Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween.  It has been a very fun weekend.Yesterday the kids got to finally wear their costumes.  I think they were more excited about finally being able to get some candy.  Today has been free candy day and they can eat whatever they want.  Becca was sooooo excited-she told me tonight that she had three sweet teeth!  We headed out to our Church's trunk or treat party on Sat, which was great fun for the kids, some candy but lots of fun games to play.  Becca was determined to ride the horses and I think she stood in line for at least 30 min, thankfully they let her ride as things were starting to shut down.  Trick or treating was a lot of fun this year with the kids.  They are getting older and only Andrea bit the dust a little early as we walked around the neighborhood, oh yes, James was a sleeping pumpkin by the time we arrived back home.  Brayden and Becca had a lot of fun running from house to house especially when their neighbor buddies caught up with us.  It was such a nice evening seeing all the neighbors and chatting while walking our loop.

The kids all set to go around and trick or treat.  Brayden and Becca kept asking "what is a sneaker???"  guess we don't have too many snicker bars in this house.

Luke SkyWalker-

 

Becca the Buttercup Princess

Andrea the Kitty Cat

This man was at Ron's cycloCross race on Saturday night.  The  kids would walk way around and Andrea wanted nothing to do with him.  By the end of the race I convinced them to stand by him for a picture-they thought they were pretty brave!  It was a fun race to watch besides for all of us ended up in a huge sand bur patch....I will let you imagine three kids and myself trying to deal with the prickly monsters!

Becca found this hat-thanks Aunt Sharon, she was so excited to wear it out.

This is everyone all set to head out to the truck or Treat party Saturday afternoon.

My happy little pumpkin!

I will  leave you with  a Halloween laugh instead of a scare-hope it gives you a little giggle!

Fun Times

It has been a busy couple of days but lots of fun.  Yesterday was Becca's fall party in her class.  Her teacher is the best and doesn't mind having sibling around.  I just love seeing Becca's face lite up when we walk into the room.  The girls  run to each other and gave HUGE hugs-I pray they always love each other as much as they do now. 

 They had a couple games which were fun for the kids to play.  I think Becca totally missed the pumpkin when trying to stick on a nose-pretty funny.

 Yummy snacks-even room for Andrea

 It is still hard for me to believe that it is the end of Oct.  As usual we still had not carved any pumpkins so Friday night was the big night.  Turned out our small group was up for some pumpkin carving as well.  It was a full house and a ton of fun with everyone.  This is the crew minus James ready to carve.

 Everyone did a great job-okay, so most  of the adults did the carving but it was pretty fun to see the different reactions from the kids when cleaning out the pumpkins.  Some loved it and others wanted nothing to do with the slimy mess.  I think Andrea went through about 10 paper towels.

The kids had the run of the house, nothing broken, nothing spilled (well, I think we did have a little chili incident), some good food and nice time with friends-a wonderful evening.

Devils Den

This past week was fall break for the kids and seeing as rain was predicted for the weekend we took off for Arkansas on Thursday morning.  We tented for two nights at Devils Den State park.  The weather was beautiful and the leaves were just turning colors.  The kids just love getting out.  When I was packing Brayden and Becca were asking when we were going, and when I asked why, they said they were most excited about riding in the car for a long drive-how bizarre...I think they just love to watch video's. We packed pretty light in the food department (even forgetting the camping essential-catchup)  thankfully the kids didn't seem to mind. although I felt a little funny eating my hot dogs and pancakes while our neighbors feasted on steak, burgers and from the smell of things, the works for breakfast.   These are some pictures in reverse order of our mini-vacation.

MORE PICTURES

 All the kids after our final hike-Ron is close by although Becca is pretty trustworthy.

We made it to the top of Yellow Rock Trail.  The kids were a little confused because the markings for the trail were all white.  Ron carried Andrea for this hike but the other two did great. 

 I just loved all the giggles and how intrigued both were with exploring and discovering nature and the caves.

 Taking a little break.  I think it was about a 1.5mile hike up for everyone.  The kids had fun doing a little bouldering/rock climbing at the beginning...Becca a little more than Brayden.  On the way down Brayden was up for trying it again with better results.

 James did great just hanging out...litterly, I think he was a little small for the pack but it worked great.

 Brayden was super excited to take the fishing stuff, what he was most concerned while we were packing.  It was fun fishing as these little guys/fish would about jump out of the water to get our bait...left over hot dogs.

 Even Becca enjoyed catching a couple.  After fishing in this spot we hiked around the lake/pond, along the way we heard Brayden yelling at Becca.  By the time we reached them we found Becca with a sheepish look on her face and Brayden quite upset.  My typical response/reaction..."WHAT IS GOING ON???"  to which I got the response..."Becca ATE the bait"  Becca was quick to add, "but I was hungry"  ohhhh brother, what next.  Becca now knows not to eat raw hot dogs!

We camped next to the very low river and the kids had a lot of fun throwing rocks.  Brayden got so into throwing he about flung himself in the water-he things the harder you throw the more skips you might get...he has a nice scar on his chin from falling.  Andrea some how managed to fall in the water.  I am not so sure how she managed, seeing as there was hardly any water but she was pretty soaked, and not too happy (yes, it was on my watch....as always it happened when I decided to take pictures) 

 The kids loved helping Ron make the fire.  They had the most fun finding sticks-Brayden;   Becca helping stack the kindling that Ron had chopped.  She had a whole little assembly line in her head that she and Brayden needed to do.

 This is the dam-the lake is behind.  Of course the kids loved climbing on all these rocks-probably giving everyone watching a heart attack.

 This is why I love getting away...the kids still fight but they also have a Ton of fun and smile a lot.

 I love this smile on Becca-she won't do it for the camera anymore so you have to catch her in the act.

 Our first hike-loads of fun, alongside a lot of caves.  Can you believe we found a snake, and Brayden caught it?  Non-poisonness, Ron...not me, gave the go ahead to pick it up.

 Totally disgusting to me....enthralling to the kids.

 The kids loved all the little caves-they were all closed but Brayden still had fun climbing all over.  He reminds me of my little brother David in this picture.

 Taking a look at the map before our first hike-everyone made the one mile hike, although I think I sang the insy winsy spider a gazillion times to keep Andrea going.

 What a fun bunch when they are all getting along.

Sitting at the entrance to one of the caves-The kids had to make sure there were no bears...or bats. 

We love this fall weather!

Fun Times

Today we decided to spend the morning at home.  Actually I needed to spend some time tackling the housework...but as usual I get distracted with these two cuties!  They are both so much fun.  James is full of laughs as long as someone is in his face or jumping around him acting crazy-Andrea's favorite thing to do.  Andrea was in her glory because she got to take a bath this morning-a very LONG bath.  When I finally took her out I said "Andrea you are all clean!"  She looked at me and said "Noooooo, silly I am all wet!" 

 Andrea loves these  glasses, one of the few things she has not lost, some how she always knows where they are.

 Look at me, look at me-five months old this week.

IT HAPPENED!!

Note to myself, DO NOT go back to bed after at 5:30am feeding.  So, it finally happened-WE OVERSLEPT.  I had been up with James and decided the bed looked too inviting after laying him back down so I decided to rest just a little more.  BAD DECISION, with some impaired judgement I must have turned off my alarm instead of pushing snooze.  I did enjoy some great sleep and had a brief moment of tranquility awakening to a bird singing by my sun filled window.  It all ended when I rolled over and saw the clock, 7:46!!!  AHHHHH we are supposed to be in the car-what in the world....NO ONE IS OUT OF BED!  I will let you imagine trying to get all the kids in the car, I almost forgot James and realized Becca just went in her panties-good thing it was her off day. Would you know it I still had to make a lunch as I haven't had time to add money to Brayden's hot lunch account-the good thing was that half the grocery's I got yesterday were still on the counter which I didn't have time to put away, making the lunch was slick. Okay, so it was just another crazy morning at the Haveman house and yes, Brayden did make it to school before 8:05am....just don't come over to my house this morning!
I am doing my best  to remember the good things of this life....including an awesome evening at Vegie Tale Live.  Thanks to some awesome friends we all got to go.  It was so much fun seeing the kids sing and dance to all the silly songs they had so much fun.  Thank you Jesus for music, sunshine, flowering Morning Glory's and singing birds and for a husband who I am missing a bunch this morning.  I am not so sure I can add laundry and house cleaning to that list this morning.

Easy Entertainment

We are back from a short camping get away, and although it was just a couple days we had a ton of fun.  I will update tomorrow once I have caught up on sleep and rid myself of all the dirt and grim we came back with.  But I will share this tonight.  James is such a wonderful baby and I just love how we All love on him.  He is our entertainment.  I can sit play with him and the time just flys. Even now the kids still fight over who gets to play and talk to him.  This is just from tonight.

Kindergarten Fall Party

Today I was able to go with Brayden on their Fall Party Field Trip.  I have not been able to go due to no siblings being allowed but today they made a exception.  It was actually a lot of work, but still lots of fun.  I like to go so I can get  to know some of the moms but today I enjoyed just getting to know the kids, this is such a great age!  They kept them plenty busy, decorating goodie bags, fun games, pumpkin and cookie decorating.  It is amazing how much attention the kids still want and need at this age, I think I was more exhausted after a morning with them than hanging out at the park with all four of mine.  They all had a great time including Andrea and James. I am having to rely on my little powershot camera more when I am out with the kids, sad to say the pictures are a little less than desirable, but still fun memories.

 The bunch decorating their bags.

 Lunch time.

 Pumpkin decorating

 If you wondered were Brayden was in the previous picture this is what he spent much of the trip doing.

The kids almost ready to head back to school.

The Days Rush On By.

We started the week off running, not really my thing for Mondays.  I am a fan of just doing one thing/outing per day and yesterday was a little much for all of us! I really need to become a morning person-what is the secret???!  Becca had her class field trip to the pumpkin patch.  I was able to go with and take the other kids which is wonderful....not so wonderful was being out of the house with lunches for everyone by 7:45.  Yes, I do take them some mornings but we are usually not prepared to be out in public!  We did make it but James missed his breakfast, thankfully he is a happy boy and was very entertained with all the kids until I could find a moment to feed him.  The kids had a fun time at the patch, Andrea was scared to feed the animals and I would be too seeing as one of the bunny's bit her.  Becca loved the dark hay maze, Andrea not so much.  We all got a very slow wagon ride and got to pick out pumpkins.  We were then all off to the park.  It was a beautiful day, I would say fall day but it was quite warm.  We headed back to the house seeing as Becca's class was just having rest time for the rest of their day.  I think James needs at least one nap in his bed...even if he gets woken up to go get Brayden.  That poor baby I don't think ever gets to sleep to his hearts content during the day.  After a quick snack break we all headed back to school for Parent Teacher Conferences.

Brayden's conference went very well, Brayden like playing with lego's and surprise, gym is his favorite special.  He needs work on beginning to read and sounds of the alphabet.  His teacher is wonderful and gave us some great ideas  and encouragement.  He is "making progress" in his behavior skills in general....although he did go to see Mr B. (the principal) yesterday.  Becca is also doing well, learning and remembering her letters and sounds.  She is much quieter and is working on making friends.  She also had great motor skills but needs work on her fine motor skills.  Mrs Oxenham was again great and gave us some ideas on how to strengthen those muscles.  I am so thankful for such wonderful teachers who love our children and treat each child with such love. They work so hard at teaching and showing God's word to the kids.  We finished the day with the library, and bed time....one of my favorite times by the end of the day.