Only Treats. :)

Halloween started early this year. 
It started off when I dug out the box of halloween costumes from the box that was (of course) buried way back in our storage unit.
Quite a selection this year, I must say.
My mom LOVES a good sale just as much as I do, so when she showed up with Halloween costumes that she purchased last Novemeber (for 90% off) we both experienced quite the rush!!
Once I got the box out I immediately began playing dress up (yep...with my BOYS). :)
Cale was totally into it....mainly because he has the memory of an elephant and insisted on knowing how many days until Trick or Treating began...but also because he loves to see me excited.
I started with Cale and Shepherd (since T and M were asleep at the time).
Shepherd the Banana with Cale the Fire Cheif:

Cale as Mr. Potato Head:

sorry buddy...Buzz Lightyear ain't gonna work for ya this year... ;)

Then Megersa woke up...
Megersa the Dinosaur (ferocious, no?) ;)

Megersa the Bumblebee:

Megersa the Monkey:

Spiderman Megersa:

And last, but not least baby T joined in on the fun.

Thaddeus the Penguin:

I knew that the twins were going to be Chickens because my mom bought them matching costumes...

But I did ask the boys which costume they preferred.  Cale chose to be the Fireman. Megersa wanted to be the Monkey (because it was the only costume that had a "hat" like Cale's did).

So, with them all dressed up together, I had to TRY to get all of them in a good shot. 

We came close - 75% (Shep doesn't dig the all boy photo shoot like the others do.)

and...that was just dress-up.

I took the boys to a Pumpkin Patch one weekend.  They had a trick-or-treating trail in the wooded area of the field.  It was a fun surprise for the boys to get a jumpstart on the sugary goodness:

((I know my boys aren't really enamored by Super Heros on a regular day-to-day basis...but I was impressed to see all my favorites passing out treats. :))

On Saturday the 29th, the Westview Promenade had Trick or Treating in their stores. 
I had planned on taking the boys even before I checked the weather because I had already missed other opportunities for fun in the area! (I am seriously working on a calendar of things-to-do around here for every holiday.)

I gotta say, it was a little bizarre to wake up in October and see snow falling outside...and lots of it.

BUT, I did promised them...so I busted out the snow suits, boots, hats, gloves and scarves...

Cale's fireman costume was big, so it fit nicely over his winter coat. 

However, Megersa's preference for the monkey costume had to change.  He went as Spiderman because it was super baggy on him and fit perfectly over his snowsuit.

((I was actually quite disappointed that I took the time and energy to bundle everyone out and tromp around in the snow just to end up with about 10 dum-dum pops a peice...but they didn't complain, so we called it a success...))

Then came the actual Halloween day!!

I had Cale help me with all sorts of chores. He's usually very helpful, but he was super willing and ready that day. ;)    He was pumped. 

About 5 o'clock friends from church surprised us by having their 4-year-old daughter ring our doorbell.  Trick or Treating in our area starts at 6pm, so Tim and I were both perplexed (and unprepared!)...but we opened the door.  

The cutest little policewoman looked up at us and said her perfectly rehearsed line: "Only Treats!"

It took us a minute to get there.... 
It sounded like "Trick or Treat" but didn't have that official Halloween ring to it..... Our minds caught on just about the same time her parents came around the corner laughing at us.  They weren't there to trick-or-treat, but to give us a gift for Pastor Appreciation Month...and to catch us off-guard.  ;)  

After they left it was a mad dash to get dinner in everyone's bellies and costumes on.

I'll admit I enjoy going trick or treating.  Maybe it's because I wasn't really allowed to go as a kid (we were taken to a few choice houses - Grandma, Nan & Pop, Sue Novak.......pretty much just relatives).  And even though I went out a few times as a young teen...there's just no comparison to experiencing the excitment through your own children's eyes.

Okay...I know you're wondering "Where's Megersa?" 
Well, unfortunately he refused to eat his dinner.  We made it a rule that they had to eat before going out. 
Honestly, I'm not a bad mom...I even made a kid-friendly dinner: cheesy noodles with chicken!
M stayed back with Daddy who passed out candy.  He was fine with that and as evidenced above, he got Halloween experience. :)

And lastly, because I forgot to wear MY costume, I put it on, dug in Cale's candy bag to find my favorites...and enjoyed listening to Jerry Seinfield's stand-up bit about Halloween. 
It's a favorite of ours, and quite hilarious. :)

Hope your day (or month) was filled with fun as well! :)

crazy, crazy eights

Double craziness. Double eights.
Two of our four children are 8 months old.
Two of our four children have been super sick.
They are two of the same.

And this crazy life...has gotten a little bit crazier.
I've been back and forth to the doctors 3 times this week.
Thaddeus currently is on an antibiotic and eyedrops for an eye infection, a suspected ear infection and a touch of pneumonia.
Shepherd is currently on an antibiotic for a double ear infection - one ruptured.
I hate having sick babies.
Sick, but still just so beautiful. 

Beautiful...and getting chunky!! 
At eight months, our two butterballs weigh 19.9 (T)...and 19.8 (S)

Watching them grow and develop really makes you realize how quickly that first year goes by.
I want to record in time some (more) special things with regards to their age:

Shepherd - He is such a special boy.  A true joy.  He is rarely frazzled by anything.  He is ELATED to wake up and see who peeks over his crib at him.  The arms go flapping and the happy squeals fill the room.  And he remains that way pretty much all day long.  Tim and I totally agree that he is/was our easiest baby.  Doesn't fuss about food or naps or getting changed.... In fact, had he not displayed the abnormal behavior of screaming so much one night (we are confident this was the night his eardrum burst) we wouldn't have really known he was sick.  When we found out how bad his ears we just couldn't believe it........ 
Honestly, we aren't bad parents, he's really is just that good of a baby.  

He sits happily anywhere we put him as long as he has something to put in his mouth. Sure, he prefers the company of others, but he's fine playing alone too. 
We hardly ever see him out of his quiet character...but it does occur once in awhile - when someone takes his chewing object away from him. 
Yesterday Tim witnessed both babies in their first "fight" - Shepherd was mindlessly chewing on a soft book when Thad came rolling (literally) over to him.  In one slinky motion he grabbed the book right out of Shepper's hands.  Shep stopped short, looked directly at T and started snarling at him. (I'm currently trying to capture a snarl on camera.) Sometimes it's a whine that transforms into a squeal that gets progressively more aggitated if the item is not returned....  Two days ago I had to grab my string cheese wrapper away from him, and he was not pleased....but fortunately at his age it's easy to distract him with something else.  Like I said, he's an easy baby. :)

Thaddeus - He is such a character.  There is NEVER a dull moment with him. T wakes up with energy level 10. (We actually could detect right away that he was sick because he was totally not himself.)  Thad is often found growling at people or obejcts...or making throaty noises as he sharpens his little teeth. His world is a happening place: He wants to be entertained, he wants to experience something new, he wants to be on the move!
Not there yet, but trying to crawl:
Arms extended? Check.
Legs tucked? Check.
Belly up? Check.
Head off the floor? Um, not so much. ;)
Soon though, because rolling around just isn't cutting it for him anymore....
((Tim and I often laugh at how we picture our sons as teens or young adults... Thad is always on the top of the athlete column.  I'll bet he's a gym rat.)) 
He's always clenched!! :)  When we found out that Shep only weighed a 1/10 of a pound less than Thad we were kinda shocked... T feels significantly heavier because his muscles are always tight.  When he's standing you can feel his lil abs.  And when he's on his tummy trying to crawl...you'd probably be able to bounce a quarter off his tush!  

Always yanking, pulling (not fun when it's your hair), pushing or BANGING!  We affectionately refer to him as "Bam-Bam." 

One day Cale came up from quiet time with a scared look on his face.... "Mommy!  I hear a loud noise.  It won't stop and it's scaring me!"  I wasn't sure what he was talking about...but I figured it was probably the washer with an uneven load. I went downstairs.  We listened.  I did hear it...but I couldn't quite tell where it was coming from?  .................I'll give you one guess.

We went upstairs to find that Thad flailing his arms up and down, just as happy as a clam because he found something new to slam on his tray.

Yep, T's banging sounds like an earthquake from a level below.... 

One more than one seperate occasion Tim or I have looked at the other and stated: "We have twins."

Obviously this is a "duh" statement.  But it's kind of a weird thing to be a parent of twins. 

It's like we're waiting for a gap in their ages that will never come...
Strange to even describe. I wonder if we're the only parents of multiples that think this.

Surely not.  We're never the only crazy ones. :)

cabin fever

Most days we are all kinda cooped up in our house.
With infant twins and a 2 year old...it seems as though there is always someone napping.
Usually it doesn't seem to bother anyone, but some days I know that Cale is sorta put off that we can't just pick up and go somewhere.  ...It needs to be a timed event.
Today things lined up perfectly.  I had one hour before 3 of them neeeded to nap...so, despite illness (the twins are on antibiotics) we decided to go outside for some fresh air and exercise.
And I'm glad I brought my camera.
Nature makes such lovely background...it just enhances how beautiful my boys are:

(Hard to pick just a few...they're all my favorites!) 

I LOVE them.   
*contented sigh*

Seduced by a nap.

The other day Cale told me I need to have an alarm clock in my room. 
"I dont need another alarm clock." I told him. "I have 4!  One of you guys always wake me up!"
I chuckled at how confused Cale was; tried to deter him from continuing on in his 'quest' to set my alarm clock at 7am...then thought of how it had been 4 1/2 years since Tim or I were able to wake up on our own. 

I mean...sleeping in until you feel rested enough to wake? 

Someone without children remind me...how does it go again? 
What motivates you to even get out of bed?
Hunger??  I feel like I could push that feeling aside for at least half a day in order to continue sleeping....
I, obviously can't think of anything else more important (especially on a Saturday) to warrant one's desire to get out from underneath the covers.........

Now I will say that my husband puts my sleep needs above his. 
Perhaps it's a peace offering for the shebeast that I become when I don't get near enough sleep, or perhaps he really does love me as much as he says he does...but either way, I'll take it.
Sleeping in is nice....But lets call a spade a spade - this is: sleeping in with children afoot.
Meaning underneath my room...banging around, yelling, crying. 
These munchkins don't value sleeping in - they don't put it way up high on a pedistool where it belongs amongst all other desired activities............. :)
No, the munchkins find it bothersome...they fight it...they take it away from you.
They STEAL!!
Yes, I love them.
BUT, I love them more in a special way when they are all asleep at the same time...

Because then I can't fight it....

"Come hither" says naptime,
"Lay down for awhile.
those dishes can wait;
Take your feet off the tile."

"Rest your head on me, 'pillow'
and close tired eyes.
Turn the DVR off,
television tells lies..."

"Feeling chilled?" questions Blanket...
 "I always feel warm.
There's no need to go out;
I heard there's a storm..."

"Lights out!" demands Darkness!
"Conceal that bright sun!
Come pretend it is nightime;
when today's work is done."

Spend an afternoon drifting
In the ease of a stream...
Set sail on a mattress;
Wash away in a dream...

Naptime doesn't need to put on all her charms for me. 
A simple smile will do.

the things that happen around here.....

one of my sons stuck his hands in his own stream of pee, and then proceeded to lick them.
another one of my sons ate at tissue.

any guesses as to who did what?

both culprits are sitting on the left side.
M - pee drinker
T - tissue eater. 

Grosse.

Pastor Tim

I suppose I've never posted anything that is just about Tim.

And why not?
Well, I'm not sure. 
After all, he's my partner-in-crime, my 'lovely assistant', my love, my shoulder to cry on, my hand to hold, my rock, my best friend.

But since he just turned 29...I thought it was an appropriate day to go ahead and list some of the best things about Tim. :)
((You know, before 30 comes and it all goes downhill...... ;))
I will start with my favorite thing about him:

his wardrobe. 

The past few weeks I've been going through tubs and tubs of variously sized clothes we have for the boys - attempting to swap out spring/summer for fall/winter.  ...I even had to dig out my own winter clothes from storage that have been there for 2 falls.  But when it comes to changing up Tim's wardrobe...well, there's nothing needed. 

He wears the same t-shirts all year round.
Sure, in the summer he'll often pair them with shorts, and in the winter he throws a hoodie over the tshirts...but he's not bothered by this summer-fall hybrid that's been driving me crazy...
He's always set for whatever the weather brings.
Perhaps comical, but his t-shirt core is just so comforting to me. They define him.  It reminds me that he will always be there no matter what comes our way. 
So, like his t-shirts, some things about Tim never change - like his love for God.
And his love for me.  Yes, he loves me...oh, so very much.
And, I get the distinct feeling he must like that bunch of little people that we see wandering around here because he keeps playing with them...feeding them and providing for them...........  :)

Of course I'm getting ahead of myself. 
This birthday post started in my head as a list:
A list dedicated to the things I would never change about my husband.
~His dedication to his job and his passion for worshipping God.
~His love for his immediate and extended family (always trying to keep in close touch with everyone).
~His love for all kinds of music.
~His voice - in both singing and talking - years ago (before children), we would read books together. I often would fall asleep to the soft sound of his voice.
~The way he looks at me. (Even after 9 1/2 years together, I still catch him checking me out.)
~The way he treats me....how he puts my needs (like my sleeping) above his.
~How he worries about me. It's still super sweet to see him get nervous when something goes wrong for me.
~The fact that he prays for and with me.
~How he finds ways to compliment me, even when I'm a grouch.
~His love of all things Penn State
~How excited he gets when football season comes around. 
~The way he slathers peanut butter on everything - cookies, pancakes, crackers, chocolate......
~His genuine and beautiful smile.
~His part in the way our kids look...like their awesome blue eyes.
~His part in the way our kids act. (When they're good of course.) ;)
~The way he wrestles with our boys.
~How he lights up every time one of our babies smiles at him (yes, even at 4am).
~The stories he tells (that our big boys love!)

...and here's the shocker (but it's true)...I love my husband's excitment when he gets a new video game that he's been waiting to play! :)  Like a little kid on Christmas Day.

Basically, we all just love the stuffing out of him!!!!

This does.

Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels.
True or false?

During my pregnancy with the twins I gained 40 or so pounds.  Tim joined in with a few "sympathy" pounds of his own.  :)  After birthing them, I was having a hard time losing that last 10-15 lbs.   It didn't come off like it did after I had Cale.  So after 5 months, Tim and I decided to go on a diet. 
The above statement was our mantra for those 2-3 weeks.
I successfully lost 12.5 lbs and have kept it off.
Tim lost 16 lbs and has kept it off.
BUT.......
Fall is here and winter are around the corner. 
The weather is getting chilly.  The smell of sweet gooey brownies and warm chocolate cookies fill our house again.  Crock pot dinners replace salads.  Veggies are seen more often in casseroles.  Delivery pizza seems inspired on a rainy day. And because a cup of hot cocoa or cider is so much more inviting than bottled water....it's safe to say we are reconsidering our position on the statement.
Perhaps there are some things that taste better than being slim feels. :)

And to that end...please sit back, relax with your strawberry milkshake and enjoy the humor that is Katie.

((A few reasons why my husband and I will never be that "token" skinny couple:))

Brownies with icing and french fries with cheese dip,
Sausage on pizza, doritos and cheese nips,
Peppermint patties, coke full to the brim,
Food is the reason that we are not slim....

Krispy Kreme donuts and Firehouse subs,
Cheeseburgers, nuggets, and  BLT clubs,
Chocolate and whole milk we'll take over skim
Food is the reason that we are not slim....

Double stuffed oreos dipped in cold milk,
Chipotle burritos can't touch us with guilt
Chocolate cake without trips to the gym
Food is the reason that we are not slim.

When a baby cries,
When a toddler lies,
When we're sleep deprived....
We open the internet's online menu -
And wait 'til our food arrives.

Mmmm..................food. :)