Haunted House Decorating

 For the last few years we have decorated a gingerbread cookie house.  I always have so much trouble putting these things together.  We had it all ready, and it completely collapsed.  Frustrating! 

 These goofs thought it was hysterical.  I finally got it put back together so we were ready to do some decorating. 

 The decorating began!  Ben was getting over strep so we had to be very careful about sharing everything...and no licking fingers!

The kids were so filthy at the end - all that black is frosting all over her.  We had fun though!  It's one of the kids favorite things to do during Halloween. 

Pizza Night

 Grandma and Grandpa invited the kids over to make pizza and have a sleepover a couple of weeks ago.  My mom found these fun "mini murph" pizzas from Papa Murpheys where the kids get to put their own pizzas together.  They loved it!

                                           I got pictures of all the kiddos making their pizzas.

                                Jackson wouldn't smile, he was too busy sampling the ingredients.

Grandma made an adorable table setting for the kids - very Halloweenish.  They had a great time with their Grandparents! 

First Day of School 2012

                After waking the kids up (we're not used to 6:45 around here during the summer!),

                           we headed for breakfast.  I made applesauce muffins that the kids love. 

 Ben had to keep his shirt off while he ate, we didn't want anything on our cute clothes!

                                       Elizabeth and her new backpack for second grade. 

                                                  I still can't believe I have a second grader!

                                                   Next up Ben, the big kindergartener!

                                        My kids love each other, I didn't even tell them to hug!

                                                          The kids in front of the school.

                             Ben had to wait in line with the other kids while he waited for his teacher. 

 Elizabeth went to sit with her class to wait for her teacher.  Elizabeth is a great big sister...now that the parents can't walk into the school she makes sure he gets to his line...she's very responsible!

                                                  Tom and I first followed Ben to his class.

 He waited at his desk for his day to begin.  Ben wasn't nervous, no tears for anyone (even me!) - whew! 

 On to Elizabeth's class.  Here she is with her wonderful teacher Ms. D.  We're sad because we are now 5 weeks into school and we just found out that Ms. D took a new position teaching dislexia - Elizabeth will be getting a new teacher. 

                                           After school we met our friends out for ice cream. 

                                                         It's been our new tradition.

                         Last we met Grandma B, Jessica, Cooper and Jackson for a very early dinner.

                                                              We ate in a van!  Fun!!

                                                        The best buddies and Elizabeth.

Our four kids - they all had a great first day of school and were all excited about going back the next day, thank goodness!

Mommy and Kiddo Day!

                                                (Forcing my girl to smile in the bright sun!)

Tom and I decided to take the weekend before school started and do special one on one dates with the kids.  The kids decided what they wanted to do with us.  Both kids wanted Tom to take them to Mountasia so they could play mini golf, drive go carts, etc.  
With mommy, Elizabeth wanted to go to lunch at Panera so that's what we did first. 

                                Then we went to Old Navy to find a couple of school outfits. 

 At meet the teacher Elizabeth found out they could each bring a pillow pet to sit on so we went to find one that Elizabeth liked. 

 Ooo - Elizabeth can't handle to bright sun!  The last thing (and most important thing) Elizabeth wanted to do was to go to Barnes and Noble.  We spent almost 3 hours just reading, reading, reading!  Elizabeth got to pick a couple of books to go home with her. 

 The next day Ben and I had our special day!  Ben wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese - so that's where we went! 

                                                                        Lots of coins! 

                                                         We went crazy playing games...

                                                                         games...

                                                                     and more games. 

                                             He couldn't even take his eyes off the games. 

I had a blast with the kids, and I think they had fun having special one on one time with me and Tom!