McKenna Turns 5!

These definitely aren't the best pictures but they'll have to do. I forgot to change out my lens before going to the party.

On to the good stuff. McKenna came back to AR to visit and have her birthday party. It was at her favorite, and now Ross' favorite, US Pizza! Here the kids are all lined up for the pinata.

It was an Airplanes movie pinata. Uncle Steve was even there and assisted in the game. Official pinata pole holder.

After everyone got several turns it finally busted and they gathered below to get the candy. Aves got in the action too.

All the kids posed for a picture but I obviously was in the back row and didn't get a good one. It cracked me up b/c Avery squeezed her little backside in there right along with the big kids - while eating her sucker she scooped up from the pinata candy.

Singing "Happy Birthday".

The best part! Avery got a cupcake all to herself with no help.

The aftermath was hilarious.

She did eventually let me help her by holding the cupcake while she took some bites.

Fun times!

Annual Leaf Playing

Ross has declared the first day of getting a big leaf pile raked up "the best holiday ever!".

Action shot!

He has loved playing in the leaves from the very beginning when he was just a baby.

Aves - not so much. She wasn't a fan last year but this year she's decided she loves them.

She even helped a little.

So happy!

I love her pig tails.

Attack Daddy!

At one Ross decided he wanted to rake again so he traded a shovel for the rake. She didn't seem to mind too much.

Sweet girl.

This was the last look I got from him because I said it was time to go inside.

It was a fun day and I'm fairly certain Avery is ready to do it again. When we got home yesterday she saw a pile of leaves on the drive-way that had been blown up by the wind. She took off running and jumped in them.

Halloween

Ross wanted to be Jesus this year. I love his heart and makes me think with all the little things we don't do correctly that we are doing right in the most important thing. We definitely should have added a thorn crown to the costume or a wooden staff b/c most people thought he was Obi Wan Kenobi (which I had to Google to see who that was).

It didn't help matters that Josh was someone from Star Wars too - maybe a Jedi? Obviously I'm not into Star Wars so no clue.

A break was taken in the middle of playing for some delicious S'mores.

Back to playing and Emma made it to be king of the mountain.

Aves didn't dress up this year. I decided long ago that they could start dressing up at the point when they could actually tell me what they wanted to be. Instead, I made Avery this coat. :)

She was a fan of Josh's laser.

I finally get a photo with a kid and I don't have any make-up on. Lovely. Still I need proof from time to time that I'm actually there so I thought I'd post it anyway.

They always have some great games set up. This was a duck shooting game. You got 3 times and if you hit one you got a bigger prize. Ross actually hit the last chance - all by himself!

I got the kids cute bags with their names on them b/c I figured they'd last all their years of trick-or-treating but after seeing Avery's love for this jack-o-lantern one I failed. She wanted to take it with her.

Another game with a balloon race. Josh and Ross competed. Whoever blew it up the fastest to pop won. It was HARD! Eventually Mrs. Laura and I had to help out. She won. Boo!

Basketball!

Finally rallied the troops for a picture are we were leaving. This was as good as it gets.

It was at least better than last year...

Pumpkin Patch 2013

Well this was Ross' final pumpkin patch field trip with Grace. As we are wrapping up the last of each field trip and I blog about it I must admit it makes me sad. His friends have become such a part of our life that I can't imagine not seeing them every day.

The senior class posing, along with their good friend Emily. The photo op was in a terrible location for sun hitting them obviously.

So when we got there they made the parents go on one side of the fence and had the kids stay on the other. They didn't want the kids to stand on the fence though. It was a bit of a disaster. Seriously Pierce is the best picture poser ever.

Waiting on the pig races to start.

The petting zoo is always a hit.

Next up was the hayride.

The boys sure get along well. Every ready Pierce smiling and posing.

Pierce is really tall.

Great smile there Ross.

Fun on the cow train. A bit of a tight squeeze for the two boys.

So sweet.

I tried to get all the Seniors to pose but obviously that didn't work. For once though Ross cooperated.