Ugh! There is nothing more cute than a bunch of kids dressed up in silly costumes full of excitement over a holiday! I can't get enough!!! This was our second year to trick or treat with a group of close friends in their neighborhood. Our area is full of older kids (the kind that don't really dress up and show up with a Walmart sack to get candy...you know what I mean) and our homes are very far apart so walking is tough when you are 2 and 4. We joined up with the Burrow family for dinner (don't they look awesome in their Star Wars gear?) and then met up with the rest of our group for trick or treating. I love these kids....and their parents. I love that they love my kids and that they are safe and comfortable with them. I love that Rhonald and I had just as much fun being with our friends as the kids did being with theirs. And I love making memories and living life with these people. What a difference a year makes! Last year this group fought over who was going to ring the doorbell at each house and who got to pick which house to go to. This year they took turns (on their own) and just followed the leader, whoever that happened to be. The "babies" are now toddlers and rode in wagons trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Even they got in to it by the end and carried their buckets up to the doors with their brothers and sisters. It was heart warming to see .... such fun and innocence and love for one another. Just talking about it makes me excited for next Halloween!
One of my favorite fall traditions is pumpkin carving. I remember doing it as a family when I was growing up and loved it even then. Now I am married to the "pumpkin master" - at least that is what I call him. Rhonald loves to watch Halloween Wars on TV and gets ideas online about what to do with his pumpkin. They are always amazing and challanging. I, on the other hand, stick with the traditional "shape face" and am happy with whatever comes out of that. This year Cole really wanted to carve his own pumpkin but then so did Lily Kate so we made a decision that only grown ups could use the tools. Cole told me the shapes he wanted to use for everything and I drew it out with him. He was happy ... and so was Lily who fell in love with pumpkin goo and making Halloween messes! Another thing our kids developed a love for....roasted pumpkin seeds....Yum-O! I love this time of year and everything it brings about. Not just the fun pumpkins and yummy food but also the desire to simply be still. To stay home on cool nights and curl up under the covers to watch movies. To make hot apple cider and read stories to my kiddos in a homemade fort. To run around like crazy in the backyard playing and feeling rejuvinated in the crisp, fall air. I love fall...and I am thankful for seasons that bring about the best in life!
One thing I believe both of our children inherited from Rhonald is their love for art and creating things. They both love to color, draw, build and sculpt. Not a day goes by that Cole doesn't ask to do some sort of craft project. I love it - it was not something I grew up doing but I love learning with them and enjoying being creative. So....when Keisha invited us to a "Mommy and Me" art class the other day I knew we had to go. As it turned out we were the only ones there so we got to basically take over the place! The kids made "Boo Bags" to carry all of their Halloween goodies in. Cole and Jackson were all about it and loved every second of their time there. Ethan and Lily were not as excited but by the end really had a good time too! It was so much fun and we can't wait to go back again!!!
Something new we have started this fall is Little Gym. It is something I have thought about doing for a long time but just never wanted to commit our time and money. Cole went to a few day camps there this summer and fell in love. He begged me to let him take a class there and we really felt like it would be great for Lily too. She is so shy that anytime we can get her around other children and adults who can encourage her we try to do so. Anyway....all of that to say, we all love Little Gym. It has been amazing in 100 different ways for both of our kids. This year they hosted a Fall party and we could not wait to go. Rhonald had to work that night so I took the kids (something I could not have done last year but they are getting easier and easier to do things with-yeah!). It was so fun! Even little Lily came out of her shell a bit. They had all sorts of games and snacks and prizes plus the fun gymnastics equipment. One funny thing....I could not find the perfect costume for Lily this year. Either things were scary or they were cute but she didn't know about the character they were, etc. So, I chose a fairytale witch...super cute (really cute with the hat that she refuses to wear) and when we showed up at the party EVERY little girl was a Disney princess. Lily Kate stuck out like a sore thumb but that is kind of her style anyway....to be unique....but I had to laugh. I had no idea how popular princesses were!
One of our favorite places....and my parents' favorite places....is Crystal Bridges so we decided to spend a day there during their visit as well. It was a beautiful day and it was so beautiful along the trail. Cole and Lily Kate loved finding "treasures" along the way. They loved seeing all of the new sculptures and the beautiful trees and they loved running all over the place chasing leaves! It is such a peaceful place to walk and I always leave feeling so blessed by our time there.
