Halloween Galore

It seems like Halloween went on for a long time at our house. I guess it did since we started celebrating before Ben left. I had a pumpkin party for Rhone and his friends (plus their moms are my friends). We painted pumpkins, went on a pumpkin hunt, made treat bags, played a pumpkin/ghost game, went trick or treating, and ate snacks. It was a marathon with 5 little boys. Hopefully they had fun.

Some of the boys and Tami laughing. Rhone had been saying "cupcake!" all day waiting for the party to start.
Rhone and Damon painting pumpkins.

This was the little boys favorite game. They had to make the ball land in the bucket. I made a jack o'lantern face on a orange ping pong ball and put ghosts on the white ones.

It was a feat to get this picture. At least you can see everyone's face.

Our church had a little Halloween party on Friday night. There was lots of food, trunk or treating, and an authentic Amish hay ride (I even took a picture of the Amish boys in case you are doubting me).

Rhone the train engineer (he absolutely refused to wear his monkey costume) and his friend Travis who was the cutest Nemo I have ever seen.

Just pretend Rhones eyes are open. It was a fun hay ride behind the 2 huge horses.

We didn't hit too many trunks, but Rhone was really impressed with the flying bat at this one.

Rhone and Travis could have sat in there all night just enjoying their candy together.

On Saturday night the base held trick or treating and they had a little festival too. Rhone and his friend Tyson hit a few doors then we headed down to the festival. There was a bounce house, orange cotton candy, a hay ride behind a tractor, and even a horse ride- all for free. It was a hit!

I am a cowgirl- pretty easy costume huh. We are accompanied by Bart and Marge. Tami looks great, don't ya think? Just pretend our eyes are open again.

At their very first door.

Playing while the adults hand out candy.

Rhone and me

Hay ride on base.

Horse ride on base.

On Halloween day Rhone and I made sugar cookies. We decorated them in front of the web cam while talking to Ben. There were sprinkles were everywhere, including in the keyboard. My friend Amy invited us over for dinner. She made pumpkin bread bowls that were so adorable. I gave the boys one last "treat"- a glowing swords. The amazing part was that no one really got hurt.

Rhone and Tommy with their pumpkin bread.

The boys fighting I mean playing with their swords.

Doesn't he look really fierce with that sword. I have no idea where he came up with this, but it was funny.



Decorating our cookies. We made pumpkins, planes, and trains (he was an engineer).

We saved our "great pumpkin" cookie in the freezer for Ben. Maybe one year he and Rhone will get to be together for Halloween festivities, in the mean time, we are extremely grateful for good friends to celebrate with!

around here

We try to stay busy around here when Ben is gone. Nothing too exciting, just everyday things that keep us going. One of my favorite things was playing in the puddles with Rhone. We had a big rain storm and tons of puddle. Rhone and I wandered out early in the morning with boots on. Of course, by the end Rhone was laying in the puddles, so it didn't matter that he was wearing boots. It was an hour of watching delight on Rhone's face as we splashed, kicked, jumped, and threw mud. Moments like that make me absolutely love being a mom and grateful that I get to stay with Rhone during the day and share these experiences with him.

Rhone helping make his great-great grandma's home made noodles. It was messy, but so much fun to carry on the family tradition. I loved going to Grandma Pete's house for noodles. She had special bowls that we only ate the chicken noodle soup out of.

Making puffy paint ghosts.

Facinated with the goo on his hands.

Rhone checking out his new boots. I didn't take my camera down to the big puddle. It was too wet, so I missed out on the best pictures.

Rinsing off after the wet muddy mess. He was still having so much fun.

While I was mowing the lawn Rhone found a pile of dirt on the sidewalk and proceeded to make "dust angels". This picture really doesn't do the dirty factor justice.

Still more Halloween coming.

Pumpkin pictures

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I posted. We had an amazing trip to Idaho. Ben left on a mission shortly after we got back. So in an attempt to catch up, I'm going to skip Idaho pictures for now and come back to them later. This way Ben can see what Rhone and I are up to without him.

We only had 1 day where we could pick our pumpkins with Ben. So we trudged the mud and rain to pick our "pump". We had warm chili and apple cider donuts afterward. It was the perfect fall evening.

Deciding if the pump is gonna make the cut.

Rhone was really more interested in finding rocks than pumpkins. He has the funniest personality.

We got together with some friends to carve our pumpkins the night before Ben left. It was so much fun having 2 little boys in the mix.

Rhone and Travis gutting a pumpkin.

My boys hard at work.

Rhone snuck into the kitchen and started carving our pumpkin with cream cheese frosting cake. It was tasty even with a few spoon gashes.

I love seeing them together, it means so much more when Ben is gone.

All lit up. Rhone's favorite thing is blowing out the candles before bed. He always says, "more hot, mum."

Rhone got to paint the pumpkin that we didn't carve. He is really into googly eyes lately.

Many more Halloween festivities coming soon!

Philly zoo

Last weekend we headed to the Philly zoo where we met up with Cole. It was nice to just to wander around and catch up with family. I kept commenting on how nice it was to be at a zoo with so much shade. I remember being so hot at Hogle Zoo when I was little. Plus Rhone really liked some of the animals. We didn't get to see any elephants or the girafes, but there were tons of primates, which Rhone liked.

Ben and Rhone looking at the lion (he's between them).

The lion. I love hearing Rhone roar. It's the cutest little roar I've ever heard.

Cole and Rhone checking out some little monkeys.

Mom and baby orangutan

Rhone and his friend playing in the toy box while their Dad's watch football. Apparently fantasy football is not to be taken lightly by men.

I tried play doh with Rhone months ago, but he was still into eating it then. I just pulled it back out and he had a great time cutting and smashing. He can usually identify the colors blooo and pik. Pink came first and I think that's funny (Ben thinks it's less funny).

a hint of fall

We have had a few days that were a little cooler and started feeling like fall. Unfortunately today is not one of those days- it's supposed to be 95*! We have done a few fun things here and there in the last little bit. Ben and I went on a date with some friends to the Melting Pot. It was nice to have a relaxing meal filled with good conversation. The best part was definitely the dessert, it was so YUMMY.

We also had a little mushroom scare with Rhone. I was pretty positive he didn't actually eat the mushroom, he just had brown spores ALL over him. I knew that there was no way poison control would be able to ID the mushroom over the phone so after some frantic research I decided not to take Rhone to the ER. I did not want them to induce vomiting, if there was not need. So after waiting it out an hour and a simple questioning call to poison control, we decided Rhone was fine and no other measures were needed. There is never a dull moment with that little monster around.

Rhone has made a few fall projects. I just got a new book called First Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos. So we are trying to approach some projects a little differently now, which is also making them messier. It's worth it to watch Rhone's mind at work as he discovers what he likes and doesn't like. We have been able to take the kayak out on our first river experience. We decided not to do a shuttle so we had to paddle against the current to get back to the truck, but was do able thanks to the rudder and we had a good time. We also had some friends over to roast marshmallows and make s'mores.

This activity is called apple stamping. Rhone also did some eating too. Most of my ideas come from no time for flash cards. Check her out on my side bar if you are interested.

Damon showing off his completed apple wreath.

Getting ready for the caramel apples. Apparently anything on a stick is better. Rhone ate 1 apple while waiting for me to make the caramel.

Ben dipping the apples while Rhone adds sprinkles and chocolate chips.

Turns out that he likes apples with caramel on a stick too.

Painting leaves. I had never thought about painting on construction paper. It makes the leaves look more leafy.

"Falling Leaves"

Ben and Rhone on the water.

We saw these cool crabs with 1 huge yellow claw.

I felt Rhone hit the back of my seat. When I turned around he was slumped forward asleep. We laid him back for a cat nap while we paddle back to the truck.

Roasting marhmellows. It was perfect weather that night.

Tami showing off her pefectly cooked marshmallow.

Rhone's favorite thing this day was glitter glue. He worked on this project for almost an hour and I am still finding glitter.