Fall soccer has come to an end.......

This post is a few weeks late but better late than never.  Max had his last fall soccer game.  I bought Max some medals to hand out to his team mates, they loved them.  They had snacks and he visited with the other boys after the game.  I got a few pictures.  His best buddy on the team was Mason. I'm not sure if Max will play on the Spring soccer team or not.  We'll just see what kind of sport mood he is in when sign ups come around.  He says right now he wants to play baseball - which would be tee ball.  I would have to look at the schedules but I'm not sure about him wanting to play both.  I guess we'll just tackle that decision when we come to it.  It would be hard to say no if he really wanted to play both, both I also don't want him to over commit at 4 years old....so we'll just have to see.  For now he loves his soccer buddies, still talks about them, and most of all, every time we pass the soccer fields he talks about his games, I love that part....

Neighborhood Update

I took the boys on a neighborhood walk the other day.  I took a few pictures to document how our neighborhood has changed over the few 6 short months we've lived here.  There are workers in the neighborhood everyday.  We enjoy watching them work.  They have been finishing up bricking the clubhouse and putting roofs on the two houses across the street from us. We should be getting 2 new sets of neighbors in the next 2 weeks, so we are looking forward to that.  I hope we are able to have a neighborhood Christmas party so we can meet more of the neighbors. I have some activities planned for the boys during Christmas too that involve the neighbors...

Our pool!!!  I am so excited about our neighborhood pool.  I can't believe we are going to finally have a pool next summer.  I am going to love walking across the street with the boys and having a fun swim day at the pool.

This is the porch to the clubhouse.  

Here is a back few of the pool and clubhouse and a new house across the street from it.

The boys loved our neighbor's pumpkins

beautiful fall trees.  This is the view from our front door looking across the street to the left.

Here we are walking the main  "circle" is what we call it.  They've cleared off another lot and they are finishing up a new house behind it.

Down the road there are 2 more houses now.

the boys attempted to hold hands and run

a look back at all of the finished houses behind us

walking back to our house...cleared lots across the street and they are starting on 2 new houses, one already sold.

Ronald McDonald House

Our Sunday school class had been looking for a community service project over the summer.  We wanted something where our kids could help too since everyone has kids and so we could teach them how to help people in our community and be a good Christian example for our children.  We wanted something we could do monthly.  In September we started volunteering for the Ronald McDonald house.  We signed up to bring a meal on the 3rd Saturday of each month.  

Below is a write up about the Ronald McDonald house I found to explain more of what it is....

Studies show that when loved ones are close by, sick or injured children heal better and faster. That’s why our community is rolling up its sleeves to make a difference—and you can be a part of it.

The 3,200 square feet Ronald McDonald Family Room^® will be located on the third floor of the Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas. It’s designed to provide respite and relaxation during an otherwise stressful situation, while keeping loved ones near their ill child. While private bedrooms are part of the overall design, communal sitting areas, a large dining room and family play area are included to encourage bonding and discussions between families as they build their network of support. 

These spaces will be utilized on a regular basis but also for several special occasions for the families throughout the year to celebrate milestones, holidays, and more!

Andrea has been great organizing everything.  She has an internet sign up sheet so everyone in our Sunday school can sign up to bring an item, than we all meet down in the lobby at 6:15 on that SAturday.

In October me and Mike signed up to bring dessert.  We baked cupcakes and cookies with the kids and talk to them about what we were doing and who would be eating them and why were doing this.  We packed them in the car to bring them to the hospital. Unfortunately the kids fell asleep so they didn't get to help deliver....so I stayed in the car with snoring boys and Mike brought the cupcakes and cookies upstairs.  He had to make two trips :)  

Mike took a picture of our desserts in the kitchen area.

Looking forward to continuing to do this every Month.

In November we are bringing a meal on the third Saturday - which is November 16th - AND we have volunteered to provide the first Holiday meal at the house - Thanksgiving.  We aren't sure if we're cooking or having somewhere like Harps cook and than just deliver and set up, but either way we are excited about the opportunity of providing a meal for those in need on the Thanksgiving Holiday.

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