Halloween 2011

So, I am all for a free meal! I'm not going to lie, with me not working and staying at home, money is definitely tighter these days than they have been in the past. While I am enjoying being home and Shawn and I both feel this is best for our family, it is definitely a financial sacrifice. Where was I...oh yeah, free meal! Lol!

Bullritos had a special today where kids eat free if they came in their costume and after you purchased an adult burrito. Aunt Alisha, Nanny, PawPaw and Uncle Shannon met us up there and we had dinner. After we got our food and were sitting at the table it was so chaotic and I thought...whose idea was this?!? You would have thought I had more than 2 kids with me by the stress level. Jase had candy, Ally took Jase's candy, Jase was whining, Ally was trying to eat candy, I took the candy away, Ally started crying...good grief! Trying to get out of the house and eat some dinner and it's always something. Sheesh! I asked my mom how her day was and her response: better than this!! Haha! Jase ended up sitting at the boys table, so that helped some. At this point I was rethinking the cashier's question "for here or to go?" We should have went home.

Kids ate dinner and for free, so I would consider that a success!

After dinner Aunt Alisha and Nanny came back over to our house and we did a little trick or treating in our neighborhood. Ally was so funny, the first house we went up to she started pulling her basket away from the lady...she thought the lady was going to take stuff out of her basket. After the first few houses she realized what was going on; she liked it and was telling everyone bye at their door and all of our neighbors were eating her up. This was Jase's first year to trick or treat and he enjoyed it as well. He made sure he told everyone that he was not a real police officer when they commented on his costume. He is funny.

PawPaw came over and trick or treated with the kids and I stayed back at the house to pass out candy. Man I was disappointed...we barely had any kids come by. Maybe 10 or so. I need to get this candy out of the house or it could be bad news...like 15 lbs bad news!

Grandma and Grandpa came over and brought over a Halloween gift for the kids. The other day Jase and Grandma were playing Lego's in his room and Jase said that he couldn't finish it because he did not have enough police Lego's. Grandma said that Christmas was coming up and maybe they could get him some police Lego's then. Jase thought about it for a minute and said that Halloween was next and she could get him a Halloween gift...so there you go, Jase and Ally got Halloween gifts! Smart kid! :)

Kids were bathed, teeth were brushed, prayers were said and kids are in bed. I am not too far behind them.

Light the Night, Shine & Fall Festival

Yesterday was a luh-a-zee day!! I took Allyson to the doctor in the morning because she had a pretty bad cough appear on Friday. Doctor diagnosed her with walking pneumonia...poor baby. So, we started her on antibiotics and stayed at the house all day and the majority of today too. The doctor said after 24 hours of being on meds she could be around people again. You would have thought I was the sick one by the way I was laying around...guess I needed it! ;)

After Shawn and Jase came home from church today and we ate lunch, I had a little project for us to do. I've heard KSBJ's slogan "Light the Night", talking about Halloween and wanted to do something to "Light the Night". Since this was the first year to hand out candy on Halloween (we've always had a fall festival at church on 10/31) I wanted to put something on the candy to be a "light". I printed up labels that said "O taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8". I thought that verse was appropriate since the trick-or-treaters would definitely be tasting the candy when they got home. We read the verse to Jase and Allyson and they helped us put the labels on the wrapped candy.

I read a good article: Halloween for Christians: Oppression or Opportunity and thought instead of closing the doors, we can be a light on this night that people deem as evil.

Last night Jase and Shawn went over to a friend's house and carved a pumpkin, but since Allyson and I were not there, we decided to do a family one today. Everyone started off at the table with me: Shawn cut the hole in the top, Allyson was coloring a pumpkin and Jase was decorating one with markers. One by one they disappeared and I was left carving the "family" pumpkin! LOL! I'm happy with how it turned out and glad we are Shining for Jesus!

This evening was our Fall Festival at Church, so we got the kiddos all dressed up in their costumes and headed up there. Jase was a Police Officer and he was so funny...everyone that commented on his costume, he had to tell them that he was a fake or pretend police officer. :) Allyson was Tinkerbell the Fairy. She kept calling herself a princess, so she was our Fairy Princess!

Oh and the bruise on Ally's right cheek is from Wednesday night when she fell on a toy drum at church. :( And the picture above of her digging in a blue candy bucket was so funny. She probably took like 8 pieces of candy out of it...she was just helping herself!

Fall Party at School

Today Jase had his annual Fall Party at school.  This is always such a fun time for the kids to dress up and enjoy fun and games with each other.

This year Jase decided he wanted to be a police officer.  After much debate, he finally won and we purchased his costume.  And not that being a police officer is a bad thing at all, Shawn and I just had other costume suggestions that were um...free! LOL!

Jase and I were sitting in the living room yesterday and I smiled really big and said "do you know what else we need for your costume?" He must have felt it coming on or saw "that look" in my eyes, because he got the giggles as he asked what!! "A mustache!!" He lost it and started laughing!! Perfect!! He was on board with the idea and was excited.  A week or two ago we took the kids to CiCi's Pizza for dinner and they have a mustache toy vending machine there (the $0.25 ones) and we bought the kids one and Jase loved it.  So, Shawn stopped by last night and bought a couple for his costume!!

Police Officer Jase!

As we were getting ready this morning, he was telling me that he was going to go into his class and say "everybody put your hands up!"  Sheesh...here we go!  We had to have a talk before school and he said that police officers get the bad guys.  I agreed, but also told him that they are here to protect people and keep people safe too, which in essence is the same thing he said.  I asked him later if he said that and he said "no, I said Police Officer Jase here!" Love him!!

The party went well this morning.  The kids enjoyed all the food and activities, which was great.  And all of them looked so cute in their costumes.  (The 'stache didn't make it for the party!)

Special Company

When Shawn was working in Brazil, he met a guy named Andre at a church service. Come to find out Andre and Shawn worked at the same company...small world. Andre visited the US last year for work (company headquarters are in Houston) and we were able to visit with him a little.

Andre is back in the US with work, staying in Houston for a few weeks. Tonight he had the opportunity to come to church with us and afterwards we came home and ate dinner together. Conversation was wonderful and he was great with both of the kids. Normally Ally does not warm up to men at all, but she was very intrigued by him and even wanted to sit with him at the table and on the couch. So sweet.

After dinner, a few rounds of football were played, books were read and our prayers were said. Mr. Andre even joined us in Jase's room for our nightly family prayer time. Tonight has truly been a blessing.

Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!

Today was Shawn's younger brother's birthday, so we went to Grandma & Grandpa's house for his birthday dinner. Shawn's dad grilled steaks and they were delicious. I can't remember the last time I've even ate steak, so this was a treat.

After dinner the musical instruments came out and a few people played. It would not be a normal visit if this did not occur. Jase played the ukulele and a cigar box electric guitar that Chip made...pretty cool. Robyn's dad sampled all of Chip's guitars and it was neat watching him play. Allyson and Austin stuck to the Elmo guitars! :)

It was great to see Austin, Robyn and her parents. Happy birthday Dave...glad you got to see us! ;)

Houston Museum of Natural Science

The kids did not have school today, so we went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science along with Michelle, Emily, Madeline and Madeline.  I thought I had been here before, but after visiting today, I realized that this was my first time and it was the Houston Museum of Fine Arts I was thinking of.

All the kiddos before we walked in

We first decided to check out the dinosaur exhibit (one of Jase's favorite creatures).  The Paleontology Hall is currently under construction so not all of the fossils were available for viewing.

Next, we headed over to the IMAX to watch "Born to be Wild".  It was a good little movie about two ladies taking in baby elephants and orangutans who did not have mothers, due to poachers.  Along with teams of caretakers, they would raise them and eventually transition them back into the wild.  The kids enjoyed it and sat through it better than expected.

Next stop...The Insect Wing.  They had a bee area for the kids to play in and all 5 of them loved it.  At dinner tonight Jase said that this was the funnest part of his day..."The Bee Hive" as he called it.

The upper level was The Amazing World of Arthropods.  Here they had interactive games, living insects, and chrysalis corner- where you could witness butterflies emerging...very cool...loved this.  And while we were there, we were able to see the workers clean the chrysalis showcases and even capture the butterflies that were ready to be released into the Butterfly Center. Below you'll see a picture of Jase sitting in a Roach Dome...gag!! He was very amused by these little creatures!  Do you have the chills yet?

We ventured to The Butterfly Center next, where we were able to witness several species of butterflies freely fly around.  If one landed on you, you were asked not to touch it.  I found THIS informative article on touching butterflies.

We then headed back inside and were stopped by a volunteer and he told us he was about to have a chemistry show with experiments.  We took our seats and waited for the show to begin.  The volunteer was very knowledgeable and did a great job of including his spectators with the experiments.  We learned about density, acids and bases, and polymers.

The African Wildlife Exhibit was pretty neat.  There are over 120 life-size specimens on display for you to take in. 

We finished up our trip in the Gems & Minerals Exhibit and oohhh'd and aahhh'd over the jewelry in the Gem Vault.  What a great day it was and fun was had by all!

We finished up our evening by praying and thanking God for His creation.  There would not be anything in that museum if our Creator did not have His hand in it all.

Fall Festival

After Jase's game this morning, we went to DPUMC and participated in their Fall Festival.  They had so many things to do and it was tailored to my kids' ages, so we loved it!  From crafts to a book fair to outside fun and games my kids had a blast.  We will definitely be attending their Fall Festival in the years to come.

We have a Star Wars fan!!

Shawn could barely get into the door yesterday afternoon without Jase telling him about his new Star Wars book...he was pumped! After dinner Shawn and Jase sat down to read the book and Shawn started at page 1. I told him "I think we were on page 19 or so" and Shawn replies "I want to start at the beginning for me!" :) It was so neat hearing him read the story to him; he added so much more detail than I ever could have. Jase even slept with the book last and is tonight as well!

Today after I picked Jase up from school we got out the construction paper and markers and started making birthday cards for a couple of parties we have coming up. On one of the cards Jase drew Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, the Jedi Knights. He actually did a great job drawing, cutting and gluing them on the card. I can see a new obsession in the near future!

Library Day

Before lunch this afternoon I loaded up the kiddos and went to the library.  We all love it there- kids love to look and pick out books and play with puzzles and I love it because it's FREE! Haha!  Seriously, I love reading to the kids and enjoy watching them get excited over books.

Jase had a hat on in the car, but apparently it was "too itchy" and didn't make it's way into the library.  Pictures do not show, but he has some major bedhead in the back.  He took a bath this morning, but did not to fix his hair...he was wearing a hat! ;)

Today I started working with Allyson on her "quiet voice."  Her voice nearly echoed in the library! Haha!  I think she understood because she would talk quietly for a few seconds, and then it was loud again.

Just as we were about to leave I smell this awful smell...checked my daughter and sure enough I found the winner!! I wasn't the winner in that deal that's for sure!

We picked up Taco Bell for lunch and headed back home to eat.  After lunch I laid Allyson down for her nap, and Jase and I began to read Star Wars Galactic Crisis.  The book is labeled as an "easy reader", but let me tell you this book has a heavy plot with lots of names I've never heard of.  Let's just say I am not a follower of Star Wars.  We read about 20 pages and learned about Darth Sidious and Palpatine being the same person and was the head of the Sith Lord.  Also that the Jedi Council asked Obi-Wan Kenobi was to protect Queen Amidala. I would read 5 words and he was asking questions left and right. "Who's this and what are they and is he bad?"  We flipped the pages back countless times to look at the pictures of the names I was reading.  I told him that Daddy knows all about Stars Wars and would love to read the book with him tonight.  As much as I'm not Star Wars fan, I sure enjoyed learning about it with my son this afternoon.  :)

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Last night we visited our local Pumpkin Patch.  Hard to believe that when we took Allyson last year that she was not even walking and this year she was running all around.  Jase was on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin or the "golden pumpkin" as he was calling it.

Grandma, Grandpa, Nanny, Aunt Alisha and Uncle Joseph came to the pumpkin patch and helped the kiddos look for the perfect pumpkin.  I'm glad they came and experienced this with Jase and Allyson.

After 30 minutes of taking pictures, fighting the wind and looking row by row for the perfect "golden" pumpkin, we finally found what we were looking for and called it an evening.  And Jase did find his golden pumpkin! :)

Goodie Bags

Yesterday I bought items to make goodie bags for Jase's soccer team this Saturday.  It is our turn to bring the snack, so with Halloween right around the corner we thought we'd give them a preview! :)

I thought about putting the goodie bags together yesterday while the kids were at school, but then realized this would be a good activity for me and Jase to do together.  After I laid Allyson down for her nap, we opened everything and got situated on the living room rug and went to town. 

He first counted out 12 baggies, then I told him that a bag of pretzels went in each bag and he could add two different candies to the bag, for a total of 3 items.  This was right up his alley...he loved it.  He stuffed the bags and I closed them.  After every other bag we finished, he would stop and count all the of the completed bags we had thus far. 

It was so funny hearing him say "Tricks" instead of "Twix" and "Sneakers" instead of "Snickers."  I corrected him a couple of times, but it was so cute that every time he said it his way it put a smile on my face, so I stopped correcting him! :) 

We had enough baggies and goodies left so we went ahead and made 12 more for his Fall Party at school next week.  There was 1 bag leftover and he got up, picked up the bag, handed it to me and said "for you." Really sweet!!

I managed to have 150 calories of Twix and Kit-Kat...so good.  Hopefully my brain forgets where the open bags are and I don't completely sabotage my efforts to get fit.

Movie Night?

Shawn and Jase were playing their usual night time football and I was relaxing on the couch when I looked up and saw Allyson laying on the floor looking at the DVDs. It was so cute. She was just laying there, staring at them for several minutes. I wonder if she was amazed that it was nice and neat in there! Lol! Between both of the kids they do a pretty good job of keeping the DVDs in disarray. I'm thankful for the doors on the buffet table.

Special

Allyson has a new thing she is doing, and it is so sweet. She will point to a part of your body and say "I love your eyes, special." She pauses after she says "I love your eyes."

"I love your arm Mommy, special." She is such a sweetheart and is becoming so affectionate...I just love it! Another favorite is when she looks at me and says "Give me hug Mommy." I cannot get enough!

Blessings from above for sure!

Grandma & Grandpa Visit!

The kids caught wind that Grandma & Grandpa might be coming over for a visit last night and they got so excited!! You would have thought that Santa Claus is coming to town (Ok, now you're singing it right? Me too!). 

Grandma is all about playing with the kids when she comes over and they absolutely love it.  She gets on the floor with them and reads books and plays with Lego's (a must).

I'm glad they came over to visit; we all enjoyed their company!

Food, Restroom & Lego's

Bottomless pit!

So my 4 1/2 year son is an eating machine!! I mean from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed, all I hear is "I'm hungry, I want a snack!"  Can anyone else relate? So far today he's had: scrambled eggs, Kellogg Special K bar, chocolate milk, Lunchable, cheese stick, 2 servings of cantaloupe, fruit snack, another Lunchable.  It's 3 pm.  This kid will eat all day long if I let him!

Jase got into the fridge and set both of these out on the table: one for him and one for Ally.
He ended up eating both of them!

Am I really this bad?

Jase was playing on the living room floor with his Lego's and I see him dancing around on the floor and I immediately recognize those moves...he has to go to the restroom!!  I ask him if he needs to go and he says he doesn't, and that he's just dancing...SURE!  I nearly have to threaten the kid to stop playing Lego's and tell him to listen to his body and go to the restroom.  He makes a dead sprint into the restroom and I hear him going potty just as quick as he can get his pants down.  Want to know the sad part?? This is sooo me!!  I have been like this forever...I wait until the very last second to go way too often.  I guess I am thinking I can do just one more thing before I take 1 minute to go to the bathroom and wash my hands.  Pathetic.  I really hope I did not pass this gene onto him...sorry Jase.

French Lego Land

So, if you've read some of my blog posts before, you know how much Jase loves his Lego's.  He plays with them nearly everyday on the living room floor or up in his bedroom.  I love not having the TV on and watching his little mind at work.  Today is working on building a replica of our home!  We've added rooms with beds and pillows and desks, a garage, and a shed for the backyard.  Allyson even joined in the fun and played with hers today.  Next week I need to get out the paper, scissors and glue and craft a little with them.  I feel more inventive with paper than Lego's!

Costume Negotiation

This afternoon me and the kids went to look for Jase a costume.  Shawn and I have really been trying to persuade him to be a Dynamo soccer player.  I mean he already has an official Dynamo uniform...seemed perfect to us...no costume to purchase and he loves soccer...win-win!

Jase was not buying it and really wanted a say in what he was going to be for Halloween this year.  And after the Party City magazine came in and he studied it, he had his mind made up.

Here is the history of his costumes:
2007 - Turtle (thanks to Mom!)
2008 - Skunk (our little stinker)
2009 - A Runner (he ran two races earlier that year)
2010 - Texas Longhorn fan/football player (our team)

He first told us he wanted to be a fireman, so I got online and started looking at them...pretty expensive for a decent looking one.  Then he changed his mind again and we pushed Dynamo again...he was not a fan of the idea.  Then last night he mentioned something about a football player...we through in a Dynamo player and how awesome that would be...haha...not going to happen! 

So, we went to Toys 'R Us and no luck.  We then went over to Party City to take a look.  Right when we walked in Jase was definitely in awe (scared) and did not know what to think.  They had their scariest costumes up front.  He told me "wow, some of these look real, and look at those claws on that one."  I explained that they were fake and for pretend and he seemed ok.  We later had a lengthier conversation in the car and he told me he was scared, but was fine with it...guess I'll see if he has any bad dreams tonight. :/

We found our costume and he tried it on...he was so excited!! He absolutely loves it! A Police Officer! He has even tried it on since we have been home.  I told him that we cannot wear it a whole bunch because we do not want it to get messed up before our Fall Festival, he agreed and took it off.  However, he did manage to keep the walkie talkie out! :)

Seasonal Decor!

Today I went to Hobby Lobby in search for some seasonal decor items.  I wanted to decorate my mantle for fall (for the first time), so I was on the hunt.  I found three cute wooden pumpkin/squash figurines and four beaded stems to put in a clear vase. 

This is probably the first fall home decor I have bought in 3 or 4 years. I love making our home feel festive, but rarely buy things...I.am.cheap! LOL!

I also bought my first Christmas decor item of the year.  :)

Here are a few other things that caught my eye as well.  I took pictures of them instead of purchasing! :)

Happy Fall Y'all and looking forward to Merry Christmas! :)

Walk to END Alzheimer's

For several years now PawPaw (Pappy) Gumm (my stepdad's father) has been suffering from Alzheimer's.  The disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.  There currently is not a cure for Alzheimer's, but only treatments that can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia.  Research is currently being conducted to better treat the disease, delay the onset and prevent it from developing.  You can read more about it here.

He is a sweet man and such a hard worker.  When I think of him I think of his love for LSU, golf, bowling, nickname "Cowboy", John Wayne movies, his saying of "oh mighty Joe" and a love for his family.  He is not a man of many words these days, but I remember him telling story after story, and boy did he know how to tell a story.  :) 

MawMaw, Jessica, PawPaw Gumm, and Aunt Carole Ann

My stepdad started a team to walk in support of PawPaw/Pappy.  Side note: we have started calling him Pappy because having two PawPaw's was confusing to Ally!  Now that I think about it, I hope we are not adding to his confusion.  Sheesh!

Allyson, Nanny, PawPaw, Uncle Shannon and myself drove up to The Woodlands this morning for the Walk to END Alzheimer's.

Before we got started they sang The National Anthem and a lady led everyone in some stretches.  Reminded me of that show on PBS: Sit and Be Fit.  Haha!  Then, all of a sudden she started explaining steps for a line dance.  I believe that "Boot, Scoot, Boogie" was playing! LOL!  I wasn't really feeling the line dance, so I just watched, but my mom thought she'd be funny and join in.  See below!!

It felt great to get out this morning and get some good exercise for a great cause!!

Allyson loves taking pictures with Mommy's camera!