ECFE Halloween

Last Friday, like every year, we wen to the ECFE Halloween Party. The boys played lots of games and jumped in the bouncy house, and Harlow ran around like a wild piglet, stealing the prizes to all the games.

Just like her brothers, the tongue makes an appearance with any concentration.

See- Paxton's tongue. Pounding the tees in the pumpkins is a favorite every year.

The whole crew- Hudson (Frankenstein) a little too cool to be sitting for a picture, Harlow (pig) cheesy and happy as can be, and Paxton (shark)being his normal sweet self.

Ahlness/Olson Wedding- Minnesota Farm Style

Maddi and Zevlen celebrated their wedding with friends and family in Minnesota on October 12th. Just the way it should be, at the Ahlness family farm. We got dressed up all over again, smiled and posed for pictures, ate delicious pork sandwiches, and danced until all three kids fell asleep.

The bridal party, changed into the evening dresses.

They were singing and dancing with the band, playing their tambourines.

Florida (September 13-15)

Our last few days at Carillon Beach, mostly spent in the pool and ocean. 

I miss it.

Florida (September 12)

Just a few pictures of the kids getting ready for the big wedding day....

Florida Videos

Florida (September 10-11)

I will get to posting all of the Florida pics from my real camera. So here's a start. The first couple days spent at the beach, in the ocean, and at our pool. The boys loved the waves.

It took Harlow a little longer to get used to the ocean waves. She preferred to stay up in the sand and beach chairs. And the girl was obsessed with airplanes flying over us. She pointed out each and every one.

The pool at our house was a loved by everyone! Paxton learned to do flips into the pool, and Hudson learned somersaults under the water. I have short videos of both that I'll have to post too. 

The boys found some fun pets to play with, little itty-bitty frogs. Sometimes they were living frogs, other times they were dead frogs, but they loved them all the same. Hudson even got into the business of selling them. Pretty sure he made some money off of Sheri who can't say no to anything. I think she paid 50 cents for a dead one. Good work Hudsy!

ValleyScare

In the past, we've had great luck with the weather on the day we pick for ValleyScare, but this year was a different story. We delayed the trip a bit because of rain, and went to lunch first. There was a pretty consistent mist but we braved it out and headed to the park. I'm pretty sure none of the kids cared a bit, but I kept saying I felt like it was bad parenting at it's best. Taking three runny nosed and coughing kids out in the wet cold, all in the name of fun and tradition! But they never complained and they had a blast!
Our first time through the new Dinosaurs Alive exhibit. Very cool! A must see.

She is THE happiest girl on rides! Such a big smile, almost looks painful.

Frankenstein and Dracula. Hudson is the only one who'd get close enough for a picture.

There weren't many rides she could go on, but I took her on all of them. Even the ones that went round and round and round and round, like these balloons. I wouldn't deny her anything that gives her that happy smile.

This was Hudson's first time on this "big kid ride". Him and Sid were both a little nervous but they braved it out together. I told Hudson that Mommy would go with him if he wanted to, and he insisted on going with Sidney.

She ran up to every Peanuts character and wrapped her little arms around them like they were going to be the best of friends. I may have had a weepy moment and teared up just a bit.

Just a little snippet of Harlow.....

(And yes, that's a black eye. Her face had an unfortunate incident with Paxton's foot while he was swinging. I think it goes great with her personality.) 

Sever's Corn Maze '13

Every year we go to at least one Fall festival, and this year was Sever's Corn Maze. All three kids had a blast running around; jumping in the corn pit, bouncing on the "big pillows", watching a magic show, climbing all over the train, and feeding some very hungry animals.

No surprise here, Sister loved the corn pit. She loves anything that gives her some freedom and gets her a little dirty.

Big cheesy smiles!!

A little help from Daddy.This picture, that face, melts me.

Bouncing boys.

She ran through the mini-corn maze and found her way back out. She was one proud little girl and it showed!

Hudson was certain to feed every single animal in the petting zoo. After he fed one, he would kindly ask them to move aside and make room for the next one to eat, telling them, "You have to share with your friends."

Crazy train conductor. I'd highly recommend no one ever get on anything this girl is driving. She's bound to crash!

Pac's 1st Day of Preschool

Paxton Hunter went to his very first day of preschool on Monday (he missed the first two weeks when we were in Florida). He has been anticipating this day for awhile now, knowing he's going to Hudsy's school, that his teacher is Ms. Schugel the same as his brother's, that he gets to bring the backpack he picked out, and wear his super cool new school shoes. I was a little anxious about the day because he had been asking (over and over) if I would stay with him at school, but he understood that I'd be dropping him off and coming back to pick him up when it was over. A few weeks prior, I could tell he was nervous. He gets shy and uncomfortable in new situations and that was exactly how I thought he'd be. But the night before school started he proclaimed, "I won't be afraid." AND HE WASN'T!!! He was excited, could not wait! He knew I'd be picking him up from daycare after he ate lunch, but even so, his daycare sheet said, "Paxton asked me several times if it was time for his mommy to come and get him from school. His mind was occupied by school and he couldn't even pay attention long enough to play toys. And I've never seen him eat his lunch so fast." And when I got there to get him, HE WAS READY, in every aspect of the word. Shoes and backpack on, and smiling from ear to ear, waving bye to his friends letting them know he was going to school but he'd be back again.

And he walked into that school proudly. Like he belonged there. Leaving me in his dust.

I asked him to wait so I could take a couple pictures and he kindly obliged. Such a little boy next to that big school full of education, new experiences and opportunities, and new friends!

It takes my breath away a bit, that my middle is going to school.

But look at him, my sweet sweet boy. He was so ready for this, to do something on his own, for the spotlight to be on him. He was so proud. He hung his backpack in his locker, I reminded him again that I'd be back to pick him up when school was over, and he started walking away from me saying, "Okay, I'll just play with my new friends then." And he was gone. No kiss, no tears, no questions, just freedom. Complete opposite of his big brother's first day of 3 year old preschool (I had to rip myself out of his arms as he cried for me to stay with him). I walked out of that classroom with proud tears streaming down my face. It is a conflicting feeling, to be so proud of your baby and at the same time have so much fear for him, of all the terrible things that could happen to him. But he's growing up, he's independent, and he's loving it.

When I picked him up and asked him a million questions about his day, he didn't get mad at me like Hudson often does, but he couldn't answer a single thing..."Did you go to gym?"- I don't know. "Did you have snack?" I don't know. "What are your friends' names?"- I don't know. "Did you tell your teacher you were Hudson's brother?" -Yea. No. Well, I think so. "What is this picture you made?" -I don't know. "Do you want to go back to school again?" -YES!!!!!!!! Alright, good enough.