Happy Halloween!

Since Halloween is on a Sunday this year we did our Trunk-or-Treating at the church on Saturday night.  The boys have been really good sports about this all day - mainly because they've been gorging themselves on candy.  They're having a bit of a harder time right now as they lay in bed and can hear the trick-or-treaters walking through the neighborhood.  Sometimes it's hard to do what's right - especially when you're a kiddo.

Yesterday we had a little photo shoot before the trunk-or-treat.  Oddly enough, my most petulant child when it comes to photo shoots (his name starts with a 'J' and ends with an 'oshua') was my most photogenic child of the evening.  Go figure.  (Perhaps it was the promise of a bag full of candy that sparked his unusually good mood...)

Spiderman tries to stop The Bee from escaping.  (He eventually fails.)

Flexin' his muscles.

Checkin' out the big ol' grate at the top of the hill in our back lawn.

 

 

Our Bay-Bee!

 

Darth Vader Spencer.  That's Mr. Darth Vader to you.

I love this picture!  And I especially love how Joshie flexes.

 

This is the best picture I got of all three of them together.  Pesky baby.

 

 

"Nooooooooooo!"

 

Gettin' To Know The Basics

Me: Cole, what's a cow say?

Cole: Eeeewwwwwww!  (His version of the cow - apparently the M is silent.)

Me: Cole, what's a duck say?

Cole: *silent stare*

Me: Okay... Cole, what's a doggie say?

Cole: Woof! Woof!

Me: Good boy!  What's a cat say?

Cole: *blank stare*

Me: What's Miss Piggy say?

Cole: HIGH-YAAH!

Me: At least you know the basics.

Cole: Ewwwwwww... High Yah!

Spencer Gets Serious About Defending the Pumpkin Patch

I can only imagine what his teacher thought of this.

More Help Than I Need

I had a little helper in the kitchen today.

And by helper I mean thrower of flour, licker of counters, and general mischief maker.

Sixth Annual Doughnut Party!

This weekend was busy.

Super BUSY.

Friday night Lance and I went on the most AWESOME scavenger hunt ever.  Seriously, it was great.  We were in a team with awesome friends, we drove all over town and back again to find the awesome clues, and we did all sorts of awesome challenges. For example, we had to zip tie our hands together and go up and down some playground equipment.

We also had to eat an entire Pumpkins Pie Blizzard, but only got one spoonful each.  (Hence my large portion.)

Are you sensing an awesome theme here?  Big kudos to the two secret Great Pumpkin planners - Lance and I had a great time and we really appreciate all the effort and time you put into it!

Saturday morning was a Primary activity.  We practiced for our Sacrament Meeting Program (which was the next morning) and had a pizza party.  Lots of kids.  Lots of pizza.  Lots of wiggling and giggling.  It wore me out.

But I managed to save some energy because that night was the Madsen's Sixth Annual Halloween Donut Party!  (Woo-hoo!)  I think it went really well.  We had lots of people come, which was fine because this year we finally have lots of extra room to contain them all!  The doughnuts were extra yummy this year, too, because the wonderful Gigi came a little early to help out; she probably cooked at least 2/3rds of them.  That's a lot of doughnuts.  (Gigi, you rock.)

Once again I forgot to take many pics.  Dang.  That's just the nature of the evening, I guess.

I did get a few, though.

Lance cooked a few doughnuts at the end so Gigi and I could socialize.

All the kiddos lurved the basement.  Cole liked it so much his pants fell off.

A few of our friends working on the Fake Frankenstein Movie Names quiz.

Others working on the Bride of Frankenstein Game.

This year we introduced a new doughnut: the Baconstein.  (Name courtesy of Lance.)  It's a doughnut with maple glaze and finely chopped bacon on top. 

Oh. My. Goodness.  Sooooo tasty.  Seriously, I know it sounds weird, but they were goooood.  I wish I had taken a picture of one, but I was too busy eating it to think of photographing it.

Anywho, a grand time was had by all. (I hope.)  Our last guests left at 9:30, and Lance and I were in bed by 10:15, exhausted and covered in sugar, which is the sign of a great party.

The next morning was the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  Imagine 50+ children, ages 3-11, in front of the congregation for an hour.  Each child has a part to say and several songs are sung.  It was a squirmy, wiggly mass of cuteness, capable of bursting into laughter or tears at any moment.  Even if you've never seen one you can imagine why it is completely exhausting for all involved.  After two more hours of Primary after Sacrament meeting I stumbled home and took a three hour nap.  Later that evening I went to bed early and slept long and hard. 

Growing a human is pretty tiring, especially after weekends as fun as this one.

2010 Madsen Halloween Photo

I actually got around to making one this year.  What do you think?

I couldn't ever get Cole's hair right.  Pesky towheaded child. :)

More Evidence That I'm a Bad Mom

I had a bad day.  The kids were grouchy.  Josh was tantrumy.  I had to do 392 loads of laundry.

And I'm tired.  So very tired.

So I just about lost it when Cole pulled a bowl of shredded cheese off the counter and onto himself while I was making dinner.  And then started crying about it.  (Probably because I startled him when I yelled "No!" in reaction.  Oops.)

Then I remembered the picture yesterday of his adventure with the water dispenser.  So I grabbed the camera and clicked away, giggling evily.  (It couldn't be helped.  It had to be done!)

I'm not that bad.  He quickly realized that he could eat his mess and happily began stuffing his mouth.

It was all I could do to get him undressed before he scarfed all the cheese. (The cheese was down his onesie, down his pants, and, inexplicably, down his diaper.) That kid is like a human vacuum.

Self-Portrait Tuesday: 14 Weeks - And Cole's All Wet

Here I am at 14 weeks. 

I heard the baby's heartbeat this today (it was a bit early at the last appointment).  It was the only time during the appointment that Cole stopped his fussing about being strapped into the stroller.  Too bad, Mr. Cole.  You cannot be trusted to roam free - especially around a doctor's office.

I also set up my ultrasound appointment for the morning of November 16th.  This baby better cooperate and let me know if it's a boy or a girl - I need to know one way or another what to do with that dangerously pink room of ours.

And here's my upper half.  I'm not too keen on photos of my face when I'm pregnant.  I think I look funny; puffy and pregnant and such.  I probably don't now, since it's so early in the game, but still.  Not a fan.  Oh - and ignore the bedhead.  I told the baby I didn't have time for a nap today.  The baby was not convinced.

Oh yeah - I have bangs now.  It's the first time I've had bangs since the 7th grade.  I'm pretty sure the whole bang situation is much better this time around.  (Anyone else remember the whole claw-bang phase in the early 90's?  Yikes.)

During my self-portrait Cole took advantage of the fact that I forgot to lock the water dispenser in the fridge. 

Generally he doesn't get upset about getting wet.  But he's a grouch today because he's teething.  I couldn't help myself - I had to get a picture of him standing there, howling, while his brothers laughed at him.

I'm such a good mom.

Close Lid - Pop Lid - Repeat

This kid cracks me up.

P.S. Don't you love the wrestling, screaming brothers in the background?  Yeah, my house is pretty much at that decibel level anytime all three children are at home.  Just keepin' it real, people.

Darfthf Vader

Spencer had a costume birthday party on Saturday.  Fortunately for me he chose a pretty easy costume this year. 

 

Yes, that is Darth Vader.  Yes, he is your father.

I only had to make the cape, and he already had the mask, helmet, and light saber. 

The best part is how he says Darth Vader.  Since he's missing three of his front teeth, poor Spencer has developed a little bit of a lithp lisp.  He says it more like "Darfthf Vayder", which is most awesome as long as you don't laugh at him.  (I made that mistake.  Never laugh at Darth Vader.  Or Darfthf Vayder.)

Halloween Box

Grandpa ElRay and Grandma Susie were very concerned that the boys wouldn't be getting enough sugar for Halloween, so they sent a box of Halloween goodies to supplement. 

How awesome are these chocolate zombies?!  (Answer: very.)  Zombies hold a soft spot in the Roper family's heart.  (And by that I mean my brother Kevin and I have a thing for zombies.  Because we're cool like that.)  See how cute the chocolates are?  Wait - can zombies be cute?

We also got some chocolate eyeballs.  Excellent.  Because eyes gross me out.  (Well, not all eyes.  Just single eyes.  Staring at me.  Gross.  Don't get me started.)

This little zombie was more than happy to sample some of the chocolate.

These  little zombies were more excited about the Pez. 

What is it about Pez that these boys love so much?  I don't get it.  Pez tastes like chalk.  And it's impossible to get in and out of the dispenser.  Well, not impossible.  I always take all this time to put it in and then they proceed to take it all out.  And then they insist I put it in again.  Which I refuse to do.  And then the whining ensues. 

Pez is not my favorite, is what I'm saying.

But the boys love it, so there you go.

We also got this awesome spider.

I lurve this spider.  He's so goofy looking and cute.  I grew up with him hanging from our entryway every Halloween.  And now he's in our entryway!

After two chocolate zombies and one chocolate eyeball, this little zombie was ready for a bath.

And bed.

Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma!

Where's Mommy's Baby?

I've started a new game with Josh.  I ask him where my baby is and he says silly things like the ceiling or the sky.  Even though he really knows the baby is inside me he gets a kick out of getting the answer "wrong". 

We were playing the game tonight while getting ready for bed. 

Me: Joshie, where is Mommy's baby? 

Josh: In the ceiling!  *giggle*giggle* 

Me: What?  Are you sure? 

Josh: Yes! 

Me: Then why is my tummy getting so big? 

Josh (without missing a beat): Because you are eating so much food! 

Lance: Bwahahahaha!

Nice one, Josh.

A Bit of This and That... Again

Today I was driving home from a presidency meeting and it felt like I was in the middle of nowhere.

I enjoy being in the middle of nowhere.  It's quite scenic.  Brown cornfields, some harvested, some still standing, clusters of bright fall-colored trees in the distance, a random home here or there.  It was nice.

Cole did not enjoy being in the middle of nowhere.  He decided it was time to figure out how to escape his car seat.  (His straps were loose from when he wore a coat last week and I had forgotten to tighten them.)  He was happily at work until I noticed his actions in the rear view mirror.  His arms were completely out and he was working on his legs when I pulled over. 

I stopped the car and strapped a very unhappy Cole back into his seat.  As I was walking back to the driver's side I suddenly felt some very sharp scratches on my leg.  I discovered my skirt covered in burrs.  And not just regular burrs - these were like mutant-mega-meaner-than-sin-burrs.  Usually you can brush regular burrs off with just your hands, but not these - I tried and got a handful of burrs.  And they stuck and they HURT!

My skirt had burrs.  My sandals had burrs.  My hands and legs were quickly collecting them.

Suddenly the middle of nowhere didn't seem quite so scenic.

**********

Today Josh had a tantrum because I wouldn't put his juice in a sippy cup.  I'm not quite sure where this came from, as he hasn't used sippy cups since we moved.  He's a big boy.

He finished his tantrum in his room.  (After I carried him in there, kicking and screaming.  But still.)  Then he came into the kitchen and picked up his cup.  Score!  Win one point for mom!

And before I could stop him he poured the whole cup into the sink, looked at me with his classic Joshie scowl and barked, "I wanted MILK!!!"

He then spent quite a bit more time in his room.

**********

I'm still sick.  I was getting better, but then Friday night (well, Saturday morning, really) I was really sick for hours.  I just wanted to die.  Seriously, the sweet, sweet release of death sounded so very nice.

Then I was sick all day Saturday.  Really sick.  Poor Lance took care of the kids and even finished all of the Saturday To-Do jobs I had written the night before.  I layed around and moaned and groaned and threw up in the kitchen sink while Josh and Spencer ran around me fighting with Nerf guns and Lance vacuumed the living room.

It was not my best day.

Oddly, Sunday morning I felt pretty good again.  Not great - but much better.

Stupid hormones.

**********

On Friday night we went to Spencer's school Chili Supper.  Spencer was soooo excited he could hardly contain himself.  While we ate dinner he kept saying "I'm not excited!", as he squirmed in his seat like a monkey on a leash and tried to say hi to all of his friends at once.

In the gym there were several big blow-up slides, kinda like the kinds at Monkey Joes.  It was $1 per ride, or unlimited for $5.  We figured the $5 was the better deal.  And it was.  For Spencer.

But not for Josh.

He refused to go on even one slide.  Despite the fact that he has done it at Monkey Joes several times.  I hope the Wea Ridge Elementary appreciates the $5 donation. 

Cole, by the way, would have killed to go on any of the slides.  But alas, his mean mother thinks 16 months is just a bit too young.  It's tough to be a toddler.

**********

I'm pretty sure this baby is girl.  I just gotta feeling, you know?

I was totally right with Spencer - I knew from the beginning he was a boy.

Of course, I also had this feeling with Josh... well, for a little while.  Even then I knew it was just a hope.  And with Cole, I thought he was a girl.  Right up until right before the ultrasound and Lance said "It's a boy, I just know it" and I had to agree.  I knew it, too.

But really.  This time I think it's a girl.  Five or six more weeks and we'll know for sure.

Basic Socialization

I got this note from Josh's preschool teachers today.

Oh brother.  Smock refusal now?  Really, Josh?  Really?!?!

Why in the world would the boy refuse to wear a smock?!?  And they were doing an awesome art project - painting with balloons.  (For 'B' week you know.)  I asked Josh why he didn't want to wear the smock.  He scowled and growled, which, apparently, was exactly what he had done to his teachers as well.

His teachers said they thought he'd put it on once he saw all the other kids painting and having a good time, but he stuck to his guns.  No worries about peer pressure for Josh, that's for sure.

Some moms send their kids to preschool so they can learn their ABCs, colors, shapes, etc.  Some moms send them to just get some free time at home.  I'm just hoping my little boxing dinosaur will get the basic social skills he'll need to function in normal society.

*sigh*

Self-Portrait Tuesday (Late Edition): 12 Weeks

I wasn't going to do the whole labeled-belly-shot thing again, but Spencer loves them.  He goes crazy over them whenever he watches our 2009 video time capsule and he can count the weeks when I was pregnant with Cole.  So these are for you, Spence.  Enjoy the monstrosity of a belly that is to come.

Cole woke me up at 5:45 this morning.  Not cool, Cole.  Not cool.

Despite the early wake up call, I'm feeling a little better today and am actually getting some stuff done.  I hope I don't jinx myself.  Perhaps I can counteract the bad morning sickness ju-ju I just created with that statement by taking a nap.  Assuming Cole ever takes a nap; he doesn't seem so inclined right now.

Also -

I have an apothecary jar full of giant marshmallows and small pumpkin candy.  I love it.  Josh drools over it every day.

Life is pretty good.