The demise of a mullet

For quite a few months, Harrison was sporting a full on mullet. There was no mistaking it - business in the front and party in the back.

While my entire goal was to let his bright blonde hair grow longer (think shaggy surfer hair) a mullet was never my intent. The problem is that I never could decide when to trim the moo-lay.

Finally, it became evident that the party had to go. He did really well...I was quite surprised. (After all, this is the kid that is afraid of characters at Disneyland and literally had assaulted Woody not that many days before)

And, just because, Sawyer.

AFTER:

While I'm on the topic..

After I'd written the last post about all the things I'm thankful for any my shortcomings as a person/parent, Cam presented us with his thankful list. This was prepared in class and presented to us on Thanksgiving after we asked him what he was thankful for.

He was quite happy he didn't have to tell us - merely hand us this!

Having all of these written works of his (and I'm sure the other two will prove as amusing) are going to be such a kick someday. (Someday? They already are!) Thank goodness for projects that really stretch his brain!

I'm also sure that someday I'm going to be glad to have pictures of my kids that I'm really happy with. Otherwise, how would I remember this wonderful face to go with that list of things he's thankful for?

Very thankful

While I'm no on top of it blogger, I still wanted to talk about being thankful. It's still Thanksgiving weekend, am I right? Yes. So, it's okay to still do this...

I'm super thankful for the life that I have. It's by no means perfect, and I'm as far from it as they come. (HUGELY flawed, I am) Despite my shortcomings, I still have a life that is unbelievable. I am lucky in so very many ways...but the most amazing?

These 3 boys. I am so very lucky to get to watch them grow and get to shape them into the men they will become. (Did I just say men? They will never become men. Period. They are always going to be little boys!) I see the mistakes I'm making in these formative years...but I hope I'm doing a few things right, too.

{sawyer, 6.5/harrison, 2/campbell 8}

So, I give thanks for a full heart, happy home and a healthy family. Those are the things that are truly important. The rest is just...extra.

Whirlwind

I've been much to busy to update, so it seems. We've been keeping ourselves active with all kinds of activities these past couple weeks.

Harrison is incredibly into trains for the past couple of months. Like, that is pretty much all he thinks about and mostly all he plays with. So, the weekend of his birthday guess where we went??

{clearly harrison didn't enjoy the time he spent with sir topham hatt. at least he didn't resort to physical brutality}

If you guessed that we went to Perris, CA for A Day Out With Thomas, you'd be correct.

And, speaking of Harrison's birthday, we had a quick, impromtu party with a couple of close friends at the park. We really enjoyed ourselves and I think that this might have been the only birthday cake Harry enjoyed!

There were more aspects to Harrison's birthday and we've been to performances, field trips and honor roll ceremonies. But, for now we have soccer team parties and photo sessions to get ready for.

Antics from the birthday boy

It's been a wild morning already and it's not even 10 am! The birthday boy has been at it since before he even got out of bed!

I had only planned on putting up a heartfelt post from mommy to baby, lamenting on the last 2 years - but, well...Harrison has made me make a quick interjection!

Here's how I found him this morning.

{yes. completely naked. if you look closely you will find his pj's and diaper in the corner of his bed}

The fun didn't stop there. While I was in the shower, he got 3 cupcakes out of the pan that were on the stove. He took a couple bites out of one and set it on the footrest. He was working on number 2 when I came out. So, three boys had an early morning snack!

{i have no idea what sawyer is doing!}

I hope to be back later with more from the past two years and love for my baby. But, first we must lunch with other babies and go to Disneyland!

A halloween wrap up, in photos

Just a brief break down of our Halloween festivities because as quickly as they came, they went...and Sawyer has moved on to dreaming of the 7 days off from school this month, and Harrison has perfected his "trick. or. treat". Cam's next thoughts are of soccer and book reports.

{harrison who is not dressed for the festivities but for his regular morning of trying to go to school. he puts on his backpack and proceeds to throw a fit when I will not allow him to go in the gate}

{cam, the white ghost with no face at the halloween parade}

{sawyer, the faceless black ninja}

{carving. a gooey good time}

{completely unrelated to halloween but here's what harrison wears when he gets himself dressed. one of cam's pj tops from last year plus sawyer's socks and underpants}

{off to trick or treat. go HAWKS!}

{and now with daddy. or should i saw professor dumbledore!}

{trick or treating after dark!}

Boo!

It's quite festive around here. The boys have arrived home from their holiday parties at school and they are greedily digging through their goody bags, oohing aahing over homemade ghostie cookies, chocolate covered pretzel rods and miniature card games.

The halloween holiday is always quite festive and fun but enjoying it with little boys is even more special. The care taken to choose a costume, ponder treats given at each door and wait excitedly to carve the face of their dreams into their unsuspecting pumpkin. (Shhh...we've yet to purchase or cut into pumpkins. Too hot and too busy. But, we will!)

Last weekend we took our trip to the pumpkin patch to enjoy the thrills it has to offer. The big boys love the corn maze and ice cream treats (a MUST when it's 90* the day you go to the patch) and the baby loved the animals and the pony rides!

{quite a treat!}

{ready to conquer the corn maze!}

{always looking for a photo opportunity. harry loved the old truck but the bright sun didn't make for the best conditions!}

{mmm...feed!}

{harrison was a bit disappointed when all the food for the animals was gone so he went back for more. i'm pretty sure a stray quarter was found!}

{the obligatory cool treat!}

{LOVED the "hay hay" ride. "hay hay" is Harry speak for Horse!}

{look! sawyer enjoyed it too!}

{the whole gang, hot and happy!}

Ronald Reagan Library

So, while andy's parents were here we visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Which is really funny if you think about it -- 4 die hard liberals + Ronald Reagan? Anyway...

It was really fun. The grounds up there in Simi Valley are breathtaking and there are a lot of neat things to see, including a plane that had been used as Air Force One. There were a few things that the kids enjoyed, but mostly it's for adults. Even 4 liberal adults. :)

{a piece of the berlin wall}

{harry checking out the planed used as Air Force One}

{the plane used as Air Force One}

{the big boys playing a labryinth type game with Ma. they loved it so much they wanted to do it again later}