Smell My Feet!

So - we don't trick or treat on Halloween, but we sure do plan some fun! We carve pumpkins (as previously posted), paint our faces, pack treat bags for trick or treaters, pop corn, eat candy, and watch a movie (tonight it will be a Casper the Friendly Ghost movie). Don't these bags look like a delightful treat?? We've packed them full of stickers, playdough, "creepy bugs", a festive pencil and candy. Ezra's dino-face has smeared off and Aurelia's wearing a bird that matched her leotard this morning (which she wore to gymnastics).

Enjyo your evening and make it a safe one!

Six Cheesy Little Pumpkins

Somehow Tuesday slipped past without us pulling out the saftey knife - so here are the next four creations in our pumpkin carving endeavors. Tonight Jason will carve the final face and we'll post the picture later. Hey - see my giant zuchinni in the back?? Well, we cooked some of it . . "Say Cheese!" and boy, do they know how!

Carving out some fun!

If you are a follower of this particular blog, you will know that we have, now, nine pumpkins in our possession. So, to s-t-r-e-t-c-h out the fun, we decided to do a little carving today and a little carving in a couple of days and a little more some days after that and perhaps a final pumpkin on Hallowe'en. SO here are our first attempts. Aurelia didn't mind the muck this year and Ezra is SO proud of his pumpkin's lopsided grin. Read on, dear friends, and enjoy the macabre -- just kidding.

Ezra designing his pumpkin's face.

Aurelia drawing on her Jack.

Here's the first cut of the year! Aurelia was all smiles!

These pumpkins from the Smith Farms did not have much gunk inside - so that was a nice treat, but they also had really big, juicy looking seeds. YUM! Aurelia did almost all of her own carving, but her hand did get tired after a while, so I helped to finish it up. I'll have to post a photo of the finished product later, though, because I didn't get one somehow!! There's actually a story to that - but it doesn't need to be printed here.

Ezra was so cute when he helped me cut the parts. First he told his little pumpkin, "Here you go, pumpkin. We cut your hair." Then, "We cut your eye out, pumpkin, so you can see!" etc. . . for each, and finally the last ear: "Now you can hear, pumpkin!" I love two year olds!! Doesn't he look proud! This pumpkin is now a part of our family and must sit with us on the kitchen table. I hope he doesn't smell too much when he rots . . .

Cheerio, Mate!

Hooray for Oliver! He's finally eating real food! Here are his first attempts and successes at eating a really solid food - Cheerios - and oh how happy he is! It's as if he's been waiting the whole of his six and one half months to finally get his own little mitts on something substantial. He shovels them in with his little rake fists ten at a time and chew, chew, cheeeews them up (with his TWO mini puppy teeth!) Proud boy! Proud Momma! What a relief! "Oh, yes? For me? Why, Thank you!"
"If I use two hands . . . I can get more in!! ALRIGHT!""Look, Mom! No hands!"
"Hooray for me!" (oh yeah, and he got some green beans too! Does it get any better than this??)

Smith Farms Part three

So, I think this is the last time we'll be at the farm this season - we got to know the tractor drivers pretty well, we finally got to go through the corn maze -- and we didn't even get lost!! We had a lot of fun with our MOPS group and Ezra got to spend some extra time with his little friend, Madelynn. We got to plant some cabbage and broccoli, and of course, picked out some great pumpkins!

Children of the Corn

Ezra getting some love from Madi.

Farmer Twins!Madelynn, Ezra and Aurelia.

Smith Farms Part two

So here are some photos from our fun time at the Smith Pumpkin Patch with cousins, Lily and Isaac, Aunti Kitti, Uncle Dusty, and Nana. Poppa and Daddy had to go to work at the last minute - but we still had a good time and picked out some great pumpkins!

Eli's Seven years old!

Eli! Happy Birthday! We love you so much! We hope you enjoy your birthday present (it should have arrive or will arrive soon!!) and eat lots of cake and get lots of love and hugs today and at your party!! Love, Aunti Yaya, JJ, Aurelia, Ezra and Oliver!

PS - Aurelia sends lots of hugs and kisses. See?: XOXOXXXOOXOXOOXX

The Singing Artist

Here's Ezra singing his own version of B-I-N-G-O while he moves the paint around. I love how he responds when he realizes I'm watching him!

MAd ArTiSt

Here's Ezra channeling his inner "mad artist."

Humming Bird

Here's Aurelia just humming away as she usually does. She's a happy girl!

Smith Farms Part One

Aunty Becky had the day off and suggested we head into the Smith Family Farms for a day of fun and it turned out to be a GREAT day to be there. I guess since it was Columbus Day and all, there were NO SCHOOLS at the farm! So, it was really nice and empty. We got to take our time looking at everything and I didn't have to stress about where the kids were or anything. We had a nice picnic and lots of fun picking out our pumpkins. Just coming in to the farms there was a field full of HUGE , cold pumpkins for kids to climb and sit on. Also, a tractor with a scarecrow on it. So, here we (minus me) all are, ready to go in a play! BRRR - it was a brisk morning!
The donkey, Sandy, getting carrots. The sign said not to feed the animals, but Aunt Betty (I think that's her name) said we could share some carrots with Sandy. Sandy just gave birth to a baby girl, Bella. They are Italian donkeys and probably the same kind of donkey that Mary rode to Bethlehem while pregnant with Jesus. Pretty cool. Here's Bella, she just had some milkies and is ready for a nap.

At the Miwok village Aurelia and Ezra got to crush corn for quite some time. They really seemed to enjoy the "work" but I can imagine that having to grind corn all day just to have some breakfast (or lunch or dinner) would get pretty old. The docent we enjoyed speaking with was very well informed and part Cherokee, Blackfoot and something else. She really made the village come alive for us.

Here's Ezra with his pumpkin pack on -- ready to climb aboard the "hay" ride.
Aurelia did not choose this pumpkin after all, but she liked it's lighter color and the wrinkles all over it. I just love the contrast of brown earth, orange fruit, green fields and blue sky! Wow!

Ezra pretty much picked the first pumpkin he came to and put it in his backpack - but it was so heavy that he literally couldn't stand!! It kept pulling backwards to a sitting position. He's only 26 lbs! That gave us a laugh!
The last laugh of the day, however, was on me. I put Oliver down near some pumpkins so I could help Aurelia put her pumpkin in her pack and find my pumpkin. While he was down there near the dirt, he decided to shovel some into his mouth. Not just a little - as you might be able to see if you double click on the photo - but a WHOLE mouthful! He thought it was great - as you can tell by his expression - but there was a little bit of gagging when the dirt turned to mud in there. Yes, I did pull out as much as I could, but he also swallowed a nice portion of the mud too -- and he washed it all down with a sip from Ezra's water cup. SO - all's well that ends well. It was a lovely day!

Second Fun Thing - Happy BDay Lily!

The second fun thing we did this weekend was to celebrate my niece, Lily, turning three! We had burgers and dogs, chips, CANDY!, cake, ice cream, and a PINATA! Here's the video of the kids (in part) working at cracking that thing open. Dusty was at the top of the landing moving the pinata up and down and all around. Finally, Kitty had to tear the poor llama open so the kids could get some candy. It was a blast! Happy Birthday, Lil Girl!

My Girl, Ginger

Two fun things happened this weekend: First, I got to see my cousin, Ginger, whom I haven't seen in at least a decade, and meet her new husband, Jeff, and introduce them to my kids. I forgot what a crazy lady she is, but I'm sure glad we got to get together again. I also got to see my Aunt Mary Margaret, Uncle Dennis, cousins Drew and Brandy, their kids Jayce and Addison, my dad, my grandparents, and my Aunt Jan and Uncle Jim. Oh, plus I got to have some of the best Mac and Cheese in the world, made by my very own Granna. (Sorry, it's a family recipe). Here are the pictures.

Ginger with Oliver.
Granna working the asparagus.
Jayce, Aurelia and Ezra - fast friends!
New cousin, Jeff -- Oliver's new best friend! Seriously, they were almost inseparable all evening!
Putting on the Ritz! Jayce, Aurelia and Addison.

Happy Birthday, Zizi!

We really did make this video yesterday and I meant to call you but forgot about the time difference! I was going to call after the kids went to bed - I had that in my head all day - and then when I went to call you, Jason reminded me that you're forward a few hours and that you might be in bed already! I'm just a doofus! but I love you! Happy Birthday (one day late!)

Best Friends!

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Erin!! We spent a great evening at your house last Tuesday. We ate a wonderful dinner and got to have great conversation while the kids played so nicely down the hall. I'm only bummed that Jason didn't get to be there to hang with Mr. Aaron. I can't believe we've been friends for . . . 8 years (is it??) WOW. I feel so blessed by your love for me -- by your consistent keeping in touch and not letting our friendship fall by the wayside of busy schedules and changing family dynamics. I so apprecaite your fervor for the Lord and your lighthearted attitude about life and its many mishaps. I appreciate that you call me when you need prayer or advice and that you're not afraid to cry. Thank you for always trying to get together when you're in town and for not being upset of offended when it doesn't work. I love you, friend! Two girls.
Butterfuly Oli.
Princess Ezra (WHAT!!?? they have two girls -- what else should he get dressed up in??)

Fairie Aurelia and Princess Alyssa -- Jessie was doing her own thing!