trick or treat!

Andie and Wyatt had a terrific time on beggar's night this year! They were so excited and SO in their element with these costumes it wasn't even funny. Andie was a princess and did little ballet moves for her trick. Gammie Guely made her beautiful little dress and she loved it so much I could hardly get her to take it off. I can't count how many times she told me she loved her dress and her crown. And, Wyatt wore a vintage costume that Shane wore when he was little! (Sandi made it, too). Shane was a little older when he wore it, so it is a little big, but Wyatt just loved it. He ran around "flying" and punching the air and then would put his fists on his hips and say, "Sup-er-man! To save the day!"


The tough Superman stance and look. HA!
And little Sawyer was along for the ride - he wore the infamous bee costume that we got at a garage sale. Andie wore it, Wyatt wore it, and now the littlest bee. :) He isn't fully dressed here, I didn't have his black sweats on. But the weather was so nice on trick or treat night for a change, it was almost too hot for the sweatpants!

P is for Pumpkin

That's what Andie told me while we were carving pumpkins yesterday. She is really learning her letters and sounds. They had fun scooping out the mushy pumpkin innards!

Gammie Guely with the cute scarecrow they made. I saw it might rain the other night, so I ran out to grab the stroller out of the back of the truck and when I stepped out onto the porch that thing gave ME a scare!!
Sawyer staying warm in Aunt Sandi's quilt at Howell's tree farm, where the kids played in a corn pile (like a sand box of corn), and other fun things. It was a very blustery day - which cut it a little short, but they still had fun.

going geothermal

We're officially having a geothermal heating and cooling system installed in our home! It is something Shane has been thinking about for a while, and after last winters propane bills, decided to go ahead and do it. The energy company also offered some rebates to encourage people to do this - so that helped, too. The kids pulled their little chairs up to the sliding back door to watch the whole thing. There was a huge drilling truck to drill holes 200 feet into the ground, then this scoop (or, backhoe thingy) to put all the dirt back. It is a muddy mess!!

the outdoor kitty

marble jars full!

We've been doing this marble jar thing with the kids for a month or so - if we catch them doing good (sharing, getting a drink or spoon for each other, helping with the baby, using their manners, etc...) then they get a marble in their jar. They can't ask for a marble, they just have to be caught doing positive things. When the jars are full, they get a special treat. The first time around, they got gumballs and were THRILLED, because I just don't usually buy gum. But, this time the jars were full Shane had this crazy idea - he has been wanting to take them to the toy store. I was thinking, "you're crazy!" But, we took them and they had a great time. We heard a lot of "Wow!" and huge gasps as they kept seeing neat toys aisle after aisle. Andie actually put her hands over her mouth and her jaw dropped when she saw the Disney princess section. Anyway, they ended up with these two wheel scooters. Big hit. But, I told them that was a special treat, that we won't be able to do that every time the jars are full!