Hoo's Halloween

The creative mama in me had visions of dressing up my babe in something unique - an Indian, because he loves the outdoors so much, or a pirate, based on that squinted eye look he gives us all the time.

However, the mama to Lane in me gave in and let him have an evening to pretend he was one of the guys on the field. Remember when I told you how much he loves football?

The obsession has only gotten worse - or should I say better - because we can't get enough of watching him watch football.

He's been to two Falcon's games and watches with delight. At the last game, he cheered, clapped and yelled on his favorite team to victory during the first two quarters that by half time he was asleep on my chest.

No matter where we are, if he sees football on a TV screen, he's bound to chant, "Go, go, football, go." And just in the last week, he'll pick the team he wants to win based on color. Yelling, "Go, go, red football, go."


On Sunday night, he walked out the front door dressed to play. We knew he'd love Halloween - considering he was dressed as a football player and he got to collect candy.

We've been practicing for a few weeks. Every day leading up to the big one, Lane would grab his pumpkin (or pump pump as he calls them) and then ask for a treat. I'd drop a chocolate kiss inside, he'd grab it out, ask me to "Open Mama," and then show me "Lane's candy" before popping it in his mouth.

When we headed out the door last night it was as if he knew what he was doing. He walked right up the drive with his pumpkin in hand and headed across the street to Ms. Fleming's house.

Along with papa, he rang the bell and softly told Ms. Fleming, "Trick Tweet" when she opened the door.

Then she loaded him up with loot.

He couldn't believe it.

He grabbed a piece, asked for it to be opened and then devoured it right there on our neighbor's walk.

Before his first piece of candy could hit his belly, he went right in for another.

We explained that he would have to put the candy back and head to the next house for some more.

On we went.



It seemed as if he couldn't believe that candy would actually appear when papa rang the bell but he gave it a try. And sure enough, he scored some more.

And asked to eat another piece.

We went to two more houses, scored two more handfuls, let Lane eat a sucker on the way home and then called an end to candy consumption for the evening.

Surprisingly, Lane didn't resist. After all the running around and excitement of the bell ringing every few minutes, the babe was exhausted.

And obviously craving something good for his body.

"Apple, mama," he requested before going to bed.

Then sat down and took a few bites of fruit before ending his night.

Twogether

You can't imagine how happy our babe was to see his papa late last Friday night.

I don't think there is anything in this whole world that makes those two happier than each other.

















Being outside with one another might make them each a little happier.

Boo at the Zoo

Obviously, we can't get enough of Halloween around here. We're taking advantage of the cooler weather and the season pass Papa allowed us to purchase this year - and headed to the zoo again.

We arranged for the rest of the gang to meet us there Tuesday afternoon.

While waiting on Lilly and John, Lane and Andrea did some dancing - entertaining passers-by.

And a little yoga. A good day at the zoo requires some beforehand stretching.

We've been to the zoo enough in the last few months to know what we like - and what we should just skip.

The flamingos are still a big hit with Lane - and I think he'd be content to stay right at the entrance and watch these birds bathe all day long.


In my head, Lane's telling his besties, "Hey guys, do like this. Lift up your leg and you can do the flamingo too."

Lilly and her friend Lorelei came as well. All day long, I kept thinking Lilly looked different. More grown up, maybe.

Once I got home, I realized it is the bangs. She got a haircut. I think she looks adorable with bangs.



Another big hit at the zoo are the lion statues. Lane showed all his friends how to roar and roam amongst these beasts.

We always visit the parakeet house. Lane always screams, "Freeze, birds." They never listen.

Jackie paid the buck for John to buy a seed stick and he attempted to feed the birds. No luck at first.

Then Jackie figured out the trick.

Check out the bird flying right in to John's face. That's an action shot.

Lilly opted to eat the seed herself. She either had a very healthy diaper the next day or the opposite. Her mama will have to let us know how that worked out for her.


These two, well, we can't take them any where. Seriously. They tired of the birds quickly and found another way to entertain themselves.

After the birds, we visited our other favorite areas: the panda house, the stamps at the panda house and the eatery.

Quickly, we all got tired.

We've all said it, "Here, insert baby's name, I'll ride in the stroller, and you push me."

Jackie's lucky to have such a gentleman for a son.


He honestly gave it his best shot.

Pumpkin party

Isn't life with children just more fun? I think so.

I've always loved this time of the year: cool air, delicious food, a reason to decorate around the house and special holidays.

I've found that this year is better than any other in the past because Lane is around to enjoy all the season has to offer too.

With papa gone late last week, we hosted the besties at our place and threw a pumpkin party.

Besties were welcome to enjoy some treats, play in our big yard - and of course, were encouraged to come dress in their Halloween finest.

You know little Miss Bossy came dress from head to toe in Halloween attire.

Lane sported his Great Pumpkin shirt. Or pump pump as he refers to the story.

Lilly looked lovely in her new shoes and cute skirt.

John Oscar arrived a little late. Somehow I missed his up close shot. I'm sure it is because he went right to the backyard to play with the others.

The four babes enjoyed the season's bounty of leaves, sticks and dirt - found naturally and for free right here in our own yard - and kept themselves occupied until lunch time.

We served chili - the perfect fall food.

Perfect if your babe still allows you to feed her.

Messy if your babes insist on feeding themselves - or each other. She can be bossy at times but Andrea does love her "little" cousin.

Paola and I (okay I decided Paola and I) would go all Martha for the party and bake a special spooky cake. Before you check out the photo below, check out Martha's version.

I'm not saying Martha should quit her day job or anything, but watch out girl, you might have some competition.

Seriously, this is our version of the cake. Pitiful. We laughed so hard all morning at our pitiful cake.

At one point, we sent a text to my mom, "Our version," with the photo above. Martha's version. My sweet mom said she couldn't even tell the different. That's why you gotta love your mom.

Any way, the kids didn't care what it looked like. What mattered was how scrumptious it tasted.

And it tasted good. Just ask John Oscar.

And Andrea.

And Lane.

They will tell you. Lane liked it so much, I couldn't even get a shot of him gobbling it up.


And sweet Lilly, she thought those ghosts were good enough to eat.

So she did.

After lunch and all that playing, the kids quickly showed us mamas naps were needed.

We headed out to the front steps to get a group shot. Not so easy when you've got a tired crew of four under two.




None the less, another fun day was spent with the besties. At this time of the year when life is all about celebrating the harvest and what you've got, Lane and I are happy to have them.

Back to the patch

I'm just a little more than a week behind. So, let's work our way back to week 29 of Bro Bro's pregnancy.

The boys & the bump at the pumpkin patch.


To celebrate Stephanie's last day of maternity leave, or mourn it in my case - I miss having her around during the day, we took the boys to the pumpkin patch last Tuesday.

We looked all around in search of the perfect pumpkin - little ones.

Big ones.

Oh, there he is - the perfect plump pumpkin.

The signs read, "Don't pick the cotton." Good thing Lane can't read yet. He picked a lot of cotton.

Stephanie's mom was in town to visit her boys and keep Preston for the week. So of course she came along with us.

Drew kept all of us laughing.

Lane kept picking cotton.

And because there is an unspoken rule: If Drew does it then Lane has to do it - there was this weird game of climbing in the pumpkins.

Here's the best part about the trip. At the patch, there are a few animals on display. A goat, a baby cow, a sheep, some baby pigs, some chickens and a turkey.

During our first trip to the patch, Lane found his way to the animals before any one else. When I went to check on him, he was chatting it up with a deer (baby goat) and talking about the deer's (baby goat's) horns.

Yes, my not quite two year old is fully aware that deers have antlers. Have you met his father?


Here's the funny part of my story. Each night, James and Lane go down to the basement to visit deer. Deer is the deer head that hangs in the back room of our basement. James shot Deer many, many years ago.

Lane loves him.

After visiting with Deer, James and Lane will pull out the bird calls that reside in the basement as well. I believe we have a crow and a duck and a turkey call.

While I have been reading Lane his Old Macdonald book and teaching him turkeys say gobble gobble, James has been teaching Lane a real life lesson without even knowing it.

As Lane stood in front of that turkey last Tuesday afternoon, I heard actual turkey sounds coming from each one of them. A full on turkey conversation.

It is official. I'm raising a mini James - the only two year old in Cherokee County who knows the actual sound a turkey makes.

He makes his papa proud.