Trick or Treat

Just got back from Sharon's house about 45 minutes ago.  Eli ended up with way too much candy (I'll need to help him get rid of it).  There were two or three houses that were really scary for little kids.  Eli didn't want to go anywhere near them...didn't even want to walk past them.  He was afraid to sleep in his room tonight, so as I type this, Shelby is laying with him in our bed.  When I go to bed later, I'll move him to his bed.  Poor guy. 

Mom doing her own trick or treating.

A Year Ago Today - October 31, 2009

Last Halloween, we went to Sharon's house and that's the plan for tonight as well.  Eli and I went to church this morning and he got to "Trunk or Treat" there, but he can't wait until tonight.  He keeps asking me how much longer before we can go to Sharon's house.  Here are some pictures from last year:

 

Eli's Costume

After changing his mind about 30 times, Eli finally decided on a costume for this Halloween.  He is a Ninja skeleton.  He says he is a good ninja and only kills bad guys.  We went to a Harvest Festival at a local church today.  He was very excited about being able to wear his costume.  To my surprise, he kept it on all night and held his bag and sword.  Normally, Shelby or I would end up carrying all of his stuff.  We walked around the festival for a while and they had a 'trunk or treak' so Eli was able to get some candy.  They also had a car and motorcycle show in the parking lot and one of the biker guys let Eli sit on his motorcycle so I could take a picture.  Check out his cool costume:

We are going to Sharon's house tomorrow night to go trick or treating.  When I was putting him to bed tonight, I reminded him about that and he said, "I love going to Sharon's house because I can see all the other kids and it's fun."

Carving Pumpkins

We finally got around to carving pumpkins last night.  Eli was so excited about it, he called me at work yesterday asking if I was on my way home yet...it was 10am.  As usual, we had a lot of fun doing this. 

I'm not sure why Eli was going shirtless, but he refused to put on a shirt.  It was unseasonably warm.

Of course, Shelby had to get all creative on us again.  Very cool design.

Eli being silly for the camera

The cuts and slashes in Eli's pumpkin are on purpose.

The final product



A Year Ago Today - October 25, 2009

A year ago today, Sara, Shelby, Eli, and I went to a pumpkin patch.  We rode in trailer pulled by a tractor if I remember correctly.  One thing I do remember very clearly is that on our way up to the pumpkin patch on the trailer, we had to go around a very large garbage dump.  It was a good time and we picked out a pumpkin for each of us and carved them the next day.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Eli stayed with Sara Saturday night.  She took him to some event for kids at Xavier.  Then she took him to the zoo this morning. 
When she brought him home today, Eli, Shelby, and I went to a pumpkin patch.  We went to Neltner's Farm in Alexandria.  We went there a couple of years ago and liked it, so we thought we'd try it again.  It was much better this year.  They had animals to pet, food and drinks, hay rides to the actual pumpkin patch, and even a band.  We decided that we will probably keep going back to this pumpkin patch going forward.  We walked around for a while and of course I had a hot mett with sauerkraut.  We bought some apples and then headed for the pumpkins.  Shelby picked out hers and Eli picked out mine and his.  We ran out of time today so we're going to carve them tomorrow night.





Eli being silly

Eli being silly...again

Eli being cute

The Case of the Flying Penis

One of the back roads that we travel on to get to our house has a fairly steep hill.  When Eli is in the car, I usually speed up just enough right at the top of the hill to get the roller coaster effect.  Today, Eli, Shelby, and I were coming home from the pumpkin patch and I sped up at the top of the hill.  I looked back at Eli and he was reading a book and gave no indication that he even realized we just went over the big hill.  When we pulled into the garage, he put his book down and said, "Daddy, remember when we just went down the big hill?  If felt like my penis was flying."  The three of us laughed so hard.

Last Soccer Game of the Season

Eli ended the season strong.  He was aggressive today and played great.  He was happy that he got to play the whole game and didn't have to sit out at all.

Another medal to add to his collection

Renaissance Festival 2010

Eli, Shelby, and I went to the Renaissance Festival today.  It was a perfect day for it...not too hot.  Before we even walked in the gate, Eli was on a mission to buy a helmet.  We looked at just about every shop and couldn't find a helmet that he liked.  Then he saw a 5' spear and had to have it.  So, that's what he ended up with...completely forgetting about the helmet. 

Mommy and Eli posing with the spear

I asked Eli to show me his dragon-slaying stance...

After the festival, we went to Cracker Barrel to eat.

He is just cute!

 When we first get there, Eli asked me what this was.  I explained that it was a game and how it worked.  About a minute later, he ended up with only 2 tees left!

Identity Crisis

We've had our dog, Cooper, for two years now.  We got him from the Campbell County animal shelter.  On his papers from the animal shelter, it said he was a Boxer mix.  Since then, we've had a lot of people, including veterinarians, say that they thought he was full Boxer.  So, that's what we've been going with for two years.  Over the past year or so, he has really filled out and is bigger than every other Boxer that we've seen.  We put him on a diet about six months ago because of his weight gain.  I don't think he's lost a single pound in those six months...and now, we may know why. 
Shelby and Eli took Cooper to the dog park earlier this week.  Shelby was talking to a lady there who also had a Boxer.  She told Shelby that Cooper may be extra large because he could be a German Boxer.  Shelby looked it up when she got home.  During her research, she came across a dog breed that started in Canada about 60 years ago called a Valley Bulldog.  It is a cross between a Bulldog and a Boxer.  Based on the characteristics of this Valley Bulldog (size, description, temperment, etc.), we think this is what Cooper is.  We put the poor dog on a diet because we thought he was a fat Boxer!




Cooper




Valley Bulldog Photo



Valley Bulldog Photo



What do you think???

Shelby Made a Little Lamb

If you know Shelby, you know she is creative.  In fact, she is the most creative and talented person I know.  It is amazing how she can visualize the finished product before she even starts making it.  She made this lamb for Sara for her baby shower.  She made it from material she had laying around her sewing/craft room (it also doubles as Cooper's bedroom).  I don't remember how long it took her to make this, but I remember thinking it wasn't nearly as long as I thought it should take to make something this detailed.



She also made this bag and card from scratch!