Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates Life for Me

Hudson celebrated turning 6 and chose a Pirate theme for his birthday this year.  I think that all these guys majorly rocked the “stache”.  They definitely got in touch with their inner scurvy pirate. I do believe this helped them with their treasure hunt as well as with their cannonball practice.  Will was confused as to why all the kids turned on him as the target during their canon shooting practice.  I told him that’s what he gets for yelling, “Fire at Will!”

Hudson says his favorite game was “Sink the Pirate Ship.”  I’m pretty sure it was the water balloons that made it his favorite.  The kids sank the ships by erasing the chalk drawings.  Don’t worry, I wasn’t about to get 10 little kids soaking wet at 9 in the morning.  I’m not quite that crazy!

I made the cake this year. I don’t have the mad skills that my sister-in-laws possess, but I still enjoyed making it.  We did have some gnarly octopus and seaweed for lunch though.

Digging for treasure was one of the other highlights.  We did it I SPY style.  All of their kids were able to successfully locate their treasures and take them home.

Trunk or Treat

Seeing as Halloween was on Sunday this year, we opted for the church trunk or treat and carnival.  Going from car to car was the perfect distance for our kiddlets little feet.  They came back with some yummy candy.  I finally got smart this year and didn’t park in the parking lot.  We shared a trunk with some friends and then after the kids had done a lap and I was out of candy we headed home.  Surprisingly enough, the crabbiness was held to a minimum Sunday morning…score one for the parents!

A Screamfest of Sorts…

I love parties…especially costume ones and this year one of our friends was kind enough to host one.  I was finally a nurse this year, but apparently, not the kind that Will was hoping for.  Everyone brought great food and as always the company was spectacular.

Everyone were good sports about dressing up and it made it that much more fun.  I love my little brain donor!

Independently Independent…

photo courtesy of Will

I have never been one for enjoying a chorus of whining, begging or nagging.  So from quite a young age, Will and I made our children quite independent.  Hudson often times gets his own breakfast in the morning and will even make something for Annie as well.  Hudson has been solid on getting his own breakfast if he is hungry for the last 2 years or so.  On Saturdays he will even make himself a sandwich for lunch.  Usually if my kids want something done they do it themselves.  This independence backfires on occasion and a few days ago was one of those blessed occasions.

My kids are free while I do piano lessons on Thursdays from 2-4(I’m maybe 15 feet away from them in the next room).  The normal routine includes me letting the kids watch an afternoon movie with some snacks and Will comes rolling in the door as the movie finishes.  Now that Hudson has gone full day, he gets dropped off in the middle of lessons on Thursdays so I don’t get a chance to chat with him as he walks in the door.

Walking through the door from a pumpkin patch field trip with a round pumpkin in tow, had Hudson on a mission.  Little did I know, that mission was giving that pumpkin a jack-o-lantern face.  I had a gap in lessons this particular day so I went to check on them.  I’m greeted with pumpkin guts and seeds strewn about as well as a pile of dirty socks on the counter.  Now is the time I inform you of Hudson’s OCD to slimy gooey things.  He won’t touch them.  He solved his pumpkin gutting dilemma by taking every sock out of his drawer.  He then proceeded to pull the guts out of his pumpkin with socks on his hands.  He used each sock once, discarded it into the pile and then put on another. I didn’t have the heart to be upset.  I informed him that knives were off limits (this is NOT news to him)…even the butter variety.  That’s right, he managed to carve his pumpkin with a butter knife! I then proceeded to tell him, next time; he needed to find a way to contain the mess and together we scooped up the seeds and guts, relocating them to a huge metal bowl.  As for the socks, I told him that was a no go.  Either convince Annie that scooping guts is her job, or get a bigger spoon!

I Never Met a Pumpkin I Didn’t Like

The carving of pumpkins commenced a few days ago.  We all had our own game plans and got to work.

The big question now remains.  Can you tell who carved what?…best o’ luck.  Just so you know 2 of us had to team up.  The other 2 went solo.