Halloween Warm-up

We went into the cities on Sunday before Halloween to go trick or treating at Steve's aunt and uncle's house. Here are a few pictures outside Steve's parents house before we left. Notice the large inflatable blow up cat as well as the blow up Frankenstein. Papa and Nana have become members of the inflatable blow up society at the request of their oldest grandson. They are such good sports to put these giant creatures in their yard for the entertainment of Kane and Cole!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Raphael, AKA Kane Miller.

Posing in front of the Frankenstein blow up. Kane is making his best pose as a ninja turtle, while Cole, a turtle in training, can barely move at all!

Cole and Papa posing for the camera.

Tanner's Orchard

We took our annual trip to Tanner's Orchard in Speer, Illinois. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and the kids had a blast!

Cole picking out his pumpkin. I want to just squeeze his cheeks all the time!

The boys were sooo happy to be here!

Kane looks so old in this picture. I look at him and can't believe how grown up he has become. Where has all the time gone?

Daddy and Cole on top of the pirate ship slide.

All the crazy cousins hanging out in the pumpkin patch!

Unorganized in October?

I can 't believe I have neglected the blog for so long! I have made a vow to do better from this day forward! Wish me luck!

Virtues

Steve and I struggled today when we sent Kane to school. He was a bit apprehensive which is very out of character for him. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that it is Monday and we had such a great weekend together. However, Kane was concerned about people being nice to him or in this case people NOT being nice to him. He wondered why the fourth and sixth grader who rode the bus didn't want to play with him. He thinks about these things all the time. It is such a test for me as a parent. How do you explain such things as not nice people and why they act that way? The innocence of youth is such a sacred stepping ground. I want to continue to protect Kane from the not so virtuous parts of life. However, that is no longer an option. It is up to Steve and I to teach him now how to deal with these disappointing parts of life along with giving him the tools to continue to be the loving and kind person he is. Being a parent is so heartbreaking at times. This instance just makes me appreciate how much my parents have done for me in my life to instill a sense of values. I am grateful, and resolve to follow in their footsteps. On a final note, this experience with Kane has only strengthened my own sense of virtues and how important it is for me to live my life as the best example of those virtues.

A Birthday Fit for a Princess

We celebrated my 32nd birthday on Saturday. Kane picked out the cake for me. He told Steve it had to be a girl cake and that only the Disney Princess castle would do. That boy, he makes me so proud to be his Mama!

Finley and I checking out the amazing cake!

Missy, Trey, and Kane are watching the festivities as well. Trey and I share the same birthday, how lucky am I? He turned 1, I can't believe how fast the year has gone. He is such a good boy!! So happy and smiley!

Cole and Grandad. Check out their mouths, they have the exact same expression!

Blowing out the candle!

Finley, the official taste tester!

Kids at Play

It was absolutely beautiful weather after the circus. Everyone came back to the house and played in the yard.

Brady and Kane got the vehicles out and took them for a spin.

Alexis taking a turn in Lightening McQueen. She is a mad woman in that thing! Thank goodness we have 13 more years until she hits the roads.

Lexi and Finley represent for the ladies and show the boys how it is done!

Papa and Cole getting in some swing time.

Seriously, she is completely gorgeous. I just want to squeeze her!

A Bunch of Circus Animals

The circus was in town over Labor Day weekend. Fourteen of us went to the i-Wireless Center ( formally the Mark) to check it out! Fun was had by all.

Grandad, Kane and Brady checking the action. Could that be a tiger?

Cole and Finn checking it out from their view through the rails.

Uncle Rock finding his true calling.

The best toys ever! Swords! Thanks, Grandad!