A fun weekend!

What a weekend this is turning out to be! The boys have been having so much fun!

It started out by Trick or Treating at the downtown businesses. They got to dress in their costumes and get some candy. They even got to see Austin's teacher while they were out.

Then Daddy took them to a movie. While they were gone I was able to rake some leaf piles together.

They seemed to enjoy playing in them. Good thing too, it rained last night, so the leaves are now all wet!

Then we got ready to go to the Hallelujah Party at our church. I always enjoy not having to cook supper. But they have so much more!

They had hanging donuts. Adam is trying to catch his here. When it was over his face was covered in powder, but it was so fun!

They had a story read by a gentleman at our church. Austin and Mike then cleaned and carved the pumpkin as the story was being read. I forget what the story was, but it went with the activities of the pumpkin.

There were also miniature pony rides. This pony was no higher than mid-thigh on me. They attached a cart and gave rides to the children.

Austin played a ball toss game and won a new puppet. This one is named Sam.

Then we came home to trick or treat in our neighborhood. We live in a neighborhood with a lot of older people. They love to see the boys come to their house and see how they have grown over the past year. At one time or another both boys wore this costume. It got a lot of laughs.

Last Sunday, we went to a different church than usual. Austin found out that there was going to be a puppet show today. So he definitely wanted to go back! Today, we went to the same church and Adam and Austin were able to participate in the puppet show. They were very excited and did a good job for the little bit that they were able to practice.

Now, we are ready for a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Family picture

A little over a month ago, Mike and I were talking and he said that for his next book he would like to have a family picture for the "author's picture." Mike has finished 2 children's books and they are at the publishers waiting to be printed. He has a contract for the 3rd, we just need to finish it. For Tyler and Blaze, Mike just had a picture of himself. But, he decided for Hugo, it would be nice to have a picture of the whole family.

I talked to several people about having the picture done, but in the end decided to have Matt do the picture. Luckily, we were going to their house only a week or so later.

Matt, took LOTS of pictures. This is the one we liked the best.


However, Lana and I thought the color may be off just a bit. So, I worked with it a little and came up with...

the black and white. I really like this! But, it bothered me that it looked like I had a "death grip" on Adam. Then I thought, maybe I can fix that too. So, I played with it a little more and came up with...

a cropped picture of the family. I have to say I like this one the best!

It bothered me at first that my hair was blowing in the breeze, but have decided that this is my life! Austin has a bit of a goofy smile, and Adam's looks a bit mischievous, my hair is blowing on end, but at our house you will find goofiness, mischievousness, and my hair will be on end!

This is the one to go into Hugo. Welcome to the Wampole's World!

The bruise

Tonight, I was in Austin's room while he was putting his shirt on for bed. I happened to look at his arm and was alarmed to see a fairly big sized bruise on it. I asked how it happened. He did not know. I thought for a bruise that size, I'm sure he would remember what happened. Then my mind went wild, as it will do sometimes, and I started to think of a book I'm reading about a girl with leukemia. So, I started to really check him out for other bruises, but everything looked fine. Then, Austin calmly says, "maybe it is from when I was sitting on the couch sucking my arm." I replied, "Austin, my dear, you gave yourself a hickey."

I had a good laugh about that!

forgetful

I am having new experiences with the boys this year. They are being very forgetful!

Austin is in 2nd grade, and is starting to have more homework. Very often, he will forget to bring it home. I have started checking his backpack as soon as he comes out of the door of the school. Then, we usually proceed around to the side doors of the school and go BACK to his classroom to get his homework. On the days Mike brings him home, it is not unheard of us hopping in the car and going back!

I thought this problem was contained to Austin, but today I thought it might be showing in Adam as well. Today, I went to get the boys from school. Adam came out talking about his heavy backpack, and how he has 2 pumpkins for me to make a pie. I thought he might be making up a story, so I checked his backpack and sure enough there were 2 pumpkins in there! I asked, "where did you get those pumpkins?" He replied, "from the man at the pumpkin place." "WHAT!!!??" I had no idea there was a field trip today. I went and found his teacher, apologized for not sending in money and, more so, that I didn't send him a lunch! He said, "I asked Adam if he had his money and he said no, then I asked if he had a lunch and he said no, I said to myself, 'Mom doesn't know about this field trip'"

Tell me, how does a child lose 2 notices about field trips? How is it he can contain his excitement, and not talk about it before hand? How long until little boys start to remember these types of things??

What a wonderful week!!

We had family in this past week. My mom's brothers and sisters came from Canada. We had a relaxing week, mixed in with some sites they might want to see in our area. I tried to get some pictures to capture some of the fun we had.

Sunday, Adam put on my Uncle Peter's boots....backwards!

This picture makes me laugh!

In August, Austin drew a picture of my Uncle Peter. I had to put in a picture of what he really looks like.

On Wednesday, we had dinner at the time share that some of them were staying at. They had some moldy bread for the boys to feed to the ducks.

They, also, had a wonderful Jacuzzi tub. They boys had a great time! There was water everywhere when they were done. Carol and I had to laugh when we saw this picture. We stared to quote mom's favorite Shel Silverstein poem:

Crowded Tub

There's too many kids in this tub.

There's too many elbows to scrub.

I just washed a behind

That I'm sure was not mine,

There's too many kids in this tub.

There were mirrors on 3 sides of the tub. The boys say this picture looks like a roller coaster. I like how it goes on and on and on....

We played A LOT of card games. I learned several new ones. They apparently played so hard one night that mom rubbed the skin off her elbows. I think she thought it was well worth it!

Here is a picture of everyone. From the left: Bernice, Peter (brother to mom), Dad (in back), Mom, Anne (sister to mom), Helen(sister to mom), Betty, and Ben (brother to mom).

One day Mom and Dad took then on the ski lifts at our local ski resort. They got to see the beautiful fall foliage. Anne and Helen did not go to the top, but here is everyone else.

We really enjoyed having everyone here! It was a wonderful week.

The happenings at school

This morning, as the boys were getting ready for school, we hit a bit of a snag that we needed to work out. Adam was a bit upset because he wanted to walk to his classroom "all by himself!" Up to this point Austin has been walking with him. I think this is justified on Adam's part, he is growing up and wants this independence. Plus, Austin was doing this by himself when he was Adam's age. However, sometimes (not often) there is a sub in Adam's room that brings a dummy to school. So, Austin likes to go to see if he is there, so he can see the dummy. Both boys were in tears this morning because they felt so passionately about this. In the end we decided that if Mike saw the sub at lunch time, he would ask him if Austin could come down after school to see the Dummy, and Adam gets his independence. Both boys were happy.

This week at school is eat lunch with your child week. I saw a mom there and we started talking. Her daughter is in class with Austin. I told her a few weeks ago that her daughter told me that Austin liked her. She said that she had been hearing the same thing at home. I said, "it's funny because I hear nothing of this." I'm not sure what makes the criteria for "liking" but I hope he likes everyone in his class. Besides, I think girls are much more verbal about these things than boys.

Finally put to use!

When we moved into our house 10 1/2 years ago, there were several things that were left from the previous owner. One of these items would be a pile of bricks that was left in our backyard. We have moved these bricks from one location to another. We never got rid of them, because we always thought, "there may be a day when we need some bricks."

Today, I was in the house getting supper ready, when Austin comes running in the house and says, "you need to take a picture!" (That is the new thing since I have started my blog. They announce to me when they are doing something cute or "blog worthy") So, I took the camera out and found that the boys had found a purpose for all those bricks.
This is Austin's creation. He made an Army camp. There is a hole with those sticks-that is actually where the bombs have gone off.

This is Adam's creation. He made a house. He covered up the roof (those are his words!), to keep it safe from Austin :)

Anyhow, I'm glad the bricks were finally used!

So proud of him

Austin got the special plate today at supper.

Before I explain why he got the special plate, let me first say this: I often wonder how my children are when they are at school, when they are away from me and Mike. Today I found out.

I was leaving the school after picking up the boys today. One of the assistants at the school stopped me. She said that one of the janitors was talking to her about Austin (this janitor did not know that Austin was Mike's son) She said, "That little boy always offers to wipe the tables down after lunch. He does this even when it is not his job. And it is not just every now and then he has done this almost every day for 6 weeks!"

I was so pleased to hear this, I made today a special plate day. I think it was very deserving.

A sight I love to see!

Austin is in 2nd grade, now. With that he has the homework of having to read for a certain amount of time. Tonight, as he was preparing to do his reading, he picked a book that both he and Adam would enjoy. They sat on the couch together, read the book, giggled, and talked about what was going on in the story.



It was a great sight to see!

Shall we call him Ernie??

Last night, I picked out Adam's clothes to wear to school. I kind of giggled and told Mike I think Adam is going to look like Ernie, from Sesame Street, with the red and blue striped shirt and blue jeans. Then, this morning he added his white sneakers and had the "little boy" tousled hair. I had to laugh! That made him look even more like Ernie! Just to compare, I added a picture of Ernie. I was wrong about the sneakers, but it was still pretty close I thought he was kind of cute!