Trick-or-treat

 Will had a great time trick-or-treating on Halloween. You'll notice the costume change from previous pictures. Apparently 3 times being a pirate is enough. He wanted to be Buzz Lightyear for trick-or-treating. And, thankfully, he got a fun dress up outfit for his birthday. Unfortunately, Ellie Kate was sick so she didn't get to go trick-or-treating. I'm glad it was this year and not next, she wasn't really aware of what she missed.

 Upon arriving home, Will told me he got "millions of candies"! Great! He had at least as much fun handing out candy to trick-or-treaters at our door as he did going out. I think he would have liked to have had a conversation with each one.

Poor baby, Elle. This was her 3rd outfit of the day (my second) and this was about where she stayed for most of the afternoon and evening - in my arms. I sure am glad I didn't spend a lot of money on a costume for her!

Put him in the choir

Saturday evening Will and I went to mass. He enjoys going without Ellie Kate because we get to be in "the big church" instead of the cry room. We were nearly done with mass and he had done a good job. The choir started singing the second communion hymn. This was not included on our song sheet, they were singing a capella, think full church of quietly kneeling parishioners listening to the song. Instantly, Will lights up. He recognizes the song. It is one Justin sings him at bed time. Naturally, he knows all the words to the refrain, so he starts singing along...growing louder and louder. I try to quiet him down a bit to no avail. I'm now giggling quite uncontrollably, tears running down my face at my adorable 4-year-old belting out "Lord, pre-paaare me to be a sanct-uuuu-aaaaryyyyy, pure and hooooooly, tried and true-ew-ew-ew..." I peek up to see 2 women all the way across the pew about 5 rows up turned around watching us and smiling. I had thought it was only the couple of pews around that could hear. No such luck. After mass, no fewer than 4 people came up to us to comment on his wonderful singing. Will couldn't quite figure out why everyone was talking to him. He was just excited to tell Daddy he heard "Sanctuary". As we're in the parking lot walking to the car, I hear an elderly gentleman a ways behind us, "Did you hear that little boy just singing his heart out in there? That was great!" Truly a parenting moment I won't forget. So proud and so mortified all at the same time.

On the way home, I was grinning as I replayed the scenario in my head. I told Will he made my heart smile. To which he replied, "thanks, Mom, you make my tummy smile."

Halloween parade, parties, and more

Last week the kids trick-or-treated around Justin's office. We'll be eating that candy for months! Will had a great time, though. Elle did fine, but mostly wanted to be held.

Will is a pirate ("Arrghh! Shiver me timber!") and Elle is a Michigan cheerleader ("Go Blue!").
We had another party this weekend that we got to go to for a little bit. The kids had such fun playing! But believe me, it is nearly impossible to get a good picture of the two of them right now!

Will got his haircut the other night and they styled it like a mohawk. He looked pretty cute, but there's no way I'm really styling his hair every day!

I will, however, spend time styling Ellie Kate's hair if it keeps it out of her eyes! I found this cute headband for her and was amazed at how long she kept it in. These are just some cute shots of her being a big girl at the table.

Finally, just some shots before we headed to the KU homecoming game. Yes, we're still going to all the football games. It's really character building, I think. We're teaching Will how to be a graciuos loser. I don't know how many times I've explained that "We're learning and trying really hard. If we keep trying, I bet we'll win someday." The other night we had another college football game on TV and Will asked if it was the Jayhawks. When we told him no, he said "oh, is it real football?" I know he didn't mean it that way, but J & I both had to laugh. Regardless, they look very cute at the games and we have fun win or lose...but more fun if we'd win!

Aren't her ribbon jeans so cute?!

Will is 4!

Happy 4th birthday, William!

Will had a very fun birthday party with his friends at school on Monday. He chose pancakes for dinner at home on his birthday. (More specifically - a chocolate chip pancake with peanut butter and blueberries on top.) We spent most of the evening enjoying all his new things. We gave him a new bike for his birthday.

He seemed to like it and quickly announced: "A new big boy bike! Now I can ride it to Jason's house!" 

Hard to believe it's been 4 years...a friend told me I'd graduated from kid college. It doesn't quite feel like that. Oddly, these 4 years seem much quicker than the 4 years of college. I think I've grown about as much, maybe more. I suppose that's how life continues to go.  Here's looking forward to the next 4 and more!

Will's 4th birthday party

On Saturday we hosted Will's 4th birthday party - what a great time! 22 people in all - lots of fun with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents & Great Grandma. Will had been so looking forward to his party. I asked him what he thought we should serve (the party was around dinner time).
"Hot dogs, broccoli, and eye spy soup!" (Eye spy soup is this yummy vegetable soup his teacher serves at school. The kids play eye spy to identify the many, many veggies in it.) What a healthy eater I have! I tried to incorporate as much of this as possible into the actual menu, knowing that most other kids (and some adults) would be sadly disappointed if I served his chosen dishes. We ended up grilling, having chips, dip, veggies and fruit. It worked out just fine.

For the cake, Will requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, M&M's, sprinkles and oreos. Do you think he likes chocolate? I quickly convinced him we would have to cut the oreos - it was just too much. I conveniently decorated when he was not around and he forgot about the sprinkles, too. So, here is the final product.

The morning of Will's party, Aunt Casie came to take him on a "surprise adventure". The two of them went to the mall for the morning and Will got to do a Build-A-Bear for his birthday. Thanks to Aunt Casie's guidance, he ended up with a very cute "Cuddly Frog" who he now sleeps with every night. Will had so much fun and was thankfully very worn out for his nap.

We didn't get too many great pictures from the party. He was so busy playing, eating, and unwrapping gifts! I'm pretty sure we now own everything ever made related to Toy Story or Disney Cars. He was so cute as he was opening each card. He'd open it and "read" something to the effect of "Dear William, I love you very much. Have a happy birthday!" It was pretty funny. We ended up with a very happy little boy. (And I know Casie has some better pictures, so hopefully she'll send me copies and I can post them.)

Since our camping trip this summer, Will has been begging for me to sleep with him again. I decided that for a special occasion we could do a slumber party in the living room. So, after the party, he and I had a slumber party. He got to stay up late (10:45!), watch movies, play with all his new toys, and snuggle with me. By 6:45 the next morning, he was up and ready to go. I don't think either of us slept particularly well. Justin asked him how he slept and Will replied, "Not very good. Mama kept pushing me." Really?! He was the one grabbing my hands, face, hair, or shirt all night! It was a really fun time, but something we'll only do on special occasions.



The next morning felt like the day after Christmas. Will was so excited to play with all his new toys. Here he is in his new Mickey PJ's playing with his dragon castle. He LOVES it and it has sparked so much creative play for him!

Ellie Kate thoroughly enjoyed having a blow-up mattress out to bounce on. It also made it so she could climb onto the sofas by herself. She was in heaven!

All in all, I think it was quite a successful party. It marked the beginning of 2 weeks full of birthday and Halloween parties -- we should all be sugared up by November 1!



Mama saw Mickey!

I had the opportunity to go to Orlando a few weeks ago for a conference for work. I actually left on my birthday. It was strange going to Disney World without my kids, but it reaffirmed my preference not to take them there for many more years. I'm just not that patient! My co-workers and I had a great time, though, and Daddy survived without me for 5 days.

I bought them each a set of ears as souvenirs. Will was so excited to see all the pictures I took. He'll love going there someday...when he's 8 or 9!

Will was very clingy when I first got home. J & I went out for a date 2 days after I got back and Will was crying and so upset. He was fine once we left, but he was so troubled thinking about it. Then I worked late one night the following week and he was very much questioning where I was. "I know were Mama is. One of her students is having a party!" Well, not quite a party, but I was with students! He seems to be better now, but it was interesting seeing the reaction in him. Elle was not phased. She's such a mommy's girl when we're with other people, but she didn't appear to be troubled at all by me being gone. Well, she did get called a "holy terror" by her day care provider one day while I was out. But I chalk that up to being 18 months old!

Elle at 18 months

Eleanor had her 18 month check up on Tuesday. She is happy and healthy as ever. She did a much better job at the doctor this time, still got antsy while we waited, but wasn't screaming the whole time.
Here's are her stats:
24 lbs. 12.7 oz. (55%)
31.25 in. tall (36%)
19.2 in. head circ. (94%)
She is very mobile - walking, climbing, running, etc. Says many words and is putting some together now ("here go" for "here you go" when she hands us something). She has 11 teeth - working on that last molar. She would much prefer to snack than eat full meals. She is not a huge meat eater (except on pizza). She enjoys every kind of fruit I've tried, crackers, many vegetables, tortillas, chicken, yogurt, and virtually any other carb she can get her hands on. She waves hi and bye, blows kisses, signs more, please, thank you, and drink very regularly. She is very interested in babies - both real and in books or magazines. She enjoys "reading" her books, especially interactive ones she can touch or lift flaps on. She's working on animal noises and body parts and doing pretty well. She's a great sleeper most of the time and has maintained her fairly laid back attitude. What a fun and loveable little girl!