I'm at a loss...

How exactly do you prepare for a fifteen hour drive...

With a car full of these?

A Little Independence

"You don't learn anything until you learn it more than one way." - Marvin Minsky

I realize that part of growing up is learning to do things for yourself. I have always loved it when my children get to the age where they begin to start doing things themselves. I will never forget the day that Porter figured out how to drink out of a straw for the first time. Ryan and I were so amazed (being the first time parents we were) that one day he could not figure it out for the life of him and then the very next day he did it. He drank right out of that straw like he had been doing it all of his little life.

(And I have to admit... a bit of child independence only makes my job a little bit easier.)

So you would think that I would be thrilled that Tav is starting to want to do more and more things all by himself. He has recently become a very independent little boy. One of his favorite things has become feeding himself. He will pretty much throw a complete fit if you try and feed him something with a spoon. He HAS to do it himself... So we try and let him...

Although, as you can see...

The independent use of the spoon doesn't usually last so long. And with the spoon on the floor it becomes free game. However you can get it in...

Resulting in a HUGE, frequently sticky, MESS!

But boy, is he sure proud of himself!

We even thought a one point that maybe a bib would help...
Which I think just made him a bit crazy instead.

Just think...

One day this kid may be the waiter at your favorite restaurant!

Although he still has a lot to learn and I don't particularly enjoy cleaning up the mess... I can't help but to smile for my little Mr. Independent.

Want To Play a Game?

I Spy... With my little eye...

Something Brown!

Why is it that they always choose to poop in the bath the mornings when dad isn't home?

Is It Christmas Yet?

I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by! With Halloween past, the decorations put away and costumes packed up I find myself looking forward to the next.... Thanksgiving right?

Well if my kids had anything to do with it we would just bypass the whole turkey and gravy and proceed full speed ahead with Christmas! I just don't think they get it. After spending a day a Disneyland last week, Phearson asked me if it was Christmas Yet. "Not yet." I replied and tried to explain to my youngling that we have to have Thanksgiving first. "But it is Christmas at Disneyland" he quickly spouted back. (He had noticed and was 100% in love with the Christmas decorations Mr. Disney has already donned) "And... it is Christmas at Target!" he added.

Yes... I suppose it is Phearson.

So who am I to argue with a 3 year old.

I caught wind of the first sales and started my Christmas shopping. I cleaned out the boys room and got rid of old toys. I purchased Porter's favorite, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (although we have already been watching the Polar Express for the last couple of weeks). I suppose I am a bit like my little ones... I just can't help myself.

And who can complain about ANYTHING that will make three little boys sit, quietly for 1 hour and 33 minutes!

I will have you know, however, that I AM still decorating with pumpkins and spice rather than stockings and candy canes. And don't get me wrong, I love-love thanksgiving, but the Holidays are the Holidays... may it be Thanksgiving or Christmas!

A Pirate Says...

So it is not that often that Ryan and I leave our little gang of hooligans behind and go out on a date together alone. And I don't think that in our 11 years of being married that we have ever dressed up for Halloween. This year I was determined to do just that... get a date night with my cute hubby and get into costume. Lucky for us we have some of the best friends around who love to dress up and party.

The Mr. and the Mrs.

This mean'ol Pirate wasn't fooling anyone...

He was loving every minute of it!

Thanks to the greatest dress up savvy friend around for helping this amateur out!

Thanks to this crazy "bearded baby" for giving us all a good laugh!

And thanks to Deborah and Shari for giving us a reason to dress up and hit the town!

Can't wait to do it again next year.

Project "Parent Candy Heist" is in FULL effect!

And if the boys ask... You didn't see a thing!

Halloween

Porter as Darth Maul * Phearson as Darth Vader * Tav as a Pirate

We had such a fun Halloween. The boys picked out their costumes themselves this year and of course decided to be Star Wars figures. (Surprise, surprise) Tav has become quite the fan of pirates these days (thanks to the Backyardagains- Pirate Adventure) so it was a no brainer when I came across this cutest Pirate costume. And best of all Mom didn't have to work so we got to get all dressed up and celebrate Halloween as a family! We started out trick or treating down at second street and finished up with a few more houses, with cousins and family, in our own neighborhood. Phearson and Collin were inseparable as usual, Tav tried to eat through all and every candy wrapper and we only had one mishap when Porter's elastic string from his mask whipped him in the face leaving a huge welt on his face. But as always, it was nothing a little candy couldn't fix.

It was a spooktacular Halloween!

And just as I promised in a previous post, that I too was going to get in costume this year...

We made it happen!

Those sexy man legs and cut off shorts below may give you a clue as to what the Mr. and Mrs. dressed up as...

(Notice a trend with the little man and his Dad?)

Stay tuned for more!

Happy Halloween!!