Scare Crew

So I found these great Halloween shirts on clearance and then scored another 25% off...and I couldn't resist the boots. Their Oregon boots. Only W is wearing them in the pictures...J has his camo crocs on famously backwards. I was attempting to good a good shot of the two of them together. Sometimes the pictures getting to the picture are the best ones.

W:

Looking at airplanes:

Me saying "Hey guys, don't look down, can you look at me? Please for a picture...look at me...."

You can see they like to do the opposite of what I ask........=):

J showing his pin pin the Penguin:

Seriously...take the picture already mom!

This one is funny...J looks so much shorter than W because he is scrunching down and W has the boots on...love their expressions:

A keeper...

Sneak Peek

Any ideas what W is going to be for Halloween? Just thought I would give you a clue.........and no, he will not be a "box".

I love home.

I see that I am not the only one staying home as much as possible (just read your blog Heather). We have been at home A LOT due to potty training and because of the flu (or more like avoiding the flu)! The boys are high risk bc of their asthma and I don't want to mess around with the seasonal flu or the swine flu. I am scared of the swine flu. To add to my worries, the boys haven't had the flu shot yet (due to their egg allergy) and I can't find anywhere that hasn't ran out of the seasonal flu shot for myself.

Fortunately we have an appointment in a few weeks to have the boys skin tested for the flu shot and vaccinated under controlled conditions...I just called to see if we could do this sooner....because if they receive the seasonal flu and they are OK, then they should also be able to receive the H1N1 (also contains eggs) as well. Since they need 2 doses of H1N1 a month apart, I would like to get it as soon as possible before we start traveling. Hopefully the boys aren't like me but when I travel my immune system just falls apart and I seem to catch everything.

We did sign up the boys for some soccer-I was excited to see a short-term, inexpensive, outdoor activity we could do. The first practice was sheer chaos. The boys enjoyed the first part of it-but after about 30 minutes they had enough. Hopefully the next practice will be more fun for them! It is just a casual, run-around kind of thing but there were about a thousand kids there!

We have had some regressing with the potty training. So it has not been so much fun the last several days...the boys automatically yell "no-I don't have to!" when I ask them if they need to go potty...and then they end up having an accident moments later. So they are just saying "no" without thinking if they really need to or not. On a positive note, they have done very well when we are not home...no accidents when we go on a walk, jog, or run errands...however, from the title of this post we have been home often and therefore, having lots of accidents.

Other than that, we have been enjoying some cooler weather - it dropped from 90's one day to the 40's the next morning. And the first thing I saw was Bear galloping around the yard. I swear I could predict the weather by her temperament. She is so much more frisky when it is cooler outside. It is amazing how much the humidity effects the dogs during a walk or jog. Right around three miles Katy just about stops running and looks like she feels bad. But the last couple of days both Katy and Bear have been pulling me at an all out sprint on our jog. As long as I hold onto the stroller carefully it is fu...in fact, it is kind of like a dog sled and the girls were even helping me up hills.

We have been doing lots of reading and letter-practicing. The boys know all their letters and their sounds...I am always impressed when I find them making letter shapes out of their toys and showing me what they made. Here is W showing us a "X, H and a V" he made all by himself with Lincoln Logs.

Here are a couple of pictures of the boys after dinner one night. I was doing the dishes and when I came into the living room I saw them all snuggled up together on the couch. SO adorable. See all the mess on the floor...that has become pretty much standard the last few weeks. The spot bot on deck and toys all over the place...

I have been soaking up the cold weather...it just makes everything more cozy to me. I love wearing fall clothes, having the heat on, drinking hot cocoa, and cooking and baking. I was excited to get out the fall decorations and I have been lighting candles all over the place! I am taking advantage now since we will be moving during Thanksgiving and Christmas and I won't get to decorate then. I LOVE the months of October-December. Love love love.

Frog on a Jog

We have seen some funny and interesting things on our walks and jogs. But a few days ago...we were almost done with 3 miles when I reached down to put something in the stroller and saw this:

I am pretty sure this is the same frog that took a joy ride with us to the commissary a couple of weeks ago. The bagger and I opened the trunk and screamed as a frog went jumping from a blanket onto the inside window...and it rode the whole way home with us. During the run, he just sat there...facing forward - enjoying the breeze on his face. This is a side view...

Or lack there of...seriously...it was 91 degrees and 99% humidity yesterday. In October. It just feels even warmer when it is in the fall. Hopefully it will get cooler soon because we are pretty miserable right now. Which is why this smart frog is bumming rides in the AC and in the stroller so he can feel some of the breeze. =)

Potty Training is ExHaUsTiNg

Yes, J fell asleep at 5 p.m. while sitting on the potty yesterday evening. Looks like our week of sleepless, itchy nights and no naps all week finally caught up with him.

Happy Birthday Geoff and Uncle Matt!!

We had some homemade gifts to give, some homemade cake to eat, and some relaxing at home time (in the evening post-work anyway) today.

Here is W's gift (J's is almost done!):

Showing off their handprint cards:

And blowing out candles on Geoff's cake request: Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. No box-stuff....all homemade and to all of you disbelievers out there...it was all quite easy to make.

Getting ready to blow out a lot of candles:

Happy Birthday!!!!

The "Jump Across the River to Avoid the Alligator" Game

Geoff encouraged the boys to jump from one chair to the couch while he pretended to be an alligator trying to bite their legs/feet. Here are some action shots....of Jan being the alligator...

Mark and Jan watched Katy and Bear for us for the past couple of months (THANK YOU!) and they flew them back to us the week before last...here are some pictures from their visit: