Pumpkins and Football games

We had a tough week around here.  We received some terrible news on Monday and so we decided to let the children carve pumpkins to cheer them up. 

Here's our pumpkin carving song-


Pumpkins are Julia's, Tucker,'s, Marc's and Charlie's.  Everyone designed their own. 

As we were finishing our pumpkins somebody knocked on our door and ran away leaving these awesome light-up goody buckets.  They were full of toys and candy- what a fun surprise!

We discovered that we had been "booed" and that we needed to boo other people.  We did it and it was great fun!

A couple nights later we took treats to other houses-

At gymnastics on Wednesday the boys received their first ribbons for completing the circuit of events. 

On Sunday afternoon our homeschool group had their All Saints party.  Everyone dresses up like saints.  We were going as Jonah and the whale, but Jonah started crying and saying he wouldn't do it. 

So we went in plain clothes and still had a wonderful time. 

Marc, Marky and Tucker missed the party because they were in Atlanta for the Falcons/Packers game!  It was the boys' first NFL game.  One of Marc's clients set it up so that they could go out on the field before the game and then sit in the skybox!   What a treat!!!!!  Marc's college roommate, Marky's Godfather and friend came along too.   They gave everyone free t-shirts. 

Tucker made a sign for the game- "Go Atlanta Falcons!"

Drumline contest at half time-

The Falcons won the game at the last second by one point.  Apparently the stadium was going wild- such a wonderful night for my big boys!

This and that- piano recital

 The Latin teacher arrived on Monday and said, "do you know your yard is full of stuffed animals?"  I called for Charlie who quickly explained that his "sheep are gwazing....but don't worry I put the sheep dog out to watch them."

 The Halloween costumes have been arriving from amazon.  Sissy is going to be an orca whale this year- Sea World left a big impression on her!  At least she's not a horse again.  :)

Oh, and Tuck is the Green Lantern.  I think it has a lot to do with his favorite color being green.  :)

Zaza sent all the children hilarious Halloween cards and $5.  They were excited!

Driving to choir practice Tucker said, "Mommy- look out the window to your left!!!"  I said, "what is it?"  He said, "See the sun?!  That is God's love shining down on us!!!!"

This is a rocket with attached space telescope (similar to the Hubble). 

It's controlled from Houston- that's an antennae on top and the front tooth pick/string is the doorbell.  :)

After making Marc's sword everyone wants to get more into wood working.  Daddy said we should start by carving soap and that's what everyone has been doing.  Soap and potato peelers- a canoe-

Charlie started off making "pants", but it turned into a lovely butterfly-

Tucker begged me to have the tin loaf pan.  I said, "what do you need it for?" and he said, "of course- a train station!"  Then he made tracks, a train and a paper-towel-roll lighthouse to go with it.  :)

Today they had a little Halloween piano recital.  They all played several songs and then had a mystery song that you had to guess by the costume and sound of the song.  She had the room so dark we could barely take pictures.  Tucker was adorable- he smiled so big between each song.  He played, "Old McDonald" and "Hot Cross Buns."  :)

His mystery song was "Shepherd's flute" and he was a precious shepherd.  :)  I realized how bad the pictures were so I gave up taking pictures after him.  Julia and Marc both did well.  Julia's mystery song was "Painting with Pastels," and Marc's was "Pirate's Tarentella."

This and that

So many pictures from the past week.  Let's see...

The little guys use backpacks for art and other classes and they are so proud of their new backpacks that reflect their interests.  Charlie- superheroes, Tucker- space.  :)

Tucker and Julia both take science classes at the zoo once month so we end up going to the zoo twice a month.  We've had such a great time enjoying the beautiful weather. 

On Thursday morning we went to see a play at the Children's Theater called "African Tales".  It was basically the story of Rumpelstiltskin told in Swahili with a lot of drums and an African folk tail about a sneaky rabbit. 

On Friday we went on a really fun field trip to a working farm.  They mainly have goats and make goat cheese and facial products for their spa.  It was fascinating. 

 We learned all about natural gardening and about how to plant using bulbs. 

Digging up a ginger plant-

She also gave each of the children live, helpful insect larvae to put in the planters in order to rid the plants of the bad insects. 

We learned all about goats-

And we got to compare turkey, duck, chicken and goose eggs.  We even cracked them and looked at the yolks. 

Then we fed the chickens-

Lastly we learned how to make cheese and tasted some delicious goat cheese and preserves. 

We had a picnic on an extra long table that accommodated the 80 people with us!

On the way home we ran by Dairy Queen for a treat with friends.  They are playing train with the chairs. 

Driving home from the farm we passed field after field of cotton.  Tucker said, "Gee- that is just so beautiful!  When I get home I am going to make origami corn from three sheets of construction paper."  We hadn't walked in the door five minutes before he walked over with this-

Oh and he made a little birdhouse home for his bear Lovey Brown.  Charlie made one for Sheepy out of a box. 

This weekend Marky went on a two-night campout with Fraternus.  Big Marc was out of town for a work function so I just had the three amigos for Friday night.  These guys play SO WELL together.  Here they are playing "Spot It" and laughing. 

 In the morning after breakfast I found them playing happily in the sandbox. 

When Daddy got home Saturday afternoon he took the boys hiking.  Our creek behind the house is completely dried up. 

I will say it was weird having Marky at a campout without his Daddy.   I so wondered what they were doing and how it was going.  Apparently they had over 60 men and boys and had a ball.  Here's the only picture I was sent-

I know he was happy to take his hammock and to finally use his "camping" pack he got for Christmas.  He packed everything all by himself and had it all labeled- Mr. Responsible!

A few pics of Julia after church- we had Little Flowers so by the time she and I got home the boys were out of their church clothes.

Tucker, Charlie and Lovey Brown enjoyed climbing the fig tree all afternoon. 

At one point Charlie came in and said, "Daddy, Tucker needs yellow paper, tape, scissors and a sharpie."  We found out he was making a bee hive for Lovey Brown. 

Tonight Julia wanted to read Charlie his bedtime story.  She is such a sweet little Momma.

And that's all folks!