School Halloween Parade

Friday afternoon the boys had their school Halloween parade and party. I had a mom fail moment where I was 10 minutes late to drop off their costumes and Beck was standing in the middle of the room looking like he was about to cry, bundled in his coat. His teacher Miss Johnetta (to the left in the class group pictures) was on the room phone calling me in a panic. Thankfully the costume arriving saved the day. In Theo's class there were almost as many adults as children, so I went on the parade with Beckett's class even though I'm room parent for Theo's class. It was really fun to see all the kids and parents and teachers, and great to see the kids celebrating the holiday together.

The pirate to the left of Beckett is the boys' good friend Walter. Then there's Juliesa (Doc McStuffins) and I think Anthony next to her.

I walked part of the parade with Theo's class. Theo has two costumes, one Olaf and one Raphael (a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) and he went with Olaf for the class parade and party because they didn't want kids wearing masks. It turned out to be a totally awesome decision on his part because of all the little girls dressed as Elsa (also from Frozen, for those not into Disney) who wanted to take their picture with Olaf. Theo was the only Olaf I saw, so really we should congratulate Theo on his stealthy ways with the women. Above is Theo with his friend Johnny the cowboy. Then his friend Lucas photobombed below.

Beckett and Walter walking with their friend Kieran.

Eating!

So lately Reed has been getting really grumpy around mealtimes, especially dinner. Last week, on a whim, I decided to give him a piece of bread to see what he'd do with it. He continued crying more frantically until... the food hit his lips, at which point he started madly sucking. Turns out the kid was hungry. You wouldn't know it by looking at his thighs. So we started doing food just at dinner (greek yogurt, applesauce, rice cereal) and then today he was screaming at breakfast until I sat him down and he started sucking down applesauce and rice cereal.

Neighborhood Halloween Parade

Introducing Raphael (a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, AKA Theo), Superman (AKA Beckett), and baby Robin (AKA Reed). Sunday afternoon we met up with Mama Sara and Preston (dressed as Darth Vader) to march in the Strathmore Neighborhood Halloween Parade and then go to the afterparty at the Firebarn in the Park. Theo and Beckett saw a few friends from school and we saw some neighbors and friends, and thankfully the sun came out just in time for the start of the parade! After cider and cupcakes and chili and candy with our neighbors, the boys had some fun chasing each other in the park.

Brotherly love

MoST trip

We hadn't been to the MoST in a while (probably since last winter) so after school on Friday we took a short trip. Driving the helicopter and jets are the coolest part but we also got a lot more out of the air traffic control tower exhibit than we had before, and spent a while at the funhouse mirrors, laughing and running around. Again, no one else appeared to be at the museum when we were there. Weekday afternoons are the best!

Last weekend the big boys spent a few days with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Greg, so Jeff and I had some time alone with Reed. He did great at our neighborhood Mexican place, Azteca. The big boys had a wonderful time in Johnstown too!

A little bit of Reed

Twin sleeping

 In April the big boys got their own room and their own new twin beds, which someday can become bunk beds. The beds were in an L shape in their room, so Theo slept next to the window facing the backyard, and Beckett slept next to the window facing our neighbor Joe and Kseniya's house. Then sometime during the summer they started both sleeping in Beckett's bed, partly because Theo said he was scared (of the dark, of being "alone", of having bad dreams) and partly because they like being close to each other. This continued on-and-off despite Beck's cast. Then in mid-August they decided they wanted their beds right next to each other. They have been sleeping this way since then. Beck has to climb over Theo's bed at bedtime, and when one occasionally wets the bed, it's difficult to change the sheets (especially when it is Beckett). They also end up gravitating toward each other while they sleep. Sometimes it's Beck who migrates toward the crack of the bed and ends up with his head on Theo's mattress or pillow, and sometimes it's Theo who is wedged over next to Beck. Here their heads were actually touching.

For the two weeks or so they're back to sleeping in the same bed. We've moved the beds apart so they don't have to climb over the empty bed to get to their shared bed.

Apple picking with Leah

Last Monday, on Columbus Day, we spent the afternoon with dear friend Leah at not one, but two apple picking hotspots. First we were spooked by the traffic coming from the preeminent apple commercial zone that is Beak and Skiff, so we went a mile down the road to favorite spot Navarino's, where we've picked raspberries the last few years. We picked a bunch of crispin and fuji apples there, and took a wagon ride, and goofed off in the (picked over) pumpkin patch. Then, our thirst for fall-themed adventures not yet quenched, we went back to Beak and Skiff to enjoy the carnival atmosphere. The boys played on the slide and in the sandbox (and, I'm somewhat proud to say, appeared to be the last men standing after a battle for meager sandbox toys). They also enjoyed pony rides on their favorite ponies from their last visit there, with Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Stu last year. We ate cider donuts and the adults tasted apple wine and hard cider in the beautiful new tasting room. The boys were happy to saddle right up to the bar and enjoyed multiple free glasses of delicious cider.

We could not tear Beckett away from his cup of cider to pose for the pictures.