Ghouls and Goals

We've had a fun weekend so far.

Thursday evening we carved our pumpkin. Once the kids saw what the inside looked like, they were mostly content to sit back and observe rather than take part in the scooping and carving.

Friday night was our ward's Halloween party. Jessica and Chandler came up with their own idea for costumes this year - chickens. Well, technically Jessica wanted Chandler to be a chicken and she would be a rooster (because she knew how to say "cock-a-doodle-doo" and Chandler didn't).  :)  I didn't have the time or motivation to get crafty with costumes, so we grabbed matching ones from Old Navy. I think they are the cutest little chickens I've even seen!

Sadly these costumes would have fared much better in a colder climate. Poor Chandler was so sweaty. It didn't take long before they had both stripped them off. Luckily they each had BYU gear on underneath so they still looked somewhat "dressed up" and coordinated.

Saturday morning was Jessica's last soccer game of the season. We had a rough start and at first I wasn't sure whether Jessica would ever want to step on a field once the season was over. Around here kids can join a team as young as 3 years old, and many do.  Jessica's 5 & 6 year old team had a lot of very experienced players and she could tell she was at the lower end of the team's talent. There was one game early on where she clung to me crying the entire time, refusing to play. I think she just felt nervous and confused as to exactly what she was supposed to be doing. Luckily the coach was great and worked with her throughout the year. Little by little she gained her confidence. She grew to love being goalie and only let in one goal the entire season.

Her last game couldn't have gone better! The coach told her just to shadow him around the field so she would know where to be. She loved the direction and when her chance came she scored a goal!! I have never seen so much joy on her face! She couldn't help but run over for a congratulatory hug after the fact.

I'm so glad she's grown to love this sport and is already wanting Spring soccer to start.

Benjamin

I feel like poor Benjamin is already getting 3rd child treatment with very little face-time on the blog.  So here he is in all his glory. We sure love this little guy!

Benjamin is three months, 10 days old. Like Chandler, he has a pretty mellow personality and is pretty content to hang out and watch the excitement going on around him. 

 He is one happy little man and it isn't hard to get a laugh out of him. Not even Chandler can resist him when Benjamin gets a grin going.  When Benjamin gets excited it is a full-on kick and wiggle fest. We've learned that you have to strap him in good into his bouncer chair or he will literally wiggle his way out onto the floor. It was a big surprise the first time when I turned around not sure how he got from the chair to the floor.

Benjamin loves his fingers! He's (thankfully) willing to take a binkie, but I'm positive we'd have a little thumb sucker otherwise.

Benjamin is an all-around perfect little addition to our family. I can't imagine life without his big blue eyes or the chunkiest thighs this family has ever seen. We love you Benja-bunnies!

Our Own 5000 Day Project

BYUTv came out with an incredible show called the 5000 Day Project. You can check it out here. The show tracks the lives of two brothers as they grow up and face various challenges. I thought it was a great idea so it became our Sunday activity today. I interviewed both kids, asking questions ranging from "What do you want to be when you grow up?" to "What's your favorite Book of Mormon story?"

I put together a few highlights and hope you get as much of a kick out of it as we did. Hopefully in 13 years we can have a production worthy of BYUTv...or at least something the kids will want to hold onto and show their kids someday. Enjoy.

School Pictures

Jessica got her school pictures today. We think she's such a beauty. And just for comparison, here am I back in Kindergarten. I'm not sorry to say that I think Jessica's way cuter!

Goofy Kids

Before going to bed tonight this is what we saw...

 

I'm not sure how either of those are comfortable. Crazy little goofs.

And here's a few of Benjamin, who is getting to be such a cute little man.

Beaches and Blessings

We've had a fun month so far! As you saw in the last post, Jessica just started soccer. Although she's one of the less experienced players on her team, she's having a good time and learning a lot.

Chandler loves the practices too because he gets to run around and play and look super cute. :)

The first weekend in the month we had family come for Benjamin's baby blessing. We were pleasantly surprised by how many people were willing and able to come all the way out for this. My parents as well as Michael's dad came. Saturday morning Michael, Jessica, Chandler, and Papa (Michael's dad) went off to play at the beach. I stayed back with Benjamin to wait for my parents and catch up with them once they arrived. 

Jessica was excited to try out her new boogie board.

Chandler gave it a try too...

but decided that eating Skittles from Grandma up on the sand was more his style.

Before long he was back out in the water with Daddy while Jessica took her turn with the treats.

They finished the morning making drip castles and meeting some cool creatures.

Playing at the beach with Papa is always a good time!

The next day was Benjamin's blessing. What a lucky guy to have a Daddy and two Grandpas worthy and able to be a part of such a special thing! I'm still mad at myself for not getting some pictures of just Benjamin, but these group shots are pretty great too.

That night everyone, minus Benjamin and I, took a drive to the temple to wander the grounds. Apparently Papa is an expert creature catcher. He was able to catch several lizards at the temple and then a frog just outside our apartment. Jessica and Chandler thought it was super fun to have a real frog inside, even if it was for just a few minutes.

It was great to have everyone around for some much needed family time!

Here Comes Jessica

Future BYU class of 2024 signee, Jessica Hales.

Laughing

I love when you finally get some love and recognition from these little guys!