Ghosts, Goblins or a TMNT and Thomas instead =)

Halloween is such a fun time of the year, isn't it?  At our house, we love it and look forward to it every year!  This year, Ethan wanted to be a Ninja Turtle, but not just any TMNT it had to be Leonardo....you see, Leo is the leader and Ethan, is all about being the "boss" of everything that he does!  I swear that boy of mine will be a CEO one day!!!  Colin, on the other hand, doesn't really care to get dressed up and his food allergy limits him to certain candy, but thankfully he doesn't really care to Trick-or-Treat anyway!  This year though, I decided that regardless of his limits, he was going to have a fun Halloween, as well!!!  Yesterday, was "Scarecrow Day" at school for Colin, so I worked for about a week on his costume and wasn't sure if he'd wear it or not, b/c of the straw kit I found that I sewed into the bibs and flannel; however, I'm pleased to say little man was the cutest scarecrow there was at preschool and he wore that costume without any hesitation!!! =) What a fun morning it was, too....he enjoyed the hayride and kept saying "I see" at everything we passed!!!  I love being able to take part in his activities and yesterday morning, was really fun!!!!

the treat bag Colin gave to his classmates...
Fruit by the Foot, a "ghost" toostie roll sucker, and
"pumpkin" peaches....all Colin's favorites Halloween-ified! 

our lil scarecrow

head "Scarecrow" LOL

loving the ride

After Ethan got home, my sister's girl's got off the bus at our house too, we started to plan the evening......I had excited kids at my house for a few hours and when it was finally time to go, we were off and running to all he houses w/ porch lights on!!!  All the years we've Trick-or-Treated in Gnaden, it was nice to actually call it "home" last night!!!  I love living in this "small town" and seeing the community come alive....it so reminds me of my childhood in Freeport!!!  While Ethan, the girls, my sister, and I went around town....Daddy & Colin stayed back to pass out candy and what fun they had....Colin, was Thomas the Tank Engine, and he did so good w/ the costume.....he is so fun right now and lately he's been showing me that in time, or as I call it "Colin's Time", he'll do it and trying new things is quite the craze right now for him......we are loving every second of his growth and his journey, sure is making our family stronger with every holiday,  every school event, well heck, truly every day we see how blessed we are!!!  This life, wasn't actually what I had planned, but God had something bigger and better in store for us and every day, through Colin, we are seeing that "embracing" this life he gave us supercedes any of those "plans" I had envisioned so long ago!!!!  This Halloween was the best one yet and we are loving the progression our life is taking.....Happy Halloween friends and we hope you enjoy all the "treats" this day brings!!!

Since Trick-or-Treat was last night and Halloween is today, we had to have something to celebrate the special day......so, "Boo" bags it is for the boys!!!  Happy Halloween!!!

Life Happens!!!!

This past weekend, we were supposed to be in Columbus on Saturday night to witness the Buckeye's beat the snot out of Penn State; however, we found out a couple of week's ago Brenton & Ethan's last football games and also their little party were taking place on the 26th, as well.....so, we decided to give back our tickets and cancel the hotel room that we had booked for the night to be able to be there for their events!  Even though we were sort've disappointed, we were thrilled to not miss Ethan's stuff and also, we were able to take Colin up to the BadAss Dash run in Zoar on Saturday, to watch my sister-in-law run in honor of Colin w/ proceeds going to Autism Speaks....an organization very dear to us!   This is the 1st event for our team, Colin's Voice, and I was so glad we were able to make it.....Angie did well organizing the team, raising money, and coordinating everything for the event.....it was great and next year, Brenton wants to run it?!?!  It was freezing, but it was nice to walk around the village and listen to my father-in-law talk about growing up there....Ethan was so intriqued listening and seeing the house he grew up in, where he played, where he got the bus, etc.....he's in a stage right now about "getting old" so he had a lot of questions for Grandpa. =)  As we waited for the team to come over the hill, we were asked to help out at the Dodge Ball Bash station, so we all had a ball there throwing balls at the runners....hahaha!!!  It was a great day, a busy Saturday, but worth while!!!

team Colin's Voice

gathering the dodge balls

on the attack

getting Aunt Angie

Love!!!

"I have orange teeth Mommy" ;)

Other exciting news, Brenton and Ethan had a great season this year in football....undefeated again in his 2nd year of coaching Ethan's team! They were happy!!!!  Brenton takes pride in teaching the boys and he was asked to take a bigger part of flag football next year, he was beaming when he came home and told me. =)  Ethan loved his medal he received and all the kids loved the ornament we made for them to remember the 2013 season.  Even though it was a very rush day, it was totally worth being home and watching the game in our living room!!!

 

Little Braves

Seeds of Tradition!!!

This weekend turned out to be a perfect fall weekend here at our house.....my older guys, unfortunately weren't able to have their football game on Saturday, b/c it started to pour down rain right before they were to play, but that didn't alter our mood, b/c that meant we were able to watch OSU football together!  I had decided to keep Colin back anyway, b/c little man wasn't feeling good and I wasn't wanting to push it, so I was glad the game was called!!  After the Buckeye's beat Iowa, Brenton and I decided to have our traditional pumpkin carving fun.....so, I went out to the porch and set up our "pumpkin station" and we were set......I must say, it was a bit chilly, but we had a lot fun w/ alot of giggles this year!!!  Colin, doesn't do pumpkins, but this year I figured out how to give him a "cool" pumpkin that didn't mean him having to touch the guts and he loved that...pumpkin kits are the way to go with him and I have to say, it turned out really cute!!!  During the process of carving the other pumpkins, Ethan kept saying "Mommy can we cook the seeds like we did at my old school" and so I said yes....we kept a bowl of seeds and I found a recipe on Pinterest, turned out to be "extra" fun that wasn't planned, but he started a new tradition for our family!  For those of you who know me, know I love to celebrate things, go over-the-top probably, but I also LOVE traditions!!!  I'm so happy Ethan asked to do the seeds, b/c it turned out to be a great treat!  Man, I love weekends like this one!!  ♥♥

our "pumpkin station"

he was so excited =)

so wasn't he =)

thumbs up for a good time

Daddy & his mini me making a spider

our creations

light'em up =)

he wanted to "cook" the seeds

so yummy & our new tradition

Football & Pumpkins!!!

Fall is definitely our time of year...not sure what it is, but it's like we come alive in the fall....as dumb as that sounds, it's really true!  We enjoy the other seasons, but it's the crisp in the air, the cool breezes, sweatshirts, warm scents, apple crisp, football, and pumpkins!  The past few weeks have been really fun!  Ethan and Brenton started their football season and they are going strong w/ 1 week to go, so far, undefeated!  I'm really surprised in Ethan, because all he talked about all summer was golf and so when football got here, I wasn't sure he wanted to play.....boy, am I glad he did, he's really having fun with it!  I'm so proud of my husband, too....he's really teaching these boys the fundamentals and he smiled from ear to ear when he heard that the parents are impressed with him as coach!  Have I ever mentioned how much I love my husband....LOL!  I know, I know but I had to say it again!!!  The other week after their game, I had 3 parents come up to me and say these words, "We've told our boys they need to be friends w/ Ethan, because he's such a good boy" and "I've never seen a boy run the ball w/ a big smile on his face"....that's my Ethan, a heart of gold no matter what he is doing and we are so very proud of him!!!! 

Another thing we love during the fall, is pumpkins!!!  We went to a local pumpkin patch on a Friday night, after I got home from work, and the boys had a blast!!  They searched and searched for the right pumpkin, found a few, and we even found a close resemblance to one of our favorite pumpkins, Spookley the Square Pumpkin. =)  Colin, was the cutest, he's just a no thrills type of kid and just get to the point.  He found his pumpkin and then he was done, so the wagon is where he wanted to be w/ his pumpkin while Ethan kept searching.  Finally, Ethan found the ones he wanted and $36 later, we all had pumpkins and I had a couple of mums to go along with our display and off we went back home.  We had such a great night that Friday!!!

Thank the good Lord!!!

You know, I've had the opportunity to work full time and make more money for my family, but it's days like Monday and yesterday that make me realize, I'll have plenty of time to work one day!  Now, in this moment of life, my babies need me to be there as much as I can and it's less stressful knowing that I work part-time and have options to be at the "special" events that go on!  Now that both of my boys are in school, things are popping up left and right and thank the good Lord, I'm in a position to be there.  Before becoming a mother, that was one thing I prayed for and knew that one day I'd want to be a part of as many events that I could.  I'm thankful that I'm not the bread winner of my household, that my husband has a wonderful job, and provides for our family so that my money can be used for "fun" things!  I've thought very hard about being a SAHM, I'm not afraid to say this, but I'm not cut out to do that!  I worked from home for 7 years and even that drove me batty, so I have to be out doing something away from the house for a short period of the time during the week?!?!  It just helps me feel so much better about myself, don't know why, but it does and this setup works for my family. =)  Last year, I opted out of the school events and regretted that decision very much, so never again will I not be there!  I don't want to overload my boys, but I also want them to know that I care and want to be a part of their activities!  This week, Colin had his very 1st outings in preschool!  It was really fun to watch the kids experience new things, but especially my Colin....I loved everything about taking part of his fun and the cutest darn thing, is seeing him grow during the process!  Life isn't easy by no means, but I tell you what this little boy sure has made it memorable!  I look forward to watching his growth and through the tears will be cheering him on!!!

1st "field trip" to the Fire Station

off we go on outing #2

off to the post office

very curious about the mail boxes w/ mail in them

looking around to see everything

loves the sand box

playing with the kids ;)

time to go in...lining up at the wall ;)

EMS!!!

This post is all about Ethan, b/c this boy has been doing so well adjusting to his new life here in Gnadenhutten!  He had a little hurdle to jump at the beginning of school, but we were able to get that dumb thing taken care of and haven't had any issues since.  I was so worried all summer about 1st grade, b/c we were told Kindergarten wasn't so good and he barely passed?  I mean, to be completely honest, last year was the worst.  I have no clue what all he endured, I tried to know, but slowly more things are coming out!  One of Ethan's best qualities, but it's also his worst, is that his heart is bigger than his head!  He wants to be friends with everyone and even when people are mean, he'll still be their best friend.  Needless to say, he had to deal with a few "mean" kids and I also have been told (after the fact) that a particular couple of teachers were "mean", as well!!!  So, looking back this summer it was a losing battle for me, b/c he was burnt out!!!  I just say this.....THANK GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS!  This boy is doing amazing here.....we got his progress report and he has nothing lower than a B!  I'm not one of those parents that push for straight As, if it happens great, but if not, I'm ok with anything but a D or an F!  His whole demeanor is different, he I have my little, well big boy, back!  He loves his new school, his new friends, his bus driver, his new seat pal, and his new teachers! Mrs. Shivers, is great.....our first conversation about Ethan, I prepared her for the things we were told last year, but she said if it's needed we have everything in place here to help him succeed, so I'm grateful!!!!  I truly believe everything happened so quickly, so that we were set and in place for this school year.....amongst many reasons, but a big reason was Ethan needed a new shot!  On his progress report, Mrs. Shivers exact words were "Ethan is such a kind and friendly little boy" and I'm so happy she is bringing out the best in him.  Thanks to her, Ethan is loving to learn and doing the best he can.  He's just such a great little guy, he brightens any room he enters and loves everybody he comes into contact with.   Parenting doesn't come with a manual, but I do think Brenton and I are doing the best we can...our boys are proof of everything we are striving to do.

Ethan started football this past weekend and had his first game.....this is yet another thing I wasn't sure he'd be able to do?!?!  However, he wanted to play, so I knew I had to support his decision whether or not I felt he would excel or not.  I never want him to think that I don't believe in him, so instead I took a big gulp and said "that's great buddy"!!!  Well, it turns out, he might have the coordination after all. He had a great game on Saturday, doing well in practices, and just overall being a great team player.....Having Daddy there to push him a bit, I think is helping even more, but hey whatever it takes, right!! =)  Ethan, is teaching so much about life these days....he truly is the sunshine in my day and I love him to pieces!!!  I'm so blessed to be his mom!!!

Braves #10

Coach Shroyer & #10

after game yumminess