Nick Turns 10!

Yup, this guy is about to be 10!  the face says it all - cannot believe 10 years ago he graces us with his presence and turned us into Parents.  What a sweet, caring, sensitive and understanding kiddo.  So often I catch you doing the right thing and i cant say i could love you any more!

So as a labor of love and our birthday gift to you - we Transformed your room.  This trundle bed was supposed to be temporary - it served a good purpose for when you had friends and family visiting.  Now it was time to move it on.

Amazed we finished this while you were at school!  Dad helped in the morning time and Oma Sue was there for the afternoon portion

Love how your room turned out

A little more space for stuff.

Wait, who's birthday is it?  Nick isn't driving yet right?!?!

Chris finally purchased his truck - he had wanted one for years - Since he started with C&H - yet he waited wanting to get 'life' off the ground and make sure we were profitable.  So here is his reward.

I must say, he looks great in it!

On Friday for Nick's birthday we had 5 kids come off the bus (including Nick!)  

My mom was there initially and helped video him seeing his new bed - All that work and a sweet reaction from him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAuBOe9ahtc

Chris was off at a UCONN football game with 40 other Canton dads - so I bravely took on 5 boys - they were having a blast but had odd numbered teams - so we called in the ringer!  Ben - love that he join us so seamlessly - All these guys want to do it play.  Can you see Ryan back there??

Thankfully my folks had Drew and Shane was getting a sleep over of his own at Luciano's house - every little bit helps!

here they are partially tuckered out after a few games of capture the flag.  We watched goosebumps and I asked them to be quiet by 11:30.  Needless to say, that was the hardest part.  I literally stood by the door frame asking them to stop talking. 

 Finally Chris came home and said exactly that - stop talking...  and they did!!  Amen!

Waffle Breakfast time!

A few more shenanigans before its time to head home

Nice morning to head back outside to play soccer - with the Chickens of course.

That night we celebrated his birthday family style - I have to admit, my folks absolutely saved me here.  The made stroganoff (my childhood favorite) and Strawberry Rhubarb pie - Nick's favorite. and we had a wonderful family Dinner - thank you mom and dad!  Happy Birthday Nick!!

Sweet how he saves opening Nicolas's gift for last.  Love that they stay connected if only once a year.

https://youtu.be/iwU3Luk4Iwg

I think he really felt the love all weekend long and he truly expressed it - Chris and I have to keep reminding ourselves in the sea of chaos and the boys - he really is a sweet soul.
Love you Nick!

Halloween

Starting off Monday morning with a bang - cute cards from Oma Sue (Halloween is a favorite for her too) and $2!  Talk about burning a hole in their pocket!

A little costume party at school - here is Shane next to his best Buddy Austin - (first buddy that he seems to talk about all the time)  so sweet!

Perfect night for Trick or Treating as you can tell - Look at this awesome crew!

We tried to sell Drew as Tyrone the Horrible (his favorite book and Tyrone was a Dinosaur - I guess some kids said he looked too much like a dragon....he caught on 0 but I still think he looked darling!) Shane brought back him Ninjago Cole costume and Nick hits the originally button with Michael Phelps

Pretty much sums up how I feel most days.

A little Chill dinner before we head out trick or treating

Perfect night - the kids had a blast and got PLENTY of candy.  The girls (Rebecca, Jenny and I) handed out jello shots (one mistakenly to Luciano! - he didn't eat it thankfully - welcome to the hood Barbers!) and had a fairly decent bed time.  I must say, I am impressed by us!

Happy Halloween crew!

Halloween Parade

A while back Patty had a fun idea of doing a Halloween Parade in the neighborhood.  Since Halloween is on Monday it gave us the chance to wear our costumes and enjoy the indulgence that is Halloween.  I was totally impressed by the turn out of kiddos.

We took a second to capture each of the families - he is the sporting crew the Canny's

Next up, the Trumps, I mean the Clintons, Wait, its the Perkins!  Love love love their costumes

New to the neighborhood the Barbers!  It was their first neighborhood party!

We grandfathered Meg and her beautiful girls into the 'hood'  Loved the little reindeer.

Here are the hosts for this year too!

I had to indulge and snap a quick photo with Hilary.  Seriously, both of them had the costumes and mannerisms down!  

We had a surprise visit from the Sarmucks - Patty's folks

The kids really didn't know what to think

Now for the parade right?!

Most of us walked, but of course Hillary got a ride =)!

Of all the games, we had to bring back the donut eating contest - a new crowd favorite

Impossible to resist!

Fun night prepping for Halloween and getting the neighborhood together!

Soccer Jamberry

I remember the first year moving here and doing the jambery, Nick was on Rec league, Shane was Kindi Clinic and Drew man was Drew man.  I was amazed by the spread of the weekend and had minimal personal invluedment.  Well this year I looked forward too it!!  Hoping it would be beautiful weather - it was!!

Here we are at Shane's game.

Love that he was on Team Germany - He enjoyed the season with Chris and Tim coaching.  Played great oo which is really all we can hope for!

Go Shane!

The agility course was where our kiddos spent the ENTIRE day - I look forward to the day they are running the obstacle course for other kiddos!

Drew's quick 30 minute game - where he rocked the house!

Nick had a game later that afternoon too and I don't have any photos of it, because I curse my battery - however I hate the great one from his weathersfield game.

Here are some more great ones from the South Windsor Tournament too - curtsey of Yvonne!

I gotta say, nick loved playing travel soccer and I would say it had everything to do with the kiddos, the coaching and HIS desire to get better.  He LOVED practice, tried harder and truly had a blast!  We loved watching him play too!

Another photo courtesy of Yvonne!

Its Halloween weekend remember - after their games. my dad took Shane and Drew to meet up with my mom for the annual Hob goblin at Roaring Brook - an event that I love that she is a part of.  The dudes were happy to go and honestly there is something insanely sweet about drew in this photo.  I can never say enough about how much he loves his time with Oma Sue.

The owl is by far my favorite costume. - Love Drew's participation grin.

The costumes clearly make the afternoon.

Thanks Mom for having them be part of this afternoon with you!!

First Snow

Yup - its snowed A LOT - way more than I anticipated for a chilly Thursday in October.  I had told Nick that Tate and Ryan could come off the bus as we could take them all to their soccer practice - than than this happened and their was no soccer practice.....

Honestly it was beautiful - slushy but beautiful.  I got to meet Rachel for Tea and to discuss IF gathering rolls and I LOVED driving in it.

The boys loved playing in it too - although I don't have any photos as I was jumping trying to outfit them with boots, gloves and jackets (later socks) since we were all rather unprepared!!

Fall photo - Star of the week - wait for it... pumpkin patch

"Life moves pretty fast, if you do't stop and look around once in a while - you might miss it."

Line that resonated with me from Ferris Bueller's day off -  and case in point with this tree!

Fall is BEAUTIFUL in New England and one of my favorite times of year.  I vowed to take a walk - to soak it in  - to this moment I have no idea where the time went, but I am thankful for this one photo

And this photo of what I consider our beautiful downtown Collinsville

I came back from VA with 2 mini projects - a little bathroom storage.  Took these photos for Diane as we were trying to inspire each other. 

Serves as a good reminder that I can accomplish a few things here and there.

Oh yes, and in all this October Excitement  - Rodan and Fields had their convention in Vegas (I hate Vegas) and while I wanted to be sitting on the couch with Megan and Team RealLife - RealLife took other turns,  But the up and up was, the launch of Lash Boost - A rocking Lash treatment!

Nick's project with Tate and Ryan - they got together a few times after school to knock this one out.  Tate is the only one with a name tag.  I title this - lost on a boat - AKA - 3 boys that want to knock out the project and than play football.

I can't help but do a little comparison looking =)!

Sometimes this kid knocks my socks off.  He is 5 making his own PBJ - this didn't last as long as I hoped it would...

And than he scored star of the week.  A time when he gets to share all about what its like to be Drew! And I got to see it all on Wednesday when I get some special time in class.

The Wednesday before Halloween with NO BODY PUMP on Halloween I had to take this great photo.  NO only were the all wearing the part - but I loved the almost matching Skulls.  Thankful for Body pump even though it tests my stress level every now and again.

This is what we look like at 7:15 when its time to check the chickens and Drew has a new pair of ski google that Nick must try.  (I have a new pair of ski boots too - but you don't see me wearing them!)

The HIGHLY anticipated Pumpkin Patch photo!!  Yup, here it it!  Late night at Big Y!  Grab your pumpkins boys - we must rush home and carve them - its almost Halloween!

'Shane noticed this gem one morning while we were standing at the bus stop - a Sun ray just on these trees. - captured.