Halloween

My three E's turned into a Ninja, and Abby Cadabby and Elmo. We took Wes with us, who was also a ninja to Boo at the Zoo. It was so much fun! Happy Halloween.

Happy Halloween & A Vent

I love this picture, Ella thought Evan looked so funny.

Friday morning I decided that the babies in fact, should dress up. I know nothing like those last minute decisions that drives my husband crazy. And getting out with the twins to "run into" the store, just isn't possible. Ella had her Kitty Cat onesiee that I'd planned for her to wear anyway and Evan was going as Batman, so making a Robin costume shouldn't be that difficult.

Of course, Wal-Mart would have what I needed! I talked Clay into taking a few minutes out of his work day before he went to the Y, to sit in the car with the babies while I ran into Wal-Mart to get a green shirt and a red shirt. I couldn't either!! ARRGGHH! I quickly went back out and sweet-talked him into going to Kmart with me! There I found a green Christmas shirt, and a red soccer shirt. SCORE! A little felt and Robin it is!

The kids had a great time trick-or-treating around the square for truck-or-treat.

Careful...Here's my vent...

I know you couldn't possibly care that Clay sat in the car at Wal-Mart and K-Mart...everyone just wants to know what the kids dressed as for Halloween, right!?!? Well, I guess I just needed to vent about how complicated my life seems right now. Yes, it's great...but majorly complicated none the less.

With that said, I must add... I'm so happy and so thankful for the life that I lead as Mommy to my beautiful Three Es!

Just to vent...here's what it's like going to the store... You see just to "run in" and "run out" of the store requires way to much effort to be possible. You can't possibly get two babies in and out of anything quickly!

First there's finding a parking space near a buggy (which is always miles from the store) then there's getting the buggy, and the buggy cover, then there are two car seats to unbuckle, two babies to get out and put in the buggy, two toys, two pacifiers, a diaper bag to get, then we push towards the store...oh...wait did I get my wallet...No...let's go back out to the van.

We finally arrive into the store and we are immediately bombarded with, "Awe, Are they twins?" No, I want to answer, but instead, I patiently smile and say yes and then wait for the next question about twins. It is as if people have never seen twins before. Okay, I know...mine are super cute...but still.

We laugh with our twin friends (those who have twins) as we call it Twin Swarm. At first, it's sweet and cute but when you are in Wal-Mart on the bread aisle and already you've been stopped by 3 women and you have to get to the dog food section, you realize that it's gonna take you awhile.

Each time, you've answered the same questions...Who was born first, Do twins run in the family, (that question can get a whole other vent going but not today) How much did they weigh, Who's the dominate twin, and listened to the same comments...You've sure got your hands full, Double Trouble, and about how their 3rd cousin was a twin. Plus the occasional person, who wants to argue with you about them being twins and says, "But they can't be twins, they don't look alike." YES, people say that...more than you would think! Okay, can they really be that dumb? Sorry, forgive me that was incredibly rude.

So do us a favor, when you see cute twins in the store...JUST SMILE, MAYBE SAY HELLO, BUT KEEP WALKING!!!! We (all parents of cute multiples) beg you! I had a long conversation about with a friend of mine last weekend, who also has boy/girl twins. LOL

All the while, just to leave the house and go to the store means, we MUST skip a feeding which totally throws us off of our schedule!!!

Then you throw in all sorts of extras if Evan is with us, like, "Evan hold the buggy, don't let go, No, we aren't buying anything for you," etc., plus trying to include him when the idiots ewe and awe over the babies and totally ignore him. How do you think that makes a five year old feel? It totally irritates his Mommy that's for sure.

Okay, I'm better now! To quote Kate Gosselin, Mom of twins and sextuplets..."It might be a crazy life, but it's our life!" (and I add ) And we love it!!

The Pumpkin Patch

We had a great time visiting The Pumpkin Patch in Stockbridge. A visit to the he pumpkin patch brings back many special memories. We took Evan there, his first fall home. Evan was so small, just barely two years old. Now he's been back and the twins have been for their first fall as well. At only $4 per person, it makes for a great cheap outing. It will be an annual trip for sure.

It was a very windy, yet beautiful, bright, sunny shiny day!

I've been denying it, but I'm slowly starting to admit, that it is impossible to get smiles out of three kids and even more impossible to get five good smiles out of a family of five. LOL

Evan picked out a pumpkin while we were there. Evan wanted to carve a Scary Ghost!!

The Babies, while we carved the pumpkin.

The finished project.

Evan is so excited about roasting the pumpkin seeds tonight!!! Every year, he looks forward to eating them!

Halloween Ideas???

Okay...I'm at a loss trying to come up with cute, inexpensive, and easy to make costume ideas for the kids. I would love for all three E's to match but I've got a feeling that Evan will want to do his own thing, which is fine. Thus leaving me with matching ideas for the babies. Here are a couple of ideas, but not loving them...

Thing 1 and Thing 2
Princess and Frog
Egg and Chicken
Two Peas in a Pod

Got any ideas???

Trick-Or-Treat

Buzz Lightyear..."To Infinity and Beyond"

Wesley, Evan, Emily

Evan proudly shows off his "I want Candy" Halloween

pajamas and his Bat Pumpkin that we carved.

Happy Halloween...yes we participate in Halloween. Here's my chance to vent on the subject. This year we experienced a bit of controversy over the matter. Some people do not believe that we [Christians] should participate in this "pagan holiday" and they are entitled to their opinion. However, that opinion was brought up to Evan by an adult who teaches him once a week. I don't pass judgement on anyone who chooses not to participate in the fun as we do, but I do not wish for judgement to be passed onto my family for our "opinion" on the night. Evan was told that "we don't talk about Halloween in school or church" Jee, that's funny...at our church we do!!! This was very confusing to a 4 year old. Also, he was told that we should do something else other than trick-or-treat...like go to a movie. It was also said that we shouldn't participate in Halloween because we won't do it in heaven, but who says that we will celebrate birthdays or anniversaries in heaven. All of this could cause him to question the moral decision that we as parents have chosen to be okay for our family, which is the part that really burns me up.

Our opinion of the "Holiday" is that it's okay to participate in the fun and be amongst the trick-or-treaters....Every year our church sets up in 3 neighborhoods where we invite everyone to jump on a moon walk while we give out cotton candy, pop-corn, glowsticks, candy, and information about our church...the moon walk gives us an opportunity to talk to the parents and let them know why we do what we do...but I guess that's not a "good thing". I believe that an email sent out by our pastor articulates the way that I feel very well...so enough venting by me. Here it is..

I am not a Halloween alternative type-of-guy. I have no problem with churches providing such things (events). So I cast stones at no one. For me, the point of John chapter one ( John 1:14 in particular), is the concept that God came to us and “dwelt among” us. This is what Jesus came to do. I sincerely believe in my heart if we were to ask ourselves the clichéd question, “What would Jesus do?” the answer would be, He would get in the middle of trick-or-treaters, and reveal the glorious love of The Father. Jesus, I do not believe, would have boycotted “that pagan holiday” or provided an alternative with the condition that no costumes are to be worn. No, I believe he would have seen crowds of people gathering and recognized an opportunity to bring love and grace right in the middle of it. He would be making no judgments, condemnation, or accusations. Rather, He would look at the crowds with compassion, seeing them as “sheep without a shepherd.” AND HE WOULD ENJOY THEM! God loves and enjoys His creation.

In our effort to do ministry the way Jesus did, we have made every effort to put the “dwell among” concept into practice. Wednesday night, our “Community Connect” project accomplished that very principal. Many of you invested time dwelling among trick-or-treaters in one of three neighborhoods. I had a wonderful time talking to adults and children who were blown away at our church’s generosity. Many parents sent there children to seek me out simply to say thank you. To all who donated their time and resources to help us be in the middle of the crowd, saying, “Come and see,” (like Jesus did)…thank you for your efforts. Every bag of candy donated, every bag stuffed, every minute spent serving is very much appreciated. For those of you who did not get the opportunity to be involved in the hands-on part of the ministry, mark it for next year on your calendar and try to arrange it. Halloween is usually on the 31st. You will be glad you did!