Beach pictures

We stayed at Lei Lani condos for the 2nd year in a row (less populated, directly on the beach with a very short walk, indoor pool, quiet) and had a wonderful time! The boys and I had the beach to ourselves! I took a picture in each direction this morning before we left and literally, there are no people either way. Heaven!!

The boys loved waking up and watching the ocean from our balcony. I loved cracking open the balcony door and just listening to the waves. I miss that sound :( The beach was a giant sandbox and the kids just loved playing in it. Aunt Debbie gave Theo tons of beach toys to dig, make sandcastles and collect sea shells. They were used a ton since the water was a wee bit cold :)

Things we did in Orange Beach

In no particular order: Go to Waffle House for an eaaarly morning breakfast in the freezing cold, get glitter hair spray, water color and draw, learn to play Solitaire and checkers, collect millions of starfish pieces and try and put them back together, eat ice cream at lunch, take a bath in the dark with glow sticks and hot chocolate with marshmallows, getting a mood ring at the Shark souvenier shop, having a Silly String spray-out in the parking lot, digging a giant hole and "living in it", making friends from Alabama and digging even bigger holes to "live in", watch new DVDs, play in the sugar white sands of Orange Beach with virtually no other people around for miles, hunt for sea shells, watching The Hunt for Bigfoot with Gigi, try and fail to take a self-portrait, and play play play!!!

PPK Halloween

Theo's teacher sent me two pictures from the PPK Halloween craft on Friday. The kids decorated treat bags with various monster body parts and feasted on cookies. I swear this class is too cute for words!!

Crazy Friday

The boys got to wear Saints shirts to school today for a $1 donation to a charitable foundation. Since they are off school on Monday for Halloween, they also got to wear Halloween socks! Talk about spicing things up :)

Finished products

I put the boys' treat bags together today and here they are, all ready to go! I had made the Tootsie Roll pop ghosts and spiders a few weeks ago and wasn't sure where they could come in. I tied up Theo's bags first and and loved the way they looked in front of the bags! I did the same thing with Jack's class treats, only his are all ghosts. The spiders take FOREVER and aren't really that great looking. I don't have the magic touch :)

Treat bag sweets

It's that time of year and I have 35 treat bags to make for the boys' classmates. I made these Nutter Butter ghosts for Theo's class since there is no peanut allergy and I dipped pretzel rods into candy melts and sprinkled them for a little pizzazz. Dipping the pretzels is a drag so I improvised with my handy-dandy popsicle holders. It's hollow in the middle and was perfect for dipping!

People we saw in Houston

Our trip to Houston for the wedding was a whirlwind. Most of our trips are since we try to see as many relatives and friends as possible, but this one might take the cake! Outside of all of the wedding events, we squeezed in time with Grandvonnie (who made cookies with the boys and let them play her piano), Mama (to celebrate her 86th birthday in Hempstead- 1/2 way between Houston and College Station), Aunt Jen, Uncle Brian and cousins, Corinne and Parker (the cousins all have matching pjs for Halloween. Aren't they CUTE?? The kids of course!). Papa and Cousin Ryan took the boys out for Put Put Golf and hamburgers and they had a great time. The boys loved being at Mimi and Papa's house and seeing everyone :)

Melanie and Rodrigo's wedding

Cousin Melanie married Rodrigo tonight in a beautiful ceremony in Houston. The boys were both ring bearers in the wedding and wore their first ever tuxedos. We made the drive over to Houston after school on Wednesday for the wedding festivities that began on Thursday. Dave worked a trade show over in rural Georgia this past week and couldn't join us since it was a Friday wedding. Luckily Mimi and Papa were able to help wrangle the boys with me! Jack tore it up on the dance floor and reveled in being the center of attention at various points. Theo was a bit of a handful generally because he was tired so Starburst and the PSP helped get us through the reception :) Everything was just beautiful and we were so honored to have the boys be part of Melanie and Rodrigo's special day. We wish you all the best!!!

Smart cookies

The boys got report cards on Friday. Jack is doing awesome in 1st grade and still just LOVES his teacher, friends and school. We couldn't be more pleased and are so thankful for God's hand in leading us to this school. He's taken to reading comic books on Dave's iPad and currently loves The Smurf's. Brings back old memories for Dave and me :)

I had a brief conference with Theo's teacher tonight and had to snap this picture of the class pumpkins. Look how well the kids are writing their names!! I really thought the teacher wrote a few of them, but NOPE! Theo is doing great and in a reading group of 5 kids. It just warms my heart to no end how much he's learning and developing. We are truly blessed to have 2 wonderful teachers caring and nurturing our boys this year.

Halloween countdown

Theo got in on the crafting this weekend too! He painted a frame and decorated it with stickers. I wrote "Boo" with some glow in the dark puff paint :) Notice his cat ears? He's going to be a cat for Halloween and loves to stay in character.

The boys got to do a scavenger hunt around the house as part of the countdown surprises yesterday. I set clues out and they read them and followed them until they found their surprise- New Halloween books! One is even a scratch and sniff :) Pretty exciting!!!