Jack-o-Lanterns

We enjoyed another year of jack-o-lanterns at Washington Park's Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular. Our new camera was not cooperating (more likely, user error), but here are a couple from my phone or Papa's camera.

Nana and Kieran

Kieran, Sophia, Cole, and Caden with an Angry Bird jack-o-lantern (a favorite)

Here is the Settlemoir jack-o-lantern for 2012.  Again, the big boys decided on the design, and Curt worked hard to pull it off.  Success!

Preparing the pumpkin

They're getting so big!

I LOVE my boys!

Here are just a few random photos of our boys from September/October...

Just like his brothers, Kieran loves looking at books. I love reading to him and listening to him "read" to me. Current favorites include Thomas the Train, Trucktown, and any vehicle books.

My cowboys on Western Day during Homecoming week

Caden watching one of the last Cardinals games and hoping for a win (in Christmas pajamas of course!)

Cole wiggling his first loose tooth

And it's OUT! Cole wouldn't let anyone else mess with his tooth. He wanted the tooth to fall out on its own. On the way home from gymnastics this week, it just popped out. It was starting to get in the way and more than ready to come out. Tooth Fairy brought Cole $5 for his first tooth.

Touch-a-Truck!

On a chilly Saturday morning, Nana, Papa, and I took the boys to the Touch-a-Truck event at Lincoln Park in Springfield.  Kieran LOVES vehicles, so he was thrillled!

HAPPINESS!

This looks dangerous!

Caden and Cole got a kick out of the huge PINK tow truck with Hulk on the side.

Kieran's favorite was the fire truck.

The nice fireman let Cole try on his helmet.

Caden and Cole were never really into vehicles as much as Kieran is, but they had a great time exploring the big trucks.

We've been to this event two times--once when it was super hot when Cole was around 2 and this time when it was very chilly.  Not sure which weather would be better.  Either way, the boys had a great time!

Fall Fun

We've had a fun and busy fall so far.  September and October seemed to speed by! 

We spent a beautiful Saturday morning at a local pumpkin patch.  We've been going to the same pumpkin patch for years, but we decided to try a different place this year.  We had a lot of fun at Bomke's Pumpkin Patch.  The boys enjoyed running through the straw maze, playing in the corn kernels, playing pumpkin checkers, and going down the tube slide.   

After playing around for a bit and enjoying some free apple cider and popcorn, we headed out to the HUGE pumpkin patch.  This "patch" had TONS of pumpkins and so many different varieties  We'll be back next year! 

Later that same day, we attended Island Bay's Fall Festival.  We took our neighbor along with us.  The kids had fun playing games, making crafts, bouncing in the bounce house, and eating treats. 

Caden and Sophia making fall crafts

Bliss...a balloon sword AND cotton candy!

The beautiful moon over IBYC

On Columbus Day, Nana, Papa, the boys, and I made the short trip to the corn maze in Auburn.  It was another beautiful fall day! 

My boys!

Figuring out which way to go next--We only missed two stop points, so I considered the trip a success.  

Deciding the answer to a question--This might have been the one that I thought was a trick question, but it turned out NOT to be that tricky. 

As I listen to the wind outside right now, I consider us blessed to have had such beautiful fall weather on the days when we had activities planned. 

Students of the Week

At the boys' elementary school, each student gets a turn being student of the week for their class.  Each teacher has a different method for choosing, but everyone gets a turn the first time around.  If the boys are reporting correctly, Caden's teacher selects students in reverse alphabetical order, and Cole's teacher randomly selects the order before the school year begins.  We thought it was an awesome coincidence that Caden and Cole were student-of-the-week during the same week! 

The boys with their student-of-the-week buddies (Skippyjon Jones with Cole and Zork with Caden) and Kieran too

I attended recess and ate lunch at school with both boys during their special week.  Always fun!  I also had the special treat of listening to Cole read during "rest and read time" after eating lunch with him. 

Caden and me

Cole and me

Each teacher has different ways of honoring the student-of-the-week. It is something that both boys looked forward to, and they felt very special.  Proud of my boys!

Finishing Up Summer

Our summer officially ended at Island Bay Yacht Club on Labor Day.  We enjoyed an afternoon of swimming, games, and good food. 

Kieran eating lunch poolside

Kieran, Nana, and Caden having fun in the baby pool

Caden jumping in for the watermelon race

Caden waiting for his turn to race

Caden, Kieran,and Cole getting ready for the balloon stomp game

Silly string fight!

Caden should have listened when I told him to keep his mouth closed during the silly string fight. Yuck!

Cole covered in silly string



Caden taking a turn in the dunk tank

We had a great first summer at Island Bay Yacht Club. Being in the water so much really helped the boys' swimming skills. We're looking forward to spending many days at IBYC next summer.

Illinois State Fair 2012

We visited the State Fair two times this year for fun rides and yummy fair food. The five of us went on the first Sunday, and then Nana and Papa joined the boys and me on the last Sunday.

Kieran was so excited to ride the train. 

Kieran (saying "Cole"), Caden, & Nana

My bench partner, Cole

 Kieran is too small for most of the rides (thankfully!), but he loved the ones he could ride.

Caden being the good big brother on Kieran's first car ride--I wanted to make sure Kieran would stay seated.

So happy!

Papa & Caden on the bumper cars

The giant slide--my favorite (except for the hike up the steps holding a 2-year-old and rug)

Caden was the winner with Cole not far behind him. Kieran and I are at the top of the photo, but my head is cut off. Kieran wasn't sure he wanted to go down the slide a second time, but we had no other choice. I was not going down the steps.

Radio Disney had a Phineas and Ferb area set up in Happy Hollow. The boys went through the PlatyBUS looking for a hidden Perry in several pictures, and then they "played baseball" with Phineas and Ferb.

After a snack of dippin dots, the boys rode more rides. At least, we got good use out of their Mega Passes.

They don't look too excited in this photo, but the Avalanche was their favorite ride.

Looking happier during the ride!

After a very brief snooze, Kieran woke up to ride the merry-go-round with Papa.

"Cheese!"

Caden and Cole on the smaller Himalaya--I could barely watch, but they loved it.

Kieran rode the little boats over and over and over again!

Until next year...