10 year Anniversary trip

Our 10 year anniversary isn't technically until February 1st, but since we wanted to go to Kansas City for a Chiefs game, and it's highly unlikely they will still be playing by then, we decided to go to the game this weekend. We originally thought of doing a different, longer trip, but it's hard for us to leave the kids, especially Evie, so we decided to go for the weekend. Maybe I'll be okay leaving the kids in 5 years when we celebrate the big 15.  Lucky for us, Nancy and Victor were willing to come out to St. Louis to watch our kids Saturday and Sunday so we could go without them. Saturday was really nice just being together with no kids, and checking out the city. We went to the BBQ place ranked #1 in KC, and it was really good. I'm still not sure if it was worth waiting over an hour just to order, but I haven't had better pulled pork anywhere else. I'm sure if I were more of a foodie, I'd appreciate it more. We did some shopping, and went to fire on the river. It was really fun, with fire pits floating down the river, and fire twirlers, and a live band on a boat. But mostly it was just fun being with Ben and having his full attention to myself for a change. since we had such a large BBQ lunch, and didn't want dinner, we went out for dessert and watched the world series game. 

On sunday, after breakfast, Ben decided he needed to take advantage of the free face painting in our hotel lobby. 

We decided to walk to the stadium from our hotel about 3 hours before the game started. He kept getting more excited the closer we got. 

I really don't know that I've ever seen him so happy.

I was excited too. 

Here he is kicking a field goal at the budweiser station. He made his second attempt, and was so proud! And since I signed up to be a designated driver, I got all my beverages at the game for free. 

This was a throwing game. Ben made 3 out of 4, and won a shirt. I was surprised that I made 1 of 4. Definitely didn't expect to be able to make it at all. 

Ben's first time in arrowhead stadium. They kept reminding us on the screen that it is the loudest stadium in the NFL. We were in the first row, and it was fun to watch all the goings on before the game, that you wouldn't normally notice. 

The team warming up.

The new coach. Ben really likes him, though he doesn't seem to be doing too great a job so far. 

We were so close to the field. When we went in Seattle, we were in the front row too, but it was higher up, so you couldn't quite hear what was going on. But here, we were barely up a few feet, and could see and hear everything. 

It was really so much fun. We sat next to a guy in a sombrero, and everyone was shouting at him to sit down, and one guy even started throwing popcorn! but when Ben got back to our seats, he told them, we are standing, and they should stand up too, if they want to see, and they didn't throw any popcorn after that. Another reason it's good to have a large, intimidating man around. The Chiefs lost, and the second half wasn't as exciting as the first, but we still had so much fun, and can't wait to go again!
One last cheerleader shot. 

Last night, Ben made a tiny hamburger for Evie, and wanted a picture of it, so here ya go!

Trunk or Treat and school parade!

Ben has been bugging me to take pictures of the trees behind our house. I know I have some from about a week before this one was taken, but can't seem to find them today.

Last wednesday was Kiersten's costume parade at school. She dressed up like a purple flower. She calls her costume "Purple posey". 

All the parents lined up along the sidewalk to give them candy. The red crayon to the left is her teacher. 

The 2 year olds got to watch the parade, but not participate, which was heart breaking for poor Evie.

On Friday, Kara and Kiersten were so excited for Nancy's family to arrive. I had to keep thinking of things for them to do to pass the time. So I decided to let them make caramel apples. 

Kiersten asked me to take a picture to show off her spider hair do. She said everyone at school was afraid of her. 

spooky halloween faces. 

I pre-cut the apples, and let the girls skewer them. I wouldn't do it again, as it was ridiculously hard to get the caramel to stick to the cut side. 

Once I had the caramel on, they dipped them in sprinkles. 

They tasted fine, but the caramel melted off by the end of the night. 

Once Victor and Nancy showed up, we all went over to the church for trunk or treat. Ben took pictures of the kids while I decorated the trunk, but all the pictures came out super blurry. Whitney is the little ghost in the white tutu, and Kara is in the blue jump suit. You can also see Tommy there behind Nancy. 

He was just adorable in his little ghost outfit, and Keirsten dressed up in her purple posey costume again. 

Since Kara couldn't find a batman costume she liked, she decided to be captain America. As unexcited as I originally was about that, she looked really cute. 

Evie slept/cried through most of the fun, so here she is in her Minnie Mouse costume back at home. She threw a royal fit when I took her costume off. 

Hayride and Jack-o-lanterns!

On Saturday we took the kids to a fun hayride in Castlewood Park. We got there a few minutes early, so the kinds played around in the leaves. I don't know why we haven't come here more. It's less than 5 minutes from our house, and just beautiful.

Ready for the ride. It was a fun little ride, along part of the road, and then through a field and over to the boat launch area. Once we got there, we had hotdogs and chili for dinner, and doughnuts and hot chocolate for dessert. 

There was a guy playing the guitar and singing fun songs with the kids, and also a balloon artist. Evie asked him for a moon, but he said he couldn't make that, so he did a ladybug bracelet for her instead. She loved it, but chewed on it on the way home and popped one of the eyes, so I had to take it away from her.

Kiersten was really excited about her pink pony!

And Kara requested a bumble bee. I couldn't get a decent picture of it, because she was determined to have a picture of it stinging her. 

We tried going on a walk in the dark with the girls, but for some reason, Kara was terrified of being attacked by deer. We kept assuring her deer wouldn't attack us, and even if they did, Daddy could easily kick them away, since we don't have very large deer around. But she insisted that her teacher told her deer can stomp people to death. We actually walked right by 4 deer on our way out of the park, and of course, they ran off as soon as we were close. 

After dinner, the kids got to roast marshmallows. I was surprised Evie didn't really care to roast one, or eat much of the one I made for her. but the big girls loved it. We were the first ones to leave, right after the last group of hayriders arrived. But the kids were happy and content, and had done all of the activities, so we headed home to enjoy the rest of the evening. 

Kara and Kiersten talked us into carving pumpkins last night. We kept delaying and postponing, and I was feeling bad about it, so I'm glad they finally got to do it. Kara loved cleaning the guts out of hers, and didn't want any help from me. kiersten just wanted Ben to do it all for her, so she didn't have to get yucky. 

Ben bought a caring kit with glow in the dark paint. So we did partially carved, partially painted pumpkins. Ben and I did the carving, and the girls applied the paint. Kara was a little impatient while I was tracing the area for her to paint, and said, "what's the point of carving pumpkins if I don't even get to do anything?" But all it took was a warning from Ben that she go to bed early, and she was happy to wait. 

the glow in the dark paint turned out not to glow too well. Luckily, Kara's cat cut out looks fine, even if the moon isn't visible. 

But Kiersten's kitty face looked a little weird without being able to see the paint. You can't really tell what it is in the dark. I think maybe they'll glow more tonight, after being in the sun all day. But if not, then Ben will have to do some more carving to Kiersten's so it looks better at night. 

Evie was asleep, so she didn't get to paint her little pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. So I didn't let Kiersten do hers either. Hopefully we'll have time to do them tonight or tomorrow. Though I'm not sure when, as the rest of the week is pretty packed, but I guess we'll just have to make time. 

Pumpkin farm field trip

Kiersten and Evie had their first field trip on tuesday. The 2 year olds weren't supposed to be invited, but the ones with older siblings in the school were able to attend. We went to a pumpkin farm. I didn't get any good pictures of the hay ride, but we sat right up front. Kiersten was very concerned about all the mud coming off the tires, but we were just high enough up to be out of the way. 

Evie was terrified to try out this slide, but once she went down, she loved it. I think it was sitting on the potato sack that was upsetting her. 

Kiersten rode on this zip line over and over. 

They really wanted to ride these tire ponies, but as soon as they got on, Kiersten said, "these aren't as fun as real horses..."

Kiersten's best buddy from next door was there too. Here they are sliding together. 

There were several mazes, and we had little flashlights, but the girls didn't make it through a single one. They'd be in there for a minute or two, and then they'd come back out the entrance, and I wasn't willing to crawl though it. 

Kiersten was actually in this tower for several minutes, and I thought sh'ed figured it out, but kids kept going in and backing right out, saying someone was in there, blocking the way. Sure enough, kiersten came back out, and told me she had gotten stuck, and finally decided to crawl out backward. This would probably be a better activity for Kara's age group. 

We got through the corn maze really quickly. I was surprised, because several moms told me they were stuck in there forever. Evie led the way, and we only hit 2 dead ends, and then came right out. 

They loved this spinning tire. 

I guess I didn't get a very good picture of this pirate ship. The kids really loved it and we played up there for a while. 

We had to wait in a long line for this tire swing, But Kiersten was determined to ride on it. 

This swing had no line, and I think they had a lot more fun on this one. 

After the field trip, I took the girls out for ice cream to use a couple free coupons they had. 

Then, once Kara got home from school, we had their last swim lesson for this session. 

Kara graduated from the clown fish class. Next week she starts with the stingrays. She was so excited because her friend Addison has been in the stingray class, and she thought they'd have lessons together now, but she got moved up a level too, so they'll still be in separate groups.

Kiersten graduated from the tadpoles, and will start the clown fish class next week. I wish I had more of a break from lessons, as tuesdays and thursdays are a mad rush in the afternoons, but Ben really wants them to be swimming better by the time we go on vacation in January. So we'll probably keep them enrolled until then.

On thursday, the girls wanted a halloween project to do, so we made orange rice krispie treats. I hate making them, and rarely do, so it was pretty exciting for all. They are one of Ben's favorite treats, so he was especially happy. Evie got to put in the orange marshmallows. 

I have to really make sure they each get an equal amount of jobs, or someone ends up pouting. 

Evie gets upset regardless. To her, the only fair way is if she gets to do everything.

They were so proud of the finished treats. I was too, since I hardly ever get them right. But this time I didn't cut out any steps, or get impatient with the process, and they turned out pretty good.