Not a drop ... wasted!

 Most of you know I LOVE PEPSI! It makes me happy, makes me feel better, makes me whole! Its been a part of my daily routine since I was conceived! My kids all know its MINE and do not touch. That being said, they know it, but don't always obey. This day old Blakers went to swipe a swig and spilled it. I was ticked! The boys, loving it but never getting it, did what any soda deprived kids do and lapped it up like a dog. My floors were filthy but I was slightly more okay with the loss. At least someone got to enjoy its sweet, bubbly goodness!

Weirdos!

Here I thought my girls had all the dress up/crazy personalities. Nope, my boys got it too. I am amazed at the things they come up with. This is Blakes favorite way to wear a cowboy hat. Not sure why but 9 out of 10 times he wears it this way. Poor Kai gets roped into the wackiness!

 Nice how when I pullout the camera and Blakey goes to pose, he grabs his brother in a choke hold. Also, Blake does not carry a 'purse' around but he usually can be found toting some sort of bag. A fair amount of the time it IS a purse, we just call it his bag. This kid doesn't care nor do I. So what that the boots he's wearing are pink, he loves them. Yes, his pet carrier is pink with feather boas at the end. It makes a great carrier for his ratty dog ... and 2 cars (he is never with out his favorite stuffed dog and 2 matchbox cars. The past couple months the cars have been a motor home, which he calls his mini van, and a taco truck. Dudes got issues)!

Boys, you are wacky but I love you!

Blake Thanksgiving Program

 This year Blake had a Thanksgiving program at school. It was pretty cute. I got a kick out of their little songs. My favorite had to be "Turkey dinner, turkey dinner. Pumpkin pie, me oh my" sung to "where is Thumb kin". He'd been walking around for a couple weeks singing it and I was finally able to figure out what in the heck he was singing. Here he is with a couple kiddos from his class. His favorite buddy is Jaxon, the fellow glasses wearing kid (Oh yeah, I probably should have posted separately about that too. Blakers got glasses the week before Thanksgiving. I was dreading it but he's done great. The Dr said he would ... I just didn't believe her! He looks darling and takes pretty good care of them. Well, pretty good for a four year old boy)!

Blakers only lasted a song or two. The other songs he was dancing around pulling fish faces! I figure the other kids in his class were struggling too, it was okay!

FEED ME!

I found this funny. In the weeks after Halloween, Kai was often spotted with a big ol' sucker in hand. He loves them. He is also ridiculously messy with them. I was sick of the sticky mess strewn throughout the house so I sat him on the island counter where he would be quaranteened. It worked!

 Notice his shirt? Its very fitting of this child! He's a moose. He loves fruit, yogurt, pancakes, treats ... just about anything you feed him I guess!

New Tradition

The first weekend in November we started a new tradition (well, at least according to our family): spending a night at a hotel with friends. Our favorite family, the Moes, had an extra voucher for a free night stay at a local hotel. Being awesome friends, they invited us along. It.was.so.much.fun! The kiddos had a blast and all played well and the adults had fun too (usually its one group having fun while the other group just endures the night). The first thing we did once we reached our rooms: EPIC PILLOW FIGHT! Tony is notorious for his pillow fights. They are loud, long and dangerous. At least one of my kids typically ends up crying (often its all four) but they run right back for more punishment! The poor Moes kids had no idea what they were in for:

 The kids got smart and ganged up on Tony ... didn't work. If you look in the back ground you can see a pair of legs behind Aliya's head. That is poor Jake getting tossed off. Luckily no one was hurt ... too bad!

 This little Missy I love. Her face says it all: little imp stole Kai's shoes and put them on! I've decided she was supposed to be my kid. Somehow in heaven she and Kai got mixed up. Now while I am so grateful Kai is mine, I also feel somewhat bad Krysta got her: she's a bundle of curiosity, mischievousness, dirt, mess and trouble all wrapped up in a dainty/darling little girl body. She and Kai have been betrothed since birth. Luckily they love each other too!

 The kids had so much fun playing, we actually wore them out!

 The next morning, once it was a decent enough time, the pillow fight resumed (Drew wanted to start at 7 a.m). This time Tony broke out the "torture your brother by trapping him with his foot in his underwear trick". Poor Jake!

We also went swimming (yep, first part of November). Tony was being a sissy and wouldn't get in ... he eventually did with a little persuasion (i.e. push) from Casey. Thank you Moes family for such a fun weekend. I think we need to do this semi-annually!

Halloween 2012

Yup, I'm a little late! I figure before the year ends I may as well get caught up. I tell ya, I have no idea where the time goes but its flying by. Some days I'm very grateful for that!

Anywhoo ... I am one of those Moms that wants my kids to get to have fun with their pumpkins yet I cant stand the mess of carving them. My compromise: painting. I am perfectly happy to provide the necessary supplies to let them paint to their hearts content. Each kid has their own way of doing it and their own personality.

Aliya, well, she's our poser. She'd rather get creative with her many facial expressions than focus on painting. She did a good job but once she was done, she was D.O.N.E. She gets that from me!

  Blakers likes to use he body as his canvas. He got on the most important parts then turned to a little self expressionism.

 Kai went with the "cover it all" approach. I was pretty impressed!

 And Taeya, she's our perfectionist. She sat there for quite a bit longer adding detail and pizazz to her pumpkin (check out her big ole feet. At 9 she's in a women's 6.5. Sure my kids have a cousin that is 10 and in a women's 10 but this is my Taeya ... she's not allowed to grow!)

Halloween! I love my crazy little kids. With the exception of Kai they each picked out their costumes. Aliya insisted on being a bride, Blakers was a fireman (only because we couldn't find a garbage man costume), Taeya was a geek with her BFF Kaylee and Kai got to be Aliya's groom (Blake kept calling him a broom ... I guess there are some similarities)!

 Sure enough this picture is when Kai is smiling the cutest!

 Ahhhh, look at the happy couple!

Biker Boy

One afternoon Blake asked if Tony would take off his training wheels. I wasn't sure he was ready ... he was only 3 1/2 but he said he was. Tony did great. He held his shirt for about 10 feet then Blakers took off. I guess he was more than ready!

 Wahoo!

 Yup, he's doing it!

 Just a little bit proud ... he is one of those kids that you know exactly how he's feeling. When he's happy he's all smiles, when he's down, he's all frowns/tears and dirty looks!

 Oh Kai! He loves that ratty dog ... and the pink/purple bike. It was Blakers favorite and now Kai's. Luckily  my boys don't care they are on a girlie bike.

 Later that week, Tony built a ramp for the kiddos. Again I wasn't too sure ...

 ... and again, Blake proved me wrong!

Kai Kai and Tony were content to watch from the sidelines. Love my men (and my little women)!