Learnin' Club Halloween "Party"

In preparation for Halloween, We had a party at the park!  It was so much fun.  And the weather has been so perfect lately, we couldn't do better.  Here are some pictures of my kids waiting for the rest of the group.  They were having fun!

When we were all together and had a chance to play on the play ground, we played a few games.  The first game was a build a jack-o-lantern game.  It was so fun, we had to play it 3 times.

The last game as a mummy "costume" contest.  Here is my little mummy.  She won the funniest mummy.

Ms. Mary won scariest mummy...  I'm sure you can see why.

Ms. Ava won best mummy.

It was so much fun!  My kids played the build a jack-o-lantern game all week.

Carvin' Pumpkins

Monday Night, family night, was the perfect time to carve pumpkins!  We started by drawing the faces on our pumpkins.  Melanie wanted a pumpkin that was sad and (according to her) crying for no reason.  (I told her that pumpkin must have been a girl then).  Noelle wanted a happy pumpkin.

Next, dad carved them with his electric saw.

Isn't he cute?

Noelle thought it was a little loud, but there were no tears like last year.

Then it was time to pull the bad stuff out...

Melanie wasn't too sure of this...

So, Brandon pulled some out and flung it at her.  As you can tell, I was a mean mom and laughed really hard and took a picture.  I think, some day, she will laugh as well.

 After that, Oliver and Noelle gave it a "go".

In the end, it was mom and dad that got the seeds out.  We decided to save a bunch of them and we will plant them in our garden.  I think it will be fun.

It was a fun Family Home Evening... and family tradition.  Perhaps next year will be a tearless carve. 

Halloween Costume Preview

I would say, "guess who we are", but I find that would be a pointless exercise after you see Melanie's costume, so... here you go.  A preview for the fun we will have this week.

Melanie as Dorothy:

 

Noelle as Glenda the Good Witch:

 

Oliver as the Scarecrow (he wasn't happy at first)

 And then he found the grass!

And the whole Gang (with me starring as the Wicked Witch from the West... p.s. That dress was my high school band dress.  I point this out for 2 reasons.  #1. After 3 children, it still fits, and I put it on and took it off all by myself!  #2. Yes, it was already bad enough that people make horrible band jokes, they made us wear *that* horrible dress, All. The. Time!)

But, it does make a pretty good witch's dress.  Happy Halloween.
(A special thanks to my mom for helping me with the costumes.  She made Noelle's dress and Melanie's apron.  I am only credited with Noelle's crown, Melanie's tutu, and Oliver's costume.  Another special thanks to Samantha Bartlet for meeting us for alittle bit on her "holiday" to take these pictures.)

Over the week...

It has been over a week, time has flown.  This week has been crazy.  So, in effort to keep up dated, but reduce stress, I'm going share some pictures (which say a 1000 words) and describe the in as few words as possible.

Tired:

 Show and Tell:

 Silly Sock Thief:

 Self inflicted:

 Music Class:

 Standing:

 Walking:

Life is good.

When the Cat is Away...

... The Mice will play.  Brandon was gone all week, and while he was gone, we had some fun. 

We: Did science experiments with milk.

 Made some ghosts to haunt our trees.

 Cleaned the kitchen and found this, which made us giggle.

 Dressed up as fairy princesses

 Dressed ourselves.

 Ate good food.

 Panned for Gold.

 Caught *a* fish (or 3 on the same line).

 Met Humpty Dumpty.

 Played in the water.

Other fun things that we did that aren't pictured:

*School

*Played with friends

*Went to the library for story time

*Watched movies

*Had lunch and dinner picnics

*Played at the park

*Made glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets

*Read books

*Ate ice cream

*Music Class

*Laughed

When the kids wake up in the morning, Daddy will be home, and they will be in 7th Heaven.  They love him so much.  But it is nice to know that while he was gone, we still did some things that were worth while.  They were really good for me while he was gone.  I have loved playing all week.

Cat in the Hat goes to a baby shower

 The Cat in the Hat went to a baby shower...  and I was asked to make the cake.  Here is is:

I'm not the best at taking photos of my work, so note that it looked better in person than on film.  The cake it self was really fun too.  The top tier had stripes of red and white cake with butter cream frosting.  The bottom tier was a white cake with red and blue confetti.  (Also cut into 3 pieces with butter cream frosting in between).  Anyhow, there you go.