Trunk or Treat

Last night was our annual Trunk or Treat celebration at church and was I ever thankful that our new director took the reigns this year. It was so nice helping the boys get ready and take pictures.  Although I seriously need camera lessons.

In the low light of the evening, taking photos in night mode has a way too slow shutter speed therefore any movement of the boys is blurred. And my boys are incapable of NOT moving.

But then when switching to sports mode to capture the action and allowing for movement, the low light still caused them to be blurry. UGH!

So here's my blurry pictures!

Robinhood, Messi (world's best soccer player according to Buddy) and Captain Rex from Star Wars

Babe decided a month ago after watching Robinhood for the 100th time that's what he wanted to be.  I promised to make his outfit, although I didn't actually do so until Sunday.  

The hat and feather, I made from scratch with felt as well as the quiver to hold his arrows.  The outfit is a very modified old peter pan shirt, I had from somewhere and then the bow and arrows I scored at walmart for a few dollars.  woohoo! It took him only one day to actually shot an arrow. oh my. 

Once LG, took a few minutes to think about it, he immediately knew he wanted to be Captain Rex, although I'm not even sure which Star Wars movie he is in. LG would gasp!  

 I've made Jedi costumes, but not troopers, so this was store bought. 

Buddy was hesitant.  He wanted to participate but really didn't have anything out-of-th-box in mind, i.e. Jack O' Lantern last year and nerf bullet before that.  

So he went as his favorite soccer player and it worked out just fine.  They had an absolute blast and it was a nice evening for us all. 

Sneak Peek!

Here's a sneak peek of tomorrow's costume reveal! 

M.E. Again!

My scent is back! I wore this scent for over a decade and then boom it was gone! 

Oh happy day the discontinued two years ago cucumber melon fragrance from bath n body is now available online! 

I scored a great sale and had a coupon to get M. E. half a dozen with free shipping! 

Should last M.E. a long time.  I'm not taking any chances this time.  It's nice to have such a simple part of M.E. back! Ha! 

The Man is happy, too!

Random Thoughts #12

I do not purposely neglect the blog. It just happens.  We have been really busy with lots of different things, that I can't keep track, not even to take pictures. And even though there's a thousand things on my mind, I still don't have time to write.

I loved having my family here from KY for 5 days and having my mom here an extra 5 days. Its truly wonderful and a blessing. It already seems like a month ago that they were here.

Mom being here allowed the Man and I to jaunt down to Dallas and take in a show (the National and Tame Impala, woohoo) and go on a much needed IKEA run.

I {heart} Ikea.

Hundreds of shopping carts at Ikea.  Cool pic. Thanks to the Man. 

Confession - our purchases are still in their boxes.

They are not the only things still in their boxes. My Project Life Studio Calico kit for October has been basically untouched for over two weeks.  I can't believe I've allowed all those goodies to sit in the box.

My December Daily kit also arrived nearly two weeks ago and remains untouched.

My cute and awesome DD kit.  *swoon*

Its a fabulous kit with lots of awesomeness, but I just don't have the time to devote to it, so until I do - it remains as is.

Which also leads to my project album being completely abandoned for over a month. Seriously depressing that its currently collecting dust. But I will return to it. Promise!!!

Work, School, Soccer, Scouts and 3 boys.  Fall is always like this, we have little free time on the weekends to actually do stuff.

I'm already on my third to-do list this week alone with things like: watch Buddy's science video for his energy efficiently project at school, go to the grocery, do laundry, called the allergist for LG, get Buddy a much needed haircut, prepare for scout den meeting, do laundry, get LG a soil sample for his science project, lead the scout den meeting, work late, do laundry, remember money for goblin grams at school, do laundry, turn in box tops due Friday, cook a homemade supper every night, etc.

Thanks to the Man for getting the soil sample from the compost moments before they left for school. 

I did manage brunch yesterday with a dear friend.  I want to say 'yes' more to those types of things. People are important. Duh, right? But sometimes I have to remind myself.

Speaking of reminders, I signed up for "Daily Rock".
Wow, I love them. Nearly everyday, I receive an email that has a picture of a rock and a message painted on it.  Simple messages like, "Listen to Children", "Change = Pain", "Lower the Bar", "Be You" and so on.  She also writes a little explanation and they are just little nuggets of goodness for M.E.  sign-up here http://www.37days.com/daily-rock. 

LG and I are preparing for a weekend out at the Ranch for Cub Scouts on Saturday. It should be really fun, gonna focus on him!  And trying to stay warm, low temperature is suppose to be 42. BRRR!!

The weather has been like that 40 when we go to school and 70 when we get home. I love the chilly morning, but do not like getting up when its still dark, dark outside.  I'll be happy when the time changes.

Beautiful Oklahoma Sky

I'm also planning the Halloween outfits.  LG and Buddy already have theirs pretty much lined out, but Babe's is still a vision in my head.  He choice all on his own the best character to be and bless him, he's been extremely patience about my making it. It was suppose to happen today, but I can already tell thats unlikely.

Off to do more laundry!

Weekend Soccer Tournament

Buddy's soccer team competed in the Clorox Cup Soccer Tournament in Arkansas over the weekend. 

 It was pouring rain by the time we loaded up in the truck to head out Friday night. The Man managed to capture this great pic of the boys ready for a couple hours in the truck. 

 Game 1 was Saturday morning and it was a chilly 55 degrees.  We played a local NorthWest Arkansas Lightning team. The game started slow with neither team scoring until almost half-time. 

Buddy #10 broke the scoreless tie with a rebound-shot to make it 1-0. This is the first attempt at the rebound-shot, I was too excited to actually take pictures of him scoring the goal and his celebration down the field.  

He played hard and was on the field for most of the first half and part of the second.  

We went on to win 7-1, scoring several goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.  

It was awesome. 

We headed back to the hotel, where Babe and LG played legos.  They each had earned a new lego set that we brought along to help keep them occupied.  

This pic was taken just after LG dropped his Star Wars droid cruiser and it busted on the sidewalk at the hotel.  Babe helped him reassemble it.  

Game 2 was Saturday afternoon against a Blitz team that had beaten us once already during the season. 

Again, a pretty evenly matched game with a final score of 3-2 us. Although Buddy didn’t score, he played very well in this one.  

Saturday night we got to have pizza with Zkid's family and this lovely young lady. 

D is seriously growing up before my eyes.  She's awesome and was so gracious to help with Babe and LG the entire weekend. 

Sunday morning was game 3…it was an early 8:00AM game and a cold one. Babe, LG and M.E. stayed back at the hotel while The Man and Buddy left for the fields at 6:45AM. 

Buddy didn’t play much in this game against a different local NWA Lightning team. 

However, they went on to win Game 3 with a final score of 7-1, giving us the #1 seed in the pool and advancing to the championship game for later that day. 

Presentation of the team for the Championship. That's Buddy 4th from the left and the shortest one on the team. 

The finals were against the same team we played earlier Sunday morning. Buddy didn’t start this game, but came in half-way through the first half and played the rest of the game. 

This was Buddy’s best overall game. 

He led the team (of mostly 2^nd stringers) in the 2^nd half by scoring two decisive goals (almost a 3^rd) and dominating possession.

Meanwhile, this guy played legos and LG played on my iphone. 

SHOT OF THE WEEKEND!

 I was thrilled I capture him in mid-air as he headed the ball.

He was playing hard and rough earning himself a foul on this one.   

We won the game 6-0 and were champions of the tournament. 

Buddy scored a total of three goals: the very first goal of the tournament for us and then the final two to cap the scoring in the finals. 

He received a championship metal. 

And just happened to be in the middle and held the team trophy.  

03 Boys Clorox Cup Soccer Champions 2013

Much thanks to the Man for writing most of this post!

New Wolf Scout

LG and his friends in their new Wolf Scout neckerchiefs and hats.  

Go, LG, Go!

Look Who's Here!

The family is here on their fall break and we are most excited to have them here. 

The boys skipped school on Monday, so we headed to the zoo. 

 We have only been there a few times, but I think I've managed a picture like this each time. 

I'm already envisioning a scrapbook page of each boy here to measure growth and time.  

Ha. Sman is already too big! 

Of course my favorite animal in the whole place is the common peacock that roam all over.  I love them so much and they really got up close and personally with us as we ate a snack.   

I did manage a few animal photos, but a giraffe is a giraffe. Sorry I'm just not an animal person. 

But the kiddos sure did have a great time. 

 We saved the train ride and carousel for last.  Gotta ride the train. 

LG rode a shark. Imagine that!  

Look at this handsome fellow on the train.   

Also Papaw asked if he could drive it.  The conductor said no.  

This is the only decent picture I managed of Babe, he was on the inside loop of carousel ponies and yes, he's on a horse, of course. 

And Buddy is riding the big buck. 

 I really like how each of their choices are so their personalities and that when they were the only three kids on the whole thing, they chose their animals and were no where near each other.  

I liked that independence and knowing what they like. 

Such a blessing to have the family here! 

Pumpkin Patch

Friday, Field Trip Day! 

 Babe's preschool class had a field trip to the pumpkin patch.   I love this field trip and this place, there's lots of little activities for the kiddos to do. 

Normally, when we visit its not so warm.  Today was actually hot. Ugh. Didn't really feel like fall. 

They have lots of animals, including this little hedge hog.  Babe really wanted to hold it.  

Babe liked feeding the goats.  

That is, until it licked him. 

Then he was done letting them eat out of his hand and threw the feed on the ground.  

And what would the day be without a hay ride.  Woohoo! 

Happy Field Trip Day!