Santa?

We have a 3 season screened back porch just off the family room. It has storm windows, which we open for summer. This last week with the weather still being somewhat termerate we didn't exactly get around to shutting the storm windows for winter. Yesterday we got the first blizzard of the season, -- snow in the horizontal direction. We got probably 2 inches snow at 25 MPH. The result: the porch was covered with a skiff of snow, couches and all. The snow blew through the screen openings.

By the time I noticed what had happened it was dark, so I showed Joseph what happened and told him to remind me the next day and we could sweep it out. Joseph went out to shut the screens for the winter. In the process he had to step up on the snow-covered chairs to access the screens, and left some footprints.

In the morning, he seized an opportunity. Joseph told the children that Santa Claus came to see if they had been bad or good, and that he crawled in the window to peek in our sliding door, during the night. The children bought it, hook, line and sinker. Lily even surmised that Santa was looking for a way in, because we have a gas-burning insert now. Benjamin told me he had seen magic sparkle dust in the snow, which Santa must have used to land the sleigh.

I can’t help but wonder how many more years the magic will last. I sure love the Christmas season through their eyes!

Dress up

Dress up is always the activity of choice in our house.  Here Benjamin is Air agent Steve.  He spent most of the day packing and repacking his backpack and jumping off the picnic table or swing set and coming in to report his jump.  He sometimes wanted to be referred to as Air Agent Steve and other times wanted to be know as Aviator Steve.  Regardless, I'm glad I have Benjamin still in one piece.

Our little Ballerina loves to put on performances.  I really need to find some dance lessons for her before the excitement wares off.

Pumpkin Carving

Lily loved carving out her pumpkin this year.  I love it when she is all smiles.

Benjamin was also thrilled with his pumpkin and the chance to carve it any  way he wanted.

Alec was kind of grossed out at the thought of digging about in his pumpkin.  But as always if the big kids are doing it -  he wants to do it too.

I don't think we ever got a picture of the finished product on the front porch.  This picture will have to do.  Sunday at Church a woman in our ward gave the kids crazy glasses and a treat bag.  They were thrilled.  I'm glad Daddy had the thought to snap their picture right after church.

Field trip

I think this is Ben's first time on a real horse.  We went on a field trip to a pumpkin farm with the school.  They had a little petting section with a horse, goats, a sheep, some rabbits, and a donkey.  Their was also the hayride out to the pumpkin patch and the corn maze.  I love that I can stay home and be able to attend these sorts of events with the kids.  We are really blessed to live in such a great area.

Alberto VO5

The boys have all had haircuts by now, but about a month ago their hair was getting long.  Alec decided he wanted his hair spiked for school.  I started calling him spike and then Alberto VO5.  Now from the back seat of the van I'll here him say, "Mom, call me Alberto VO5.  What a crack-up.

How does he sleep like that?

One of our favorite things to do when we go to bed is to sneak into Alec's room.  Inevitably he is upside down or off the bed or in some strange contorted arrangement that in my opinion is not condusive to sleep.  This picture was taken in the dark, and came out okay.  It's not uncommon for him to be off the bed entirely with just his head or foot on the mattress.  Crazy kid.

Candy grabbers

Check out our little pirate.  He was masterful at saying Arr.....  The funniest thing about our night of trick or treating is that Alec's little legs made it hard for him to keep up with the bigger two.  He could often be heard while running across the lawn toward the open door and person handing out candy "wait, ...one more kid!"

Lily was so happy to be a princess.  She wanted to be called Rapunsel and was quick to tell people that she didn't have the hair.

Our policeman.  He was so excited about his costume.  He carried real hand cuffs and their keys and a whistle to make sure the bad guys listen to him.

Lily's school costume.  Fearing that the weather would be too cold Lily opted to be a bumble bee at school.  Her class preformed at the schools spook-party.  Her favorite song....It's a spooky night, giving us a fright....everybody's petrified.....