Cute Faces and Public Races

My kids make me laugh so often! I love their faces and when I hear them interacting with each other it just makes me smile. Of late, they like to wear shoes on ther feet and then on their hands and pretend like they are dogs. And we pretend like we're dinosaurs too. Even during dinner and it actually works to get Caleb to eat his food!

I love Caleb's evidence of being a dog and Mackenzie's "cooler-than-you" look.

And Mackenzie' smile here is golden! Plus, she's got food all over her face and that just helps capture her crazy self.


And then for the Public Races. On the night of the General Election we decided to have a little election party. I'm so excited for when my kids are older and can actually understand what voting is and what electoral college is and what red/blue states mean. Then we can color maps and stay up with them appreciating the wonderful freedom of voting. But for this year, good food was enough to excite them.

 

 

It was a fun night that ended a bit disappointingly...but you move on. Now we're moving forward and looking upward and standing firm...and are so hopeful for the future of our family! We love our country, the grand United States of America, and are so grateful that we DO get to vote.

Here's to successive voting parties!

Pumpkin Carving, Trunk or Treat leading into Halloween

Happy Halloween everybody! I know we're a bit late, but at least I got these up before Thanksgiving!

We carved our pumpkins for a Family Home Evening activity...and though Justin and I were very excited about it, our children were less than accomodating.
First, Justin did all the dirty work.

I'm helping Caleb with his pumpkin.

and that's about as good as it got. :) We did some fun color pegs in their pumpkins and the kids really liked them, but our camera doesn't take impressive pictures of glowing things.

And then there was the Trunk or Treat! Caleb was a fireman and Mackenzie was a fireman doggy. Here they are both holding their "hoses." Super creative, I thought.

Mackenzie understands what the camera is for and has humored me/us by saying "Cheese" on command! I love it! It makes me laugh when she signs it instead of saying it...

Looking at each other...

Then at me. Look how cute they are!

I made Caleb's costume from some Goodwill finds and some reflective ribbon from Joanns. WOW! We were so impressed with how it reflected and I think that was one of Caleb's favorite details! Plus, it made him safe, right?

showing off their loot.

The candy splurges begin with a blue tongue and a chocolatey mouth and smiling faces! 

"Do we have to go Trick or Treating?"

It was a bit chilly, but so much fun! I stayed home for part of the night to hand out candy, and then they retrieved me and we finished together. Mackenzie held her own bucket the whole time and loved walking around. She would nto be carried! She was too shy to ask for her own candy, so Caleb diligently asked for a second piece "for my baby sister" at every door. Love them!

Fall Hike

On the same Saturday that we got our pumpkins we visisted a beautiful state park not too far away and took a lovely Autumn hike. Caleb loves hiking and it was just so gorgeous and relaxing. It was perfect!
Let me highlight a few of my favorite pictures.

I love that Mackenzie and Justin are lifting the same leg. I think this picture is precious.

And this picture is definitely frame worthy. Perfect lighting, colors, and even smiles. I love my family!

I'm thankful for...Friends and Pumpkins!

About a month ago one of my old roommates and dear friends traveled with her husband and wee son to attend a wedding in Omaha. Well, they live in Chicago, you see, and we live right between Omaha and Chicago. And I haven't seen them in a few years. They've never met Mackenzie and Caleb was 2 weeks old last they saw him. And I'd never met their little boy! I insisted they stop by! They accomodated me and were able to stop by for about an hour while they fed their sweet babe, pottied, and just took a comfortable rest. It was so good to see them! I wish they lived closer, but at least a visit was made possible. Another should happen in the future...thanks for coming guys!


Justin's been super busy this semester (I might have mentioned that...) so on Saturdays if he actually has a Saturday that he feels like he can relax a bit on, we try to pack it full as much as we reasonably can.
One such Saturday we decided to go get our pumpkins for Halloween. We visisted Kroul Farm again, our emerging traditional adventure.

 

We had fun picking out pumpkins...

but Caleb for some reason did not want his picture taken. Silly boy! Pretty pumpkins though, yeah?