Boo!

Tonight was Halloween. I can't count the number of times Gavin asked if it was time to go trick or treating today. It was a L-O-N-G day, but finally the awaited hour came and the kids took off. I took the kids up and down our street, and Gavin was dragging by the time we got halfway home. Their buckets were full with just our street. Mason sacked out about that same time, probably because he knew he wasn't getting any of that candy. Jeremy is still out with Cameron, they always try to bring home more than the previous year. I just love Halloween, it's just so much fun to see the excitement in the eyes of my children. And I love the treats that they share...Mason was the home-made hatchling chick. Gavin was a very eager firefighter.
Cameron was a skeleton/Batman depending on the day

Mom... Get me out of this ridiculous costume already!

It's getting Halloweenie around here...

The costumes have been broken in... The decorations have been up for weeks... The candy has been bought (and broken into)... So it was only fitting that we themed the last Monday family home evening before Halloween around the anticipated festivities. Our dinner was Mr. Bones, our edible skeleton with breadstick bones, spaghetti intestines, and veggie head and hands and feet. He sure was tasty and the kids couldn't stop laughing about the parts they were eating. Thanks for the idea Mandi- you always do the cutest stuff.

Next we carved our pumpkins. I have learned my lesson from years past and srape out the pumpkins during the day so they are ready to go when we get to carving. The kids picked out the design they wanted and Jeremy and I did the knofe work. Gavin wanted a really scary face, and then freaked out when we turned the lights off.

Mason wanted a part of those pumpkins too! Then we made doughnuts with chocolate icing and sprinkles- and ate more than we should...

Halloween is coming! Boo!

No! Not yet!

With the first child it seems like you are always excited and anxious for them to reach that next milestone that indicates they are progressing. It's not really the same with the subsequent children because you know what happens next. Mason is starting, not really to crawl, but scoot himself forward which means crawling is coming and I am so not ready for that! That means trouble and also that my baby is growing, which I don't want him to do! Can't he just stay that adorable infant that is content to sit still in my arms? Stop growing already!

Old People Place

That's what Cameron calls it. This was the second year we took the kids all dressed up to our local nursing home with our friends the Turners and the Porters and handed out some candy and Halloween cards to the residents. I love going and knowing that we are brightening up someone's day. For a lot of them, we were the only excitement they had all day and so many of them beconed us to come in to their rooms and didn't want us to leave. We sang songs and paraded up and down the halls, spreading the Halloween cheer. Gavin was especailly happy to oblige with giving hugs and Cameron wished everyone a Happy Halloween! Cameron said it was so much fun and can't wait to go back. I hope we can continue this spirit of service so our boys truly understand how good it makes you feel to give of your time to those who need it.

Two pumpkin patches in one week!

Last week it really felt like fall and Halloween around here. On Monday, Angie and I took our little kindergarteners out of school early to go to Pumpkinville in Leesburg. This has been an annual treat the last couple of years and I didn't want Cameron to miss out. The weather has been beautiful lately and it was perfect for an afternoon outside. As always, the kids had a blast on the tractor ride and all of the slides and jumpy things they had, and their favorite was this black school bus that they played on for at least half an hour. I know everyone had a fun time, but especailly Cam and Austin since it was a special treat to be able to play hookie!

We also went to Cox Farms this week with Gavin's little preschool group. I love this place, but it is always so crowded, so it was nice to be able to take advantage of a weekday. I don't know that I have ever seen all there is to see here, since there are so many fun things for the kiddos to do. They have tons of slides and a really long, fun hayride with a great scary- but not too scary tunnel. Gavin loved playing there with his preschool buddies and he took a nice, long nap that afternoon. That was my treat!

Gavin refused to share his cider with the bee

Wordless Wednesday

Chick Magnet

I was talking to another mom with a little girl in Cameron's class today and when she found out Cameron was my son, she got all excited. Apparently her daughter talks about Cameron ALL the time. She told me about a conversation that she had with her daughter where she told her that Cameron looked so cute today in his green shirt! Ahhh, young love... It looks like Cameron is taking after his daddy, girl crazy in kindergarten! When I asked Cameron about this little girl he told me that they ate lunch together today and she was wearing a pretty purple shirt with cupcakes on it. I can't wait to meet her to see if I approve.

First Photo Session

Today I had the honor of photographing the Wadley family. This little family is so darling, and their children were such a joy. The trees were starting to show their colors and we found lots of pretty places to use. I think they will have a hard time picking their favorites! I've got a few more posted here.

What to do with all those apples...

Wordless Wednesday:

Deep Thoughts

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

An apple a day...

This weekend we met my dad and sister Kristin and her family in Charlottesville for some apple picking. We tried this place called Carter Mountain that had oodles of apples, hay rides and pumpkins. Here are a few photos from the day:

It's not me he's calling

I anticipate the moment when my baby makes his first recognizable sound- the beginnings of language, his first attempts to tackle a word. I am certain that those first utterings will be directed towards his caregiver, the one that holds him when he cries, that feeds him when he's hungry, that perfect name that is "ma-ma." Instead, just like Cameron and Gavin before him, Mason says this:

It just isn't fair!

I made a deal with God...

At my 20 week ultrasound with Mason, the technician announced that I was having another boy. The well of emotions that followed was familiar, I had felt the same way at this same ultrasound with each of my boys. Relief that the baby was healthy, and a pang of sadness that I would not have the baby girl I longed for. Knowing that Mason was our last ditch effort, I made a deal with God. That very day I told Him that if He would not give me a girl, He had better give me one sweet, loving little boy. Well, I am here to tell you that prayers are answered! Today we celebrate 6 glorious months with little Mason. He has been such a light in our family, bringing smiles and sunshine to everyones life that he touches. I am constantly hearing people remark at what a good, quiet baby he is and how easy it is to forget that he is even there. I have spent hours pouring over his little face and body, feeling his soft skin and hearing his quiet breath in my ear. He is a cuddler, this one, and he will be content forever just lying in your arms and melting your heart. I cannot imagine life without him in it, he has made me a better mother and person and I feel intensely lucky to have this boy. I'm here to tell you that there is a plan for each of us and things don't always go the way that you want or expect them to, but the way that they do go is better than you ever could have expected. I delight in my boys and I couldn't have written up a better life than this one that I'm living every day. We cherish you Mason, thank you for making life more perfect.
Photo shoot- OVER!

Gavin's Ramblings

Number two sure does have an imagination. He is always making up crazy stories and telling them to people. I love how animated and excited he gets to tell them!

Fall Fotography

It's that time of year again! Holiday picture time! This year I'll be flying solo- boo Robyn- but I would be delighted to be able to photograph your family for your Christmas cards. Keep in mind, I'm a total amateur, but I'll do my best to make you happy. I started a blog with examples of my pictures from the previous years, you can see it at http://www.flutter-photography.blogspot.com/. It's only $30 for the session and a CD of all of your photos that you can use to download and print off as many prints as you want! Let me know if you are interested, I am still working out the details of where and when.

Solid

I'm not sure why they call them solids, because in reality it's really mush, far from anything that resembles a solid. Mason got his first taste of this baby delicacy today as he tried some pasty rice cereal, yum. We waited to start him on real food (the term real is debatable) until he was almost 6 months for a couple of reasons, but mostly because he didn't need it and it was just one more thing to have to do in the day. Also, selfishly, I wanted to keep him little for as long as possible, and for some reason once they start food they seem more grown up to me. Well, he actually loved the stuff and although he's got to work on his tongue reflex a bit, he gobbled down the small amount I made him and wanted more! He even wanted to feed himself becasue I wasn't giving it to him fast enough. Perhaps he won't be my skinny guy anymore!

My little Bat

Cameron has been playing Fall Ball this season and today he had his first game. He is on the Bats team and this time around it is coach pitch. He has been doing better than I expected, and he really has so much fun, once he gets to the field. Getting him there has been a bit of a trial this season because the boys are supposed to wear cups. We bought him one that comes with the underwear that you just slip it in, thinking it would be more comfortable (man, I don't know anything about this stuff). Well, he hates the underwear and you can forget about the cup. We've just been making him wear the underwear by itself, warming him up to the idea of having to stick something in them. It's a battle every time and he is constantly telling me he doesn't like baseball and he doesn't want to go. Today after the game, I asked him if he had a good time. The answer was a resounding "YES! but I just don't like the underwear..."

We were so excited that he is on the Bats team because they have purple shirts- Cam's favorite color! And it is a rather spooky mascot with Halloween coming up and all. Isn't he a cute little Bat?