Halloween 2014

The kids love Halloween so much it is overwhelming. It's a combination of some of their favorite things: dressing up and refined sugar.  Plus, the boys really like the ghoulish aspect of Halloween.  They have a strong appreciation for a good scare.  Charlotte does not.  It occasionally causes household turmoil.

Carving Pumpkins

The boys were finally willing to touch the pumpkin guts.  It only took 8 years.

Sam, showing off the merchandise.

I made costumes this year, which I like to do from time to time to remind myself why I usually buy costumes.  It got a little bit intense there for a while.  I spent almost the entire Saturday before Halloween working on the bits and pieces.  And while I love how all the costumes turned out, it was still pretty exhausting.

Charlotte, the Fairy Princess.  Sam, the Roman Centurion.  Ben, the Medieval Knight

We picked up a spare (Jack, the cousin) dressed as an adorable Link

Charlotte the Princess (wings are too cumbersome) Making the rounds at the Trunk-or-Treat

I dressed up as a scarecrow, and had a fairly pulled together look, which I don't usually manage, so I was pretty proud of myself, but no one got a pic.  Too bad.  Zach was suppose to be a cat burglar/thief, but he was wearing Max in the baby carrier, so the effect was mostly lost.

Leaf Jumping

Max's First Halloween.

Max seemed fairly bemused by all our actions.  Originally he was supposed to be a strong man.  I drew the mustache and tattoos on his legs, but he cried off the original mustache (I had to keep drawing it back on with eyeliner) and the tattoos rubbed off when we held him.  Then he kinda morphed into a  Frenchman with the mustache and we added a hat.  By the end of the night he was just a hipster baby with a crazy mustache.  He seemed fine with it.  

Max - 7 Months

• Max is crawling all over the place and quickly 
• He is also pulling himself up and cruising around the furniture
• He loves playing with his brothers and sister
• Max is completely over pacifiers.  They are so two months ago.
• Consequently, he sticks everything in his mouth
• He likes sleeping on his belly and will roll over immediately when we lay him on his back
• He isn't very interested in solids yet.  He mostly just sucks on food and then spits them out.  
• He really does not like to be fed with a spoon.  At all.  
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Max - 6 Months

• Max is (pretty much) crawling!
• He can pull himself up on things, but doesn't know what to do when he is up and usually just falls off
• He likes to gnaw on food, but doesn't eat much
• Has an awesome grip and grabs everything!
• Loves his big brothers and sisters, he thinks they are hilarious!
• Max is great at taking naps, but definitely doesn't sleep through the night (sad)
• Doesn't like a pacifier much, usually only takes it if he's sitting in the car seat
• We moved him out of the bassinet because he was sitting up too much
• Now he rolls over the second we lay him down and sleeps on his face

First Day of School

Samuel and Benjamin.  Smiles all around.

Some light horse play, nothing serious.

Escalating quickly.

I wish I could say I was surprised.

Brotherly Love - Grade school style.

Max - 5 Months

• Max is starting to scoot
• He is pushing himself up onto all fours
• He loves his feet!
• He is still on just milk

Spring Break Forever!

It was Spring Break around these parts, recently.  And we have been enjoying it.  The kids got sick for the first couple of days (and spent those watching shows and playing wii and such).  But, when they got a little better they set about making mischief outside.  Most of it hole related.  Like the following:

• Digging a hole in the middle of the yard.
• Covering the hole with sticks to make a trap.
• Filling previously mentioned hole with water.
• Running through the hole and covering themselves with mud
• Putting a bunch of sticks in the hole so they stuck straight out.  I guess it was another kind of trap.

It's been pretty hot around here the last week or so.  We even got out the sprinkler.  It mostly watered the lawn, but they ran around it a lot.  

It's been nice to sleep in a bit and not have a schedule for a little while.  It makes me excited for summer.  Though, not the heat.  Can it just be a warm spring forever?  Please?  

Max - One Month

• Max is already smiling!  It is so awesome.  Zach can even make him sorta laugh.  
• Max loves to eat.  Though, unlike his siblings, once he falls asleep he won't just keep eating forever and ever.  Which is nice.
• He does not like pacifiers.  They make him gag.  He'll only take one once in a while.
• He loves to be held over the shoulder so he can look around behind you.  
• He hiccups a lot.
• He is waking up about every two to three hours at night, which is acceptable.  
• He loves to sleep with his hands by his face.  He'll get at least one there no matter what. 
• Max is forever grunting and such.  He's very noisy in general, which cries, grunts, coos, and hiccuping.
• He often looks surprised.  Or concerned.  
• He loves his brothers and sister.  And they absolutely adore him!