Gutting the pumpkins.  We started by cutting the top open.  Ben was so excited to start with, but he suggested that we just wear our underwear so that it doesn't get on our clothes.

Then he started to bawl.  It was so gross and he couldn't take gutting the pumpkin. Jayden was waiting patiently for his turn.  Ben gave up and we gutted it for him.

He was still very upset and didn't want to do it anymore.

All of us together.  FHE carving pumpkins and watching the debates.

Ben trying it out again for the 3rd time, and tried for about 5 minutes.  Then asked Dane to finish it for him.  Symi wasn't liking it at all.  She would daintilly pick out one seed at a time and cringe in she touched the slime.  Until she started gagging.  Then quietly asked to be done.

Jayden started to play Peek-A-Boo.

Laughing because he thinks he's funny!

It's "Red Ribbon" week at school.  Today was "Wear a Hat Day".  Ben wanted to wear his cowboy hat.  Symi wanted hers too.  Jayden doesn't have one and keeps stealing Symi's.

He just wants a hat, he doesn't care that it's pink or his sister's.  He's got it now and won't give it back!

Just the normal.  Unload tupperware drawer. Check.  Pose for Mom. Check. Say cheese. Check.

Today has been a movie day.  Symi woke up with a fever and a tummy ache.  So she's just vegging.

A few weeks ago, Jayden was woke up that morning at 5 am.  WOW.  I was not ready to be up that early, and he'd been up most of that night. Finally at 8:30 I couldn't take his whinny, clingy, sobbing stories anymore.  I set him up with a bunch of toys and took a shower.  He was too quiet so I looked out to find this.  He was so tired and slept for 3 hours.

Symi was right where I left her as I showered.  She loves to sit so close because we have 1/2 of a speaker that works.  So we always hear 1/2 of a show.  But the kids don't know that, they are just excited to watch TV.

Please forgive my photography skills.  Our original camera eats up batteries in less than 5 mins. (Not exaggerating)  And so my parents kindly sent one of their older cameras for us to use.  On the first day here Dane sat on the camera and the screen broke.  So we have no idea what kind of pictures we are getting other than most of them the kids are cut off or we get a partial picture.  At least we have some way of taking pictures for future generations to laugh at. :)

Summer 2012

Practiced taking aim and shooting.

Went fishing early one morning.

Dad caught a fish and so did Ben.   But Ben's fish got away before we could get a picture.

Wearing Dad's old fishing hat.

Symi followed Ben around the pond, but never got anything.

Jayden sat and played in the rocks and dirt.  He was happy to watch from a distance.

Jayden started a habit of falling asleep at lunchtime.  Playing hard is tough work!

My long lost love was sold.  I've had this beauty longer than I've had Dane.

Ben reading his 1st chapter book.  Symi and Jayde have to be right by him.  Now that he's in school all day they miss him and won't leave him alone.  EVER!!

Jayden has started to put everything on his fingers.  These are his favorites.

Ben made his "Halloween Mouth" snack and assembled it all by himself.  He was so proud, that he insisted on a picture.

Symi is working on her letters.  And so far she's can correctly name 12 of them.  Ben's teaching her, she won't listen to me.

Symi pointing to her letters.

Yet another item on his fingers.

Trying to throw it at me.

Can you find the children?  They love having a room with just toys.  Even though we have only 3 rooms it's nice to have a toy room.

This summer has been lots of fun.  With running through sprinklers, going to the Willow Park Zoo, going on walks, playing in the park, watching lots of movies while I rested, camping, fishing, watching fireworks right in our back yard, riding bikes, and so much more. 

Ben claims that he was bored a lot, and yes I'll admit, we did spend a lot of time inside.  But I'm grateful that we at least had some fun memories to share together.