Spooks and treats at school

Today was one of the best days!I spent the morning at school with Juliette and Tripp! Tripp had his Halloween party and they had the annual parade around the school. Each year as the children get older there is less and less that we are invited to. Well, with that in mind I was thrilled to be invited to Juliette's class for pumpkin decorating and then to Tripp's party.

Tripp was a pirate in our mind. In his mind he was a "Superhero Pirate." I am not sure exactly what that is but he was thrilled with his costume and could not wait to get to school.

A few facts I found out from the teachers. 

• Tripp is their biggest eater in the class. He has been known to ask for thirds when his friends and classmates don't even finish their first plate. His favorite little friends to play with our the two biggest ones in the class. The fireman is his best little friend. Tripp is one of the biggest ones as well.
• Tripp sometimes has a hard time keeping his hands and feet to himself during circle time. He has even been known to sit on his hands so that they don't move. He let the teachers know he would sit on them this week so he could "go to da fair..."
• On his little progress report the teachers noted, "Tripp is a very bright boy, quite observant and quite particular..."  Now the quite particular is SPOT on! There cannot be a bite in a cookie, the cookie cannot be cracked, a lollipop with a crooked stick is worth throwing himself on the floor over, the socks have to lay over his baby toe just a certain way and Lord help us all if anyone takes a sip of his drink!

They sang songs for us and were absolutely precious!

I happened to be in Juliette's classroom this year with her when the 3's paraded through her room. They go through every classroom in the big school.

I LOVED capturing the excitement when Juliette saw the parade and Tripp! It was just priceless. She really loves her brother so much!

I was able to take Juliette out of class for a few minutes to go and watch Tripp's performance. She was thrilled and he was equally thrilled that she could be there.

Juliette and all of her sweet little friends decorating their pumpkins!

A'hoy mates!

What a special special day to celebrate!

Our fun weekend...

It is SO much fun to watch kids. There is such a difference in what boys enjoy and what girls enjoy (at least this is so in our house). Juliette decided it was a perfect afternoon to craft and project. She decided to banner the house in apples for the Fall. She is so very creative and quite proud of her work as well.

As she designs, the babies have decided they love Tripp's matchbox cars. Tripp depending on his three year old mood is sometimes happy to share and other times not very happy to share. Since the babies are so on the move, they are interested in everything! They will find a way to everything too.

We had some fun Halloween activities for the weekend. We walked the annual pumpkin walk on the island. Juliette found her favorite pumpkin... A Witch of course! She is just like me with her fondness for witches. I believe that I may have been a witch every single year as a child!

We had a super fun afternoon at the annual Christ our King bazaar. We found one of our favorite ladies Ms. Neena. Everyone was thrilled to see her!

Juliette anxiously tried her hand at the fishing booth... 

and Tripp will happily tell you his favorite was the "Lollipop Pull"

I had a dear little assistant who helped while I worked the booth. He was a perfect little Angel and just loved the entertainment, perfect 68 degree weather and all of the happy faces coming to talk to him!

And perfect happiness on his way to hushabye after a wonderful eventful day!

Splash splash we are lovin our bath!

"Umm Mommy please forget about the sink...."

"No more sink for us!"

"Who's dat baby?"

life as a lefty...

Hanging out in the car waiting to walk into school this morning and Tripp announces to me in his normal squawk...

"Mommy... My shadow is in da way on my boogie board and I can't draw and see wit my shadow in da way..."

This was the first time he realized a little quirk with life as a lefty... His little hand is in his way and also reflecting a shadow on the black board

So is he a "lefty"? At home he mostly uses his left hand to eat, draw and color... at school this morning the teachers let me know that he totally confuses them. Some days he paints, eats, draws and writes with his left hand and the next day he does everything with his right hand.

Leave it to this very "particular" boy to be ambidextrous.

Time will tell little man whether you like the left or the right hand.

Who said you could eat my puffs

Hmmm... 

"Attempting to take my puffs are ya??"

"Okay, I'll just wait 'till he's not lookin"

PS... Thomas is usually the food snatcher so this is payback...

Boys will be Boys

Tripp LOVES playing/rough housing with these little people!

The Baptism for the twins

What a special day today was! We celebrated the Baptism of Thomas and Tyler at Mass today. It was beautiful. Let's say I was prepared for a disaster. Thomas does not like being laid out and Tyler is into screeching now. I was sure there would be some major squawking going on. Low and behold both babies were perfect!

We so happy to have family and friends all around us to celebrate such a special day. 

After the Mass, we all went back to the house and had brunch and cake. There were seven little ones playing and they really just wanted to play outside on the playground and in the tree house on such a gorgeous day. 

I was so blessed to have Susan and her Husband Ben and Paula and her husband Ty two of my best friends since high school be the God Parents.

Look at the sweet big Sister. She even carries her Brother around when he is not feeling great. Poor little guy had a fever and was really just not feeling great!

Tessa and her baby boys...Look at the beautiful bubbles that Tessa designed and created for them to wear.

Thomas and Tyler with their God Mothers...

Thanks be to God for creating and blessing these precious ones and continue to hold them in the palm of you hand.

Amen.

A "full Fall" day

We started the day off at one of our favorite places... The Boone Hall pumpkin patch! The kids were so excited to get in...

We went to check on the pumpkins first... Tripp needed Juliette to hold on to him as he was sure that a ghost would come out of the pumpkin and try to bite him!

but look... he got brave and was sure that there was nothing to fear!

I love this sweet girl!

She needs to just stop growing...

We headed to the trampoline and this girl loves to jump...

Where is her brother you ask?

Looking for the coyote that is hiding behind the trampoline...

SO you know those great ideas that you get towards the end of an already busy day...

Juliette and I had one of those ideas....

We were determined we were not going to have a pinterest fail going on in our house...

Let me remind you... this kind of crafting is not usually my specialty

So the "Bag Lady" as she truly has become... if she does not have her "very large pink purse" with her a Walmart bag will do to transport her beanie boos into the Publix with...

At this point we are home and Don looks at me and asks,

"What made you decide to take this on the night before the Baptism and party at the house?"

hmmm... seems like that seems to be my style...

Now I should say I was really the Assistant and Juliette took this all on. We had to wrap black licorice to make the eyes, hot glue gun the candy corn onto the eyes as well... there were several parts to it. The video assured us it would take 20 minutes....

well an hour in and she is still going strong but we lost the other Assisatant on the way...
We'll just go ahead and say no 20 minutes for this crew - closer to two hours...

...but we did create the cutest little pumpkin owl to display at the party!
Juliette was SO proud and this Mama knew there was no fail on this project!

Oh my goodness! Our favorite has arrived...

 It is one of the most exciting times of the years! We anxiously await the arrival of Belinda! When oh when will she get here?

The children decided to get prepared and draw some pictures of her. Juliette wrote a letter to her detailing the excitement of her arrival... They wanted to leave a beautiful Halloween quilt outside her because they are sure she must get cold!

Her note read...

"Dear Belinda,

This quilt is for you? Please return it when you leave and fly back to your home. You can leave it by the front door. Please tell us how old you are? Please wright with this pen.

Love Juliette and Tripp"

They were so excited they could hardly sit still!

They celebrated and sang to her... it had to be a perfect night for her to arrive...

"after all Mommy look at the big bright moon Mommy! I bet she can see us now!"

Sweet dreams little people!

..... The next morning they were up SUPER early eager to see if anyone may have arrived...

Good morning Belinda!! 

Juliette was sure her hair was even more beautiful than last year...

Her pimple was a little smaller Juliette thought...

 and she came with a BOW in her hair!

Tripp just bounced around her... he was SO excited and nervous he noticed no difference!

AND this year there were treats that she left!

Belinda it is even a more exciting year around this already crazy household! We are sure you will notice.