Pumpkin Patch school trip

And Sam's first preschool field trip was......to the Pumpkin Patch!!! How fun! We caravaned over to the pumpkin patch parking lot where they had story time and the kids got to pick out their own special pumpkin from a big card board box. The kids had a great time and Matthew, he gave the glares as well, however, deep down he loved every minute of it!

Buddies!

Brothers...by the neck :)

"why must everyone talk to me?"

Ms Jamie and the boys...
Matthew, "I really want to sit on her lap...but why does she have to call me cute?"

Okay, now I'm going to be real. I am saddened by the fact that this is what my children think a pumpkin patch is. A parking lot full of pumpkins that a farmer hand picked whole heartdly, threw in a truck and shipped south. BREAKS MY HEART. There is something missing from my post.....the very tall corn stalks, the grey cloudy overcast sky, the miles and miles of pumpkins hidden in the dirt that you have to dig out, the warm apple cider simmering in the barn, the bagged apple pies (yummie...I can taste them). The tractor full of people waiting to be dropped off in the open farm, the fall leaves that crunch as the tractor takes you to the miles of apple trees. What happened to WI fall? I was a sweaty mess in the pumpkin patch parking lot. The heat seared into the 90's that day, the humidity was horrible and here we were, picking pumpkins, out of a box, nonetheless.

Okay, I'll stop being a brat..but really, I do miss the midwest fall season!
I think I'll suggest a trip to WI next year for the REAL pumpkin patch!!!

Celebrating at School

There were just so many birthday celebrations this year!!!! Early Birthday party, real birthday day, birthday at school and birthday at home! This party was had at school. Ms. Jamie let Brad and I come to school a few minutes before school got out and bring cupcakes! Sam was in his glory, and surprisingly enough, Matthew even sat at the table and ate cupcakes with the class! Way to go Matthew. But, don't you worry, he still dished out his share of glares.

Alyssa, just check out your daughters expressions in all the birthday pictures.

They crack me up!

See, here is Matthew...

Sam's class

Do they have white rice?

...but of course they do Birthday Boy! Then let's go....to a Hibachi dinner it is! It was so fun! Sam loves the fire on the table and also loves his white jasmine rice!

Matthew resists the fire, but chows on the end result. This child of mine LOVES to eat!

Papa Tom looks rather impressed with the chef as well!

Happy Birthday Sam!

It's so hard to believe that Sam has reached another milestone in his life! I believe I start off every birthday post with those words, however, time is flying by. My little baby...is growing up. What an exciting time to be 4. Not only is the world a great place to live in, but slowly he is becoming more and more cautious with life. Asking more important questions, questioning why things work the way they do, requesting certain needs and recognizing right from wrong. I love this age.

This year we had a painting party for all our close friends and some family who were able to visit with us! It was great. The kids all got to make a masterpiece work of art and have their face painted by Strawberry the clown. The kids loved her and did so well with her. We ate cupcakes at the park and per Sam's request, we also served juice! The weather held out for us and we all had a great time. Our life has been blessed with fantastic friends and family who helped make this day special for Sam. Hugs to you all!

Our 4 year old little boy!

The shirts Mommy made for all of us...

Gaga and Papa Stan partied with us from WI

Strawberry the clown!

Our Birthday Jaguar

Spider man cupcakes

Painting!Children's masterpieces!

Mimi and Papa Tom also came from WI to celebrate!

Cake Time!

Strawberry and Sam!

and you ask...where was brother Matthew???

He was there....see, here he is....behind the basket!

It was a birthday day today!

Happy (almost) 4th birthday Sam!

We had so much fun this morning celebrating Sam's birthday with all his friends and family!

Stay tuned for some more pictures from the fun fun fun weekend!!!!

Oh, yes, we did have so much fun!!!!

New pictures!

Of the boys!
Check out my photography blog at:
www.erinteplinphotography.blogspot.com

Celebrations!

One can just have too many! I love birthday parties now that Sam is getting a little bit older to understand the concept. Matthew on the other hand just hid in the corner. We had a fantastic time at the Little Gym for a friends Birthday Party!

Sam and his buddy Aidan

Can you find Sam?

Matthew just observing this situation. He loves little babies, but you ask him if he wants another baby brother or sister and his response: "NO NO NO, I have Sam".

Matthew enjoying the high bars!

The boys enjoying cake at Mallories party! Even Matthew agreed to sit down and eat....without us! I actually left the room! It was perfect.

My 4 extra hands

and I'm not calling them 4 extra helping hands! The boys just love to help cook and clean. Great you think. NOT! They love to help, but it isn't always in their best interest to remain civil. So, here we are again, breaking all the rules sitting on the counters, however, some days I just give in to the fight because it makes them so darn happy to help. Better yet, they will eat what they make themselves...well, Matthew will eat anything, Sam on the other hand has gotten a tad bit better at trying everything! The treat of the day was...rice krispys! HUGE hit over here!!! For mommy and daddy as well.

Go Bucky!

Thanks so much for the books Mimi! The boys love them and request to read them every night. How cute are they? If I had sound in this picture, the sound would be, Sam reading his own story, and Matthew laughing because he sees Bucky upside down :)

all ready for...well, not sure!

Some days, you just don't need to ask questions. You just go with the flow. Today was definitely that type of day. If your roller skates and swim goggles and helmet make you happy, power to you. Go Sam!

me and my cup of Joe buddy!

waiting so patiently for the pot to be done brewing! Matthew requests his coffee every morning. It's getting bad. Not that he gets it every morning, but he requests it every morning. Darn it if I make it during nap time, he will awake from nap requesting it! My children have inherited my sense of smell. They have a cop for a nose.

This morning he actually brought out my creamer from the fridge and said, "mommy, all ready for coffee". It was priceless! Yesterday at the park he drank about 70% of my cup. He seriously sat on the sidelines, while everyone else was playing and sipped his cup.

I can't wait to grow old and sip coffee with you buddy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy! We just wanted to wish you a very happy morning and we wanted to share with all of you his desk! Looks like his co-workers had fun last night!

We all Love you and we'll see you when you get home tonight! Happy Birthday to you! Enjoy your lunch out today :)

Cupcakes?

No, silly...FROSTING!!! Matthew enjoying a cupcake yesterday at Katelyn's cupcake Birthday Party!!!

They're so cute!!!

More rain fun!

I love that the boys love to play in the rain. Matthew is slowly understanding that rain is fun! They were just soaked out there. Sam, well, he was laying on the driveway 'sleeping' as he stated!!!