Carving Pumpkins...

Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

Last Sunday we got to carve pumpkins.  Both kiddos had specific ideas of what they wanted to do...

Ryder wanted to make a VW bus:

 And Eden wanted to make a unicorn:

 They did an amazing job, but I will say, their dad is the MVP on helping to make it happen!

They did an amazing job!

I can't wait to share what our kids decided to be for the halloween festivities...

I hope that you have a fun and safe halloween!

Time with very special people...

This last weekend we had the joy of getting to be with our very dear friends and family for an afternoon of eating amazing food, swimming, and just enjoying time together and celebrating Fall!
The house that our Brookie and Jon have created is magical...

Soup, salad and home made apple pies! 

 People that I just adore...

 Brookie got us coffee on her recent anniversary trip to Greece and made everyone party favor bags with a milk frother, coffee, and instructions for how to make greek iced coffee...

The evening was warm and the kids swam the night away...

 Group and family photos!

My Brooke is THE BEST HOST EVER!  She opens up her home and you can't come away from time with her and not feel loved and that you were completely spoiled.
It was an incredibly magical night, with people that I do see anywhere near as much as I would like.
I love that we got this evening together! 

Keeping them on their toes...

After school on Friday, Kit had a seminar until 6pm, so I decided to take the kids to a movie after school while we waited for him to be done.  The kids came home and I told them we needed to run some errands for their dad.  There was an immediate, shall we say, protest. I told them we would be fast, but the "protest" continued. We got in the car to go to the movie and I told them we should send Kit a video to tell him we were going on errands.  During the video I told the kids we were heading to the movie.  Eden burst into tears about how mean I was to say errands instead of a movie, and Ryder said he couldn't believe I made Eden cry.  All I said was, "We need to run some quick errands for their dad" to cover the surprise and then told them we were going to movie.  Apparently, I am the worst...  Once the surprise was done, we had an amazing afternoon and there was even an apology for calling me mean.❤︎

I relished pulling off such a simple surprise.

 And the movie was a fun way to kick off the weekend before Halloween...

Once Kit was home, we had dinner then headed for ice cream, because family trips for ice cream are always a good idea!

Red Ribbon Week

Last week was Red Ribbon Week at the kids school.

If you look up the definition of it: "Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States."

The National message is "Send A Message, Stay Drug Free."

Our school emphasizes: "What are good choices that I can make to have a happy, healthy life." 

So through the week, the kids have a theme for their "Spirit Dress Up" Days.

Monday: 

Hawaiian Day "Lei off bad choices"

 He wore his shark socks to represent the ocean around Hawaii...❤︎

Tuesday:

Wear Red Day "We are proud to be drug free"

Wednesday:

Wear work out clothes "Work out Wednesday to stay healthy"

Thursday:

Crazy Sock Day "Don't be crazy, make wise choices"

Friday:

Favorite Sports Jersey Day "Team up to make healthy choices"

The kids had a great week and I was so thankful to all the room moms that kept me informed and organized...

teaching them young...

Ryder made our dinner on Tuesday.

 All by himself and his dad was SO proud...

Waiting almost 17 years...

After almost 17 year of marriage, we decided to get a tv in our bedroom.  It was an early anniversary present because the deal at Costco was SO GOOD!

It went from this:

 With the help from my favorite handyman and his assistant:

 To this:

The first night we piled on our bed and watched an episode of Dick Van Dyke.

It has been a game changer.  When the boys watch sports, Eden and I cuddle up and watch Netflix.

We have family movie nights.  I have had a place to quarantine a kiddo that is under the weather.  Kit and I have fun watching shows in the evening when the house is quiet and we can settle in for the night.  As we look ahead to the kids having friends over, creating a space that Kit and I can retreat to as we host those shenanigans.  It's been such a fun addition and I'm really grateful to have this space to be...