Halloween

The night of Halloween we started off by going downtown to trick or treat. Then, we went to the church for our Fall Family Festival. I tried to get a few pictures before we left of their costumes.

Brayden and his power ranger stance.

He found his power ranger gun/sword to accessorize the outfit.

Mason was not in the mood to stand for a picture. He kept trying to run to the road.

My sweet power ranger.

My sweet Pablo.

This is as good of a picture as I could get before we left.

Trick or Treating downtown Clifton

Mason joined in the fun of trick or treating.

He could not say "trick or treat," but would say "hi" and then reach for the candy.

Brayden's friend, Seth, joined us during the trick or treating.

Then, it was on to the church for more fun.

Mason playing basketball.

Mason in the bounce house.

Brayden in the bounce house.

The boys coloring at the festival.

Gotta love fake lips that are also kazoos.

Mason, Brayden, and their friend, Katelyn

(I love Mason's look in this picture)

Brayden, Mason, and Lexi

Lexi is Brayden's best friend. This picture was supposed to be just of Brayden and Lexi, but little brother had to get in it, too.

The end of the night. I think the boys are done having fun.

Preschool Halloween Party

Today is Halloween. Brayden has been waiting for this day ever since we bought his costume (which was about a month ago). He got to wear his costume to school today. He was SO excited. His preschool had a morning full of fun planned. Mason & I joined Brayden in all of the fun. We started the morning by taking a few pictures at home.

Brayden has the power ranger moves down!

Brayden (the Red Power Ranger) & Mason (Pablo from Backyardigans)

Mason LOVES his costume. He giggles every time he puts it on.

The Preschool took a field trip to the Clifton Care Center. They sang songs to the people at the nursing home and went "trick or treating" at their rooms.

Since Brayden is the tallest, he is in the back of the group.

The kids had made cards for the elderly. After they sang, they handed out the cards.

Then, they went "trick or treating."

Here are my cuties! Mason did really well at the nursing home. He was talking to the people and letting them touch his hand. He kept giving one lady "five" because she kept putting her hand out. I think she might have thought he was hitting her, but he was just giving her "five." Brayden was a little more stand-offish. He was not exactly sure what to think of everyone. It was a great experience for the boys.

Back to school and outside play time before the party.

Mason was saying "cheese." He likes to have his picture taken.

First, the kids made sacks to put candy in from the pinata. Mason had to make a sack as well. He thinks he's as big as the rest of them.

My big boy writing his name on his sack.

Now, comes the food. They got to decorate their cookies with icing. Yum! Brayden chose blue icing because blue is his favorite color.

Saving the best for last, the pinata!

Picking up the candy from the pinata.

Mason had to get some candy, too!

More fun to come tonight!

Howl-O-Scream

On the 19th we went to Sea World to have fun at their Howl-O-Scream. Due to a busy October schedule, we decided to go on a Friday. It really is the best time because most people are in school. Therefore, rides were not very busy.

We had to start off with the Shamu ride. Matt & Brayden are in the front. Brayden had to ride this one several times which was not a problem because you could walk right onto the ride. Mason is still a little too short for this ride (maybe next year).

Next up, it was mom's turn to take the boys on the monkey jumping ride. Mason is big enough for this one. He did not like it as well this time as he did in May.

Jack had to show up at each of the shows since it is decorated for Halloween.

Even Shamu dressed up for the day.

Mom & Brayden

Daddy & Mason

Daddy tried to take the boys on the big playground. Mason did not want to do much. He was a little nervous.

So, daddy and Brayden played on the big play area while mommy & Mason went to the toddler area.

Mason had too much fun in the toddler area. He figured out all different ways to jump in the area. He really enjoyed climbing on the foam shapes.

We had to make sure we saw the dolphins before we left.

Labor Day Trip to Sea World

Labor Day weekend we took a short trip down to San Antonio to have a good time at Sea World. The boys & I had went a couple of times already this year with my mom & nephews (we have season passes), but daddy had not been able to come. Not only did we want daddy to get to come with us, but also mommy does not ride roller coaster and Brayden really wanted to ride some. So, Labor Day weekend was a good time for us to venture as a family to Sea World.

Gotta throw in a picture of Shamu since that is the reason you go to Sea World, right?

Sea World's new ride, Journey to Atlantis

That is Brayden and Daddy on the ride. They are in the front on the left. Matt is wearing the orange shirt.

This would be Brayden's first big roller coaster ride!

Brayden & Daddy on the Texas Splashdown.

We actually all (Mason, me, Matt, & Brayden) got to ride together on this one. It was Mason's first big ride. He LOVED it!! He was laughing each time we went down.

We had an awesome hotel! They had a face painting and balloon animals that evening.

Of course, the boys had to get balloon swords so that they could "fight" in the room.

Brayden had Shamu painted on his face.

We love Sea World!

First Day of School

Brayden started Preschool at the end of August. It's so hard when your little one is getting bigger. It's hard to believe he is actually old enough to start Preschool. Next year, he will be in Kindergarten. For me, it's both exciting and sad because my baby is growing up. Here he is on the first day of school.

He's ready to go with his Superman backpack and lunch box.

He's showing us his big muscles that he has like Superman.

This is his school.

My Little Monkey

For those of you who know Mason, you know he is quite the little monkey. It is actually amazing some of the things he is able to do, scary but amazing. The other day Mason and Brayden were playing in their room (they now share a room). Brayden is really good about telling me when Mason is doing something he is not supposed to do. So, I hear "Mom, Mason's climbing." I run into the room to see what he is climbing on and this is what I found...

As you can see, Mason is on top of the shelf close to the hanging rack in the closet. As the wonderful mom I am, what did I do? I told him to stay there so that I could get the camera.

After I took the picture, then I told him to get down.

Just a side not, this shelving unit is three boxes high. He just LOVES to climb on anything he can find.

Parents Week Away

I know this is a little past due, but here are some pictures from our vacation in August. As you can see from the pictures, there were no kiddos on this trip. Matt and I take a trip every year, whether big or small, without the little ones. This year we decided to venture to Orlando. Not as wonderful as Hawaii which we did last year, but we can't go to Hawaii every year - although that would be really cool if we could. Hope you enjoy the pictures...

On the first day of our trip, Matt & I went to a zoo. Although I do not like them, they did have some of the coolest looking snakes at this zoo. I was brave enough to actually go into the snake house to see them. That's a big deal for me since snakes really creep me out.

Day 2 we ventured to Daytona Beach. It is supposedly the World's Most Popular Beach.

Daytona Beach

Day 3 we did something a little different. We went to the Tampa Bay Buchaneers training camp. How cool is that?!?! Okay, maybe not so cool to some that do not like football, but very cool to me.

We were very close to the practice field. When are you ever able to get this close to pro football players?

The players would also throw footballs to some of the kids on the sidelines.

We ventured to the Orlando Ripley's Believe It or Not! I loved the way the building looked!

The Grand Finale of the Trip

Universal Studios

It was absolutely AWESOME!!!

Fear Factor Live!

Jimmy Neutron

We took some pictures of the characters for Brayden.

Temple of Paisadon

Men In Black ride

We had a wonderful time. We did some awesome things in Orlando and did not even do Disney World. We are saving that for our trip to Orlando with the boys.