A successful walk...

This is how a good walk should end....

He's had fun (notice the chocolate around his mouth) and is all tired out. And I got a decent workout. Success!

Pillowcase Dress....

I saw this idea from a girl at MOPS. She's doing craft fairs and sells these for $20, but you get a free bow. Yeah right!!!!! This cost about $3 to make. 1 yard of fabric is enough for 2 dresses. Put it over a long sleeve shirt and leggings...in my opinion...SUPER cute!!

Then it needed a clip to go with it...of course. So I made these 2 flower clips to match. Thought the biggest one might be a little too much for some days, so I made a smaller one too. I love them!!!

Single parenting it for 8 days...

Mike, Sophia and Shirley are in Kansas. Let's hope year #3 (or 4...I've lost count) is when Mike gets the "big one." I'm crossing my fingers...and I know he is too!!!!

So, in the meantime it's just me and the boys. And no camera. Mike took it with him in hopes of taking lots of pictures of the monster deer he's going to shoot!

Take any 1 child out of the mix and things immediately become easier because the dynamics change. Jake and Joshua are probably the hardest combo though. Jake doesn't play with Joshua a lot and when he does, he's really rough. And, Jake likes to be entertained. Like this morning...after he was up at 5:30 (but basically stayed in bed) and then got up when his alarm (using that term loosely) went off at 6:30. First thing out of his mouth when he gets in my room "Where are we going?" "Umm...back to bed???"

But, I'm enjoying having 1 less kid and some relative down time. The boys are able to have more of my attention. And Sophia is getting some special attention too. So...everyone wins!

The littlest one has a stocking...

I finished Joshua's stocking today. The only thing it needs is a hanger..which won't take more than 3 min. to sew on. Joshua's stocking is the 4th stocking I've made since becoming the unofficial stocking maker of the family. MeeMaw started it...and I'm continuing the tradition. I've made one for Mike, Sophia, Joshua and Brad. Jake and Grant (first borns for Mary and I) both have stockings that MeeMaw originally made...I just freshened them up and put a new cuff on them.

This year I need to repair our stockings. Sophia was a tad destructive (imagine that!!) last year and pulled some things off of them. And, for several years I've thought that Mike's name was too big. I know...very ridiculous....but it bothers me every year. So, this year I will redo his cuff...and make myself very happy.

How come the littlest one's stocking is the biggest by just a bit. Hmmm.....???? I can't lie...it bothers me now that I look at them all in a row. I could focus on this and obsess about it. But, I'll try to let it go. There's no easy fix for being just a little too big!!! Hopefully it won't stand out when I hang them on the mantle. I wish I wasn't such a perfectionist!!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Carving...

As you parents know...pumpkin carving is a BIG deal!! Not my favorite thing..but you have to do it!! They both had a great time and were so excited with their jack-o-lanterns!

Halloween...is it over yet???

The kids had a great Halloween. Mike and I really enjoyed seeing them have so much fun. But, now that the sugar high is about gone...I'm ready for the candy to be gone!!! Today the Tooth Fairy visited our house!! When the kids come home from school they'll find a special note from her that says she left a new toy with Mommy. So if they trade in their candy (because you know..too much candy isn't good for teeth!!) they can have their new toy. Let's hope they go for the trade!! This is the first year I've tried this.

We went to a great Halloween party at our friends Dave and Debbie's. They're friends from church and have a little boy who is 5. Debbie went all out and she had their backyard looking SO cute!! There was lots of good (and fun) food and games for the kids. Mike declared it the best Halloween party ever!! He was very partial to the Cheetos, mummy dogs (hot dogs), Rice Krispie treats and beer. Who can blame him???

Our host Debbie and her little boy Trey.

Mike...passing on his love of Cheetos to the littlest Wille.

After we left the party, we went over to Shirley's street for trick or treating. The Truwe's came with us. It was Naomi's first time trick or treating. I think she was trying hard just to keep up with Jake and Sophia. I loved it when Sophia was running full speed to the next house yelling behind her "come on...let's roll!". That's an enthusiastic trick or treater!!!

The first stop...Grammy's house! Joshua stayed there for all the trick or treating. It was WAY past his bed time by that point!

Pretty cute...if only they acted this way all the time!

Dumping out to look at the goods after we were done! It was a candy feeding frenzy!!

Go Tigers!!!

Sophia had a soccer game this morning, so in honor of Halloween, they all got spray painted hair and faces painted like Tigers. The kids have really improved since the first game. Not many goals were scored....but everyone participated and there were very few tears. So, I'd call that a successful game!!

The kids get patches to add to their jerseys after each game. Sophia got a star badge for being a super star player. Way to go!!! She hustled and ran for most of the game!!