Bat Girl!

Game Face

Claire's soccer team played the number 1 team in their league on Saturday - we knew it would be a tough game, so I asked Claire to show me her mean game face. I think she just looks cute! :)

Halloween!

When you ask my kids what is their favorite holiday, they will usually say Halloween. We talk about our costumes months in advance - which I've discovered is not always the best idea because then they have time to change their minds. And for some reason, everyone is rebelling against my themes this year. Themes passed up this year were Harry Potter and Classic Monsters (Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein would have been awesome!).

But our half and half theme worked too - Super Heroes and Brave.

What a lazy bones trick or treater, Penelope. What a way to go around - getting pushed in a stroller by the Flash. 

Ward Trunk or Treat

We had a split theme this year - half super heroes, half from the Disney movie Brave. Claire was Merida and I was her mother Eleanor. Miles was Superman, Matt was The Flash, and Penelope was Wonder Woman. Matt's costume originally came as a one-piece, but it was a little, ahem, short. So we cut it at the waist and again at the boots and bought some red sweats. In between making Nacho Libre jokes about "borrowing some sweeaats" I told Claire we had to buy some for Dad so he didn't have to wear his full Halloween costume. She said, "Well, that's a relief!" She said it so seriously like - wow, dodged an embarrassing bullet with that one! I couldn't stop laughing!

Our friends the Mezydlos came with us this year - Jen is the assistant coach on Claire's soccer team and she has 3 girls. I didn't get one picture of all the kids together - they were pretty much moving nonstop once the trunk or treat started.

And guess what? I won the Chili Cook Off with my white bean chicken chili. And I was taking the kids to the bathroom when they announced the winner. That is the story of my life. The only prize was honor and glory and I wasn't even around to claim my Crock pot of Victory!

Anyway, here are more photos from the night. We had a great time!

Pumpkin Patch - FINALLY!

The corner pumpkin patch popped up early this year - like maybe September 30th. So the kids have asked to go for the past 29 days. I had them earn stickers by staying in their rooms at night and nap times - and it took a few weeks to fill up the pumpkin chart I made. Miles would get so sad every time we drove by (which was multiple times a day) - "Why do all the other kids get to have fun already?!" I said, "Well, those kids' parents aren't helping them learn to earn the things they really want to do." Oh I am so wise... :)

So at long last, the weather cooperated and the winds were calm and we went to the pumpkin patch! We waited until Matt was home from school so the kids were especially patient today. Hopefully they do appreciate it more after they had to work for it.

Tickets well spent!

She touched every pumpkin in sight

LOVED the animals!

NOT a fan of the petting zoo...

Spooky Dinner at the Hillers

Is She Too Young to Be a Tween?

I just caught Claire in her room mimicking me after I told her to not wear this ridiculously sparkly and fancy outfit to the park. So I will post these pictures she gave me recently to remind me that she is still my sweet little girl, but with a sprinkling of teenager thrown in for good measure (already!).