Halloween Fun!

This year we had fun celebrating Halloween with lots of fun festivities. We started the "hoop-la"a week prior to Halloween by participating in the trick-or treat in downtown Laramie. This was the first year since we've lived in Laramie to do the down town trick-or-treating. It was a great way for the community to participate in a safe way for the kiddos to go trick or treating. Luke loved it! I wasn't very creative when it came to costumes this year- Luke was Spiderman and Eliza was University of Wyoming Cheerleader- maybe/hopefully I'll be better at being creative next year.                                

                               

The next Halloween festivity was pumpkin carving! Due to the cold weather here in Laramie, its best to wait until right before Halloween to carve pumpkins. We had some friends over for a carving party- in which everyone got pretty intense in their carving except Luke and I- we did a "boring book pattern"- but Luke still enjoyed it and had a blast!

For Preschool- we let the kids dress up in their costumes and had a fun Halloween lesson full of a pumpkin craft, decorating their own treat bags, dancing to monster mash, trick or treat safety tips, and decorating Halloween cookies and cupcakes. The kids left happy and on a sugar high!

As for the actual day of Halloween, I took Eliza and Luke to another safe trick or treating community even at the University of Wyoming. A lot of the schools clubs and sororities had booths of games and candy for the kiddos. Due to all the candy that Luke got from both the University and the downtown event- we didn't take him out into the neighborhood, but he had a blast passing out handfuls of candy to the trick or treaters that came to our door. Eliza celebrated in her cute tu-tu Halloween outfit.

Field Trip!

I found out that October was Fire Prevention Month. So for my week of teaching the kiddos in preschool I did a lesson on everything fire-fire trucks, fire safety, fireman..etc.  Then I called up our local fire department and asked if we could come for a tour- I don't know who were more excited the kids or fireman!

We had a blast learning about the different Fire Trucks, seeing where the Firemen relax, and watching the Fireman show off going down the fire pole and getting dressed in their gear in a timely fashion of 1 min! 

Thanks Brandy, for being the official "preschool photographer."

Pumpkin Patch

As a preschool we decided to take the kids to a pumpkin patch in Ft. Collins. Well the day came and the weather wasn't the best so most of the moms didn't want to go. I had to go out that way anyway so I had one brave mom come with Luke, Eliza and I.
When we got to the pumpkin patch it was super muddy from the rain the night prior and most of the attractions were closed. The "petting zoo" they advertised were a few animals in a pen. To say the least it was a little disappointing and the other moms and kiddos who didn't go didn't miss out on too much.

We made the best of it and the kids had fun chasing the ducks and chickens. Luckily, we didn't have to go "mud skating" thru the mud to get some pumpkins- the patch owners had some that were already picked and waiting for new owners!

Beauty is Pain

Growing up I always heard my older sister and mom state "beauty is pain." For me, I never realized the truth to the statement until I was teenage and got convinced to "let" my sister pluck my eyebrows for the first time.
For Eliza, she met that statement full on when took her to get her ears pierced. Now, I had gone with my sister-in-law to pierce my nieces' ears, so I knew what we in for with Eliza-Kevin, not so much.
Since Kevin and Eliza have a special bond  I want him to hold her-as well as I did't want to be the bad guy ; ) Both Eliza and Kevin did great! I think Eliza cried longer and louder for her 2 month shots than the actually ear piercing.


Some might not agree with us getting Eliza's ears pierced so young but, for my side of the family its a tradition as well as they don't remember the experience as they get older.
I will say- I love seeing Eliza with a little bit of sparkle on!

Sweet Moments of Pure Bliss

Luke is such a great big brother to Eliza! I love seeing the tender acts of love he expresses to Eliza, and because I know that sadly those tender acts won't last for the entirety of their brother-sister relationship- I have dedicated this post to those sweet moments where the world is perfect in our home-even for just a small moment.
Luke loves trying to help with Eliza-whether its "reading" her a story, playing cars with her, giving Eliza her paci, or giving his sister sweet kisses-its these moments that would make any mom proud! I love hearing Luke say "Eliza's grumpy" every time she cries and how he talks to her in is own little baby voice. I was worried that Luke wouldn't take to Eliza when she was born and it melts my heart how much he truly loves her.
I hope to capture more sweet moments between these two sweet kiddos!

P is for Preschool

Luke is now 3.5 years old and after doing much research I decided to start a preschool instead of enrolling him into one of the preschools in town. Now, those who really know me know what a daunting task this is for me to undertake do to the fact that: 1) I don't know the first think about teaching and 2) toddlers and I don't get a long- unless its my toddler. Well, thanks to a fully-equpt program on-line and some awesome moms the daunting-ness of having a preschool in our house 2 times a week has become a great thing for Luke, myself, and (hopefully) the other kids.
We have about 6 kids in the preschool right now and the kids are actually learning-WOO HOO!!! As I said we host the preschool 2x's/week here at the house in our basement, each mom takes a turn teaching-so its been a great start and the kids seem to love it!