pumpkins

This year we had A TON of pumpkins...

2 pumpkin patches plus Uncle Jim (and Aunt Barb) bought the kids each a pumpkin too!

I really think we had 12 pumpkins!!

We ran out of time to carve the pumpkins---our nights are just too busy!



SO--we PAINTED our pumpkins!

I saw this on another blog and thought they looked SO CUTE!!!

It was really FUN!

I hope my kids will want to do this again next year.  In my opinion, better than carving!

All 5 of us painted--it was great family FUN!!!

U N T I L.....we found paint on the rug (under the kitchen table).

Oh well, I'll flip the rug around and no one will EVER notice---that is if I EVER EVEN

get to flipping the rug!!

Aren't they SO CUTE!

Paige showing off her pumpkin before the bus comes for school!

Mom did the little polka dot pumpkin....

Paige quickly followed on her pumpkin!

Side note:  Paige is VERY Into copying ME!!  If I am wearing black boots and tights, she wants to wear black boots and tights.  The other day I was wearing a white tee shirt and jeans and guess what she wanted----the problem is...she doesn't always have what I have and then we have melt downs!!!  And, sometimes I feel "dorky" showing up places in the "same outfit" as Paige!!!  It is quite funny though!

I love that girl!

Annual Garage Halloween Party

The annual Halloween party---PARTY PIC

Some of the kids may have left before I remembered to get a picture!

It's such a FUN time for the kids---something more than just TRICK OR TREATING!



Josh, Tyler, and Blake (our newest neighbor)! 

The little kids--

Paige, Leah, Sydney, Bryce, and Taylor

Front row girls:  Paige, Leah, Jenna Paul, and Hallie

So much FUN!

THANKFUL for a great neighborhood and great friends!



Halloween---at school

The Halloween FUN starts at SCHOOL.!!

A parade in the gym and then PARTIES in the classrooms.

This year I had 3 parties to attend at one time!  I am not kidding when I say,

"the next party I will wear tennis shoes". 



One CUTE KITTY CAT!

Ms. Williams' Afternoon class

 Jaden wanted to be a FOOTBALL PLAYER--so he wore Tyler's uniform.

#28 is his new buddy---Carson Roy

Caleb, Carson, and Jaden

Tyler wants to be a Werewolf next year--I am guessing this is why!!

Tyler and Jacob Fawson

Mrs. Whelan--we love her.

She had to wear this witches hat and the kids got to throw rings on her hat.  Pretty funny!

I told the kids last year we were done spending lots of money on Halloween costumes.  I just think it's a waste.  So, Tyler wanted to be a VAMPIRE this year.  Great!  We have a black "cape" already--we just needed teeth and paint!  EASY!  Well, Tyler was determined to have a REAL vampire cape. So much so that he spent his own money to buy this cape.  It was super cute (well, if a vampire can be cute!)  I helped him get $5 off the cape so he only had to pay $3!!! 



Our First Year of Football

Tyler-8-our Football STUD



This might be one of my FAVORITE pictures of Tyler!

Practice--I like Tyler's position, Full Back, because he plays in the BACK

and I can always find him!!

I laughed when I looked at this pictures---Tyler's STANCE--not too great! 

This is the ONLY thing the coaches get onto Tyler for...his stance!!!!

I am pretty sure if they saw this picture they would laugh!!!

Coach Chet...

Finally--the boys EARNED their JERSEY!

Tyler's FIRST "REAL" Football jersey!  What a big day it was!!!!

Running through the line of parents before each game!!

If you look closely, you can see Tyler's GREAT BIG GRIN under his helmet!!

TOO STINKIN CUTE!!! 

Trying to TACKLE!

BLOCKING!!

RECOVERING THE BALL!!!

**as I post this--I am impressed with myself and the football terms I have learned this year!  Don't worry---there's a lot more I need to learn---but I"m getting some of them!!**

Tyler has LOVED playing Football. His team isn't doing so great, Tyler has learned a lot and says he will ALWAYS play football.   

Proud moment---Tyler got to be the FIRST captain for the first game.  They were chosen by attendance and effort!  We were super proud of him. 

I ask him after nearly every game, "did it hurt when they tackled you...." and he has yet to tell me he got hurt!!!  Thank goodness.  One day he did tell me he sat on another kid's head....really!!!! 

So--Tyler is growing up.  3rd grade and playing Football. 

It's been FUN---but it hasn't been fun getting up at 7am EVERY Saturday morning for 9am football games!  We play out town and have to be at the stadium at 8am.

  I will be glad when that part is over!!!



Soccer

Jaden--6, our little Soccer STUD!

Jaden hasn't played SOCCER for several years so we didn't know how he would do. 

He played at the Y when he was 4 and now he is playing in the much more competitive league!

No need to worry---Jaden did just fine!

One thing is for sure---he is SUPER FAST!  He can cut across the field and get the ball.

He is AGGRESSIVE too and not afraid to steal the ball!

Love his serious little face!  Jaden is a BUSINESS when he plays sports!!

Jaden is LEFT FOOTED and one of the soccer dads (who played soccer himself) told me that if Jaden keeps playing soccer he will be AMAZING because he is quick and can use his left foot!

OK!!!!  Sounds good to me :) 

The last game of the season---Pictures with Grandparents!

Grandma Balzer was home sick! 

So, the big debate...

NEXT YEAR---Dad wants Jaden to play football.  Mom wants Jaden to play soccer.

Jaden has been told he can play on a 3rd grade football team as a 2nd grader.  I'm just not too sure about that.  Soccer seems so much safer!!!  And, he IS good at it!!!

Time will tell.....

Gettin caught up

WOW!  It's the middle of September!  Where does time go?

The kids go Progress reports this week at school---really progress reports already!!!!

I always get behind on pictures and blogs in the summer because we have 2 birthdays, Premier rally, then sports start, and it's back to school all too soon!!!

SO---If you'd like to see Jaden's Birthday party pics (and some are super cute!!)

Go back to my JULY POSTS and you will see 2 posts for Jaden's birthday!!!

I am thrilled to have finally finished those in September!!

And, soon I will be catching up on FOOTBALL and SOCCER!!!

But, for now---here's a sneak peak of what the boys have been up to.



YIKERS!!  He is so cute in his football uniform.  I love being a soccer/football mom and

 going to the games and YELLING and CHEERING!!!!!

And our little Soccer guy!  Also, super cute in his uniform!

Jaden hasn't played soccer in 2 years---but it doesn't show!  He's such an athlete!!!

Paige's First Day of Kindergarten

Wednesday was Paige's first day of KINDERGARTEN!!

Paige LOVES this white little shrug. She was DETERMINED to wear it the first day of school!  So, this is the dress we decided looked the best with her shrug!

Backpack--She wanted this PEACE backpack that looked like a "College one"!

Can you say 5 going on 18!!!!!

This was Paige POSING...making sure I got a picture of her BACKPACK!

First Day of KINDERGARTEN:  Paige and Miss Williams

**We LOVE Miss Williams!  She  was Jaden and Tyler's Kindergarten teacher as well**

She is a strick teacher who is all about "business"---this is EXACTLY what Paige NEEDS!!

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Funny quote from Paige--"Mom, I need to practice raising my hand."

mom--"at school?"

Paige--"no, I need to practice raising my hand at home so I remember at school because some kids are getting in trouble for not raising their hands."

Mom--"ok Paige, just raise your hand at home if you want to talk."

**This could be GOOD FOR US at home!!!**

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Paige's Friends---Leah Wilkinson and Bryce Paul

Both live in our neighborhood.

Can you say...Small, Medium, Large

She really is so TINY!  This is what 5th percentile looks like!!!

Playing the first day...

Day TWO---riding the BUS!

Waiting for the bus

Do you see Paige???

Standing up looking over the seat.....

Look at the JOY on her face!

Is it because the bus ride was SO FUN or because she sees mom at school taking pictures?

I am going to go with the 2nd.....

(The bus driver did let Leah, Bryce, and Paige all ride in the same seat together!!)

Walking into school

And....there they go...down the big halls of Explorer Elementary!

Can you believe I have THREE kids in the same school!

So, the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL has come and gone!!!

Here's to a FABULOUS year for ALL 3!!!

Day 2 Bus Report:

On DAY 2 of riding the bus, Paige got IN TROUBLE on the bus for standing and trying to switch seats! The bus driver had to talk to me when he dropped her off....ON DAY 2!!! We told her the boys have rode the bus for years and they have NEVER gotten in trouble!

Paige sat in her room after school and has had to review the "bus rules" with us frequently the next few days!! Hopefully that is the end of it!!!

See why we wanted Miss Williams with structure, rules, and strictness!!!