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.

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.

Different Ideas of Fun!!!

What did we do for Independence Day? Well, it isn't what we typically do.  We sold cotton candy! Mike, every year, claims that he wants to do something.  I told him that this was his year.  He got to talking to one of our friends and found out that her family used to sell cotton candy when she was growing up.  Since she knew what she was doing and we have never done this, we decided to team up with her.  He only officially decided he wanted to sell cotton candy only a few days before the 4th.
Monday night (the 2nd) was crazy.  We hadn't gotten much together and needed to since Tuesday we went over to Mike's parents to celebrate his Grandma's birthday.  Mike was super stressed.  Let's say the getting prepared part wasn't that much fun.

We woke at 7:20 A.M. to meet Sonnet by 8.  Luckily, traffic hadn't been blocked yet so we were able to get through.  I assumed that we wouldn't make sells until about 10:00.  I was wrong.  Kids don't care what time they get to eat something sweet.  They could eat it at all times of the day.  We sold a lot more than we had anticipated at the parade.  Mike would take a stick of cotton candy and walk up and down yelling, "cotton candy $2.00."

Paxton was so good.  He sat in his swing through most of it and slept.  He did wake for a while but was content.  He did want to eat right before it ended.  Quinn was with Grandma Karen.  It made it so that I could help out more.  I was sad that he wasn't there just because I knew he would have loved it.  It did make things easier not having him there.

Selling at the fireworks was a little bit slower at first.  I think it was because people had just eaten and didn't have any more room for cotton candy.  I guess that's what we get for setting up around dinner time.  Also, it was HOT!!!

Out of no where things picked up.  We were selling like mad...then nothing again.  People definitely did come in spurts.  After that it was pretty steady.  We were hardly able to keep our sticks full to walk up and down.  People came to our booth.  Once it was made it was sold.

Quinn and Paxton was each with us this time.  I was only helping out part time.  Paxton was still good but not as good as he was during the parade.  Karen came to help out and she mainly entertained Quinn.  Considering Paxton's age I have nothing to complain about.

People ask a lot, when we tell them that we sold cotton candy, if we are going to do it again.  My first answer is NO!  It was hard with the two boys being so young and needing a lot of attention and care.  It was hot and they were miserable for a bit while setting up and selling at the fireworks.  Mike was so excited and thought it would be a lot of fun...and he did have a lot of fun.  This sort of thing is right up his alley.  For me, well let's say, we have different ideas of fun.  It wasn't horrible but I think I would rather do something different on the fourth.  Mike says that I'll look back at this years to come and think that it was fun because it was different.  We'll have to see...

I wouldn't mind doing it again when our boys get older.  Then they'll be able to have the experience.  Having their help would be nice.

If you look closely you can see me in the background holding Paxton.

 Quinn loved the fireworks.   After each one he would yell more and do ooos and awes.  He made it so much more fun.  I'm glad he was there even if he did get to bed way too late.  He was a good boy!



Welcome Home

Mike's parents came home today from their mission. They were serving in Salt Lake City.

We are defiantly excited to have them back. Karen is super excited to be living so close to a grandchild. The rest of her grandkids are either in Minnesota or Arizona. So you know what this means, right? Quinn is going to be spoiled! Yay!

WELCOME HOME GENE AND KAREN!