Family Day

We had a very pleasant day with the boys today! I dare say it was very close to the kind of day a "normal" family has together. And frankly, if it isn't, I don't want to know.

We spent the early afternoon at the park where Rich and I sat on a bench and just watched the boys play on an "old school" merry go round. ("Old school" is Noah's new favorite term for anything he considers not new.) The boys played very nicely together, and when a little girl came to play Noah was very considerate of her.

I took another butt ton load of pictures of the boys.

Speaking of butts...

I commented to Rich how far we have come as parents over the years. There was a time like three weeks ago when he would have freaked out by the daredevil stunts Noah was performing.

They way I see it, at least we had a couple good hours and some photographic proof before we had to go to the ER if one of them did break.

 

Why yes, I do like to dress them alike.

I really like this one with the leaves coming down on him.

 I love my  handsome men.

After the park we went and bought our Christmas tree.

(I haven't figured out how to deal with shadow and light on my camera yet. Should I be able to Photoshop those bright patches?)

We bought the first tree we saw, although I still had to look at every other tree on the lot. Rich choked a bit when he saw the price, but he agreed it was the perfect tree, and with some arm twisting gave in. Of course it grew while it was on top of the van on its way home, because it didn't fit by the time we got it home. We had to take a good six inches off the top. I think it's gorgeous though.

It still needs a little adjusting (obviously) since it's listing a bit to the left. Maybe I shouldn't put vodka in the tree stand.

We haven't finished putting the ornaments on it, and I need to fix the "clumping," which all three of the boys/men are guilty off. Honestly, Rich is as bad as the boys. And I know it's him because it is too high up for Noah or Kiel. Oy, you'd think the man was Jewish or something...

Anyway, that reminds me of a little survey I did on here last year, about decorating. I know I have new readers since last year, so do me a solid and weigh in on it. (I wonder if Blogger has a survey plug in.)

A Christmas Tree Decorating Poll

If you have kids and a Christmas tree, please answer the following poll.

When decorating your Christmas tree you:

A.  leave everything exactly where your kids hang it, even if 2/3 of the ornaments are on the same 1/7 of the tree. You would never do anything to stifle their creative nature, right?

B.  let your kids have their fun then go back and rearrange things when they aren't looking. You don't want to hurt their feelings, but damn, 2/3 of the ornaments on the same 1/7 of the tree is lopsided and makes you a bit twitchy.

C.  carefully direct the placement of each ornament. Thank goodness you have kids that actually listen and follow directions, right?

D.  convince the children that there is a tree decorating fairy and one morning they will wake up and magically the tree will be decorated, then you do it yourself after they are asleep. Because OMFG, 2/3 of the ornaments on the same 1/7 of the tree! Do I need to say anymore?

E. ornaments? Are you crazy? My monsters broke all of ours ages ago.

Show and Tell - of the pumpkin patch variety

We all went to the pumpkin patch, to see what we could see.

We saw corn, and gourds, and lots and lots of pumpkins.
What we didn't want to see though was the camera. Please boys, look at me!
Noah had a lot to teach Kiel about picking the perfect pumpkin.


It is very important to be able to lift it over your head!

And of course it must make a good seat.

Almost Wordless Wednesday - of the apple picking variety

Last weekend we went apple picking.
Kiel got down to business.

And picked his very first apple.

And then he ate his very first apple.

And it was good.

Very, very good.

So good he offered to share.

Noah is an old apple picking pro.

Even when the apples are almost as big as his head.

Sometimes the best ones are way up high.

And sometimes you don't even have to get your butt off the ground.

And then Kiel checked out his first pumpkin.

No one told him about the pointy part.

Or that you could ride it like a horse.

Noah's favorite part is anything he gets to do with Daddy.

Show and Tell - Adventure Aquarium

Friday we went to Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. It was so crowded!


I guess every other family had the same idea we did, to try and fill up one more day before school started.

Noah had a blast, and over all he handled himself really well. Especially considering how crowded and noisy it was. I was proud of him!

Here he is petting the sharks.

My favorite part was watching the hippo's in the water. They were so amazing! Such huge animals swimming like dolphins. I loved how they get right up to the glass and look at you.

Kiel thought it was pretty cool too.