Halloween 2013

For halloween this year, the boys went as Clark Kent & Superman. I thought they were so cute :) I got Clark Kent's suit for super cheap at the NDMOTC consignment sale, which was nice! We had both an extra cape and an extra pair of glasses, in case either one wanted to switch costumes. They had a blast trick-or-treating at Daddy's work, at their school's fall trunk or treat, and up & down our street. They are pretty cute when they say "Super Hewo, to the rescue!" Sweet little chocolate-loving boys!

Painting Pumpkins & Cat in the Hat

The boys tried to steal a couple of pumpkins leaving school, so we came home to paint our own! They LOVED this activity :) I was especially glad to do this since we missed out on a pumpkin painting party this month at a friend's house.

 

We took the boys to the Dallas Children's Theatre to see the Cat in the Hat - it was so much fun! The boys were very attentive and enjoyed the show.

Butterfly release

The butterfly man visits the boys' school every year and this year we bought a chrysalis to bring home. We watched it for a few days and talked about all things butterfly, and then it emerged! I'm not sure we got the healthiest butterfly, it sort of hung around the house for a few days, but it eventually disappeared, so maybe it was alright :) The whole process was pretty cool! My favorite part was when Ben & Jack tried "showing" the butterfly what to do by flapping their arms and "flying!" They were very encouraging!!

Barnes & Noble

We had an easy family Friday night with dinner out followed by a trip to Barnes & Noble. The boys love B&N, mostly because of the train table. They also enjoy story time and lounging around reading books on their own - love it!

State Fair 2013

The state fair is always so much fun! We went on a weeknight, to avoid some of the crowd, and we had a great time! This year the boys got to ride some of the rides, which they thought was really awesome. J said when they went down the log ride, Jack was just giggling :) They also loved the little hands on the farm and the car show, the big top show, and corn dogs of course!

Their fave part of the farms exhibit is getting "paid" and picking out what to buy - papas fritas, of course!

Pumpkin Patch 2013

We went to the Arboretum this morning to take our pumpkin patch pics and had a good time. The boys like picking up pumpkins, and running around of course! They also did great at the maze, and we had a few incidents of "Oh, no, I'm lost!" and then brother would have to go help out of the dead end. Pretty funny. Here are a few of J&B in the "adoreta" (arboretum) pumpkin patch:

Grandma Carolyn

My wonderful grandmother, Carolyn Dean, passed away last week. I may come back later and blog some of the details of the last two weeks, but in short, it was unexpected and we were sad to lose such an important part of (my) our lives. I think one of the things we have talked about most was what a presence she was, and how odd it is for her not to be there. I am most sad for my mom and Pawpaw, of course, and can only think about how you are never ready to lose someone you love.

I have thought about her so many times over the past two weeks, and it's funny what your mind remembers. I remember how much she loved music and used to play the piano for us and sing hymns. My favorite that she played/sang was "His Eye is on the Sparrow," and my mom said that was Grandma's favorite and her mother's favorite. I haven't thought about that in years. I can remember how good Grandma always smelled, and how when we would visit in the summers I used to love using her shower so that I could sample all of her expensive and pretty-smelling shower gels and body lotions. I can remember how when I would complain about my skin breaking out, she would tell me someday I would be grateful, because it would mean less wrinkles as I aged. I can remember how she made anything look good when she was eating it, and especially loved to watch her eat fruit. Isn't that weird? She would laugh at me when I said something about that. I can remember hugging her and saying how comfortable it was to relax against her, and she would say it was because she had "a little extra." Most of all, I think you remember how someone made you feel, and I always felt safe and loved around my grandmother, and I will miss her.

These are a couple of my favorite pictures from last summer.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”  - John 14:1-4