Ahoy and Happy Halloween from the Pirates Three!

Halloween was so fun this year! The boys were TOTALLY into the candy factor so they were amped for the festivities.

We did manage to get some pumpkins to carve...one big one that Mommy did and then we harvested 8 smaller ones from our garden. Daddy chose to do a small one. He's such a trooper.

The boys decided to stick to paper pumpkins. They weren't too excited for the gooeyness when they tried helping Dad.
Daddy is having so much fun, can't you tell?

Good job, 'Lijah.

Our final product...

Saturday the 30th was the ward Halloween party. We decided to make carmel corn to bring and the boys were insistent upon being my "helpers." They love watching the popcorn come flying out, especially those pieces that seem to escape and jump over across the room. I love my helpers!

All ready for the party!!!

Emren was sure he did not want to wear his hat.

Elijah was alright with it, as long as it got him some candy.

Ethan was just ready for some party-time!

Trick-or-Treat!

I think I want this one too!

Granny and Grandpa were in town so we were so lucky to have them come and go trick-or-treating with us on Halloween. Here are my pirates, ready to get going on their candy collecting. They got the hang of things just fine the night before...they knew what was coming.

Emren was a little better about his hat, since it meant candy.

'Lijah was so cute! He wanted to make sure he had his sword with him at all times.

Mr. Ethan Poser...he's no Johnny Depp but he sure is adorable!

The candy couldn't come soon enough so they decided to snack on their swords.

Wait for me!!!

Look what I have Dad!

Ethan needed Grandpa's help with this one...it was a little spooky.

I think they were a little sad to come back home but happy that it was time to check out their candy.

Granny, can I have this one?

Grandpa, can I have this one?

Mommy, how about these...I haven't had any yet, I promise!

Mommy and Grandma...warming up from the chilly Halloween night.

Grandpa is the best! TV and candy...nothing better to end the night with!

Pumpkin Patch Time...

Because of our schedules and the weather, we thought we weren't going to get to go to the pumpkin patch this year all together as a family. One day we had a chance to make a last minute go for it, so our trip to the pumpkin patch was kind of squeezed in and rushed. We took the boys to the same one we went to last year since it had the big monster truck there and we figured they would be excited about it. Elijah was the only one who showed interest in it and not even enough to take him on a ride. They all thought it was "cool" from a distance but that was it.
It was super muddy everywhere we tried to walk. Most of the pumpkins were sad looking or getting moldy. The wheelbarrow evidently didn't even look enticing...and come on, who can't refuse a wheelbarrow ride?

I only snapped a couple of pics, none of which were very good. I think we'll stick with Scholtz Farm next year. We always have so much fun going there and it's closer (and less muddy!).

This is the one and only family picture we attempted. I don't think anyone was having much fun and then bees kept following us around. They wouldn't leave Elijah alone. We had to run away from them after this shot and decided to just go home.

Oh well, better luck next year.

Emren The Thief

I think the majority of kids end up "stealing" something from the store at one point or another. Emren stole his first candy bar just a few weeks ago. A little early if you ask me. This was no Hershey bar either...
The thing that killed me was that the way we were standing in line, the three or four people behind us HAD to have seen him chomping his way through the wrapper and no one said anything at all!

We get out to put the shopping cart away and I see my chocolate faced boy. I pry the stolen merchandise from his hands as he's screaming the whole time. We have to go all the way back in, stand in line and buy this $2 or $3 candy bar after I fish the few pieces of wrapper I could out of his mouth without getting bit.

Well, at least Daddy and Mommy got some yummy dessert that night.

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

So I've been wanting to put these on the blog so I remember them. Sometimes the things he says just cracks me up and makes me cry all at the same time.

I got up the other day from the lunch table to get a napkin and walked by Ethan and he says, "Mama, your bum-bum is big." There was nothing mean in his statement at all...he was just stating the facts and maybe realizing this for the first time. I laughed at first and told him that I knew it was. 10 minutes later I texted David that I was ready to cry about it.

We were driving home from Joyschool last week and I asked Ethan what he did at school that day. He says to me, "I don't want to talk about it." I'm thinking that he got in trouble or something so I say, "How come?" and he replies back, a little frustrated, "I'm just looking out the window right now." Hmmm, I should try that one sometime.

One night after we had put the kids to bed, David heard some commotion going on in Ethan's room. He went up there prepared to be angry with the crazy 3 year old for not obeying and going to sleep when it was bedtime. He flung the door open and said rather loudly, "Why is your light on?" Ethan quickly replied, "I just was trying to see Jesus," pointing to the picture up on his wall. What do you do there? How can you get mad at that?

We love you buddy! You kill us sometimes, but we love you.

Surprise!

We felt very strongly that someone else was ready to come to our family. Mommy couldn't imagine how she would be able to take care of another little one. But through prayer and faith felt in her heart that it work out in the end.

On the 1st of November, we were able to see lots of "E" #4 with ultrasound and all is looking great. We were very surprised to find out that we'll be having a little girl in the family. We just assumed with David's dad having all boys and with three boys already that it would be a boy. We were very surprised but happy. We are looking forward to her arrival the end of March.

I think she's beautiful!

I love this pic of her leg and foot!

With all the ultrasound pics I've seen (especially last time around with the twins) I don't understand at all how this shows it's a girl.

Please don't hate me for posting this, little one.

Brothers will take good care of their little sister. They're excited to meet you. Horray for baby girl!

Two Turn Two!

I cannot believe I'm just now writing about my babies' birthday...it feels like ages ago! My babies are not babies anymore though. They are 2 - no question about that! They do 2 so very, very well. They are the sweetest boys in the entire world 25% of the time and the rest is complete chaos and tantrums.

We love being able to get to know them more and more as each day goes by though. I was reminded tonight of the fact that usually the traits they have that drive us crazy now make them who they are and will get them where they want to go in this world later on. I celebrate my boys for who they are, no matter what. Dada and Mama love you for being you and will forever.

We got to celebrate a little early with Daddy since he had some vacation time so we went out to lunch and then mini-golfing. Family time is always so fun, especially since Dad works a lot. We had the very best server I've ever had anywhere at Red Robin that made our little lunch into truly a special occasion. She made sure we felt special and celebrated. She gave the twins as well as Daddy some birthday ice-cream that everyone enjoyed. Happy faces all around.

We got to go mini-golfing at the Family Fun Center. This was a first for Elijah and Emren. Their favorite part was getting the ball OUT of the hole...I don't get it. They had fun though.

Well, there were no "Keep Off" signs...

Good game boys!

Then Daddy couldn't wait to give them their present.

He gets so excited about birthdays, one of my favorite things about him.

Since they couldn't agree on a birthday theme, mommy chose it for them. They are my little monkeys...into everything...so that's what we went with. They love Curious George too so it fit all around. We were glad to be able to have Granny, Grandpa, (Great) Grandma, Uncle and Auntie Wanner and Nona join us in celebrating.

Monkey cupcake/muffins - mom got creative this year.

Elijah a little hesitant about unwrapping.

Granny helping Emren bust into his.

Grandma here to really get them into it!

Mommy is happy about the money, even if Elijah isn't too excited.

Lunch is their favorite...hot dogs, yummmm!

We had a practice run at the candles the day before during Friendship Friday where Emren thought the candle was so neat he grabbed it. You can see he's a little hesitant here. Elijah is ready to make a wish!

You were so tiny just two years ago boys. You have accomplished so much in such a short time. I love your new words, your affections, your silliness with each other and your ability to learn so quickly. Dad and Mom are so proud of you! Thank you for being a part of our family.