Halloween

Before Halloween (literally right before) we painted and carved a pumpkin. Brad lucked out and the boys chose an easy design.  A bat. 

They loved painting and they looked so good that Mommy displayed them on my mantle through November.  I like doing this instead of carving all of them because Thanksgiving to me has pumpkins still around.  They remind me of the first Thanksgiving, a harvest and all that thankful stuff. 

Bradley wouldn’t touch the pumpkin guts but Easton and Gavin did and Easton liked it!

Daddy had each of them take a turn at carving a part of the bat.  They all did so great!

So serious.  More and more Brad and I have been mentioning how Gavin is cut from Brad exactly.

This was just a few nights before and on Halloween night we didn't even turn our light on or have candy sitting out.  We all went to the Marchuns house and walked from there in downtown Southern Pines.  Bradley actually wound up being sick after school that day.  I think it was a 24 hour bug.  We wanted to keep him home but he cried to be missing out so we all went.  Luckily he used the bathroom once right before we started walking and that was the last of it.  He was able to enjoy Halloween.

Being silly and excited to use their candy bags.

With Carter (Darth Vader) and Wyatt the Wolverine.

 

Carter had just had his baby sister one or two days before.  The Marchuns were watching him during Halloween while Becky and Brian were in the hospital.  This is baby jaguar that one of the showers I helped with was for.  They later named her Lindon and will call her Lindy. So many names.  Let’s hope this sweet little candy corn can keep up. She even had a headband on we made at her shower.

Our Western Robber, Power Ranger and Woody.  They each chose from stuff we had at the house.  Gavin is really into making this silly face lately and putting the bunny ears on people in a picture.

 

All the kids were so excited.  Halloween really is a magical time for young kids.  As long as it is not too spooky it can be so awesome to see the joy on their faces and I loved how thankful they all were.  Especially Easton.  The kid has a knack for thankfulness that I hope he never loses with age.

After all of that we ate candy and roasted our pumpkin seeds.  We ate all of everything!

The boys started asking right away when it would be Halloween again! It was just that much fun. We will do it again next year ( wink). 

Not So Specifically Speaking

I feel like all my October posts were straight to the point about something.  Here are some very much randomness.  I even forget when they were taken so the captions may be pretty random too.  This is what happens when you get so behind on keeping track of your own life.

Granddad outdid himself.  He sent Halloween candy in a piñata for the boys.  Now that is clever! They loved “Frankie” so much that they did not want to break him and instead used him as a candy dispenser for all of their candy.

I couldn’t have made this up any better. Bradley with his lists.  He maybe gets that from me. The “Tell me what you want” he copied from the chalkboard in the kitchen.  It was my note to Brad asking what the heck do you want for dinner?

 

Gavin loves school.  He tells us his girlfriend is Lainey but she doesn’t let him play house with her. 

Holding up the Homefront group gals.  So much fun.  I can not believe I have been a part of this group for so many years now.  It has been a blessing and since this is not what “holding up the homefront” looks like, this is why we each need this group so much.  To let off some steam, have some fun and be filled up.

  

Hey Bubbas, you tired?

This is what happens when they each put their minds together to make a mess.  I mean build a castle fort! Oops.

 

Backyard movie night with friends watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  The old version which may have been why I lost them there for a bit. The new version just can not compare though.

  

A nice October day at the park “sharing” Gatorade because sharing is mandatory!

Bradley at School.

Bradley has had a few school events this October.  In the beginning of the month he had a walking field trip.  They went into downtown historical Pinehurst from school.  I love that he goes to school in such a quaint place.  They went to the Holly Inn and saw how a hotel was run, they went to the library, the bank and they were locked in the vault there and last they went to a bakery and got some cake decorating tips along with pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.  Mommy tagged along and “chaperoned” in between taking Gavin to and from school.  I do not have lots of details since I missed most of the beginning and the walking part. Here is my little man….


I also volunteered the day he did a fun lesson in science and math.  They made a hypothesis on several things. How many lines are on their pumpkin, how many inches tall is the pumpkin, will it sink or float and after they carved it, how many seeds are in the pumpkin? I actually had my hands dirty in a pumpkin most of the time so I did not get too many pictures of this either. I wish I could spend more time in his class but I am so thankful to be able to do this even a little bit. 


  
Bradley with Gavin and Will.

Oh and this cool guy wouldn’t get his hands dirty in the pumpkin guts. What’s up with that Bradley bear?!
October in school was lots of fun.  He also has had a breakthrough after his book fair the end of September.  He is now reading chapter books that I couldn’t get him into reading before.  The ones he chose are not what I would have chosen ( I didn’t even know about them) but they are up to a 4th grade reading level! I am so impressed with him.  He has kept it going too and has read through three book in a month.  He even wants to bring them to school and read them in his “off” time and takes tests on them when completed.  I enrolled him in the BookIt program and we will soon be having a mommy-son date to redeem his free pizza he earned.  So proud of this oldest ginger of ours!

Gavin’s 4th Birthday!

October 21st, Monday, Gavin turned 4.  We love this bright red headed boy of ours and are amazed at his personality daily. I can not believe he was our chunky boy second baby once upon a time…

From the looks of this picture you have gone from sweet to silly like most boys do! You are kind of crazy too but you still have all that sweetness in you and it has grown and made you into the boy you are today.  Here is a little bit of that boy you are today.

The weekend before your Birthday, Grammy came to visit for the night.  She played games with you and went to church with you and brought you your birthday present. You even got her to lay down with you and talk for hours when you were supposed to be sleeping.  This usually happens and both of you get in trouble by mommy! Notice the “night owl” I wrote, you could stay up and talk, tell stories, color and play forever.

On Monday morning you woke up to see your decorations. Mommy made you a special breakfast before school and you were so excited about your big day turning four years old!
    

I just love this picture of you looking at all your stuff and happy while Mommy makes you breakfast. This smile is such a blessing to see, everyday we are grateful for your smile!

Next we got ready for school.  We took some pictures while you were all handsome and in your birthday shirt.
 

Next we got the cake POPS and off we went.

After school, you, Easton and Mommy went to Dairy Queen for lunch and got ice cream after our hot dogs.
We also picked up a surprise that Mimi & Dunka sent you.  Some Birthday balloons and an edible arrangement.  You loved all the chocolate it was covered in!

We still did have you take a nap in the afternoon and we were going to have a special dinner of Pizza but when I asked you, you requested soy chicken and rice I think.  This is why mommy should blog right after it happens because I forget some details.  Anyways, I think that was it.  You like rice because you say it makes you stronger so you can beat up the bad guys.

Then, finally, the best part.  The candles and singing.  Happy Birthday to YOU! Cha, Cha, Cha!




Then you got to open presents from Mommy & Daddy and your brothers.  You got a new remote control car, nerf gun and race car track for the bath tub. 


You had a really great day! We don’t think we could love you anymore than we already do but I am sure you will prove us wrong.  You are so unique and just an amazing gift from God so we know more ways to love will happen.  Gavin Thomas Woodward, have a great year being 4.  Mommy and Daddy love you with all our hearts and your brothers think you are kind of cool too ;)