Christmas

I know I am crazy. I have started decorating for Christmas.. I was looking at a website called dollarstorecrafts.com and I found this great idea. Has anyone seen the VERY HIGH PRICED Pottery Barn Christmas frames? They are 29-49 a frame. What you see here are dollar store frames and a roll of 99 cent ribbon. They turned out great!

They will look good on our black table or I may actually do more and hang them in the tree.

OPRAH

I AM GOING TO OPRAH- YES IT'S TRUE- I AM ATTENDING THE NOVEMBER 20TH TAPING OF OPRAH IN CHICAGO (THANKS TO FABI'S PERSISTENCE!) I HAVE HEARD THE RUMORS- THE OUTFIT YOU WEAR DETERMINES WHERE YOU SIT. IS THIS TRUE? THE KIDS (EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHO OPRAH IS-)ARE VERY EXCITED FOR ME. THEY HAVE AGREED TO PICK OUT SOME SPECIAL CLOTHES FOR ME TO WEAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEIR CHOICES! I JUST MIGHT HAVE TO SHOW EVERYONE THEIR CHOICES!!!! MORE LATER......

TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!!

Kevin and Gabe just got back from Iowa. They were able to hang out with our friends Ben and Drew. Ben is responsible for introducing Kevin and I MANY years ago. His wife Liz and I were pregnant together with Gabe and Drew. The boys have not seen each other since they were newborns. It looks like they had a great time together and, looking at the pictures makes me miss our friends in Iowa a little more!!!!!

PARTY!!!!!!

Ben's 2 day birthday celebration has now come to a close. Why does it always feel SO GOOD when something like this is accomplished? I am not happy my baby is getting older but I like that we can check "Party for 12 boys at our house" off our list. On Ben's birthday we are able to celebrate with our friends by going to Red Robin (We LOVE that restaurant- they are so allergy aware!) It was a very nice time!

Then -last night we had 10 of Ben's friends to our house for a Bakugan Brawlers party. Kevin transformed our basement into Boy Central. Making a brawlers arena and training area. The party went perfectly. So much so, I actually addressed the thank you cards as the boys were eating pizza. Today we are enjoying our quiet and clean house. What a great birthday for our great boy!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN

Today Ben turned 8!!!! We have only started the celebration. This morning, We woke Ben up by placing the first and most wanted item from his list into his hand. We let him open all of his presents before school and celebrated with banana muffins. It was off to school where we ate lunch with our birthday boy. Then its home from school, cake, play with presents and off to dinner. What a day. It sure is hard being 8!!!!

Pumpkin Patch/Carving Pumpkins

Thursday night we went to the "Pumpkin Patch" We played in the fort and picked out the best pumpkins. Our neighbors joined us to carve the pumpkins. Everyone had a great time. I actually cooked pumpkin seeds for the first time in a long time. I forgot how good they taste coming out of the oven. Tonight is trick or treating!!!!!!!

Learning From Each Other

Gabe decided Ben needed a lesson in how to spot an M-n-M's in case he were to ever encounter them. He was so cute. He said Ben I can have these YOU can not.
I absolutely LOVE the fact that Ben can read to his brother. He is going to start reading to Gabe more regularly before bedtime. Notice the book he is reading to him.. Richard Scarry. Although his books are funny, to a parent they are really annoying to read and follow. We are sooo proud of Ben. He truly loves helping Gabe and loves being his BIG brother.