Thanksgiving with No Turkey

We flew off to Florida as the first flakes 0f snow were falling in Minnesota and spent the week. And it was just us, no grandparents or aunts to help. It was tiring. Thankfully we had great weather and fully enjoyed the pool and ocean. I do believe Fred and I got the award for wettest parents. We were always in the pool with the boys, no sunbathing on the sides or sitting at the tiki bar while they floated in swimmies like some other kids. Though we do look foreward to vacations with a little more sitting and watching than this vacation allowed.

Wyatt's first sight of the ocean did not invoke fear as it had for the other two. He just wanted, and tried, to crawl right in. We learned to dress him in swim trunks anytime we went near the beach because he was sure to get in the water. Fred laughed at Wyatt as he would sit at the edge of the water, then it would recede and he'd go sit at the new edge, and continue this until the water came back in and he got splashed in the face with a big wave. Never did it deter him from the ocean.

Our Thanksgiving lunch was leftovers accumulated during the week and then our supper was pizza. No turkey, no sweet potatoes, and no pie. We did have a Pepperidge Farm cake for dessert that was quite delicious and we had enough ice cream from the nearby shop during the week that our sweet tooths did not go unsatisfied.

The swimming and playing left everyone very tired in the evenings and the big boys slept well at the hotel, but Wyatt is not our best sleeper and it was tough. There were a few mornings where I was ready to go home because I was just so tired. But other than that issue, and one cockroach in the bathroom, our trip was good. Even the flights with 3 hour layovers in Altlanta went pretty smoothly.

Gavin and Jacob in a rare moment of not wrestling, actually water has that effect.
Wyatt going right for the water.
We had a park a block down from the hotel and got a little silly on the climbing pole.
Gavin.
Jacob.
Fred, aka the Rock.
Wyatt swinging.
Self-timer family photo.
Wyatt enjoying the pool with Fred.
Jacob and one of his many new friends in the pool.
Fred and Jacob enojying "busting" the waves.
Just so you know it was a true "family" vacation, tears were not off-limits.
Gavin learned he liked to enjoy the ocean on someone's hip.
Wyatt going for the ocean, again.
Jacob in a hole with his friend, Davy. Davy's dad spent a couple hours digging this out.
Gavin testing the hole.

Walking!

A final note in this series of posts, Wyatt is walking. He's going farther and farther each day. It started Saturday and he's getting more stable each day. At first he'd only walk to me, but now he'll walk in between places and to other people. I'll try to get photos. The video I took is sideways...

Halloween 2011

Halloween is over, but the candy remains...

Three Superheros before Halloween.

We started Halloween weekend off with an outting to the Community Center's Halloween event. The boys enjoyed the haunted house, dance party, cookie decorating, craft, and games. They even met Kung-Fu Panda.

Wyatt enjoying some cookie.

Gavin (Iron Man) and Jacob (Hulk) with a trim Kung-Fu Panda.

Talking a break from the dance party for a picture.

On Sunday night we had Holyween at our church where the boys get to "Trunk or Treat" from car to car in the parking lot. Fred did a great job on the "trunk" this year and made it look like a man had fallen into the leaves and was buried. We got costumes from Alyssa and Joe and went as Popeye and Olive Oil. Gavin was disturbed by my black eyebrows and requested that I was my face as soon as we got home.

Fred utilized the outlet in the van to add some lights to his buried in the leaves scene.

Family picture at Holyween.

Finally, on Monday night Fred took the boys out trick-or-treating. Wyatt stayed home with me to hand out candy, but most of the kids came after my boys were home and they enjoyed handing out candy almost as much as getting it. After handing out candy to one little boy Gavin said to him "now you say thank you."

Ready to go.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Each year Fred and Jacob work together to clean-out and carve our pumpkins into Jack-o-lanterns. Gavin still hasn't quite gotten into the fun, he'd rather be playing Mario Bros with mom. We each draw a face on a pumpkin and Fred carves it. It's always fun to see our creations lit up.

Fred and Jacob working on the pumpkins.

Jacob with his finished product.

Gavin with his silly face. He did draw more on the pumpkin, but it was hard to tell what was "face".

Ta-da!

Sever's Corn Maze

MEA weekend Alyssa and the kids came down for Friday night. We went to the community center, where Gavin made a lifegaurd jump in to rescue him. I don't think he was really in trouble, but the three year old swimming across the deep-end with the mother across the pool with a baby on her hip, must have been enough for the life guard. Gavin was limited to the Caterpillar pool after that event.

Then on Saturday we went to Sever's Corn Maze.

Gavin, Jacob, Isaac, Maddie and Wyatt.

Gavin and Jacob in the petting zoo.

Jacob and Gavin running across the hay bail maze.

Gavin, Isaac, Maddie, Wyatt, and Jacob in the corn pit.

Jacob and Maddie on the inflatable pillow.

Before entering the maze.

Basketball and a Belated Birthday Bash

Jacob had his first basketball game on Saturday. His coach is a rookie and his dad. The purple team was ahead in the beginning thanks to some great assists by Jacob, but in the end they fell short. Jacob had a great time and that's the important part. He's getting in some extra shooting practice this week and maybe next game he'll be a little braver and put up a shot or two and maybe even score.

Fred coaching Jacob.

Jacob with a pass, we'll have to work on the bounce pass too.

On Sunday we finally celebrated Wyatt's 1st birthday with our families. His theme for his presents was balls, we have lots of ball popping toys now. They play music too, so he's spent a lot of time chasing balls and bouncing to music this week.

Wyatt with mom and dad and his cupcake tower.

He enjoyed his cupcake.

Grandma and Grandpa Jeske with the messy birthday boy.

The "Farmers" with Wyatt. Gentry, Jesse, Jordan and Joel.

Wyatt with Grandma and Grandpa Middendorf.

Isaac, Alyssa, and Maddie with Wyatt.

Adrea and Wyatt.

Megan, Makenna, Logan, Riley and Corey with Wyatt.

We took family photos last week and got them back today. I was pretty impressed with us. Cute ones of Wyatt too for his 1 year shots.

Pumpkin Picking with my Pumpkins

We have a fall tradition of going to Peter's Pumpkins in Shakopee each year with our friends the Silvestains. We missed last year due to a baby and crappy weather, but we are back on track now. We have never been out in the pumpkin field in shorts before, but we enjoyed it very much. Each boy got to get a pumpkin, but just one - pumpkins are not cheap from Peter:)

I attempted a photo with my boys. Better than last time (see Week in Oz post).

Jacob and Gavin with friends Kyle and Avery.

Pumpkins on Pumpkins.

Kyle and Jacob.

Jacob, Wyatt and Gavin.

I have been inspired by fall and the canvases I did for my friend Kim, so I attempted some art for our living room. The trees "leaves" are handprints of Jacob and Gavin.