Halloween Twenty-Fourteen!

Sailor Girl!!!

Hunter with a camouflage face....

...and hunter without a camouflage face......he liked it much better without the face paint!

Cowgirl!

Iowa Hawkeye Fan!

Little Mouse with the perfect little mousy teeth pose!!

It is a tradition to be a mouse at the age of 1 in this family....Ky wore this same costume 17 years ago and it has been worn by each child in succession when they were a 1 year old!!!  The redness around his eyes is a give away for how he was feeling....a little bit sick.  He stayed home with mommy and enjoyed opening the door and watching all the kids come to the door!

This is the actual cowgirl look during the very windy and cold Halloween evening, but that didn't slow the kids down one bit!

Pure Gold….

....pure autumn gold, that is!!

We walk/ride bike through our neighborhood each day and have the pleasure of passing by this most wonderful tree!

I just love the contrast of the yellow against the dark brown tree trunk.

I never fail to stop and look up at the feathery leaves as I walk by........

...and am always amazed at the opportunity to witness such beauty and simplicity of this giant canopy of brilliant gold.

Texting While Driving?

Oh my....what's that boy doing?

Hey!.....You in the diaper!

Who me?

Yes, you! 
Just wanted to let you know there is a rule that states there is no texting while driving!!
You can get into an accident even while driving Mr. Red Nose.
But, I won't enforce this rule until you are 16!
So......drive and text away!

Buttercup is 11!



Buttercup had a wonderful day on her birthday!
We made treat bags to take to "school."



It was a beautiful morning as we set off for Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Guardian Angels.

After Mass, we went to our friend's house for school.  I am team teaching with another mom and it was the kid's turn to go to her house that day.  Mrs. L. had a cake and presents waiting for Buttercup when she got there.  She especially loved the new tie-blanket she received.  Buttercup had made one for her friend's birthday in January, and now Jessica made her one for Buttercup's birthday!

The kids worked on school in the morning and then daddy came and picked them up for a lunch date.

In the afternoon, we were invited to visit Pat's farm!  Her backyard was just beautiful!

There was a swing.....

...and a pond where I captured a few beautiful pictures of Buttercup!



Anton loved the horses and we walked through a very old, BIG barn!  The kids can't wait to go back and visit again!



After the farm visit, we played our first game of....

....Bananagrams!

Then, Buttercup had gymnastics....

...and then it was back home again for her requested meal of chicken dumpling soup and ice cream cake.

Then, it was time for more presents!  Buttercup will be trying more baking this year so she received her very own spatula and oven mitt!

This present was saved until the end and nobody could guess what it was....even when it was first taken out of the box.

As soon as it was unfolded......everyone knew it was a gymnastic beam....

....and it was....

...cartwheels....

...and handstands for the rest of the night!

Happy 11th Birthday, Buttercup!
You are our SWEETY!