Tanner's 5 year old checkup and Halloween parade

Tanner had his 5 year old checkup last week. He's finally 40 pounds, so we could take the harness straps off his carseat, and he's just buckled in with the seatbelt now! Woohooo! He's 42.75 inches tall, and 40 pounds.

Tanner's preschool had a costume parade and trick-or-treating through the church buildings. The Sunday School classes and offices decorated their doors and handed out treats. The kids had tons of fun. Then in the classroom, we decorated monster cookies and played Halloween BINGO. Tanner kept his SWAT team costume on alllll day long. (It needed a little bath last night before we go trick-or-treating for REAL today!)

Trick or treating outside of Eric's office. He had to be at a meeting, but thankfully he had a stand-in handing out goodies! :) 

Trick-or-treat!

Tanner in his classroom (he's near the bottom left) 

Tanner and his kooky monster cookie! Those frosting eyeballs are SO much fun. We stuck them on bananas this morning at breakfast! I think they'll be making an appearance on lots of food in our household! 

pumpkin patch 2014

Tanner's first field trip!

Tanner had his first field trip yesterday, and I was able to join them on their outing to a church pumpkin patch not far from our church/preschool. The kids had a science lesson about pumpkins (and they got to feel the squishy goop inside of a pumpkin.) Then they listened to some pumpkin stories, and did a 5 Little Pumpkins craft. Before leaving the patch, each child picked out their own pumpkin, that they'll paint at school next week. We also played on the church playground and had a picnic lunch while we were there. Riding on the bus was one of the highlights though! Tanner sat with his best buddy, Gavin. 

This is Tanner's class, with their teacher, Mrs. Roxie. 

Jags vs. Steelers

Well we didn't win. . . . (surprise, surprise.) But we had fun and the weather was gorgeous! Plus, snowcones dull the pain of loss any day.

Special Forces paratroopers landed in the field at halftime!

Halloween Night!

We had a super fun night trick-or-treating in Gigi and Doobie's neighborhood last night! The kids got some seriously GOOD candy this year, and man - they got a TON. Their bags were HEAVY by the end of the night.  Tanner counted his pieces, and we got to about 50 when he lost interest in counting.  Bryce's Ghostbusters costume was definitely a hit, and everyone was thankful that Captain America was there to save the day too! The neighborhood was definitely a safer place with our two heroes around! 

(Eric's FBI shirt and fake mustache were pretty fabulous, but the mustache didn't stick very well!)

"Who you gonna call????"

It was a GORGEOUS sunset to enjoy while we were out!

And this was the beginning of the Sibling Candy Trade that took place (and which continued this morning!) 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Conner's A-Maize-ing Acres

It's hard to get into the festive fall spirit when it's 85+ degrees outside. But we did our best today and trekked out to one of our favorite fall traditions, visiting Conner's Farm for the day. 

We skipped the corn maze again this year. Once was enough. Especially in this heat! But we went on a "hay ride" (ironically without the hay), and there was a fabulous new sunflower field this year. We visited with the new baby pigs that were born last month, and we had fabulous BBQ (not as good as Eric's though!) We left the farm a sweaty, dirty mess, but it was a lot of fun! 

 Playing in the corn tub! 

 Riding the cow train. . . .

Our new friends, the baby pigs. (I'm sort of obsessed with them! They are SO stinkin' cute!)

On the non-hay Hay Ride. . . .

Meeting a sheep. And a goose. And a bunch of chickens. . .

I never realized how much rabbits SHED until Bryce put this one down. . .oh MY. 

On one of the playgrounds. . . .

Last stop - the pumpkin patch! We added some baby pumpkins to add to our pumpkin collection!

 Final picture of the day. . . covered in dirt (see his neck!!???) 

hot, tired, and DONE having his picture taken! 

(But it was fun nonetheless!!!!)

Bonfires! (Autumn in NC part 3)

We had a couple of bonfires while we were there, but the day after Halloween we had a big BBQ dinner planned with some of my parents neighbors/friends.  

Good photo ops before it got dark . . .

Getting the fire started! 

My dad strung lights up in the yard and it looks festive and FABULOUS!

MORE SMORES!

The mark of a good bonfire BBQ. . . a REALLY dirty face.

Oh look - another dirty face! Soot and marshmallow. . .not much better than that!