We've got a lot of ground to cover so hold on tight cause here we go!
Went fishing with a friend. Ilana caught the fish. Jack touched the fish and got it off the hook. (Ilana was not interested in touching them.)
Right in the middle of the picture you can see the orange bob, just above that is the blue gill fish we caught, attached to the fish on the left is some type of water snake thief trying to steal our catch.
Here is the thief coming out of the water to go after the fish again. Points to him for not giving up. He was annoying at how persistent he was but the extra danger also added to the fun.
He really wanted that fish.
When we go out and about I tend to match my kiddos in orange. (Dad included.) Easier to find them in a crowd that way.
Brunch at a cute local restaurant. We snagged the table with an accurate (ish) depiction of Leavenworth in the old days with a working train going around and around under the table top. Totally kept the kids entertained. (Yeah okay, me too.)
Seriously, why do we have beds?
The littles found these at the store. There was no way I was getting out of there without them.
Off to school. Can't remember the "occasion" for this picture. Mom of the year, I know!
Guided tour around Fort Leavenworth for the Cub Scouts and their families. This included ghost stories, Mormon Battalion treks and prison tales. Leavenworth is Kansas's first city. The Fort has a long history.
A long time ago when the prison was in use it had some communist guests. Apparently some of those guests did some landscaping in the yard. Years later the fort learned that one of these guests created a hammer and sickle motif into the landscape that could only be seen from an ariel view. I found that rather funny.
Bath time tradition. Daddy wraps the boys up and mostly has to carry them to their rooms.
Horses.
Horses.
Giving a well deserved pat.
Weird but he totally finds this really comfortable and does it all the time.
Went to the zoo and this polar bear entertained the crowd for at least an hour. He would jump into the water, swim right up to the glass and use it to do a back flip. Over and over again. It was awesome.
My peeps in orange again. Haven't lost anyone yet.
Had a little train ride. Happy little boys.
Why am I not in orange you ask? I tend not to lose me. :)
No, I didn't lose Jackson. We were at the zoo so he could join in on a classmates birthday party.
Lately I'll look over and find the boys gravitating to their Dad. It's so cute to see. I don't think they are aware of it at all.
Opened the laundry room door to find zen master Liam in the dark finding his "center" atop a teetering pile of laundry.
Greyson: "Time for yoga? Great, I'll sit underneath you."
"Or lay on your feet with a car during mountain pose. You're welcome by the way."
At least Liam will join in appropriately.
What is this? The tooth fairy sucking up big time! Tiny envelopes filled with dimes, an apology, coupons, official seal and fairy sized banner. Whew! (Ilana will not let things go. She is like a dog with a bone. I think my "catch up" here covered years.)
Ilana ran for class representative in her school. She tied with another girl in her class, but won the run off to be a rep for another classroom. She was very excited. She is taking after her Dad in campaign posters. "Vote for Ilana, not the Llama". That slogan is faintly reminiscent of Jason's winning High School slogan of "Vote for Jason, he likes Granola".
Took the littles by the temple in Kansas City Mo. They loved running around the grounds. Liam was so cute. He asked if he could go inside, pointed to a minuscule white stripe on his shirt and said, "I have white on!"
Very very strange bug I found outside. Looks like it has a saw on it's head.
Liam scored some rad wheels. Grey photo bombed him. (He looks so business like in the background).
Getting ready to ride in their first raceo (barrel racing with the horses). The littles were led through the paces. They were timed, had to do several events and even had to grab a flag and bring it back. Ilana got 3rd and 4th place in two of the events. Everyone else got participation ribbons.
Grey: "Oh look there's me!"
Thoughtful.
GQ.
Cheese!
The eyes (lashes) on that boy!
Waiting their turn in the arena. The youngest group featured 2 year olds through 5 years. Two other kids were Grey's age.
I love the wonderful variety of "faces" Liam makes. He cracks me up.
Entertaining themselves.
Warms me heart when they actually act like they like each other.
The littles getting their ribbons.
I brought the little guys home before the older two competed since it was getting late and cold. The older two stayed with Dad to do the older kid section. Ilana and Jack had a fantastic time and learned a lot. They were so tired when they got home that after Jack's bath he stepped out, wrapped in a towel and promptly fell asleep on the bathroom floor. I couldn't believe it when I found his asleep on the floor.
Ilana at least made it to the couch after her shower.
We drove up to Colorado to do some house hunting and met up with Grandma and Grandpa Luke. Greyson spent most of the 8 hour drive with his head stuck in the toy bag. I love his little foot at the bottom holding it in place.
Jack had a warrior on look out duty during breakfast.
Good morning sleepy heads.
Again, the boys find themselves drawn to a male figure. Or an iPad. :)
Taking a nap with his trusty sky bison, Apa.
Must. Sleep. In the most compromised position possible!
For Halloween our school let the kids dress up as any book character they would like for a school parade.
He's holding a flute.
Grey and I went shopping for a few things. As soon as we got there he kept demanding I put the basket down. I thought he wanted to help his poor feeble mother carry the basket. Nope. He wanted to be carried in the basket. For heaven sakes, I'm not doing that!
Neighborhood kid decided to do some street sweeping maintenance on our street when all the leaves fell. It was so funny.
Fall is my favorite season. I love all the beautiful and inconceivable colors.
Cub Scouts did a cool pack meeting. All the boys and family members dressed as knights and learned how to be respectful and "gentlemanly" like a knight in shinning armor. So fun.
Balloon animal swords.
Draw bridge. Awesome.
Love his many faces.
Archery.
Leather works.
Halloween. I wanted a superhero theme. The older kids went with Tron. Liam has a superman shirt on under his cowboy outfit. He decided to go the subtle Clark Kent route.
Grey did not want to put on his costume. But once I got it on him, he didn't come out of character for many many weeks. He would get up in the morning and "suit up" for the day in various necessary items. Belt, check. Cape, check. Super boy.., check!
He would even wear it to church. (A superhero must always be prepared.)
Got a pic with my littles after church on Sunday.
That just about rounds up October. Hope you made it all the way to the end of this one :)
