Christmas Lights are So Frustrating!

It's always a challenge to make sure all of the Christmas lights are in good working order, isn't it?  I'm forever buying new sets each year.  Frustrating little devils!

I thought we'd "test" some more lights.  Ramsey was my little helper.  Ok, so both of these sets checked out.  Good to know.  Now, to find a place to string them!

 *Sigh*  Ok, so the truer side of this story is that I really wanted a cute photo opp.  I had seen a similar picture like this on Pinterest a long time ago.  I've been wanting to replicate it for a few years and didn't get it done last year!  (Shame on me.)

Ramsey's Serenade

This last weekend was "Holiday Decorating Weekend".  (It was also clean-out-closets-and-fill-Jeep-with-stuff-that-needs-to-go-to-Good-Will weekend.  Ugh!)

Sunday evening, after we'd gotten all of the decorations up and the house looking festive (I was a whole week early this year), Ramsey found his harmonica and decided to serenade us.

Then, he thought he'd give us this [rather awful] rendition! ha!

 He thought he was quite clever.

He was in quite the spirits that day (SOOO excited for Christmas and the tree to be up!). 
While I was cleaning up the house, Ramsey played Minecraft.  I have no idea what the heck was so funny.

What to do on a Holiday Weekend?

In recognition of Veterans' Day (Saturday, the 11th), Eric had the day off on Friday.  So, he and Ramsey hung out. 

Eric decided it was time to introduce Ramsey to Lincoln Logs.   He wanted to build Ramsey a castle.  Ramsey loved that idea!  They went to work with the fun building pieces.

Eric built Ramsey this cabin for Ramsey to play with his Star Wars guys.  Oh, Ramsey was happy!

Eric couldn't find the castle pieces in the box of logs though.

 I found the castle brochure picture and recognized the parts that were missing from the box.  I went and found them and built Ramsey his castle on my lunch break.

 Eric told me that, after I went back to work, Ramsey kissed the castle and said, "I love it so much!"

He also found (and was diggin' on) a squishy dart that Daddy gave him a while back.  We had quite a conglomeration of toys in the Lincoln Log box!

When Connor got home, they hung out on the couch, playing games and such.  They thought it'd be cute to pretend to be asleep.

It was just a few days after Riggsy's 4th birthday, so he hung out on his new dog bed with his stuffed animals.

Kids' School Pics

Ah, the kids' school pics. Or, as we used to call them, "ping pong pictures".  

Yup, that time of the year again.

Connor: Sophomore 

He's growing up into a terrific young man!

Ramsey: Preschool

His first school pics!

Eric and I laughed at Ramsey's little poses at the bottom, wondering "what the heck was he doing?!?".

When I was looking at their website online, all of their model kids have their fingers in their belt loops.  Well, Ramsey didn't have belt loops that day, so.... I guess he just grabbed for fabric. ha!

Fall Family Photos

We hadn't had our family photos taken (by a "professional" - who we have financially reimbursed!) for nearly two years.  Hoping we'd get some beautiful foliage and nice weather, we scheduled the shoot.  Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, we had to reschedule three times!  Finally, on October 8th, the planets finally aligned for us to meet with our photographer, Heather.

We met up at Wylie Park, where they have beautiful trails, cool rustic barns and railroad tracks for rustic backdrops, etc.

We had a few x's against us.  First, it was a WINDY day.  Second, Ramsey was WOUND UP tighter than a drum!  Third... well... I guess that was about it, other than the fact that the "biggest boy" (dear husband) grumbled a bit because he doesn't like picture-taking.  I think he just says it to be a stinker and really doesn't mind it as much as he outwardly portrays!  ...could be wrong?!?  ;-)

I was pleased with the amount of time our photographer took with our family.  She spent a lot of time with the boys - and especially Ramsey.  She's a Mom too and has witnessed how kiddos grow up far too quickly!

And, here they are...
(I did have a little fun with the photos after I received the CD.  I played around with Photoshop and added vignettes, highlights, color pops, etc.  Love me some Photoshop!!!!)

 

The boys took advantage of the atmosphere and tossed leaves.

And Ramsey ran around a bunch... Connor was the designated sibling retriever!

For the shoot, I took along a cherished family heirloom; my Dad's chair from when he was a child (which I also used when I stayed with grandma and grandpa).

The boys were doing actions to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"!

Our lovely photographer had brought her sweet son, Jaxon, along.  He was such a good helper and he was soooo good to Ramsey!  As we were walking back to the car, Heather took this little photo of the boys.  It was so sweet!

Just a Google Photos Movie

Every now and then, my Google Photos app puts a collage, animation, or fun little video compilation together for me.   This little video popped up and I certainly thought it was sweet.  There's footage in here from the last year.   Ramsey looks SO TINY in some of the clips!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween... candy... costumes.... FUN!!!!  As a kid, this was my second-favorite holiday.  It may still be.

Ramsey is now getting to the age where he's EXCITED to go trick-or-treating.

When we asked him what he wanted to dress up as,  he didn't ever say much and seemed disinterested.  So, we decided he'd be Darth Vader, which he happily agreed upon!   To note, he told us (two days before Halloween) that he wanted to be a pumpkin.  Too late, soldier, sorry!  (Also, Dad said "too baby-ish".... wuh wuh wuhhh - my baby is getting big!)

Donned in his Darth Vader outfit, complete with cape, his Darth Vader light-up shoes, his talking Darth Vader mask, and his red light saber, we drove to town to have some fun!

We first stopped at Auntie Shana's salon.   Then, we proceeded to the police department to see Daddy and get candy from everyone!

 After raking in a nice haul at the PD, we went to two different Trunk or Treat locations to get some more sugary vittles.   Our church had Trunkers whose vehicles were decorated in fun and imaginative themes. And, there were also fire engines with fire fighters and police cars with police men giving candy!

 At the second Trunking event we went to, this gal had my favorite decorations.  I thought her scarecrow costume, Fall flowers and such were adorable!

 Then, for the inside fun!  We went to another local church's yearly fall bash.  It had all kinds of fun games for kids, small to big, plus candy, popcorn, and door prizes.

We veered off to the area intended for kids under 4.   Ramsey took part in fishing, "Punch the Pumkin", and other fun games to get candy.  Then, he saw it... the bouncy castle (one of Ramsey's favorite things in the world!).

 He bounced until he was warm and out of breath!

We proceeded into the next romper room, full of fun games, like a hunt for treasure, buried in straw,

 car races,

 a junior obstacle course,

and coloring.

 This Halloween bash was definitely a new tradition we will repeat as long as we can!

Happy Halloween!