Fun At Home!

We have had a nice weekend at home. Russell and Sloane had fun just hanging with one another and Aron and I each managed to get away with friends for a little time. I got out Saturday evening to enjoy time with some girlfriends and Aron went with some of his buddies to the Lion's game today. Here are a few pictures that I took throughout the weekend.

Friday night, Russell wanted to go swimming... So we filled the tub, pulled out his swimming trunks, and he added the goggles. Too cute!!! What is next with this one???

Sloane is really into the potty (more so than her older brother)! I found her this morning pulling off her pajamas, followed by her diaper, and then she proceeded to carry the potty to every room in the house and sit on it. Here she is in the family room thinking she is pretty hot stuff! I have my hands full with this little girl! I swear she is going to be accident free before Russell!!!

Last night, I decided to try a bubble bath. I was planning on having one child in at a time beginning with Sloane, but once Russell caught sight of the bubbles, he had his clothes off and was diving in faster than I could grab a towel to protect myself from the spraying water.

Here Russell is rocking out with the Imagination Movers on Disney Channel!

Happy Birthday Russell!

Our little boy turned 3 today! I can not believe it!!! Time flies!!! We decided to celebrate with a low key party at home with just the four of us. Russell wanted a Go Diego Go party so we decorated with all the fun accessories including a Diego table cloth, balloon, napkins, plates, cups, and party bazookas! Although Russell does not care for cake, we still got a small one topped with a Diego candle. It was a great party!!!

After a yummy McDonald's Happy Meal,

it was time to open presents!!!

A new backpack! Time for rescue missions with Diego!!!

Mac and Sloane helped open the leaf blower.

This was Russell's favorite gift!

Russell had to rush outside in the dark to try out his leaf blower!

Time to make a wish!

Sloane enjoyed the birthday cake!

Halloween Fun

It was a busy week beginning with a fun visit from Papa Carlson and Bevie. They brought us a delicious dinner and dessert, yummmmm!!! The kids loved spending time with them. Unfortunately, Sloane was recovering from hand, foot, & mouth virus (yuck) so she wasn't the best company! My mom came to town on Monday to watch Sloane so I didn't have to miss more work. I love having retired parents!!! Sloane was happy and healthy by Thursday so we were able to go ahead with our Halloween plans.

After a hectic Halloween day at school, I came home to prepare for our 3rd annual neighborhood Halloween party and to dress my little cowboy and cowgirl. All the families came to our house for pizza and pictures followed by a group trick-or-treating walk. This was the first year that the children really understood trick-or-treating. It was so adorable to watch a half dozen little ones run up the sidewalks and yell "TRICK-OR-TREAT" then politely hold out their pumpkins. Sloane was a doll keeping up with the older children. She was determined NOT to be picked up and to carry her OWN pumpkin even when it was nearly dragging her down from the weight of all the candy! Upon returning to our home, Russell chose Scooby snacks from his pumpkin and Sloane chose a mini sucker. We have now hid the candy in hopes they have forgotten about it while Aron and I are secretly sneaking our favorites :-) Aron's mom also came into town for the festivities so the kids are enjoying lots of love and hugs from Grammy Carlson and I am enjoying having another pair of hands to help out!!!

Our little cowgirl!

Practicing "TRICK-OR-TREAT!"

Watch out! There is a new sheriff in town!

Pizza, pizza, pizza!!!

Heading home with my 20 pound pumpkin!!!

Pumpkin Carving!

Tonight we pulled up our sleeves and dug into two perfect pumpkins hoping to create the BEST jack-o-lanterns on Altadena Avenue!!! Russell was a wonderful boss...he told us exactly what to do, but wanted NO part of sticking his hands into the guts and pulling out the seeds. Sloane on the other hand, was practically head over heels inside the pumpkin!!! Both kids were tuckered out by the time we finished digging out the seeds so Aron and I had to finish up the carving ourselves. This went from family fun night, to complete COMPETITION of who could carve the better pumpkin! So check out the pics below and decide for yourself who has the better jack-o-lantern. But...just so you all know...I had to finish Aron's for him because he gave up after almost slaughtering the eyes :-) HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!!!

Aron's jack-o-lantern

Kirsten's jack-o-lantern

Sloane loved every minute of the slimy stuff!

Russell was the best foreman!

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween at Greenfield Village

We just returned from a fun night at Greenfield Village with our neighborhood clan! During the month of October Greenfield Village has Halloween nights. The entire path is lit with jack-o-lanterns. Along the way you meet several characters (spooky and not) who pass out treats to the children. Russell and Sloane opted not to wear their costumes. I was okay with that decision since the evening was a bit chilly. They both enjoyed taking in all the action and seeing the unique costumes. Russell's favorites were the pirates. He could not take his eyes off the pirate ship and treasure. After we passed he immediately started to pretend he was a pirate, "argh"! We were all a little spooked going through the covered bridge in the dark with only spooky lights and sounds around us. Russell held tight to my hand and once we were through it, he announced, "I was scared." Thankfully the fun out weighed the scary parts!!! By the time we left, all the kids had pumpkins filled with candy, apples, chips, pretzels, and a vampire teddy bear beanie baby! Luckily my kids do not know what candy is (YET) and were thrilled with receiving an apple!!! However, they dove into the potato chips first :-) Fall has really brought joy to our family this year!

What a FUN night!!!

I'm not too sure about these spooky people!

Yummy, more chips please!

Just a few of the jack-o-lanterns we saw.

Weekend in Grand Rapids

This post is a little late...our hard drive crashed last week so we have been out of a computer for a week. I did not realize how much we depended on this little piece of technology! It is good to have it back. Unfortunately we had to get a whole new hard drive and lost EVERYTHING on the old (pictures, work plans, music, etc...) Oh, well! Thus is life.

Anyway...last weekend we spent a glorious two days back in our old area of Grand Rapids!!! The kids spent the weekend with my parents and grandparents at my grandma and grandpa's beautiful home and property in Middleville. Russell fed the rooster, caught frogs, and rode Great Papa's golf cart. Sloane enjoyed following her brother around and playing with cousin Katie. Aron and I went back to GVSU to celebrate Homecoming with our college friends. It was wonderful to see the old gang!!! I was also fortunate enough to run into some old co-workers. I loved catching up with everyone. Aron and I love GR and always look forward to our annual Homecoming trip!!!

Here are some cute pics of the kids enjoying time with their great grandparents!!!

Sloane looking for frogs in the pond with Great Gramma.

Russell telling me about the deer he saw while riding with Great Papa through the woods.

Fall is here! We love it!!!

We had another wonderful weekend at home. On Friday, we enjoyed Family Fun Night in downtown Royal Oak. The streets were packed with families enjoying the hometown festivities! The kids loved people watching, eating popcorn, and hanging onto their Mickey Mouse balloons. On Saturday, we lounged around the house in our pj's most of the morning and then headed out in the afternoon in search of the perfect mums to plant in our backyard. After finding the BEST mums in town we brought them home to plant. Russell was completely hands on helping to plant while Sloane was the inspector, smelling and touching every flower bud. Today we spent the afternoon at Westview Orchards with our neighborhood gang. This was our third year going as a group. It is fun watching the neighborhood kids grow and change. We had fun playing in the pumpkin patch, eating donuts, drinking cider, and watching the farm animals and tractors pass by. It was a beautiful autumn day...sunny and 65 degrees. FALL IS HERE! WE LOVE IT!!!