One Big Banana and a Pumpkin

I didn't think of this photo until I finished blogging last night but it's certainly worth the wait!


Today was the Halloween party at Ryan's preschool. I guess I just had Halloween on my mind yesterday in anticipation. After I put Ryan to bed last night, Harvey and I were talking in the living room and it occured to me that Ryan had asked me if it was Halloween tomorrow (today). I said, "Yes!" He joyfully started talking about going door to door and getting candy. So how many hours later...it occurs to me that it wasn't going to be Halloween when he got up! Uggh! I think this is going to actually become my family/journey into senility blog.

Erik loved going to school.



He ate.

He played some more.

All the photos of Ryan were with friends and since I don't have permission to put the other kids up...you get Erik's point of view!

The Pumpkin

(chosen by Ryan at the pumpkin patch)

The carving

The cleaning

More carving

All done!

The pumpkin seeds are in the oven. We'll find out tomorrow if they are any good!

Tomorrow is the big day...what will Ryan and Erik be?

So this is how we started the day: Erik's head spinning!

Tomorrow is the Halloween party at preschool. Ryan's teacher let me know that they are decorating cookies. Since Ryan can't eat them, we made brownies tonight.

Ryan wanted me to put a picture of his lip on the blog.

I keep wondering what Ryan is going to think when he finally eats a real brownie and real ice cream. I hope we haven't totally ruined his taste buds!

Trust me, it looks better than it tastes!

Here's Ryan's first masterpiece!

So Harvey asked me if I needed anything from Costco. Well, I got my laundry detergent and a bonus of 300 pieces of candy! Seeing as we had a grand total of 3 children ring our doorbell last year...If we continue with this low turnout, that is 100 pieces for each kid. So next year those same 3 kids will be forbidden at our house and every other kid in the neighborhood will be here! There aren't actually 300 pieces left. I have almost emptied the Snickers out of the first bag and I'm sure Harvey has outdone me in M&Ms.

Of Halloweens Past:

So cute!

(But it was clear rather quickly that he wasn't going for the bunting concept and back to the store it went).

So he was a chicken, which totally worked because Grandma's house has real chickens and a chicken coop!

And a duck...

that waddled down our street

(which I had forgotten how beautiful it was).

Then a frog!

And finally, a monkey!

(He looks scared because he was! Scary Spongebob was walking around). The funny thing is that a few weeks ago when I mentioned Halloween he asked if Spongebob was going to be there. What a memory. Oh, I just remembered Daddy's costume from last year. Oh, I will find it!!

Wagoneers!

We headed out in the wagon today to collect some fall items for our wreaths. Watch out, I mean get ready...one may be headed for your door soon!

Erik isn't a great stroller guy, but seemed to enjoy the stroller...well, until a little later when he decided to stand up and get out while Ryan was pulling.

What a great big brother!

(Now imagine that same series of events again and again!).

So I pulled out the laundry from the dryer and the whole load is covered with these green stains? What is it? There is no more evidence in the washer or dryer. Is it crayon, paint? Uggh!

Got Mowers!

While Ryan was at school, Erik and I had some fun 'mowing' time. Ryan is loving preschool and I am really enjoying this one on one time with Erik. Watching him with the lawnmower brought back so many memories of Ryan at this age. Ryan got his first mower on his first birthday from his Auntie Tessie. It has been the most used toy. We took a walk around the neighborhood with that mower every day for over a year. Some day I'll put all the mower pictures together in some kind of collage. I'll probably do the same with his helmet!

This is Ryan at the same age as Erik.

Man, he was cute!

For those of you who knew us then...remember his hair?! It was so fabulous! If you click on the picture you can see it a little better (Oh, how I wish I had my current camera!). It was so soft and stood straight up. Complete strangers used to come up and start touching it. If only I could keep up this enthusiasm when they're teenagers! Ryan will need to coach Erik on the double mower move.