It was a "wizardly" Halloween

Okay, so I know my kids will probably be bugged with me years from now...but while I still can - we are doing "theme" every Halloween for the next few years - how can I not? I had the cutest little piggies last year with daddy as the big bad wolf so this year, I had to do something else for the entire family. 

"Wizard of Oz" it was this year!  Our first of many parties this year was our super fun Triplet Family Halloween party.  We had such a great time and it was so fun to see what other families chose to dress up as.  Our kiddos were so great too - they kept their costumes on and cute little "lion" Jax kept his lion hat on all night - surprise to me!!!  Austin loved his hat too - it kept falling off and he would make sure we helped him put it back on :)  Rio to this day calls her "ruby slippers" her "Dorothy's" - so much fun!  You three were amazing!  And... I have to say, what an amazing husband I have that dresses up too - not many daddy's dress up and Spence you are so great!  Love you sweetie!  You're a trooper daddy!

Our friend Cody took pics of all the triplet fams that night and I LOVE this pic!  Everyone was looking and looked so cute!

So Spence's sister Kristin's bday is in October so we have done a really fun Halloween/bday party for her and I love it!  It's so, so fun every year so here are a few family pics of everyone dressed up for the PaRtY!!!

Great-Grandma LaRue, Grandma Bonnie, Grandpa Ranger and Uncle Marc

Uncle Andrew, Aunt Kisty and cousin Ethan

Uncle Mike, Aunt Kristin and cousins Tyler, Hayden and Brinlee

We had such a fun time doin a pinata - it took awhile to crack it open with our "little" hitters but they had a blast trying to figure out what they were doing and why

Woo-hoo!  It cracked :)  Candy, candy, candy - my kids went for the suckers first of course.  Cute Aunt Kristin was trying to get everything "evened" out for the kiddos - she's so great!

"Pin the wort on the witch" was another fun game we played - Austin won for the little kids!  Way to go!

Rio, Austin & Jax hanging out with their suckers watching the "big" people do the witchy wort game

We also had a fun "friend" Halloween party at Alicia's house - she had so many cute and fun things for the kids - I think my kidlets were overwhelmed with fun and candy and costumes - they LOVED it!  Melissa made the cutest juice box mummies so Alicia is helping them out so as to NOT squeeze all their juice out - sillies :)

Little Miss Dorothy enjoying her cookies and pretend "toto" since our real "toto" (Lennox) couldn't make it to the party

He never took off his lion hat - not at one party we went to - what a doll you are Jaxie - I love you sweetie!

My happy little "min-man" as Austin called himself.  What a joy you are everywhere we go - you're always such a happy boy!

This is a few days after the friend party we went to - Alicia had gotten them some glasses that I'm not sure if you can tell but they had squiggles throughout their eyes - these three loved them and insisted on wearing them during breakfast even though you honestly can't see through them but one straight line - so funny!

As we were pulling out costume stuff, we found daddy's "big bad wolf" from last year and Jax thought it was so fun to wear around - I thought they would be terrified but oh no.... they surprised me yet again.  Little cutie.

Halloween day we carved pumpkins as a family and the kids had SO MUCH FUN!  They started out picking out "their own pumpkin" at the patch earlier and then we "attempted" to keep things a little clean while we carved.  This pic is one I don't think I'll ever forget - it's so dang cute of all of them!

Jax loved getting his hands dirty as per usual yet he was concerned that the pumpkin shouldn't lose it's insides - he kept putting it back inside saying, "no mommy, inside"

Rio and daddy - digging it all out - such a great hands-on dad!

Austin and Jax showing off their carved "jackos" as Austin called them trying to say Jack-o-lanterns - I kept trying to teach them that when a pumpkin is carved, it's called a jack-o-lantern but "jack-o" sounds so much cuter - don't you think?

Mommy, Austin and Rio carving Austin's pumpkin

We had such a great Halloween together - I love the holidays - they kind of push you to do fun things together and I had so much fun with you three - can't wait for next year! I love you Jax, Austin and Rio!

October Fun!

Honestly, I must take way too many pictures because it seriously gives me anxiety to not post all my pictures!!! There are way too many cute ones of the kids and I love them all - o-well, I'll try....

So, we truly had the funnest October with the kids - or let me say that I did... poor Spence is crazy busy with school, work and church stuff so he rarely got to enjoy the fun that we did together.  "Time and season" right?  Anyway, here are some cute, cute pics of all the fun things we did in October - minus Halloween stuff - that is still to come :)

We went to the pumpkin patch two times this year with different friends and my kids could have honestly gone everyday!  They had a blast pushing these little wheel barrows around and of course Rio found her white pumpkin and parked - she loved that she fit inside it!

Austin with his best smile for the camera!  He could have stayed on these tractors all day!

Same for my little cowgirl!  She loved these tractors - can you beat a smile like that?

Some of our little friends - "little miss princess" Maddy and her brothers Cole & Cade Cottle, Cash "muscles" Galloway and Chase Baxter are just a few...

Is this the funnest pic or what?  How creative are people to give us these great backgrounds for us crazy mothers with cameras :)

We also went to Gardner Village two or maybe three times this year with the kids - they had such a great time there too - our favorite thing though was jumping off the walls and hangin' out in their choo-choo; together this time.  Awww.... these are the pics I won't ever forget!

The trio on a hay bale at the Village - Rio wouldn't put the pumpkins down.

Another pic at the pumpkin patch - they had to have mommy "ride" them around in the wheel barrow.  And yes, Rio tantrumed when we had to get out - love you little miss!

Jax honestly thought these corn cobs were the coolest thing - he kept trying to eat the corn inside and is showing off his big bite!  (Austin of course is concerned that Jax "shouldn't" be doing that)

 HAD to post this pic - look at Austin!!! Seriously?  Is that not the cutest little face?  Love his personality so much!

Another fun October/Fall thing we did this year was to go to an apple orchard and pick out apples, pears and get some yummy, fresh apple cider - SO GOOD!  Nothing beats it!  Anyway, they have a really fun little playground for the kids to run and play around their pumpkin patch.  Rio of course stayed glued to the slide and "wings" (swings)

We went to the orchard with some of our "besties" - the Foulger trips - they are such great friends with my little three and I love their mama, Roxy.  We have so much fun together.  Roxy took this picture of Rio and I loved it so I grabbed it from her - my little Rio.... she'll make anything a purse :) - and what a pretty little face.. melt... melt...

The Foulger three with Austin picking out their "punkins"

Roxy with all the kids keeping them happy on the plane - perfect for 6 little toddlers

We also went to the pumpkin patch with our "trip" friends - Austin, Reese and Avery hanging out on the tractors - they are such awesome climbers

Avery, Lucas, Reese, Jax, Austin and Rio - wow!  Almost got all 6 looking - so cute with their "corn" -they all played with that corn for so long just taking it out and putting it back in the stalk and trying to eat it - silly kids!

Oh, my little Rio... we went through a "corn maze" for the little ones and they loved it!  Roxy and I were going nuts trying to find them all in there but the six of them had a blast!  Rio of course, tried to carry as many corn cobs as she could collecting them throughout the maze.

Austin once again on his tractor with corn in hand - he had such a great time climbing around - this pumpkin patch was so adorable - thanks to those who put it all together!

I also tried out "cornbellys" with the kids - there were actually lots of stuff there for them to play with, climb on and under - it was so much fun!  Rio wasn't feeling her hottest that day - I think she was getting over a little cold or something so she was attached to my hand or side all day almost - lucky me!  She loved this little maze but wouldn't climb THROUGH it; she had to climb ON it!

This other pic was one of my favorites of the day - cute Austin doesn't love swinging but Jax and Rio LOVE it!  So because I was with Jax swinging with him, Austin took on the "older brother" role and pushed Rio for me.  What a sweet-heart!  Someone tell me that he'll always treat her that way!

They also had a really fun bounce area where some of the bouncy tramps were lower to the ground - Jax and Rio, my little adventurous wonders were all about it - this was one time Rio was okay to not be attached to me because she loved jumping!  Jax was mesmerized by the air underneath - he couldn't figure out how it worked - such a curious soul.

Austin in the mini corn maze - he was in heaven until he fell off the hay bale - he totally scratched up his face for the rest of the day - he was such a trooper though even though it looked horribly painful!  Love you sweetie pie

The Spider Web climb - these 6 little ones were amazing in this!  They would climb and climb even if was sideways or on top of one another.

Saved one of the best pics for last!  Avery and Jax inside this little wooden school bus - they had so much fun inside jumping up and down.  You may wonder why they are making such smiley faces - I said, "say cheese" and because they were already so excited... their cute voices said, "CHEEEEEEEEZE!"

Such a fun October!  You kids are incredibly fun and are always up for the next thing mommy has in store for you - I love being around you - you are becoming such great friends to one another and to your mommy - I love you!

Canning & First Hair Cuts

I love gardening and this year has been kind of tricky getting out to it as much as I usually have done in the past - the kids last about an hour weeding and then they are done but whenever I'd go out, they would flock to the peach tree and find peaches on the ground and carry them around eating them or just holding them - it was so cute to watch them!  They loved them!  So when it was time to pick them off the tree, they totally helped and thought it was the coolest thing in the world to watch daddy climb the ladder and pick all the peaches up off the ground and put them in "their" box.  So when I needed to can them, I thought I'd give it a try while they were awake.  Miraculously, it worked!  They were so good and patient while I canned all our peaches - we had SO MANY this year!  We gave so many to family and friends but we saved a bunch for ourselves too!  You three were the best helpers - I love you!

 We got plenty of peaches - they are so pretty when they get done - beautiful and yummy!

I know these two things don't go together but I had to add their first hair-cuts to the blog too!  My sweet friend Alicia or "licia" as my kids call her came over to our house to cut their hair.  They did so well too!  Just sat there and were so good while she gave them a trim.  Rio wasn't too keen on me taking her picture however so she got hers with her eyes closed - so pretty sweetie - goodbye little mullet :)

 Austin was happy as could be if he could hold the water bottle - sorry Alicia for the bath while you cut - you're such a good boy - now we can actually do your hair without it looking like an 80's mohawk because it was so long.. I just couldn't bear to cut it but you look so handsome!

And sweetie Jax... you did such a good job!  You still don't have a ton of hair on top or the sides but oh man, did you have a tail in the back by your neck!  I loved it but it was starting to look a little "too on purpose" and I didn't want you to think we actually wanted you to have a tail :)  Love you Jaxie - good job! 

Alicia and Jax - what a sweet smile!