Happy Halloween

We have been busy carving pumpkins for the last two weeks.   Timothy and Teresa each had pumpkins from church.  Then Timothy brought one home from school and finally he won one at our church Halloween party.  The first one we carved, Timothy chose to do with the pumpkin prayer.  So his pumpkin has heart eyes, a cross nose and a fish mouth.  He did it at school and wanted to do that at home too.

We carved pumpkins as a family on Saturday morning.  Teresa wasn't not too interested, which was good.  It meant she wasn't too sad when we threw out her pumpkin upon discovering it had rotted from the bottom.  (Lesson learned...don't keep pumpkins inside for a month next to a heater and let your children continually climb on it. Opps!) 

Timothy kindly let Teresa use one of his pumpkins.  I helped Teresa carve a cat face in her pumpkin.  Timothy spotted a pumpkin in the newspaper and requested that Troy carve his like that.  Troy and I had to do the scooping out, but Timothy attentively watched and waited for a turn to help with the carving.

Teresa sat with me briefly while I worked on hers and then wandered away.  Probably off reading a book!

Here is Timothy's finished pumpkin.  Three happy faces and one very sad face.  I don't remember what Teresa was so terribly upset about, but clearly it was something awful!

I was part of a team to plan a fall festival at our church.  We had great turn out and the kids had fun playing different games and activities.  Troy dressed up as a cowboy and helped make the picture with a pastor photo booth happen.  Timothy's favorite game was the cereal walk (think cake walk).  When the cereal ran out it became a pumpkin and bowl walk.  Timothy was persistent enough to win both a pumpkin and a bowl!

I think our pumpkins look pretty good this year.  Here is one cool dude posing with our pumpkins!

 

 Teresa was new to this whole trick or treating event and thought that she would get her treats right after dinner.  She ate cantaloupe and pumpkin seeds and upon hearing Timothy ask about treats, declared she was done and moved her plate away.  The last ten minutes of dinner she just kept asking for her treats.  And I  kept telling her she had to go out trick or treating to get them. Finally dinner ended and we got the trick or treaters on their way.  They had a great time.  

 



 

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Preview and fall fun

The kids tried on their Halloween costumes today, so I thought I would post a little preview.  Teresa is a cat and Timothy a great white shark.  We have been reading a few Halloween books--Morris and Borris Halloween, and Minerva Louise Halloween the last few days.  I think Timothy is getting excited to go trick or treating.  I have been planting the idea of sharing some of our candy with the mission downtown too.  Timothy seems open to the idea as long as he doesn't have to share it all!

Kitty's tail

 

Great white with fins and tail.

Teresa's huge pumpkin and Timothy's 3 pumpkins!

A fall family pose.

Who loves leaf piles?!

A new life stage

Finally I am getting caught up on news and happenings from the past weeks.  I keep mentioning this and now I have time to put pictures up.  What's the news?  We are minivan owners now!  With some doubts and deliberation and a bit of excitement mixed in, Troy and I decided to go for it. 

We were not considering such a purchase until we received a gift of money to put towards a new car.  After a few conversations, research into cars, test drives and dealer visits we decided on a Kia minivan.  We have had it for less than a week, but are liking it so far.  And I would say that the kids are loving it.  A new favorite pastime is playing in the new minivan.

Troy's mom got to be the first extra passenger to ride with us.  It is nice to have room for others without me having to squeeze between two car seats.

I am still adjusting to the van.  I had to read in the book how to turn on the wipers today!  But I think we will really like it and believe this was a good decision for our family.

Soccer

Timothy has recently begun his soccer career.  He is on the Beetles.  He really enjoys his practices and games even with his mom helping coach.

 And ever since Timothy started soccer, Teresa has become attached to the soccer ball. She came across some little soccer balls at my parents that she loved.  Upon returning home it has been the big ball that is hers!  She calls it her "new ball."  She plays with it inside and outside and takes in along in the car when we go places.  And of course she is learning from Timothy how to play "real soccer."  That means no hands, stay on the field and try to kick the ball away.

On a side note, Teresa continues to amuse us with what she likes and is drawn to.  There is her stuffed kitty that was my birthday gift a few years ago, Timothy's old Lightning McQueen slippers, and now a soccer ball.  What a funny girl!

Proud soccer player.

Ready for the action to begin.



Playing hard?!

 The girl and her ball.

Fall leaves

The leaves seem to be changing color and falling early this year, and when there are leaves on the ground who can resist a leaf pile? We certainly can't, so the kids and I have had lots of fall fun recently. We also took a drive in our new minivan (pictures of that still to come!) to enjoy some fall colors.

Relaxing in the leaves!

Learning the wrong way to go down the slide from her big brother!

Big jump!

Fall leaves in Crookston