Fall Festival

Ian's school puts on some awesome events throughout the year. The Fall Festival is one of those events. The kids enjoyed playing games, snacks, pumpkins and so much more!
This is the first time the kids have done a Cake Walk! Once they caught on, they thought it was great fun and they weren't even upset that we didn't get a cake! I, personally, was pretty thankful that we didn't take a cake home...we don't need that kind of temptation sitting in our kitchen!!!

This bouncy bowling game was Ian's favorite!

Both of the kids enjoyed the lifesize candyland game. Isabelle won the game! That's my girl!

Taylor Farms

Today we got to join the Kindergarten classes at the pumpkin patch! Isabelle tagged along with her big brother! We enjoyed a hayride, pumpkin patch and seeing all the animals!
Big brother was happy to let his little sister sit by him on the hayride.
Pretending to drive the tractor!
Isabelle enjoyed the play firehouse!

Turtlenecks

Well, it has finally cooled down here! It was 95degrees out two days ago and today we had to leave the house in jackets! I am NOT complaining! I am actually very excited. Isabelle, on the other hand, had very different feelings this morning. The story goes like this...
I put an adorable turtleneck on her. It was precious. It has little pumpkins all over it...very appropriate since we were visiting the pumpkin patch today. I noticed that she was tugging at the collar as if it were choking her! It wasn't really that tight around her neck, but she wouldn't leave it alone. I gently took her hands away from her neck and said, "It is okay, that is how the shirt is supposed to be. It is called a turtleneck." At this point she started screaming as though she really was being choked. She continued screaming for about ten minutes. In between screams she added, "I am not a turtle! I am NOT a turtle!"

Note to self, never compare her to an animal again!

Heartbreak

My heart is broken! I have been crushed to the core! And all by my son!!!

Let me explain. Isabelle had school this morning. Ian and I dropped her off and went to run a couple errands before returning home. We spent a little time together, ate lunch and got him ready for afternoon Kindergarten. It is nice to have a couple mornings a week to take Ian to school by myself. It is just nice and relaxing to take him in for his day, say our goodbyes and see him walk down the hall. He so loves school! On these days I have a minute to focus on JUST HIM!

So here is what happened...
As I walked him into school today, I instinctively reached my hand out to hold his. In most cases, he would have reached up to hold my hand without thinking twice about it. But today was different! Today, as I reached my hand out to find his, he told me, "It's okay, I can walk in by myself." It was said with such confidence and pride. Part of me wanted to cheer him on! He IS big enough to walk by himself. We weren't crossing any streets. We were only walking on a sidewalk. But, part of me was devastated. I know this is only the beginning. He is only going to become more dependant from here on out. Sometimes it just really gets me when I least expect it!

I am proud of you buddy! But I hope, for my sake, that you will hold my hand every once in a while. Because I can walk by myself, but I prefer to walk with you! I love you!

Spider Boy

We have enjoyed season passes to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg this year! There is really a lot for the kids to do there! They are big enough to go on all of the kiddy rides this year. Ian is even big enough for one of the roller coasters! He tried it once and decided that "the turns were too much" for him. So, he is pretty content with the smaller rides. However, he has asked to have his face painted EVERY time that we have been at the park! Being the party pooper that I am, I have deprived him every time! I just have a hard time paying $10 for a 2 minute face painting adventure! However, during our last trip to the park, David gave in and Ian chose to have a giant spider painted on his face! YUCK! You can see by this picture that he had a good time that day! Face paint and all!

Isabelle's Birthday

Isabelle is officially three years old! We celebrated with a Dora themed party at the park! Nana was even able to join us for the special day! There were threats of storms, but we were happy to enjoy the park afterall! It was a great afternoon for the kids to play! It might look like a big production, but let me tell you this was one of the easiest parties I have ever put on! (KIM...I AM SERIOUS!!!) All we brought was cupcakes and the pinata and the kids were entertained at the park!!! I think the kids had a great time and I was able to enjoy it too! What a treat!

Isabelle enjoyed MANY presents. What a spoiled little princess!

Tanner wasn't impressed by the added entertainment by the Blue Angels!

We had a great spot to see some of the Blue Angels moves they were putting on at the air show...and we didn't even have to fight the crowds!

To top it all off, we ended the party with a pinata. It seemed like a nice idea until we, as parents, realized how disturbing it really was that we were handing the kids a giant stick to beat up Dora. It got quite crazy as her body began to separate from her head and it was literally hanging by a thread...
All was well at the end when they were showered with candy. That is, until I turned around and saw one of the "big kids" stomping on Dora's hollow head. Oh dear... the kids didn't seem to see the slightest wrong in doing this!

All in all it was a great time! Happy Birthday my baby girl! We love you!

Soccer

For those of you that saw my soccer post last week. Let me clear one thing up...I AM NOT PREGNANT!I thought I was being so clever and put a slideshow of soccer pictures up here to show Ian's first game. Apparently the slideshow decided to add a couple pictures without my knowledge! It was at the end of the slideshow and I was completely oblivious. That is, until I recieved an email congratulating me on my pregnancy. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I am NOT in the best shape of my life, but I was bummed to hear that I looked pregnant. I immediately read through my entire blog trying to figure out how it could be that my friend thought I was pregnant...then it dawned on me...it must be something in the slideshow. Sure enough, one of the last pictures was of me when I was a 9month pregnant blimp! OH DEAR!!! Needless to say, I retracted that post so fast! SO...for those of you still interested in soccer pictures, here you go!


Here is Ian with two of his best soccer buddies, Miles and Kendall.

Here is Ian almost touching the ball. This is a tremendous improvement from last year! He loves to run up and down the field with his friends, but sees no need to ever touch the ball...but we are getting there.

He is even showing a little aggression in this picture! That's my boy!

This picture may not look like an important picture, but for those of you that know Ian, you know he is very much like his dad. He enjoys being with his friends and having a good time, but it is not natural for him to do ANYTHING fast! Last year he would pretty much walk down the field but he would move his shoulders and arms fast so that it almost looked like he was running. This picture just proves how far we have come...HE is really running! Go Ian!