Trick or Treat

Thought I would post some pictures of the boys' Halloween costumes. Carter has become obsessed with Wall-E lately, but I wasn't about to spend $100 on the costume. So, Donnie made the box and triangular wheels, and I decorated it. I bought some birthday party masks of Wall-E, and that was it. He is very happy with the result and has been wearing it around the house for the last week! Some people guessed that he was a TV tonight, along with a few other things, but most people knew who he was right away--especially if they had seen the movie. Ethan's Darth Vader is what I got him for his birthday, so that worked out well. My sister gave him the helment that she has had since her oldest boys were Ethan's age. It says many different things, but Ethan loves the voice changer the most. He would push that button and then say Trick or Treat. I must say Ethan was a little more scared of all the Halloween fun than I thought he would be. He was brought to tears twice!! He told me he thought Halloween was just about candy, not scary stuff. They did have a great time getting around tonight, though! Donnie hooked up a trailer to his four wheeler, and put some chairs in the back, and they loved riding around instead of walking!

They learn this in kindergarten???

The other night Ethan was doing his homework which was to copy and complete this sentence: Cc is for ___________. Ethan wrote Cc is for Carter, but halfway through spelling Carter, he looked at me and said that Carter is a proper noun. Just several years ago, I taught what proper nouns were to 2nd graders! Carter was not pleased with this, however. He kept yelling, "I am not a proper down!"

Then tonight as we were trick-or-treating, Ethan said he knew what circumference meant. When I asked him, he told me it is how big around something is. In the past, they all brought in apples and had to estimate (another word he knows the meaning of) how big around their apples were. They cut strings in order to do this, and then their teacher measured each child's apple with the string they cut. They kept track of how many kids guessed too long, too short, or who got it right. She then talked about circumference. I happened to be in the room volunteering the day she did this. They all brought in pumpkins this week, so I guess she did it again with pumpkins. When we got home from trick-or-treating tonight, Ethan told me he wanted to estimate the size of his head. So I got some string and he measured out how long he thought his head was around and cut it off. When I asked him to guess if he got it right, cut it too long, or too short, he said he thought it looked too short. And I'm sure I'm opening this up to many jokes from my family, but yes, it was too short--way too short. I'll just say he has to have a big head to hold his big brain since he is learning so many things in kindergarten!

Halloween Parties!!

This past Saturday Ethan and Carter were invited to two Halloween parties. The first one was held in the afternoon and it was a bring your own pumpkin party. Ethan's friend from school invited him and his mom was nice enough to say that Carter could come along, too. They had a great time there just playing in the backyard--it was a beautiful day! They got their faces painted and of course painted their pumpkins! The party after that was in the evening, and it was a costume party (for adults, too). A little boy on Ethan's soccer team invited us. They had a great time at this party too, b/c they just ran around and played!! It got pretty chilly out, but they had a huge bonfire even though the kids stayed warm running around! They also had a ton of food and hay rides! Donnie was gone this weekend (hunting, what else?!), so needless to say by the end of the night we were all wiped out. Carter had a soccer game that morning at 9:00 and Ethan had one at 10:00. It was a long day, but definitely a fun one!!

Then on Wednesday, a friend invited us to a Halloween party at the church her daughter goes to preschool at. I forgot to take along my camera, but they had such a good time. There were so many games set up, and after each one they got to grab a handful of candy! There were also moon bounces and lots of food!!

Ethan getting his face painted

Carter getting a Wall-E mask painted on

Painting their pumpkins

This was the hayride at the 2nd party

The moring after their parties--wearing the vampire teeth they got in their goodie bags!

Farmer's Day

On Friday Ethan had Farmer's Day at his school. He and his class had to dress like farmers and they also got to eat food that comes from farm animals. They had sausage links, bacon, and eggs plus hash browns and biscuits and jelly. Since I'm the room mom I got to go in and help out. They made their own placemats for the occasion, and they all had a fun time.




Of course since I was going in, Carter had to dress up like a farmer, too. Snapping and unspapping his overalls kept him occupied for over an hour!

All I Want For Christmas...

Ethan lost his 6th tooth last night and is now missing his front two teeth!! This second front tooth has been loose for weeks, but he wanted to lose it at school b/c a friend of his lost her tooth at school and she got a plastic tooth necklace to carry her tooth home in!! He's been so cautious taking bites on the side and avoiding the use of his front teeth. But last night while watching TV he took a bite of licorice without thinking and he just looked at me and closed his mouth. When I made him open, there was blood everywhere. But he wanted to keep it in for school!! It wouldn't stop bleeding, so Donnie pulled it. I can't believe he is missing so many teeth!! He loves sticking his tongue through the gaps, but has expressed some concern that he is going to turn back into a baby b/c he doesn't have many teeth!! The tooth fairy gave him $2, which he immediately gave Carter $1 and kept $1 for himself. He said it wasn't fair for Carter not to get anything!

He lost four on the bottom, but two have already grown in and a third is almost there!

Ethan is a Bus Rider!

Ethan has been bugging me for the last several weeks to be a bus rider. He informed me that only preschoolers are car riders and big boys ride the bus. Who knows who he heard that from at school. But, he doesn't want to ride the bus in the mornings, b/c he would have to get up earlier. So on Friday he rode the bus home for the first time that afternoon, and things didn't go so well. I must admit I was pretty nervous all day with the thought of him riding the bus. I know at the beginning of the year they take extra precaution to make sure kindergartners know where to go. But this wasn't the beginning of the year anymore and he didn't ride that morning, so I just wanted to make sure the bus driver knew he was on the bus.

I rode the bus when I went to school. But for some reason the thought of Ethan doing it made me nervous. Not b/c I think the bus is going to wreck. It's b/c of all the other kids on the bus. Big kids. I know Ethan is going to pick up things from school, but I'm sure he'll pick up a lot more from the bus. And that makes me nervous. But this is something he really wanted, and honestly, it makes it a lot easier on me since I don't have to go and sit in the carpool line for 30-45 minutes every day. So we set it up...well kind of. When I asked what time he would be dropped off, they told me they couldn't give me a time. All they told me was that most buses leave the school by 4:15. They also told me he would be dropped off in front of our development (which is on a busy road). So Carter and I went there a little after 4 and waited.

Around 4:30 a bus stopped in front of our house, but b/c of the hill I couldn't see anything else. As the bus made it's way to the intersection I was told to be at, I saw that it was Ethan's bus. The bus driver stopped and asked if I was Ethan's mom. I told her yes and she said she just dropped him off at our house. First I was surprised that she would drop off a kindergartner when no one was there to greet him. I told her that the office told me the intersection was the bus stop and she said that didn't make sense since she goes right by our house. We chatted a little longer so that I could make sure of a few things, and then Carter and I ran down to our house. Too late. I left the garage door open and Ethan was inside crying his eyes out and screaming for me. After I calmed him down and explained what happened, he told me that he cried on the bus b/c it took so long and he said the bus driver yelled a lot. A little boy in his class rides his bus, and their teacher told them to be buddies on the bus, but the bus driver told Ethan he couldn't sit by his friend.

Needless to say, not a great first day on the bus!! He said he wanted to go back to being a car rider, but I told him it would get better and asked if he would give it one more try. If it didn't go better on Monday, he could be a car rider again. He agreed to it and today was much better! He said he got to sit with his friend and the bus driver was nicer. He said she must have had a better day today! So now he wants to keep riding the bus and has even mentioned riding it in the morning, so we shall see.

Fall Break

Carter had the whole week off school last week and Ethan had Monday and Tuesday off. So a couple months ago we booked a flight to go home and visit my family. We left Saturday morning and got home Wednesday afternoon (Ethan missed school on Wednesday). It is always so great to go home and see everyone. This time was especially nice since I didn't have to make the 12 hour drive home. I just wish I could see everyone more often, I miss them all a lot (and so do my boys!) We flew into Pittsburgh and stayed at my mom and dad's in Washington, PA.

On Saturday my sister, brother-in-law, and 3 nephews came in from Columbus, OH and surprised us. They weren't supposed to come until Sunday, so that was very exciting (especially to Ethan who couldn't stop smiling!) Then on Monday my brother, sister-in-law, and 2 nieces came in from Cincinnati. They stayed until Tuesday and then we left on Wednesday. All the boys went to a pumpkin festival on Sunday and the girls went shopping, but we didn't have any major plans while I was in. The time home was just spent catching up and having a great time with family.

The Three Stooges! If Carter and Theron look particularly sad, that is b/c they were crying a lot when it was time to say goobye!

Carter and Ethan with their 3 boy cousins: Hunter is 13-but will be 14 in December, Chase is 11, and Theron is 5.

Carter and Ethan with their 2 girl cousins: Gracie just turned 4 and Emily aka Emmy Juice is 2.

In the airport on our way home.

On the flight home!!! They were exhausted from the trip!

Lord, Give Me Strength!

Donnie is out of town this week, so I decided to treat the boys to Burger King for dinner tonight. The toy in the happy meals is I-Dog and they were both really happy about this! They played with their dogs all evening. After their bath, they came down and continued to play. But of course it didn't take long for an argument to start, so I told them to come in the living room and get their pajamas on. Carter said OK and came right in. Ethan told me he wasn't done playing yet. Ethan is an extremely sweet child, but for some reason he can never do what I ask the first time. He always has something to say instead of just doing what I ask. We have been working on his attitude for the last several weeks. So, I went into the other room and told him to give me whatever was in his hand. He reluctantly gave me his dog and began crying. I told him he could have him back tomorrow and he needs to work on his attitude. After I read them a book, he asked for his dog again, and again I told him he could get it back tomorrow. I tucked Carter into bed, and then went to get a pen and paper, b/c I know Ethan, and I knew what was coming. Here is what I overheard at his bedroom door (and these are actual quotes I was able to jot down without him knowing):
Dear Jesus and God,
I'm so sorry for giving Mommy attitude. I love my doggy and I miss him so much and I want to sleep with him tonight. But I'm not praying to get my dog back, I'm praying for you to give me the strength to be good for Mommy. I'm 6--I'm a big boy and I can do it! I can do it! I can be nice to Mommy...and Carter...and Ms. Wooley...and my friends. I can do it! I know I can! God...and Jesus, please give me the strength to be nice. And I'm sorry for all the people who have died. Like Elvis Presley. He was a really good singer. Amen.
And then he said the Our Father.

Corn Maize

This past weekend Donnie's brother and his two boys came to visit. My boys always get so excited to see them b/c they are really close in age and don't get to see each other that often since they live in Louisville. When they get together, they just play and play and play!! Tyler is 6 months older than Ethan and Cody is just a month younger than Carter. The majority of the weekend was spent playing outside and in the toy room, but they also made it to a park and a corn maize. That was fun, but it was a little warm, and all 4 of the boys started getting really tired by the end. It took just under an hour to go through. They also got to shoot corn on the cob out of a cannon! There were different signs up hundreds of yards away, and if you hit any, you would get whatever they were advertising. Carter hit the Super Cuts display, and got a coupon for a free haircut!