Monster Bash

Yes it is my favorite time of year again, Fall and Halloween!  And this weekend we kicked off the Halloween festivities.  So it all started the day after Halloween last year when I found an awesome Chewbacca costume for Mason on super clearance (paid only $4).  Now flash forward to this year when Colton decided to stick with the Star Wars theme and asked to be Darth Maul.  And then I mentioned it to my sister and her three kids also decided to go with our theme and joined in the fun as a Storm Trooper, Princess Lea and Darth Vader!  We were excited to have a theme for all the kids this year and then we heard about this Monster Bash Party that the city of Cottage Grove puts on which includes dinner, pumpkin painting, games, a DJ and a costume contest with one category being best Group Costume!  We knew we had to go so the kids could compete (when would we ever get them to want to do a theme again?).  My sisters friend decided to join us as well and her little 2 year old rounded out the group by coming as Yoda! Well Friday night was the Monster Bash Party and the kids were so excited for the contest.  And then it was judging time and guess what.. they won!!  That's right, they won best group costume.  They were so excited!  And to make it even more rewarding they were invited to be the Grand Marshalls in the Monster Bash Parade Saturday morning which they thought was awesome.  Mason and I (and my parents) decided to watch the parade and collect candy and take pictures of the Grand Marshalls instead of actually being in the parade.  After the costume contest we headed back to our house for a little bonfire, some snacks and of course some pumpkin carving (my favorite Halloween Activity)!  It was a great way to kick off our week of Halloween fun. 

 

A little boy's dream come true

This past weekend we took a trip that was a dream come true for my boys.  Mason is our little train obsessed child and always has been so my mother in law and I decided a weekend getaway that involved a train ride would be the perfect thing to do.  And where else better to go for a long weekend than Wisconsin Dells, which is something that Colton has been asking to do for a couple years because all of his friends at school talk about going there.  The boys enjoyed the train ride, Mason was so excited as we waited in the train station for our delayed train to arrive.  Once on the train it took him quite a while to settle into his seat as he couldn't stop looking out the window and telling me that we were on a train!  I do believe it was a dream come true for him.  We also made a couple trips to the snack shop on the train for breakfast/lunch which I think Colton thought was pretty cool.   Once in The Dells, we stayed at the Kalahari Resort which has everything you could ever need for a weekend vacation.  We never needed to leave the resort.  They had a huge indoor water park, an arcade, an indoor Adventure Park (rides, go carts, mini golf and more arcade games) and several restaurants and of course a candy shop.  We spent most of our time in the water park.  However we did manage to spend a few hours in the arcade and of course we ate way more than anyone should in three days.  I didn't carry my camera much this weekend as it doesn't mix well with water and it was nice to just enjoy the weekend with my family.  But we all know I couldn't go an entire weekend without taking at least a few pictures!

The sunset on our train ride home was stunning.  Beautiful ending to a fun filled weekend with my family.  Feeling blessed that is for sure.

Mommy to Be

One of my dear friends is expecting her first child in just two months and she asked me if I would want to do some maternity photos for her which of course I said yes to the opportunity.  I was so honored to help capture these memories for her.  I am beyond excited for these two to become parents, they are going to be amazing.  Also so excited to have a new baby in the group and enjoy some (lots) of newborn snuggles. Congrats Lisa and Jon, can't wait to meet your little one.

Homecoming

Last weekend was homecoming for our local high school and Colton got to walk in the Homecoming Parade with the Junior Wolfpack Football teams.  He was so excited.  Now they said parents could come with but we didn't have to walk with so I decided to trust my 8 year and let him go with his team and without me.  I dropped him at the parade line up and hoped he wouldn't get lost during the parade route to the high school.  Mason and I found our spot along the parade route and waited for Colton to come walking by.  It was pretty crazy to see my child walking in a parade without one of us with him... how did he grow up so fast?!?!  

Later that night Colton and I bundled up and headed to the Varsity Homecoming Football game with my sister and brother.  Crazy to think that 16 years ago I was sitting in those same stands as a high school senior with not a care in the world and now I was sitting there with my own Wolfpack Football player by my side.  We only made it to half time as it was getting cold and my siblings were starting to wine (Colton was fine as long as we got food every 15 minutes- seriously, what am I going to do when he is a teenager?).  It was fun to be back at my old stomping grounds and I look forward to many more Friday Night Lights as my boys grow up in the same school that I grew up in!

This School House

There are some things from my childhood that will always hold a special place in my heart.  My grandparents of course played a big role in my childhood as they lived right next door for the first 12 years of my life.  We would ride our bikes across the field road that lead from our farm to theirs and we would hang out at their house playing pool or air hockey in the basement or playing on the piano or we would spend hours working in the garden with my Grandma.  Sometimes we would get there and they would be gone (crazy, they had lives besides hanging with us) so we would sneak in the house and raid my Grandpa's cookie drawer and then head back home... he always had an endless supply of frosted ginger snaps.  On rainy days we would hang out in the house playing with toys while my Grandma watched Jeopardy, The Price is Right or Wheel of Fortune - she loved her games shows.  

Well about two months ago my dad called to say that my Grandpa was finally moving off the farm after living there for 87 years.   Since my Grandma passed away just over a year ago my Grandpa has been living out on the farm by himself but he wasn't eating or taking good care of himself so it was time for him to leave the farm and move into an assisted living center.  I was kinda sad to think that we won't be making any more trips to the farm but knew that this was the best thing for my Grandpa. Then my dad said that the kids were going to all get together and go through the house and asked if there was anything that I wanted.  I immediately knew what I just had to have, the toys.  Not all of them but one in particular, The School House.  I remember playing with this school house for hours and hours when I was little and in the past couple years my boys have also played with this school house.  None of my cousins were interested in the toys so I was able to get them without a battle which made me so happy.  I couldn't wait to get it home and get it all cleaned up.  Now this toy was something that my aunt and uncle played with when they were little (they are only 10 years older than me) and then all of my cousins and so many of the great grand kids played with too.  For the number of hands that have touched this toy it is great condition.  I got it home, cleaned it up (it was filthy, only 30 years of kids fingerprints and dirt collected on it) and I set it up on my kitchen table for my boys!  They were so excited and I just sat back an watched them play with that same school house that entertained me for so many happy afternoons, I was honored to have this toy to keep as my own and my kids and maybe someday my grand kids to play with.  This school house is full of memories for me and will be cherished forever!

The Boys of Fall

Colton is just wrapping up his first season of tackle football and it has been so much fun to watch him grow and learn so much during this season.  He entered the season knowing just the very basics about football but now he knows all the positions as well as talks about blitzing which is something I don't even understand!  He has fully enjoyed learning and playing all positions but has decided that he likes playing on the line more than anything (he likes to tackle although still has a lot to learn).  He enjoyed playing wide receiver as well however you can imagine how many passing plays are actually completed when it comes to an 8 year old quarterback to the wide receivers didn't get much action!  He did play several games as running back which was also fun to watch but I don't think he liked taking those hard hits and he isn't the fastest kid on the field so it wasn't for him.  None the less, we had an awesome season.  The boys finally won their first game last night and they were so excited, watching a team full of 8 years olds in full pads and helmets that make them look like bobble heads running to the sidelines to celebrate their win was something that will not be forgotten anytime soon. Our season wraps up this weekend with our last game on Saturday and then Sunday I get to take my little football star to the Vikings game (we have amazing seats, 3rd row in the endzone) and he will get to see his idols play the sport that he has really learned to love over the last 3 months!  

I also must say that Colton's biggest fan is his little brother!  Mason has been a trooper this season dealing with 2 hour practices in the early season and sitting through 2 hours in the cold for big brothers game late in the season.  Of course we always pack plenty of snacks which helps pass the time a little easier and when all else fails he always has mommy to snuggle with!