Boo and Boo-Boos at the Zoo

Happy Halloween everyone! I had to work today and am feeling a bit under the weather, but we celebrated last night with Grandpa and Grandma P. by going to Boo at the Zoo. The weather was perfect (we were actually a bit too warm). The place was really crowded, but we had a good time. Well, except for the fact that Ryan got a split lip. He was running around and fell face first on the concrete. He recovered quickly though, so even that wasn't too bad. Overall, it was a good night.

Batman vanquished the Polar Bear Statue.

He also attacked the mighty mushrooms by attempting to jump on them, but the mushrooms won since Batman fell on his bat kiester every time he tried.

Ryan the Ewok without his ears and hood. See, you can't even tell he had been bleeding.

Ryan and Grandma P. hanging out at the zoo.

Singing Baby

Beggar's Night

It may be two days before Halloween, but in central Ohio, it was Beggar's Night. Of course, we started the day off with the preschool Halloween parade. Wesley was really excited about the idea of wearing his costume to preschool, but was not happy with the reality of it. I did manage to coax him into his costume long enough to parade around the parking lot, but then he wanted it off right away.

Of course, being able to be at the preschool today made me privy to some interesting information. Wesley told me that a little girl we'll call "Miss P." is his girlfriend at preschool. I ran into Miss P.'s mom while waiting for the parade to start and shared this little tidbit with her. She laughed and told me that the feeling must be mutual. Apparently on picture day Miss P. came home talking about how nice she thought Wesley's outfit was and that he "looked marvelous!" Too bad Miss P. isn't the girl that gives Wesley notes and candy. Is there a preschool love triangle in the works?

We hung out with Grandma and Grandpa H. for the rest of the day until it was time for trick-or-treating.

Ryan fueled up with applesauce cake and real whipped cream before heading into the neighborhood.


Here are the guys: Kei the Power Ranger, Ryan the Ewok, Wesley as Batman and Sho the Jedi.

Ryan ran about 3/4 of the way around the block before tiring out. He couldn't have cared less about the treats. He just wanted to run. Thank goodness Uncle Kirk went trick-or-treating with us and was able to chase him around.

To the Batmobile! Quick!


I can't believe that Wesley actually wore his mask and cape while trick-or-treating. Of course, he carried his bear with him too - but he told everyone that it was Carr and that he was dressed up as a bat!


"Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!"

Ryan in toddler heaven - a chocolate bar in the hand and Dora on the television.

Ryan ended the night by sharing a watermelon sucker with Uncle Kirk. I think the little guy would have slept curled up right there if I had let him.

Hope everyone else had a great night like we did!

Puppy Love, Pizza and Pumpkins

I think Wesley may have a little girlfriend at preschool. The other day a girl named Julia gave him some candy corn. Today he brought home a picture she made for him. I think it may be puppy love.


We spent tonight doing some Halloween prep work. Cathy, Sho and Kei came over for a "make your own pizza and pumpking carving party." A good time was definitely had by all! AND I got to introduce Cathy to roasted pumpkin seeds.

Take My Brother - Please!

Wesley was sitting on the floor putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Ryan walked up to Wesley, grabbed a piece of the puzzle and took off running into the kitchen as fast as his little legs could carry him. Wesley chased after him, laughing and yelling, "Ryan Kenneth!" A little bit later, Wesley turned to me and said, "The next time Ryan takes a piece of my puzzle I want you to take him to Grandma's and leave him there all night!"

Not Me Monday

Following the lead of My Charming Kids, it's another "Not Me Monday"

I did not forget to send Wesley's bad to preschool with him one morning. Especially not when I had made certain that we filled out the parent/teacher conference form so we could get it turned in early. And if that did happen, there's no way I let it upset me enough that I felt like a slacker mom all morning. Nope. Not me.

I did not have a good giggle over the fact that Wesley and Grandma P. made a pretend shopping list and Wesley was sure to add kitty litter to it!

I know I didn't have a sudden realization that I have officially turned into my mom while I was staying in a cabin over the weekend.

I did not get a book read this weekend and then berate myself for not reading more.

I did not let the fact that Wesley got a time out at preschool go unpunished just because we were headed out of town for the weekend.

The Hills Are Alive

The W. family had a weekend getaway this weekend. We rented a cabin in the Hocking Hills from someone at our church and hibernated with Uncle Kirk and Aunt Sus. 99% of the pictures in this post were taken by Sus - I barely had my camera out all weekend.

We took off on Friday night in the dark and the rain and the fog. That made it REALLY interesting to try and find the place. Especially when you consider that none of us had been there before AND that we missed our turn off. Oh well, nothing an extra 40 minutes on winding roads and a GPS couldn't fix.

Besides, the house was worth it. It was a beautiful cabin with plenty of room for us all. Wesley immediately announced that it was his "new favorite house" and he was super excited that he was going to get to sleep there for two nights! Here's a picture of the cabin:

Now tell me that doesn't look like a piece of heaven!

Saturday was pretty cold and grey, so except for a quick trip to Laurelville for cider and apples, we stayed pretty close to the house. The boys ran around on the deck and in the side yard for awhile to burn off some energy

And he's off!

Ryan was close behind

I caught him!

Checking out the side yard

We pretty much spent the rest of the day inside.

Today was a more active day. We had to pack up everything. But first, I enjoyed my cup of coffee with the following view:

We did a little antiquing and then drove to Old Man's Cave. It was really crowded but Wesley LOVED it! I want to take him back without his little brother so he can really enjoy it.

We've spent this evening doing laundry and baths and general clean up. I'm so glad we stole away for the weekend - especially with another busy week coming up.

Let's Make a Deal - Wesley Style

C'mon, would I lie to you?

I think Wesley is developing his skills as a future litigator - or used car salesman. I don't know if it's part of being four or what, but all of a sudden he wants to negotiate everything. It's like 24 hours of Deal or No Deal.

Here's an example. Last night on the way home Wesley asked me what we were going to have for dinner. I told him we were going to have beef and noodles and green beans. His response" "Tell you what, Mom. How about you just give me stuff that I like and then I will eat it all." I explained that we were having beef and noodles and he could choose to eat it, or not eat it, but that's all there was. Needless to say, Wesley ate his green beans and refused to touch the beef and noodles.

Fast forward a couple of hours and we have a very hungry Wesley on our hands. After about the third time of him telling me how hungry he is, I offered to heat up some beef and noodles for him. "Tell you what," he said. "How about if I try one bite and if I don't like it and puke, you'll make me something else?" Hummm....interesting proposition, but I decided to counter-offer. "You eat one bite - that means chewing it up and swallowing it without puking - and if you don't like it I'll make you something else." Wesley accepted that offer. It took two tries to get a bite without puking, but he did it - then ate mac and cheese.

It wouldn't be so bad if it was just about food, but it's about everything. Wesley tries to cut a deal at bedtime, when it's time to clean up, when it's time to get dressed, when he wants computer time, you name it. We're trying to do some give and take, but there's a limit to how much I'm willing to deal with a preschooler.

In the meantime, can he interest you in a nice piece of land in Florida?

Good to the Last Drop

Pumpkin Patch Pix

We headed to our second pumpkin patch of the season yesterday. This time we were accompanied by Uncle Kirk, Aunt Susan, Aunt Cathy, Sho and Kei. Most of these pictures were taken by Aunt Susan, but I took a couple of them too.

The boys on the hayride back from the pumpkin patch.

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin

Maybe this one

Ryan and his Aunt Susan

What a pumpkin!

He's a pumpkin too!

Ryan is outstanding in his field!

Kei is missing teeth. Guess that makes him a jack-o-lantern

All smiles

Aunt Susan and Uncle Kirk

The whole W. family.

My sweet 4 year old!

All the boys - almost all looking at the camera

Mommy and Ryan in hay barn

Kei goes for a ride

Ryan found another rock

Checking it all out

Ryan in the hay tunnel

So long!