A week of Halloween...

First stop last Saturday was the YMCA Halloween Party:









Tuesday was Ryan's Halloween party at school, here is his class picture in costume.

Brooke was ready for preschool too!

Wednesday night was the church Trunk-or-Treat. The youth set up games in all the rooms for the kids to play. It was too cold and windy to be outside, so the kids trick-or-treated in the gym.





Brooke wanted to play the beanbag toss all night, just dropping the beanbag in and pulling it out.



We all learned the Thriller Dance!

Yesterday Ben and Steve carved pumpkins to get ready for our party.





I had the camera out all night, but didn't use it once the party began. We had a great time with 3 other families over. We had a scavenger hunt for the kids with glow sticks as the treasure. Everyone had fun!

Riddle me this, Riddle me that...

Ben fell off a trampoline over the weekend and ended up with a great '?' on his chest. We've been calling him the Riddler ever since!

Children of the Corn

It has been a beautiful October so far and we have tried to spend as much of it outside as we can, since we won't be able to much longer. This past Saturday we took the kids to a corn maze!

We had a great time getting lost in the stalks and blaming each other for taking the wrong turn.

Brooke was a good sport, even though she was fighting a fever and getting molars, while missing her nap...

Anyone up for 4-wheeling? The stroller was handy to have, but not too easy.

What cute boys!

Soccer

This fall has been busy with soccer, football and swimming each week for both of the boys. They have enjoyed each sport and I love watching them develop their skills.

Ben is the leading scorer for the team, since he is the oldest boy on the team, which he thinks is pretty cool.

It gets pretty chilly when the sun gets low in the evening, and we put Ben's sweatshirt on Brooke to keep her warm.

After soccer last week they each got a cupcake from one of the other moms, here is Ryan enjoying his after we got home.

It's hard work to keep up with the boys, luckily Brooke still lets me snuggle with her before bed.

Chicago + Kids

Steve had some meetings to attend this past week in Chicago, so after months of begging to join him, he finally relented. We drove down Monday after Ben came home from school and stayed until Thursday afternoon.

The weather was perfect! The high was 70 each day and the sky was clear. The first day we went to the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Alder Planetarium.

The boys loved the Electric Eels the most at the Aquarium.

We saw Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum. The boys had the most fun at the hotel room... I had to listen to how boring the fish are, and how tired they were, blah, blah, blah. All as a ploy to get me to take them back to the hotel room. We had pillow fights on the bed and they love the new digs!
Wednesday we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. It was AMAZING! The best museum I think I have ever been to! The boys weren't quite as excited as I was, but they did have fun.

The boys climbed the rock wall. We saw a 40 foot tornado!

They had a chick hatchery!

And the idea center was all for kids.

I begged the boys to go again while Steve was in meetings Thursday morning, but they of course wanted to spend our last day enjoying the many hidden delights of the dumb hotel room. Although it was on the 26th floor, and had a great view, I couldn't complain too much!

Touchdown!

Birthday Girl and Football Pictures

Brooke is officially 1! The boys were so excited for her birthday, they counted down the days and were in her face for the whole day telling her it was her birthday. The sad part was that Steve was out of town and she opened up her presents the week and a half prior when my parents were here. She didn't seem to care, but hopefully next year will be a better turn-out.

The boys are now on the same flag-football team at the YMCA. They enjoy it. Ben is really fast and he has made a touchdown each week so far. Ryan refuses to run when he has the ball, ask him why and he says, "because they"ll grab my flag!" Next year might be better for him...

Just for kicks I found this photo-op on our way to the outlets in Oshkosh.

Yeah, I know you're jealous!