Trying for the Perfect Pose (12/2)

I thought I would be able to take a good picture for a Christmas card but it just didn't work out. I already had a family picture (which is what we went with) but I wanted to see if I could get a good "Kids Only" option. I loved the personalities captured here and it's a good view of what it is like whenever I try to get them to take a picture all together. At this stage they just have to move, make crazy faces and smack each other.

Hank's Favorite Spot (11/30)

In the beginning we tried to keep Hank from getting on the couch.  That didn't work out so well and really we don't mind too much.  He is a great snuggler.  He really likes to lie on either end of our couch and look out the windows.  It doesn't look comfortable to me but what do I know, I'm not a dog.

Mr Mustache has a Birthday (11/28)

Mr Mustache usually complains that since his birthday is always around Thanksgiving he just gets pie for his birthday "cake".  So this year I made him pineapple upside down cupcakes.  We all enjoyed them!

We are so thankful for you Mr Mustache!!

Decorating the Tree (11/27)

Decorating the tree is always such a fun thing to do and every body helps.  Putting on Santa hats and listening to Christmas music helps to set the scene.

Josh loved that he could reach the upper branches!

Of course Simon wanted to put all his ornaments on the same branches.

It's fun to watch them pick out their favorite ornaments to hang.

All Done!

At the Tree Farm (11/26)

We had a debate this year about having a real tree or buying a pre-lit tree.  I have been wanting a pre-lit tree for years and Mr Mustache likes the real trees.  I like them too but I don't like the mess.  So he won the debate again but with the promise that next year we would have a fake tree.  Yay!

We decided that we would go to a farm this year and choose and chop down our own tree so we found a Christmas tree farm about 6 miles outside of Blacksburg called Spruce Ridge Tree Farm

So we set out through the trees in search of the perfect tree to grace our living room.

We played around in the trees and got a little sticky from the sap.

Most of the lot was on a pretty steep hill and the boys ran up and down it several times.  Each time I cringed just imagining them falling and rolling over and over down the hill.  But nobody fell and no one was injured. 

It was a beautiful day with beautiful things to see and we enjoyed ourselves.  I thought it was sweet that the boys helped each other to get back up the hill.

We found the tree that we wanted and then, saw in hand, Mr Mustache channeled his inner lumberjack and begin to cut it down.

The boys found a seat and watched.  There was some kind of lesson going on here...can't remember what was being taught exactly.  

After it was cut down the boys helped their Dad carry it up to the baler.

The boys thought it was really cool to see the baler in action.  

Then our tree was tied to the roof of our van and we were off.  This was our first experience in cutting down our own tree.  Before we just bought them off the lot.  I think that if there are any more fresh trees in our future then this will be how we will do it.  It was a fun family experience.

Pumpking Tossing

I had 3 little pumpkins that had been decorating the front porch and since Thanksgiving would be the end of fall decorating, we decided to use the pumpkins in some games.

We threw the pumpkins.

The goal was to see whose went the farthest.

Then, with a plank and a big chunk of firewood, Mr Mustache and Josh created a way to toss the pumpkins into the air!  Everyone took turns jumping on one in end and shooting the pumpkin on the other end up into the air.  

The entertainment lasted for awhile but then the pumpkins and the plank gave out.  

Paige and Simon enjoyed themselves!

Here is some video of our pumpkin tossing!

Making Volcanos

Finding activities to do with the boys while they were out of school for Thanksgiving was fun.  I got this idea from Preschool Alphabet but of course I found the link on Pinterest. It is so easy to go on their and find stuff that you are interested in.

 Some baking soda, vinegar, food coloring and some eye droppers or we used medicine syringes and droppers!  It bubbled up and looked so cool!

It was fun to have the Paige and Phoebe there to play too.  Phoebe was great at being Simon's lab partner!

Paige and Caleb had many colorful volcanoes on their tray.

Josh liked to mix his colors to see what he would get. 

Thanksgiving Poetry and Tea

Joshua's class had a Thanksgiving Poetry reading and tea and invited family to come.  Travis, Susan, Paige and Phoebe were here for Thanksgiving and so they joined us for the tea.  Josh had told us that his poem was about family.  We were surprised to find out that most of what he was thankful for was the bus.  I told him I was thankful for the bus too!

The whole class sang us a song as well as the poetry readings.

Here Joshua poses with his cousin Paige.

Here he is with both cousins, Paige and Phoebe.

Silly Uncle Travis poses with him too.

It was fun to have lots of family there.  We are so proud of Josh and how well he is reading.  

Josh Cooks (11/16/11)

Josh wanted to cook and he said he needed cereal (Lucky Charms) and hot water for his recipe.  Yuck!

But Caleb liked it and so the recipe was considered a success.  

He tried to talk me into having a taste but I tactfully declined.  

Josh you are a great cook!

Pirate Birthday Party for Caleb and Simon

Simon's birthday is on the 3rd of November and Caleb's is on the 12th so we decided to throw them a joint birthday party this year on the 5th.  The theme they agreed on was pirates and it was so much fun looking for ideas for games and activities that the kids could do and I had so much fun making their cake and cupcakes!  The boys seemed to really enjoy themselves and I think their friends did too!

Chocolate Treasure Chest cake and vanilla mini treasure chests with chocolate frosting.  Chocolate gold coins, candy necklaces and ring pops were the treasure.

I made chocolate mustaches and had pirate hats and eye patches for all the party goers to dress the part.

The birthday boys were so excited waiting for their guests to arrive.  They loved their cake!

Josh made one of the cutest pirates I have ever seen!  Ahoy matey!

Caleb invited several boys from school and we were happy that they all came!  Here he is with Luke, who is was also on his soccer team this fall.

The best part about this mustache is that you can eat it.  

Simon and his friend Reece walk the plank.

 There was some great sword fighting on the plank too.

There was digging for treasure.  Some lucky pirates found diamonds and gold dubloons.  

Caleb got some nice presents.  He was so excited.  Here he is with his friend Jace.

Singing Happy Birthday!

Simon got some nice gifts too.  Like this cool back pack from Kenleigh.  He had a blue ring pop and so he had a blue mouth for the rest of the day.

Caleb takes a swing at the treasure chest pinata.

We had to make them stand way back unless it was their turn and we stopped making them use the bandana to cover their eyes.  

Simon did pretty good.  He almost hit me though.  He wouldn't stop swinging after I said stop!

Eventually candy did come out.

And then it was every pirate for himself!