Happy Halloween!

Sophie decided early in September that she wanted to be a witch, and Cade wanted to be a racecar. I got both costumes big- thinking that it's always cold on Halloween- and wanted to be ready to add layers.  To our delight, it was really nice out and both kids could be outside without heavy coats. 

 Cade had a great time trick or treating. If someone let him pick out a piece of candy, he would stand there for a good 30 seconds trying to decide which piece of candy to get. He would usually settle on a lollypop, or a yollypop in cade-speak.  He yoves yollypops.

 Sophie was all business this Halloween.  She wanted to go from store to store, or house to house- quickly and move on.  She did not like waiting for her little brother to pick the perfect lollypop.

The kids always have such fun on Main street. It is a blast to see all the costumes from kids- and adults!

 Grandma and Papa came over to hit the neighborhood.  The kids loved having them here!

Sophie's favorite part of Halloween is giving out candy to the kids who come to our door.  She takes this job very seriously and sat by the door for over 2 hours. We let her stay up late because she did such a great job. 

 The time honored tradition of sorting candy.  The kids both got a ton!

Carving Pumpkins

 Carving Pumpkins is an adventure with a 2 year old, and 5 year old who cannot use their right hand.Cade was excited to do his pumpkin- until he felt the ooey-gooey slime on the inside and then wanted nothing to do with it anymore. Sophie wanted to her pumpkin but had trouble scooping out the inside left handed. Therefore Carl and I had to do most of the pumpkin work. Yuck! Pumpkin carving is probably my least favorite Halloween activity.

Sophie was less than thrilled that I tied a bag around her arm, but I was worried that her cast would stink like pumpkin for the next 2 weeks. No one wants to sit by the stinky kid in class, so she finally wore a bag.

 Cade checking out the inside of the pumpkin from a safe distance.

Finished products.  Sophie wanted a spooky pumpkin and chose a grim reaper, and Cade wanted a monster pumpkin. Hopefully next year's pumpkin carving will be a little easier!  

Sophie's Broken Arm

 Well, I got the call from school that every parent dreads- Sophie fell off the monkey bars and broke her arm. She actually broke it in 2 places.  She has been a trooper- and has not complained once about anything.  She has had couple of casts on now- she had a soft cast for a week, then a hard cast for 3 weeks and will go in and get yet another cast this week.  I cannot wait for her cast to come off.  Sophie is so physical and full of energy that it has been really hard to come up with fun activities for her to do.  We cannot go to playgrounds,the pool or swim lessons, and soccer ended early for her. When her cast finally does come off, she has requested a cake and ice cream party, followed by a trip to the pool.  Done!

Cade has been very concerned about Sophie and her broken arm.  When she came home with her cast he immediately grabbed his doctor bag.

Dr. Cade tending to Sophie

Sophie's first hard cast-pink!  Of course.  In Sophie's world there are not too many other colors.

Cade Gymnastics

Cade started taking gymnastics classes in September.  I thought this would be a good fit for him because he is constantly doing somersaults, trying to stand on his head, and he has alarming strong upper body strength. Cade loves the classes!  The 2 year olds are supposed to do specific activities in a certain order, but Cade likes to just go at his own pace and in any order.  Basically he is the crazy boy in a class of well behaved girls. But, he has a lot of fun and is always exhausted afterwards. Just what I like!

 Running across the trampoline- they are supposed to jump in each circle.  Cade just likes to run and then crash into the mats.

 Hanging from the bars.  Cade has enough strength to pull himself up, over and around the bar.

Balance beam-not his speciality since he likes to run across. Oh well, he has fun!