dark.
Me: Where are we going to build this house?
Quinn: On our front lawn.

Quinn doesn't forget either.  He keeps asking and asking and asking and asking....  Finally, I asked if he wanted to build a box.  He settled for that.  He did a good job hammering too.  I was quite impressed.

Quinn and Paxton were taking a bath a week and a half ago or so.  Mike came in and asked Quinn, "What does Mommy sound like when she gets mad?"  In his best mommy voice he says, "Go to your room!"  Then Mike asks about how Daddy sounds when he gets mad.  "RAWR RAWR RAWR RAWR" while shaking his finger.  Then Paxton; "Wah Wah Wah" and Quinn "ER, I'm mad or I don't like this."  Maybe you had to be there but this was quite funny at the time.  He did he tried to mimick each person's voice the best he could. 

The other day, I can't remember why he said it or what was going on, he came in and said Well, Well, What do we have here?  When he's angry he says rawr, rawr, rawr and he says ok ok when he was asked to do something and doesn't want to.

I don't know where he gets this stuff but I think it's hilarious.

The Train Show

 

Quinn absolutely loves trains.  Of course, we had to go to the train show.  I told Quinn about it and he kept track of when it was on his own.  He would look at the calendar every day in anticipation.  The morning of the train show he woke me at 5:00 saying it was time to go.  I told him to go back to bed since it didn't even open until 9:00.  He waited outside my door until I got out of bed.  He called this our date.  He would say, "Mom, do you want to go on a date with me?" 

I wanted to take Quinn alone without Paxton.  I knew Quinn could stay all day if I let him.  Paxton would tire and get bored easily.  Grandma Karen met us there.  She took Paxton and Quinn and I was able to stay till a little past nap time.  He agreed to not have stories read to him so he could stay a little longer.  It was a good thing I packed us a lunch or else we would have been starving.

Last year he just loved watching the trains go round and around.  He would run with them to keep up with them.  He was so cute about his excitement.  He had a few people engrossed in watching him because of his enthusiasm.  This year was a little bit different.  He thought the trains were cool and enjoyed looking at them.  He didn't have near the energy that he had last year.  He found a table where they sold electric trains.  They had one set up and they let kids try them out.  Once he learned of this and figured out how to run it; he was in love.  He would not move from that station no matter what.  He spent hours there.  Of course there were other kids that were interested in it too.  They would come and go.  I told him when there were other people he had to move and let them try it and then he could go right back to it.  He was very good and obedient about it.  It was a good thing I made friends with those at the booth.  They had a bench so I sat there with him and waited.  I knew he loved it so much that I didn't mind sitting there.  The whole day was for him anyways.

To get Quinn out the door I told him he could go ride the train.  He was super ecstatic about that.  I put Paxton in and he was okay with it until the train started to move.  He cried the whole time.  I didn't dare take him out just in case something would happen.  I don't think they wanted me to anyways.  He had to endure the ride.  Paxton went home right after this.  Quinn was a lucky duck and they let him ride the train twice.