Snow fun

This morning we woke up to a good 3 or 4 inches of snow!  Nate and I immediately began moaning and groaning about it, but the kids were ecstatic.  So it's no surprise that the first order of business for our Saturday was digging out the snow gear and playing around in the white stuff.  

Lilly and Jayne made snow angels.

Jonah helped with the shoveling.

And played a little snow-shovel-guitar. 

Then he made a snow angel too. 

Then we came in, took off all of our wet gloves, hats, and boots, and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.  It was nice to be reminded that snow can be fun.  When I look at it, all I see is cold, wet, and miserable.  Everything looks better through the eyes of children! =) 

Our Excellent Elk

Yesterday, Jonah received the Excellent Elk Award at a school assembly.  Each teacher chose one student from their class to receive this award for academic excellence. He received a medal, certificate, and a card for a free kid's meal from Applebee's.  We're so proud of Jonah and his desire to always do his best and learn as much as he can.  Way to go Jo!  

Halloween Fun!

Our Halloween fun started with a Friday night visit to Gardner Village to see the witches.  

Jonah thought this mummy was the coolest.

Lilly wanted her picture taken by every witch that we found.

See what I mean?  =)

Then on Sunday evening we carved our pumpkins.  

Jonah loved cleaning out the pumpkin "guts" with his hands, but the girls wouldn't touch it. 

Jayne with her jack-o-lantern.  The kids chose the design of their pumpkins and mom and dad did all the cutting. 

Lilly's pumpkin.

Jonah's pumpkin.  He wanted a "great big smile" on his.  All the black lines are from Jonah trying to draw his own design.  He made it a bit too small.  

Then on Halloween, we got all dressed up and went trick-or-treating.  Nate had to work, so I took the kids out.  We should have taken a shorter route.  There was quite a bit of "I'm so tired" and "my feet hurt" by the time we got home.  But they loved how much candy they got and after we got home there was a lot of "that was the best Halloween ever!"  So I think our night was a success. 

Spider Man Jonah and his muscle pose.  He didn't like to wear the mask that came with the costume.

Lilly, the little devil.  She looks way too sweet to be a devil. 

Jayne the witch.  She didn't want to wear the hat, but loves the dress.  She wore it around the house almost every day for a week before Halloween. 

The whole gang ready to go get some treats!

I should mention that we were lucky enough to get all of our costumes from some kind neighbors who have kids just a bit older than ours.  The one Jayne is wearing is one that we bought for Lilly when she was 2.  Jayne had another Halloween fairy costume that we got from the neighbors, but she changed her mind at the last minute.  I sure do love it when people think of us.  
After we got home and into pajamas, Nate got home and we did hallway trick-or-treating.  This is a tradition that Nate's family has.  Each child takes a turn going down the dark hallway and knocking on the doors looking for Nate.  When they find him, he gives them some special surprises.  He also tries to spook them a bit on the way.  The kids love it.  
So that was our Halloween.  Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!  They sure are approaching fast!