Trick or Treat

We had such a fun Halloween. I thought the best way to share our Halloween with you would be pictures from my iphone.  We got to do so much with the boys.  Alex was Mickey Mouse.  Me and my mom found the costume at Rhea Lana's.  We were so excited when we found it in his size and it was from the Disney store and the fancy version.  Max was pretty set on being the "blue and red" Transformer. He picked it out from Walmart.  I dressed up as Minnie Mouse with Alex and Mike was a super hero with Max. I went a little overboard with Halloween in general, but it made it a great Halloween to spend with the boys and we had so much fun with them and made so many memories. Our boys were at such a fun age for Halloween this year.

I found this picture on google.com  It was my inspiration for Trunk or Treat at Max's school.

I made treat bags for all of the kids in Max's PreK Class.  Max was so excited to give them surprises

This is my practice version of Trunk or Treat.  Yes, I practiced in my garage

Making signs for the car for Trunk or Treat

Max's  party favors for his class

20 bags!

Our treat bucket for Trunk or Treat.  Everything was Dairy free so Alex could enjoy too

I took a few pictures of the boys before we went to Trunk or Treat at Max's school the Friday night before Halloween. I thought they turned out pretty good.

Alex wanted to go outside not take pictures on the fireplace

Max's school had a party Friday afternoon.  We all went, Mike even took off work.  It was crowded, but I was so glad we all got to go and see Max and meet his friends.

Trunk or Treat was after the party. We set up in his school parking lot.  I think it turned out great!

What do you Spy??

Can you spy Woody?

Big crowd for our Trunk or Treat, the kids loved it

The boys enjoyed going around to other trunks to Trunk or treat too

Alex played some in the gym area while we ate

Max and Caden enjoying a hot dog and chips

Next up - Sunday afternoon - Church Carnival

We bought wrist bands for the kids, $5 each, went to help "Imagine No Malaria" Which is an organization our church has to help buy mosquito nets for people in Africa. The boys got to play as many games as they wanted with the wristbands.

Mike and Alex play cake walk

Max won the cake walk!!

Max made this basket - we all started cheering, we were impressed

Alex would NOT leave this bounce house.  Mike had to crawl in and drag him out.  Gave everyone a good laugh

I brought a Dairy Free cookie for Alex to decorate too.

Our "pew neighbors" ran this booth

Family of 4 hayride around the church!

Alex wouldn't let go of the rim, everyone got a kick out of that

Time to carve pumpkins!!! We prepped our pumpkins outside so we could watch the construction workers work and visit with neighbors.  It was a pretty day.

When Daddy got home we put him to work carving pumpkins

I have carved this same pumpkin face since I was a kid

Decorated the front door for trick or treaters.  The boys loved this

 Next up - Trick or treating at Mike's work.  Every year his work - ISD Walmart - invites friends and families to come and trick or treat.  This is one of my favorite things to do.  There are so many decorations and so much candy.  It is so much fun to take the kids every year.

My minnie costume.  I didn't have to buy anything at all. 

Mike's super dad costume.

Daddy's desk

this is a picture of Max at school on Halloween Day

Halloween night - we got the kids ready - took some pictures and played in the front yard and visited a few of our neighbors.

Lonnie and Alice

Alex loved this witch

Max with our neighbor - Drutick - I think I spelled that wrong.  Anyways he is 5 and him and Max get a long really good.  Can't wait for them to become buddies

We only had 2 groups of trick or treaters, but our house looked cute!  Next year we expect more.  It wasn't the worst thing for us - we got to keep the leftover candy! haha

Clean Clean Clean

I love a clean house, so sometimes having 2 boys at home can drive me a little crazy - but I think we have reached a good happy medium balancing playing and cleaning and the boys are learning the difference between playing with a lot of toys at once verse just throwing toys off shelves and dumping baskets :)

The boys actually like cleaning their playroom.  It gives us a chance to all playing there at once.  They also like being able to walk around.  They also like when all of their toys are in the right spot so they can find them easier.  I don't clean the play room a lot, but when I do it sure looks nice.

Playroom before

ahh.....clean playroom after

Sometimes when it's me verse the dishes or me verse the laundry, they win, but I try my best to stay on top of these in my time at home so Mike doesn't have to worry about them. Sometimes I will take a picture of how messy every looks and text it to mike - so when he walks in from work after a long day to all the dishes and counters clean and all his laundry sorter.... he will know how hard we've been working at home....

I don't know how we can pile up this much laundry - but it happens

I love that lately I've had time to do a few organizational projects like clean out the pantry and clean out all of the drawers.

Makes me thankful that I not only get to stay at home and spend time with the boys - but also have time to help with house chores.  It makes it so much easier for us to spend time as a family if when mike walks in the door we have all of the chores done and dinner ready.  

Max got some glasses!

Well it's 2 weeks later.....but Max got glasses!

Here is Max at Sam's trying on a pair of black and orange glasses

We didn't end up buying these but they were a close second

Here is Max trying on the winning pair of glasses here.  They are black and red

BEFORE

AFTER....isn't he handsome??

Max is farsighted, so he has problems seeing up close.  I believe his prescription is 2.5 or 2.75 (I can't remember).  Either way, he definately needs glasses.  He needs to wear them almost all of the time except napping and sleeping and maybe not while playing sports or playing outside.  The eye doctor said though after he gets used to them, he will want to wear them all of the time. He keeps them on most of the time now.  Every now and than I'll see him without and remind him to put them on.

Below is a picture of him and Mike playing chess and army men on the first full day Max got his glasses.  It was cute to see both of them wearing their glasses playing games together so I snapped a picture.

Yes - he is 4 - so yes - we lose his glasses often.  I have tried to not be frustrated about it and understanding that yes he is 4 - and yes - we will lose his glasses often.  Most of the time we can remember the last time he was wearing them and atleast narrow it down to a room or two.  Last week we literally spent almost 2 solid hours looking for his glasses.  Under couches, in beds, outside, garage, car, kitchen, trash, closets, dirty clothes hampers, you name it.  I finally found them shoved in a corner in the toy room under a book. Losing them is becoming a lot less often now.  Max is becoming more responsible with them for sure

Above all, I'm just happy that we have him glasses and he can see better now.  I'm also glad he enjoys wearing them, loves when we tell him he looks handsome, and I love that he thinks he looks like his daddy.

Lost shoe mystery solved!!!

A few weeks ago I send out the above picture - to several people. 

Grandma - Can you check your house for this shoe?

MiMi - Can you check your house for this shoe?

MiMi - Did we leave this shoe at the trailer?

Aunt Kelley - Have you seen this shoe?

Mike - Help I can't find Max's tennis shoes!

Friends - do you see this shoe at your house?

Max has a few pair of 11 shoes, but he has slowly outgrown them and mostly wear's his size 12 star wars shoes.  He LOVES them.  They are so cool, and they light up.  My mom bought them for him for his Birthday.  Well here the cooler temps came, and we could only find ONE of his favorite shoe.  We turned the house upside down.  Cleaned the car. Cleaned the toyroom.  Looked under beds.  Looked in closets.  Looked in the backyard.  Looked and Looked and Looked.  NO SHOE

Luckily, Rhea Lana's was coming up.  I bought Max not one, not two, but 3 pairs of size 13 tennis shoes. I found some awesome deals.  He got two pairs for $3.50 each and I paid $8 for a cool pair of Nike's.   He had one pair at home so we have 4 pairs of size 13 tennis shoes now.  I counted the size 12 Star war shoes as a loss.  Oh well.  

As I am cleaning out the garage.....I look inside a riding toy and I found the extra shoe shoved - squished - inside underneath the seat.  I couldn't believe what I saw.  THE MISSING SHOE!!!  We were all excited.  We now have both size 12 star war shoes......and....4 other pairs of size 13.  We're good for shoes this winter just incase this happens again...and with two boys....there is a chance.

Chuckee Cheese time!

For some reason or another everyone out there isn't always a fan of Chuckee Cheese.  I love it.  Maybe it's my kid's ages, or the fact we never buy food and only play games, and I always have coupons for the tokens and make them last several visits, oh....and NEVER go on Saturdays :)  Whatever the reason, I love taking the kids to Chuckee Cheese, and believe me, the boys love it too.  They will behave like angels for days if they know a chuckee cheese trip is a reward.  It's a great rainy day activity, and most of the time I get in and out without spending a dime.  I give them each tokens I save from trip to trip, I use saved gift cards when we run out and buy more tokens.  Did you know you can get 100 tokens for $20?  I can give the kids about 25-30 tokens each, each game costs just one token, and that will last them forever.  Side note - lesson learned - only give the boys one or two tokens at once - or they WILL spill them and you will be on your hands and knees on the floor picking all of them up. I play my fair share of games too.  I love playing basketball, and anything else I can earn some tickets.  Deal or no Deal is normally a good group game too. the best part for me is when they get to turn in their tickets for surprises.  Alex normally is happy with the 10 ticket laffy taffy, or the occasional 10 ticket topper, on a special day - both! haha and we give Max the rest.

Well - a few weeks ago Jennie had to take Laney down to Arkansas Children's Hospital for her quarterly cochlear implant testing and check up.  That meant my mom had the other two girls, I had the boys, and a we decided on a trip to Chuckee Cheese.  Boy did they have fun.  I of course, took pictures. I love spending time with my nieces, and I love when the cousins can spend time together.  

For some reason when I took this I got a flash forward of when MF turns 16 and she gives Alex a ride somewhere

Mary Frannie in charge of token distribution

inseparable at Chuckee Cheese

lol Alex had so much fun riding behind Mary Frannie.

Me verse Mary Frannie - I'm competitive, so I didn't even give her a head start.

I hit a high score - she didn't even have a chance :) just kidding :)

Alex grips onto the rail not wanting Mary Frannie to go home

Hey Ash, there's a cat in your car

So the other night we pull my car into the garage, get out of the car and go inside. A lot later, Mike goes outside and notices Max left his door open. He goes to get something out of the front seat (I think an iPhone charger) and there was A CAT in my car! We both have a little fear of cats, especially ones we don't know.  We both opened the doors hoping the cat would just hop out.  Of course I take a picture first.  The cat won't budge!  Of course my car is warm and it's freezing outside.  This black cat follows me everywhere around the neighborhood.  I don't even like cats.  It's black too.  Not that I'm superstitious, but I did try to out run it once just so it wouldn't run in front of my car. It won. We finally made enough noise and shewed the cat out of my car and out of the garage.  It was the event of the night.  From now on I make sure Max closes his door.  No more cats in my car!  (I cleaned it thoroughly the next day).

Alex's new piggy bank

Alex loves to saves his money.  I'v blogged about it before, but literally he will find even just a penny, and run to put it in his piggy bank. I love it, especially when he is digging throuh my purse while in the cart at Walmart and yells money! and holds on to it as tight as he can til he gets home to put it in his piggy bank. His Grandpa has been an accountant for 40 plus years, maybe that's where he gets it? haha.  Well one day, as with most glass piggy banks and two years, his piggy bank took a fall and did not recover.  For a  few months we just put his money in a plastic bag and told him someday we would get him a new piggy bank. 

A few weeks ago Aunt Kelley walks in with a surprise for Alex.  It was a Razorback piggy bank to replace his old one!  Me and Mike were excited and so was Alex.  

What made the piggy bank even more special was that Kelley said Aunt Margie had given it to her.  She said she hadn't really had a use for it, but knew Alex would enjoy it, so she gave it to him.  I thought that was so sweet. I know it was probably hard for Kelley to part with, but I know she knows it gets daily use around our house and Alex enjoys it. We lost my aunt Margie (my mom's sister) in March of this year.  We miss her so much.  The piggy bank serves as a new and happy memory of my aunt Margie.  She would love to know that Alex is using it now. I never take the piggy bank down off the refrigerator for Alex to put his money in without thinking of her.  This November will be the first November I can remember that I won't be sending her a Birthday card, and then comes the first Holiday season without our aunt Margie.  I can remember celebrating the Holidays with her since I was little (see below) she was there for me from day one.  I love and miss her and will definitely be remembering her this Holiday season.

my moment

Every now and than I have a moment.

A moment in life where you stand back and look at it and not only learn from the moment but change it into a life lesson, that might change the way you do or look at things in the future.

This last week I had two "moments" that actually taught me the same lesson.  One of them, I thought I'd share with you.

What would you do in the below situation?

Last Saturday I'm walking up to the rhea lana's line.  (Children Consignment event in NWA).  It's 12:30, the doors open at 1.  It's a little chilly, most people are hungry, and from what I estimate there are about 50 people that were already in line. 

So as I walk up to get in line, I notice that the line is going out into the parking lot.  I thought to myself, that's not going to work.  What are these people thinking? After all, Most people that get to go to the consigner sale at 1pm, have been there several times before, and are familiar with the rhea lana's process.There were probably a few hundred people still set to arrive before 1pm and we had the line weaving through a parking lot, with cars, little children, cars coming and going, and within 100 feet of a major highway. It was soon going to turn into mass chaos. I asked the lady in front of me...do you think we should try to move the line?  The lady looked at me with big eyes (as if it was a big task).  So I said to her, well there are several people coming and I don't think we should have the line going out this way through a major parking lot and into a highway.  Shouldn't we try to move it to the sidewalk right there?  (There was a sidewalk safe from cars that the line had always lined up on in the past). The lady just kind of shook her head and said ya, that's kind of what I thought too.  A lady in front of her turned around and said to me - this is just the way the line was when I was here (as if I was blaming her). Another lady in front of me said she thought everything would be fine. I know this sounds silly, but I truly found myself knowing the right thing to do which was move the line, and it wasn't going to be an easy task and I felt like the other people knew the right thing to do but it was easier just to sit in line and not say anything or do anything to change it. Well a few minutes later a few people arrive in line behind me as I knew several several more people would as it got closer to 1pm.  Well now we were literally in the way of traffic.  Now I turn to the people behind me and say, don't you think we should move the line over to the sidewalk?  They said, yes I do, and looked at me.   So I said, well....how are we going to do this?  We have to get 50+ people to pick up there stuff and stay in line and walk over to that sidewalk......the people behind me just said, ya it's not going to be easy. Obviously they were not going to do anything either.  

Here comes my "moment"

I stood there and took a deep breath. Was I going to stay quiet and go with the easy choice? All I had to do was stay in line and play on my iphone....  or was I going to try and do the right thing.  I knew I had to get these people to move, I knew it was the right thing to do, and I knew no one else was going to step up and help me do this.  I told the lady next to me I'd be right back.  I got everyone's attention in front of me, and slowly got everyone to move over to the sidewalk.  I helped one lady move her stroller, and another lady carry her bags.  A few minutes later - the line was on the sidewalk, everyone was safe, there was plenty of room for the line to grow, and the traffic jam cleared, and cars could come and go by the store now.

I walked back to my place in line and everyone was smiling.  They said good job, I couldn't have done that, I smiled and said, oh yes you could have, I didn't think I could either.  The other lady said, that was the right thing to do, and pointed out to me how long the line was now that it was getting closer to 1pm. Another lady actually turned around that had heard the whole conversation and said, thank you for doing that.  My mom than joined us in line and I got to tell her the story again with the ladies next to me laughing and agreeing with the story.

There was my moment, it could teach so many lessons, but let me share with you how it changed me.

Have you ever looked at someone  and told them.....let me know what you need, don't hesitate to call....but all you had to do is just say those words and never really had to put any actions with them?  I mean - how many times do we say, please let me know I can do anything, but than walk away and never have to do anything at all?

This week I was given the opportunity to put actions along with my words.  Someone I had said all those things to, actually needed me, and called. I was grateful for the opportunity to help.

This week I also got to show several people in a rhea lana's line how to put actions with their words. God gave me the perfect opportunity to step up and be a good example, and I stepped up to the challenge.

Sometimes in life we just have to do things.  Just do them. Its that simple. Stop just thinking about them, stop just saying we'll do them.  Stop thinking about how hard it might be, or how easy other options are.

We are coming up on the holidays.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.  A time of year that presents itself with so many opportunities to step up and do nice things for other people or to finally make a change  within yourself.  I don't know what your "Rhea lana's line moment" is in your life, but I hope that you get to experience one soon, whether it be unexpected, or whether you go out and create one for yourself.

The end :)