Friend Halloween Party

We always look forward to our annual friend Halloween party.  This year had to be better than last year since half the party got sick the day of.  It was a fabulous time with great friends, costumes, and food!  The kids had a blast hanging out together and were just happy to be together.  Right before the party I had a brilliant idea to put a table and chairs in the garage for the kids to eat at.  Best idea I've ever had...the kids spent the majority of the night in the garage while we were able to actually have an adult conversation inside!  

I always try to have at least two activities planned to help entertain the kids.  This year we made putty monster jars...since it was a Monster Mash!  The kids enjoyed decorating their jars as monsters but I think their favorite part was just playing with their putty.  

The pinata is always entertainment for everyone involved.  It is so funny to watch the kids and how serious they take it.  This was the first year that Lukers totally understood the whole pinata thing and he had a blast.  He loved hitting the pumpkin and knew exactly what to do when the candy went flying!

The last of our partiers left just before midnight and Lukers was exhausted.  Brody had been asleep almost the entire party...thank heavens for the sound machine.  Mark put Luke in bed and he was asleep before we even left his room.  We always love getting together with our friends and can't wait for next year!  

Pumpkin Patch

Every year it seems like going to the pumpkin patch turns out to be such a bummer.  October is always busy for Mark so it's hard to find a free night to go.  We had tried a few weeknights and finally gave up and went on a Saturday night.  Since Luke had to wait so long he was beyond pumped to go ride a tractor.  That night we got over to Day Farms and they informed us it was a two hour wait.  Since it would be dark and too long for the boys to wait we headed on.  We drove over to Pack Farms in Farmington.  Mark and I had to do a pretty big sell on the idea of wagons instead of tractors.  

Once we got there Lukers was okay with the idea and couldn't wait to pull a wagon and find some pumpkins.  We had very little daylight so we had to pick fast.  The mosquitos were out and poor Brods was getting eaten alive.  As usual, Luke felt bad for the small rotten pumpkins and wanted to take them home.  Mark finally found us four pumpkins and we thought we were finished.  Luke wouldn't let us leave without going through the hay maze.  Since it was pitch black Brody and I waited in the car for Luke and Daddy to get lost in the maze.  

The next morning I looked at the pumpkins in the daylight and discovered that Mark had picked two rotten pumpkins.  I think we'll go to the grocery store to buy new ones!  

Treehouse Museum

Because of Fall Break, Luke didn't have school last week so we decided to head to the Treehouse Museum.  We always have a blast at this museum and Luke is entertained every minute we're there!  We have been there numerous times, but every time we go Luke has to first run through the entire museum in about fifteen minutes and then go back through each exhibit slowly.  This tires me since there is a no stroller rule and I am always packing Brods everywhere we go.  

Luke always loves the farm area.  He plays with the barn, animals, and tractors.  However, riding the horses this time was a bit of a disappointment this time.  They usually have a bull that you can ride all dressed up like a real cowboy.  For some reason it was gone this time and Luke couldn't understand why.  He kept asking me over and over about where the bull had gone.  Lukers finally gave up and settled for riding the horse.  

The music room is perfect for Luke because he can be loud and hit things!  Brody even loved sitting on the big drums and slapping his hands on them.  He thought this was quite funny!   

This visit Luke spent most of his time upstairs in the knight area.  He found some friends and had a blast playing with the figurines, building towers, and knocking them down.  Brody had fun sitting on the table and playing with the leftover knights and horses that none of the other kids wanted.  Brody got tired but Luke wasn't ready to go so Brody and I snuggled up and he fell asleep for a bit.  It was so relaxing snuggling my chubby baby and watch Luke have a wonderful time!  I can't wait for our visits when Luke and Brody can play together and have even more fun!

Million Dollar Challenge

Last week Mark was able to participate in an amazing event.  It was a charity bike ride called the Million Dollar Challenge.  The ride started in San Francisco and ended in San Diego.  The event raised 1.4 million for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  Skullcandy was one of the sponsors so Mark and two of his coworkers were lucky enough to do a relay team.  

I have been after Mark to get a new bike for about a year now.  He is not just an average rider anymore and he can get great deals on bikes.  Up until this weekend he has been reluctant, but I am pretty sure the bike mechanics changed their minds.  A local bike shop disassembled Mark's bike and I had it shipped to the starting line.  There the bike mechanics reassembled the bikes and gave it a thorough tuneup.  The night before the ride we attending the welcome dinner and program.  Mark went to check on his bike and learned that all of the mechanics looked at his bike and all agreed they would not ride the bike themselves.  The wheels were unsafe and shouldn't be used.  Luckily, they loaned Mark a new set of wheels that cost more than our car and he was ready to roll...almost.  The next morning we came out to the start line and there was his bike with a nice note attached.  Not too comforting to be informed that his brakes and chain were almost dead as he headed out on a 100 mile ride.  Hopefully now he will listen to the professionals and invest in a new bike!

I had my reservations about this ride because it sounded very focused on the luxury of the ride instead of the charity.  After our few days with the event I have a very different view on the event.  I was touched so many times during this event about how precious life is and how blessed I am.  You can't help but come away telling yourself, "It could be worse."  There were numerous challenged athletes that competed in this ride that were far more stronger and enthusiastic about life than I am.  

I was also amazed at the charity I witnessed during the ride.  There were a few big names participating in the event.  One person in particular was Bill Walton.  Mark and I met him during the opening program and dinner.  I was amazed how he learned our names and took time to get to know us.  He even made sure that I was taken care of during the day, his wife was also along for the ride and had many activities planned.  He was very generous in his donations and was there every step of the way.  

Mark's first stop was in Santa Cruz.  Even though it wasn't bikini weather we still threw our suits on and headed to the beach for a minute.  The ocean and boardwalk were so refreshing! The next day was probably the most scenic, from Santa Cruz to Big Sur.  Mark was able to bike along the 17 Mile Drive.  It doesn't get much prettier than Carmel!  It was a short and busy weekend but both Mark and I were definitely touched and hope to participate in this event again!     

Breakfast With a Witch

We had so much fun last year at Breakfast With a Witch that we decided to go again!  I just love Gardner Village this time of the year.  They do an amazing job decorating and I am amazed by their creativity.  I bought I tickets way in advance this year so we could get good seat, but of course the one day in October I chose Mark decides to take me out of town.  I was so depressed when Mark told me, I actually had a hard time deciding between California and Gardner Village.  The only flight that worked left me about half an hour at the breakfast.  

The boys this year are a pirate and his parrot.  I love their costumes and I had no idea they would match the theme of the breakfast.  Since pirates was the theme they were selling lots of pirate garb before you went in.  Of course Luke spotted the swords and realized that I hadn't bought him a sword for his costume...not by accident on my part.  Since I felt bad I was leaving I bought him a pirate sword to complete his breakfast.  I am sure it was a bit more dangerous for the people sitting around him!  Brody was in awe of everything around him.  I love the picture of him with the witch.  We couldn't get his eyes off of her, he wanted to grab at everything on her costume.  Just like last year, they asked Luke if he wanted to come up on stage during the program and sing.  Just as before, he got embarrassed and said no.  He always regrets this decision once it's too late.  

I was so sad to leave the boys but they had a wonderful time with Grammy, Uncle Pat, Aunt Becca, Aunt Rach, Aunt Jessica, Baby Liam, and Grandma Talbot!  Next year we will plan better and I'll be able to stay the entire time and watch the boys enjoy it!

Six Month Pictures

I took a few pictures of my sweet baby today since he is six months old.  This little guy is hysterical and I can't get enough of him.  I kept wanting a picture of him on his tummy looking up at the camera but he hates his tummy.  I would put him on his tummy and by the time I grabbed the camera he had rolled over again.  He did pee one time all over the place.  Despite all of this I was amazed how many pics I did get of him.

I love the picture of him trying to eat his toes.  This boy loves his feet and is always trying to get them in his mouth.  My favorite part though is his little toe going in his nose!  Brody will grab anything around him and put it straight in his mouth.  Nothing is off limits with this baby.  I sewed this little owl hat for him so I was a little nervous when he was pulling on the strings and putting them in his mouth.  My sewing skills aren't amazing and I was worried the hat wouldn't make it until we were done. 

Brody is beyond a smiley baby.  Everyone can't believe how smiley and happy he always is.  I love that I was able to snap a few of him smiling.  Such a sweet baby and we love him to pieces!  

Six Months

I cannot believe my baby is six months old.  Six months is such a big milestone in my mind.  I absolutely love the stage he is at but it makes me sad how big he is at the same time.  Brody is starting to have so much personality and we can't get enough of him.  It is so hard for me to keep my kisses off of his chubby cheeks!  This little guy knows exactly what he wants and he's not afraid to let us know!

-18 pounds...61st percentile

-27.25 inches...79th percentile

-17.5 inch head circumference...71st percentile

-eats four times a day

-refuses to drink formula until he has food at each feeding

-will eat any kind of food

-holds his own bottle

-eats 2.5 ounces of food and 4 ounces of formula at each feeding

-takes three naps a day and only sleeps in his crib

-size three diapers

-rolls over...the second you put him on his tummy he rolls

-can almost sit up

-still loves his binky

-drools more than ever

-poor guy has nonstop ear infections...but is still happy