Zumba, Pumpkin Launching, Haircut

I didn't join in on the zumba, but I just went in support of a friend raising funds for missions. I wish I had the energy, strength, stamina, coordination, and enthusiasm for this kind of exercise. I also wish I could live a selfless life that she does for the voiceless, defenseless, and forgotten. Pretty amazing. 

We made it just in time for the finals. It was cool to see the pumpkins fly! 

We would've liked to see more of it and do some of the kid's activities they had. There were also bounce houses, slides, and some food trucks. There's always next time. It's nice that it was free too with easy parking. 

Baba shared his ice cream with NJ who really enjoyed it. 

Since we didn't spend that much time out there, we decided to make another stop. We asked NJ where he thought we were going and he said, "A haircut?" What?! How did he know? I don't remember talking about it in front of him. 

Ready for his haircut. He did so well and listened well to directions. The lady asked if he's always that good, even at home. I said, yes he's pretty good. He'd scrunch his neck and laugh every time she used the clippers on his neck. It was cute. It kept him smiling through the haircut. 

Nice clean cut for NJ, he seems happy with it and so are we! 

What candy does to little boys...

NJ hasn't laid eyes on his loot of candy since thursday. He took his time choosing what he wanted. I couldn't even say what it was. I just know how happy he was and how much excitement was followed by it. I'm glad it made him happy, but it took a lot of energy out of me and then Baba...

There's that happy face!

Dotty is wondering why someone's not sharing.

He got the munchies and asked for some pirate's booty.

And the weirdness begins with hugging the table leg.

Pretending he can't see.

Refuses any photos.

Hangs on my leg.

Then my other leg.

Dot Dot is not amused. 

Now it's Baba's turn.

NJ is finally tackled, tickled, and smothered by Dotty.

Until the tables turn and he tickles Baba back. 

And gives him an armbar.

Let's not do this again, but instead, hide the candy!

He's had so much energy lately it's hard to keep up. But as tired as I get I enjoy every moment of it. How can I not enjoy this loving ball of energy? I was so tired that I laid on the couch for a bit today. He came up with a whole pile of books for me to read to him. I couldn't say no, I love sitting with him and reading books. Later I was checking my email when he came up to me with one of his lego instruction books. He asked me if I'd help him build a helicopter. So I put my computer away and sat with him at his little lego table. As he helped me look for the pieces I needed, he recited his memory verses. It was the sweetest thing. I love that he has God's words in his heart. I was surprised at how many he said, some of them are from a while ago. It's been challenging with him lately, but I think part of it is adjusting to how fast he's growing and how he's changing. I need to remind myself to slow down and spend that time with him. I feel so blessed to be his Mommy as he now calls me. Still getting used to that. 

"We're going chucka-cheating?"

All dressed and ready to go out after an early dinner. NJ is so easy going, he was fine with whatever I had for him. The last couple of years I gave him something to wear last minute and he put it on. I didn't think about it until it was time and was always nervous about whether he'd wear it. I think he was more excited about the candy. 

Someone's really excited. We gave him a glowing necklace so he'd be more visible to others. 

We told him only one candy for the night and he took his time choosing with the help of Baba. 

This house was really festive with displays. We took a family photo with ironman. 

NJ with Thor. 

After some trick or treating we found our friends, the fireman and geologist. NJ was so excited to meet up with them. Earlier today he said, "I haven't seen them in sooooo long. And even they haven't seen me!" 

Colorfully festive homes. NJ at first after a few houses told us: "I'm done, I don't want any more candy." That's until he saw his friends and wanted to keep going. We're just the boring parents, I guess. Haha

A quick photo before we all get into our pajamas. Before we had left the house earlier he saw me after I had changed and said, "Mama, you're a panda too! You're Mama panda and I'm your baby panda. What's Baba going to be?" So here we are, baby and Mama panda.

"Oh, He's just dying on the cross."

It was a cold morning so I gave him a little hot chocolate in the morning with his breakfast. He enjoyed it in a mug that was hand decorated by his auntie. It's the perfect size! 

It's read ribbon week and today is red shirt day. But since it's cold, it's red sweater day instead.

NJ came home with a scuffed up chin and he said his eye hurt too from falling off a bar he was sitting on at the playground. He told me, "My head is not ok." I put some aquaphor on it. 

It was an eventful day it seems... NJ also broke his right shoe, the velcro snapped and his shoe wouldn't stay on. When I picked him up from school he gave me his shoe and walked to the car in one shoe, and one sock. He says he broke his shoe while playing soccer at PE. I didn't even know they had PE. I'm glad he enjoys it that much to sacrifice a shoe.

NJ got a mini travel magnetic chess set along with his medal yesterday. He was excited to try it out by playing a game or two with Baba. 

NJ was drawing again today and this was by far my favorite. When I asked him to describe it he said, (while pointing to each stick figure) "This is a heart with someone holding it, this is you, and this is Jesus." How nice! I asked him what we're doing. He tells me, "This one's holding the heart, you're standing here..."  And what's Jesus doing?  "Oh, He's just dying on the cross." As if it's an everyday occurrence. I had to keep from laughing too hard.

My work out for today. 

Auntie was our lovely dinner guest. Actually, she and I made dinner together, one of our favorite things to do together. NJ was so excited to have a visitor, he took her hand to show off his drawings, puzzles, and tracks he built. He was non stop talking about anything and everything. Before he knew she was coming, he asked if we could go out to eat. He said, "It's gooder because it's chinese." Whatever that means. 

Chess Medal

For the last day of his chess class NJ got a chess medal for being well behaved. He's the youngest so I'm sure he has a lot more practicing to do when it comes to the game. We asked him if he still wanted to go back to chess classes again. His response was: "Yeah because I want to beat them because they always beat me so I want to beat them." We told him it takes practice and he'll get better and better.  

I did some late night sewing after NJ went to bed. I got an old white shirt and cut and sewed it onto a dark sweater. And cut and sewed a patch on one of his shorts. I tried to get feed back to see if it looked anything like kung fu panda, but I guess we'll see tomorrow. I just really wanted to save money and not buy anything. 

Pumpkin Creativity

I picked up NJ from his class and he wanted to visit the snack table. But that made us lose Baba. We found him waiting at the car. Sorry Baba, I blame NJ's tummy. 

I broke out my Japanese treats straight from Japan. They've been in my cabinet and I almost forgot about them. Glad we had some friends here to share them with. 

Some pumpkin carving, gutting, and painting. We had our monthly gathering late this month, but it was just in time before Halloween. Everyone made it easy by coming over and we just ordered pizza. I'm not sure I could have done too much so it worked out. The kids had a lot of fun being hands on with the pumpkins and did a great job with carving and painting. NJ painted his pumpkin that he got from his field trip.