Brothers...

Love them!

Operation Christmas Child

Our playgroup decided to fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child this year. The boxes were filled with everything from toothbrushes to crayons to candy and will be sent to children around the world who wouldn't get anything otherwise.
Ben is almost at the age where he can understand this concept, but it was still REALLY hard for him. He didn't know why he couldn't play with all the toys. We met at the park to organize all the boxes (to make it easy we each just bought 12 of whatever item(s) we chose. I didn't expect Ben to want to help, but he was really excited to decorate the boxes with stickers. And he signed his first Christmas card with his name :). I'm not going to lie- I was a happy momma watching him :)
Briggs helped by eating the cookies and muffins we had and playing with mommy :)

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet

Halloween just gets better and better as the boys get older.  This year Ben totally ‘got’ it and loved every second of it.  He told us early on he wanted to be Captain America and LOVED wearing his costume all.the.time the weeks leading up.  So much so, that we bought him a second costume just for the big day because I was a little worried about the state of his first one.

The week before Halloween, we hit up the pumpkin patch at the Dallas Arboretum.  It was a ‘mommy and me Monday’ so it was a little crowded.  But, I’ve never seen so many pumpkins.  Between the crowds, the humidity and trying my hardest to get these two kiddos to sit together and smile, I was just about done.  But once we got out of pumpkin hell and hit the open spaces, it was much more enjoyable.  The boys ran around with their friends and had a blast.

Pumpkin Carving time!

B LOVES Halloween and couldn’t wait to teach Ben how to do intricate pumpkins.  Ben takes after his mommy and really didn’t care about the pumpkin guts.

But Briggs thought it was the greatest thing ever!

The little guy helped daddy get every last bit of the pumpkin guts out!

At school on Tuesday, they had a Fall Festival.  A friend watched Briggs so I could stop by for part of it.  They had an AMAZING petting zoo, which Ben LOVED.  I’m really so proud of how far he’s come with animals.  Just a month ago he was paranoid to touch any and he was all over these animals.  Except the llamas, they kind of freaked him out when they ate all his food

This picture cracks me up.

I also got to be there for the carnival games.  He was so cute going from station to station with his buddy, Logan.

Such a beautiful, fun day for him.

The morning of Halloween we had a costume party with our playgroup.  Someone convinced Cici’s pizza to open 30 minutes early just for us, which was so nice.  They went above and beyond for our group.

A little air hockey between two Captains.

My hulk and his strawberry sweetie, Emmie.

LOVE this little hulk (even if he refuses to keep his mask on)

B worked forever on an Iron Man costume.  Of course he can’t just go buy one so he had to spend forever making one.  Shockingly, it didn’t get finished so the day of he went to the store and bought an adult one.  Then it was too short so I was the typical mom altering it with the sewing machine at 5 pm the night of Halloween.  And he can’t just let it be, he had to add his own chest light for it by melting and molding plastic, but when he tried to attach it to the giant hole he cut out of the chest, it wouldn’t attach.  Oh well, maybe next year.

All ready to go “happy halloweening”!

I got a pic with the mask!

First stop!  Ben totally got it this year and loved every second of it. 

Then Briggs figured out how this thing worked.  He would end up just staring at them after they gave him candy and smiling that they’d give him more.  Then he’d blow them kisses as thank yous.  When it was time to walk away he’d take a few steps, turn around and say bye bye and repeat.  Took forever!

Such a fun night. Ben asked to go Trick or Treating again the next day.  Already excited for next year!!!

Rock the vote!

A little difficult to explain voting to Ben, but loved taking the littles to exercise their civic duty (well maybe Mommy's) :). Ben said he wants a jack-o-lantern for president :)

Take me out to the ballgame

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this! A few weeks ago we took the boys to the one playoff game the rangers were in. Sadly, they lost, but we still had a lot of fun. Ben was beside himself excited. And just the day before Ben and I both had the tummy flu and were very thankful we were good to go. The game didn't start until 7 which is when Briggs normally goes down, but he did the best he could. Ben ate his way through 5 1/2 innings the whole time calling out for cotton candy (it never appeared). B's 'amazing' parking spot is forever away from the ballpark, but as luck would have there was a pedicab right there for us to ride. Ben told the guy to race all the other bikes :). We almost made it to 6 innings, but had to leave because a little bug was just too tired and not too happy he couldn't walk around. Three weeks later, Ben is still talking about the game. Can't wait to take him to Wrigley one day! B is excited that he's at an age that he can sit through baseball games now. Briggs- not so much!

And yesterday after B got home, we took some balls to the field and played. We were blown away by how much better Ben has gotten at baseball. We can only compare him to last year, but the boy can pitch and hit! Signing him up for spring ball!!! Briggs enjoyed looking at the birds. Funny little kid for sure!

 

A Visit from Grammy

Not many things can top getting a phone call from Grammy saying that she’s coming to visit in a couple weeks…except for the actual visit of course!  We made the mistake of telling Ben a week prior.  It was almost too much for him.  But he had fun counting down.  Grammy got here Friday night and Saturday morning when Ben woke up he went and sat in her room on the floor until she woke up.  So sweet! 

We had SO much fun doing what we do best-shopping, playing and having fun!  Ben couldn’t wait to take Grammy to Target (this kid has her wrapped around his fat little fingers for sure).  B and I were able to sneak away for a movie.  And we finally found Ben’s costume while Grammy was here.  Every other time we looked for it, it was sold out.  Now Ben won’t take it off!

 

Two little goofballs at dinner…

followed by ice cream where Briggs not only ate all of his baby cone, but most of Grammy’s and then tried to polish off Daddy’s!

I love this!

Monday Grammy joined our playgroup at the pumpkin patch.  Ben, who is normally so scared of the animals, fed them!  Yay, Ben!

it was a little tough to get a good pic of them

Briggs and his Grammy…love!

We love our Grammy!!!

my two favorite little guys!

 

Grammy left Tuesday after we dropped Ben off at school.  We even got to walk him in so she could see his classroom.  Probably not the best idea given how our family isn’t the strongest in the no crying department.  But-I had warned his teacher.  Goodbyes always stink.  And when I picked Ben up from school he was SO sad Grammy had left. 

We can’t wait to see Grammy again!  Thank you for coming Grammy!  We are beyond spoiled by you.  LOVE YOU!

 

 

 

 

Splish splash

What is it about water? It's the best 'toy' sometimes. Especially when you're 18 months old and mommy just took away her drink that you found and were playing with. A little trip out front with some cups and the hose makes it all better.