The rest of our October.

The boys, what's left of their costumes, and our one carved pumpkin. Brycen picked out the pumpkin on the his field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. For Halloween, Brycen was a cowboy and Cian was a tiger...again. Same costumes as last year. Same 12 month old Tiger outfit. We tried to get them to use any of the other several costumes we have!...and they picked these and had a great time.

Brycen's school doesn't let anybody dress up (on Halloween) except for Kindergarten.

Kindergarten then does a simple parade

That the whole school supports. It was so awesome to see it. Brycen loved all the clapping and attention from the other kids and teachers. And I LOVE how his school pushes for interaction between the different grades. Brycen has all sorts of older helpers from getting to the bus, to finding library books, to reading, to cheering him on at his Fun Run.

One Friday night, Bryce stayed home with Caraline and I took the boys out to Brycen's school festival. It was a fun time! Brycen had kids of all ages saying, "Hi Brycen!!" while we were there. I credit it to the school, teachers, and how they have the kids work together.

The Ward dinner, games, and Trunk or Treat night.

Brycen's field trip to the pumpkin patch that I got to go on with him! I sure loved loved loved having Bryce home for 2 weeks so I could do these things.

Brycen's class. Brycen is so nice to everyone, they all seem to love him. As a mom, that is more than I could hope for, for his Kindergarten experience.

And one weekend, we got to do Rotten Apple Baseball at Uncle Brant's. The weather was beyond perfect.

The many, many perks of close family.

Week of Grandma

Grandma came to town for just under a week. We sure loved having her. 

The way breakfast appeared every morning (and not just cold cereal, we had pancakes!) and the dishes magically done was incredible. She feed the boys and the cat long before Caraline and I got up.

When I did get up, I casually took a shower while she made sure Brycen ate before school and walked everyone to the bus stop 

and then entertained Cian. It was pretty awesome. They went to the park...

and the Portland Children's Museum.

Grandma visits usually mean awesome gifts from her and Aunt Katie!

On one of the two non-rainy days, we adventured out to the zoo. And were one of 10 people.

The boys ran around crazy and loved it.

 

Playing in the zoo parking lot. Fall is a beautiful time of year.

Grandma pictures of Caraline.

Brycen seriously asks all day to hold her. It's quite adorable.

I think Liam took this picture but I love it. It's the new reality. I'm so lucky to have my Brycen helper because Cian has very much became even more attached to me.

Love these two. He is so good with her.

Now that Grandma has left, I'm juggling three kids during the day solo. Caraline has decided that she would rather sleep being held than anywhere else.

So it has become a new thing to walk to the bus stop in pajamas and look forward even more to Daddy coming home. Daddy coming home means Mommy can eat. That always makes a good day.

Two special days.

Baby Caraline got blessed 2 days ago. Here's a little bit about the special weekend.

Grandma and cousin Liam drove through the night to be able to attend the occasion and then stay and help out through the week. Grandma is one brave soul to try to teach all the grandkids how to play, "Ticket to Ride".

Grandpa came too! We sure loved having him for the 33 hours he could be here.

Grandma Shields was able to find Caraline's gorgeous blessing dress on KSL in Utah before she left. Utah definitely has it's perks.

I am purely loving every minute.

3 generations of girls.SO fun.

Our first official family of 5 picture. Gotta love Bryce and I's matching "awkward shoulder pose" as we try this three kids thing. Oh and Cian. You know how he refused to wear anything but socks with his crocs ALL summer long? Now, he refuses to wear socks. Period. Or church shoes for that matter.BUT they match, so that's a start.

Having both grandparents there was a first for our kids' blessings and we LOVED it. Something about having both grandpas and my wonderful husband in the blessing circle was so incredibly special.

Daddy and his baby girl (and a bow that kept falling to the side).

Siblings with their daughters that got blessed together (note: Caraline's awesome hand wave).  Matching bows and booties made by Grandma Walker, born 5 weeks apart. We sure love having family close. I can't say that enough.

______________________________________________________________________________
And our Cian turned the big 3 a week ago!

September/October/ November Birthday celebration at Grandma Walker's house!

It was a Chuck E Cheese year. Brycen went for his birthday and Cian has been asking since, to do it for his. It was great (we went the night before) but we are done. I told them next year, we are doing something else :)

So we arrived and there was an advertisement saying that for any day in October if a kid comes dressed in a costume, they can get 50 extra tickets. Brycen's outfit soon became one of a "fisherman's" (he had rainboots on with his shorts) and he was SO so excited.

I sure love time out as a family.

Bryce stayed up extra late that night to make a boat for the birthday boy. While he did that, I decorated the house a bit. Cian loved the decorations. He woke up saying, "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!" and "A BOAT!"

Present opening.

My favorite favorite picture of birthday week. We love our quiet, independent, loving but yet incredibly stubborn (okay, so I'm basically describing myself in a lot of ways) son. He wanted all 6 dinosaur candles because let's face it, the candles are all he cares about. He didn't eat his cake or his rice krispy treat that he got at Grandma's. 

Balance bike from Grandma and Grandpa Shields. It was a good, easy day. I sure love this age. The decorations, candles, and Chuck E Cheese was all Cian needed. Brycen finally convinced Cian to leave the house and go to Costco for samples on  his birthday--we know how to party!!--- but Cian was really content just to stay home.