Halloween Fun!

First just for fun, here's our fall mantle & porch this year!

This year for Halloween, I had planned on Case being a baseball player (since, hello, we already had the outfit)

and for Rhett go be a fireman since we still had Case's costume from when he was 2. 

That changed though, when one day I asked Case if he would like to be a baseball player, 

and he shot back with, 

"No, Mom! I am gonna be a dragon and Rhett is going to be a Knight!" 

(I mean Duh Mom!)

My mind raced back to when my nephews were little and were a dinosaur and dragon one year.

Lucky for me, Amy had saved them, so after a quick search on the internet for a knight's costume, 

Case was going to have his idea come true. 

Halloween was on a Wednesday this year, so the day before Case's preschool had a Fall Party

where all the kiddos dressed up. 

It started out with a little parade, then the kids sang their Halloween songs they had learned. 

Then back to their classroom for snacks and a little Halloween craft. 

Even Mommom and Grand-Dad joined in on the fun! 

Amy's dragon and dinosaur costumes she had saved both fit, 

so Case decided he wanted to be a dinosaur for school and a dragon for Halloween. 

So much fun! 

...

The 31st's forecast wasn't looking so great for trick or treating. 

I believe it even called for possible snow. 

I had remembered seeing that our local library branches were all throwing a Halloween party, 

so we asked Kelly & Sydney if they'd like to go with us to one of the parties. 

I figure in case we weren't able to go trick or treating, we would at least have some sort of fun activity to do on the actual day. 

So I helped Case put on his dragon costume, and then went to help Rhett put on his knight costume...

The kid had a fit. 

I mean a flat out, fit.

He did NOT want to wear that costume.

I have no idea why either! It's just a shirt!

He was raking at it, screaming, crying, pulling it off every time I tried to put the shirt over his head!

Besides the fact it was slightly scratchy material, I was cracking up at his resistance! 

It was so strange!

After about a five minute fight, he finally calmed down with teary eyes. 

Silly boy!

Sydney was such a cute little owl!

The library had story time, a parade and then even provided a snack! 

So cute, we had a lot of fun! 

Wouldn't you know I don't have a good picture of them, 

with Case's dragon head actually on his head, next to his knight?

Turns out I wouldn't have a chance to get that picture later that evening either. 

Since it was going to be SO cold, we opted for Case to wear the dinosaur costume again.

He could wear a ton of layers underneath it, and it was a full body costume. 

Rhett ended up being a ninja dude, another costume Amy had saved, since it would fit OVER a coat. 

He cried over that one too! Stinker! 

Avery actually wore my old costume, that had Mom had made when I was little! 

Such a sweet little trio! 

My boys adore their cousins!

Case especially adores Avery, whenever I ask him who his best friend is, he always responds with "Avery."

We met up with, and ran into lots of friends trick or treating! 

We went up and down a few blocks, before Case said. 

"I have enough candy, I ready to go home."

:)

So... Matt and I are loving this trick or treating thing while our kids are still little.

It means lots and lots of candy for Mommy & Daddy!

Keeping Up With The Boys

Lately, the boys and I, have been hitting up the parks around here like crazy. 

 Rhett is at the point where he can pretty much tackle any playground obstacle thrown his way. 

He is fearless, and no stairs, climbing structure or slide is too big or too scary. 

Case was a teeny bit more careful, and cautious at this age. 

Don't get me wrong, he would definitely tackle them, 

he wouldn't let anything hold him back, just might take him a few more times to try it out.

Rhett, however, always trying to keep up with his big brother, causes him to quite literally have no fear. 

Also makes him one tough cookie. 

That kid, seriously, amazes us with his ability to bounce back from an injury.

He can fall flat on his face, bust his knee, bust his lip, smash his finger in the toy box...

cry for a maybe one minute...and be on with his day. 

He's crazy.

Case is crazy too. 

They're crazy. 

Our crazies. 

We love them so much. 

Since Case man has been in preschool, having so much fun by the way. 

(more on that later)

Rhett and I have had lots of special little dates. 

Visiting pet stores, having mall play dates, shopping, and of course visiting parks. 

That last picture, is SUCH a representation of him. 

A knows he's cute, little stinker! Just ornery! 

...

The boys have become such best friends. 

Best friends who are so close, do everything together, and who inevitably fight as well. 

I told Matt, just tonight...they just play SO hard. 

They are non stop, wild little men. 

Sometimes it drains me to absolute empty. 

I told Matty tonight, sometimes I feel like I start the day with a 3/4 full tank, 

and by the end of the day I am literally running on fumes. 

They test me, they challenge me, they make me think and worry all the time about being a better person. 

Not only a better Mom, but a better everything. 

A better wife, a better friend, a better role model, a better Christian.

A person with more patience, a person who can roll with the punches, a person who will kiss them, snuggle them, discipline them, forgive them , teach them, pray for them, pray with them, guide them, 

and love them with everything I have.

Some days I just feel so selfish, for wanting time by myself. 

For example, the other day, I was cleaning out the downstairs closet. 

Pulling out the gloves and hats from the storage bin. 

I was trying to hang a few jackets and coats, and put the vacuum cleaner away, 

the boys were running around with their trucks and wagons, 

and  kept running into the closet door, 

fighting, fussing at each other about taking turns with the trucks. 

I found myself thinking,

"How would this night have gone if I didn't have them here tonight?

I would be cleaning the house probably, as I was in the mood to organize. 

I would have my music turned up loud, I would probably be sitting on the floor really gutting the closet, 

instead of just putting a few things where they needed to be. 

I would probably be relaxed, and not stressing about the fact that they hadn't eaten much of their dinner. 

Not thinking about looming bedtimes, and the routines..."

then...

I stopped, looked around the corner to their innocent, wide grins as they ran as fast as they could around the corner...and I just thought, 

"Oh but I am so thankful that they are here. That they are ours. That this is our life." 

True story. 

Love Him

You know what's fun? 

Surprise date night & crappy phone pictures. :)

Love him. 

UK vs Georgia

Matt and I were lucky enough to attend another UK football game together, 

thanks to wonderful friends to watch our boys! 

UK vs Georgia

We lost (surprise, surprise) 24-29

Who cares though, because tailgating is so fun! ;) 

Good times.