BOO! Halloween 2013

After much discussion and changing of the minds, the boys decided to be  a Mummy and a Domino’s Pizza delivery man. {Jackson stayed in character the whole time}  They both thought of their costumes all on their own.

Just think if we had combined the two—an interesting concept, right?  What do you think the craziest thing Domino’s delivery people have ever seen?

We happened to see one while we were trick or treating.  He was kind enough to let Miller pose with his car!  We should have asked him what the crazies thing he has ever see was.

Both of their costumes turned out rather well and we got lots of candy to show for all the hard work.

Not only did Jackson tell me that mummies can not smile for pictures he had a joke that he kept up until the very end.  When someone would say something about him being a mummy, he’d say, “"I’m not your mommy!”

Our neighborhood goes all out and we knew we were in for a fun night.  We were not disappointed!  For a country that only recently started to celebrate Halloween, they sure have mastered it quickly!  As I type this our neighbors are continuing a intermittent fireworks show from their dock.  It’s 9:31.

Open the door, it’s Domino’s!

The boys are on fall break, so they can lay here in a candy coma until Tuesday.

Happy Halloween y’all

Happy Halloween

A few weeks ago I ordered this Bronwyn Hanahan door decoration.  It is even cuter in person and was pleased with how quickly it got here.  I think I may have started a collection!  I can assure you that no one else has anything like this here in the Bahamas!

We are ready to get our Trick or Treat on!  The boys are over the moon and Allen and I are pretty excited too.  We love our neighborhood, where the adults have as much fun as the children!

This year we are doing homemade costumes again.  We did semi homemade last year, and I think I really prefer the homemade.  The boys may have other ideas, but I’ll hold out as long as I can.  Come back tomorrow for pics of the not so scary costumes!

Trick or Treat Y’all!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

 

Yes, it is only October, but we are very excited for Christmas already. 

Here are a few scenes from our house recently.

Lego catalogues are the reading material of choice

This has been made for weeks already.  Almost all of them are Beyblades.

I was a huge fan of Christmas before having children.  Now it is on a whole new level.  Good thing Santa has started shopping early this year!

Here We Go

Soccer season started during the second week of school.  It lasts the WHOLE school year.  This weekend was their first game.  The weather was a little overcast, which was awesome because it has been so dang hot here.

Jackson has been playing for several years and he really a love for the game.  For the past few years he has mostly played goalie and he was very good at it.  This year he has mostly been playing defender and he is doing awesome!  I am always so happy to see my mild mannered boy get in there and play hard!

Miller has started the season three times and it seems like the third time is a charm.  He is loving it this year!  In the past he was enthusiastic, but practicing was too much for him.  He wants to go, go, go and waiting for 19 other kids to kick the ball before he gets a turn just doesn’t work for him.  This year he has the patience for that {most of the time} and he is doing awesome.  I was so surprised in his first game how good he was.  He is still a little fuzzy about some of the nuances of the game {like not stealing the ball from a player on his own team}, but my goodness he has the defense thing down!  He stole the ball {from the other team as well as his team} a bunch of times and had great determination and focus, plus he LOVED it!

I never expected to be the mother of two boys much less excited to spend my Saturdays at the ball field cheering for my sweaty boys, but it is so exciting! 

L-O-V-E

Y’all know how I love the uniforms the boys wear to school.  This year Jackson wears a white button down.  I had mixed feelings about the white shirt.  It looks a little too grown up for my taste, but I do appreciate that it can be bleached when stains occur.  Trust me, we keep Oxy Clean and bleach pens in constant use!

Another thing I love about them wearing these uniforms is that they are made to tuck their shirts in and wear a belt.  In the Winter their uniform includes a navy tie.  Talk about grown up!  Feeling comfortable and confident in business attire are important skills for men to have and I’m thrilled that they are learning early.  I was surprised that this morning he asked to wear his tie.  He doesn’t have to wear it yet.  He just wants to.  and I L-O-V-E that!

Just a glimpse of what is to come!

What does the mama say?

You know the song, What Does the Fox Say?  It’s kind of a big deal at our house.  Miller really loves it.  Well if I am being honest a few of {ahem} us like it too.  It’s catchy!

The other morning I was folding laundry and Miller was downstairs finishing breakfast and I hear him singing, “What does the fox say?  Ning, ning, ning, ning, nin-gy.”

Then he continued his song with this:

“What does the mama say?  No I pad before school!”

What can I say?  I speak millions of words to him.  I pour love attention, praise and discipline into him constantly.  Those are the words he remembers?  Gotta love him!

Splash!

We recently spent a weekend in Spanish Wells Bahamas.  The normally flat water there ended up being quite rough.  The boys could not get enough!

They started out in the raft.

After a few times of doing a head plant in the sand when it flipped over, they decided that straight up diving into the waves was more fun!

It’s not often that they get good waves {without seaweed} and they took full advantage!

They ran up and down the beach doing this until they were too famished to carry on.

We fed them and they went right back at it!
  It will be a while yet before we get all the sand out of their ears!

Say Cheese

Miller is such a poser.  He has recently begun making this face when he knows his picture is being taken.

I can definitely do without it, but when he added this move to it, I can’t help but laugh every time!

What is is he going to do next?

Flashback Friday ~ Fall Edition

Some of my favorite Fall photos

2007

2008

2009

2010

Homework Problems and Solutions

This is the first year that both the boys have homework.  Jackson has full on spelling sentences, putting words in ABC order and math pages as well as reading every night.  Miller is shorter with reading and one 10 minute activity.  It’s manageable though.

However it quickly became apparent that with two boys working on different activities in the same space that some organization was in order.  I turned to Pintrest and there were tons of great ideas for homework stations. 

It’s just that none of them work for us since homework is done in the Dining Room and has to be cleaned up before dinner.

So, what is a girl to do?

That’s right I made a plan!   I opened up the cabinet that we have in our Dining Room and turned it into a homework station.

During Homework time I pull this little basket out.  It contains all the essentials!

Scissors, glue sticks, erasers, a pencil sharpener and a few other tiny things are contained in the red pencil box.  The blue box holds crayons.

The basket also holds Miller’s flash cards , a jar of pencils, rulers, a notebook and a few stickers.

I have a separate basket for school supplies that are not needed yet.  School supplies are so hard to find here {and expensive too}, so I stock up when we go to the U.S.

This cabinet is now a one stop shop for all our learning.  I am keeping markers, notebooks, dry erase pens and boards, extra folders, coloring books and puzzle magazines in here now too.

Of course I had to put the stuff that was in here somewhere.  Another project for another day!

Big Fun!

The tube continues to be a big deal at our house.

But this picture steals the show!