Preparing for baby brother's arrival...

I have to say that the last month we have really been trying to get prepared for Camden and Carson's new baby brother to arrive. Those preparations included moving Carson into Camden's room into a "big boy" bed. We first started with Camden sleeping on top for awhile and then recently moved Carson in there. Camden thinks its great getting to sleep on top and Carson thinks it is so cool to get to sleep in his big brother's room. Mommy and Daddy were a little nervous of this move. The first week was kind of rough and the boys didn't quite get enough sleep which made for some long days, but I have to say that this week has been much better. Carson is still adjusting to the freedom that he has in a big bed and learning to stay in it. He is learning though and I think in a couple of more weeks he will be much better at staying in the bed.

All of the baby items are out and ready for the arrival of the little one, which means that the boys' curiosity is running wild. They want to know what everything is for and have to test it out. Well last night when I was making dinner they were playing in their rooms when Camden informs me that Carson is in the baby bed. I thought he was talking about the crib until I walked in on Carson laying in the bassinet. He had taken his zebra costume off because I don't think he could get in with it on (yes they are still into their costumes. Camden has worn his Super Why costume everyday since we have had it. He if very into dressing up).

Leaf Pile

It has been such a nice week so far that we have really been trying to take advantage of the warm weather. Sunday Chris and the boys raked up what leaves we do have in the yard and played in them. Camden of course had to be in charge of the rake and he wanted everyone else to jump in them. He finally played in them a little. He really like playing with his Tonka truck in the leaves. Carson would run and jump in them.

Happy Halloween!!

We had one more pumpkin to carve and instead of carving it we decided to make a jack-o-lantern from a pattern and pegs we received from a neighbor. And I think it turned out to be a great idea. The boys were able to really help decorate it and that wouldn't have been the case if we would have carved it.

Well I think Trick-or-Treating lived up to everything the boys thought it was going to be. They had an absolute blast. We started out in Kokomo visiting Memaw and Papaw Q., and making our trick-or-treating appearance at Papaw's office. We made a few other stops before heading home. Both boys were asleep before I got out of Kokomo. After naps it was time for the real trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Carson had a little trouble keeping up with Camden going house to house but nothing is more of a motivator than candy for that kid. After we made a trip around the neighborhood we made one last stop to Memaw and Papaw Prather's house.

Camden was Super Why. For those of you who don't live in a preschool world, it is a cute show on PBS that has become a real hit. Super Why can best be described as a "nerdy" superhero. He solves everyday problems with his friends by going in books and changing the story. He was so excited to be Super Why. I just couldn't get him to wear his mask.

They couldn't wait to show us what they got from each house.

ZooBoo

Sunday we went with my parents down to the Indianapolis Zoo for the their ZooBoo celebration. This is the 3rd year that we have done this and it always ends up being one of my favorite things to do with the boys. The Zoo is all decorated for Halloween and the kids dress up in their costumes. They trick-or-treat along the way of seeing all of the animals and they have a huge tent set up with pumpkin activities for the kids. The animals always seem to be more active in the afternoon and this time it was no different. The sea lions were barking, the lions and tigers were out walking around their territory, and the giraffes were running. The elephants were the most impressive animal of the day. I caught a little of what we saw on video on my camera.

The zookeepers eventually had to come out and lead the elephants to the back because the one was so out of control. He threw a stick that came about 10 feet from landing outside the fence. Apparently one of the elephants stepped outside the matriarchy and upset the elephant.

3rd Annual Rethlake Halloween Party

Saturday night we attended the annual Halloween party at the Rethlake household. This is the third time that we have gotten together and the kids had a great time. With the kids getting a little older now, they are able to do more crafts and activities while the Dads (and some Moms) carve the pumpkins. The complete album is in the "web albums".

Here they are playing with homemade orange and yellow play dough.

The play dough was short-lived because finding spiders (or crabs as Carson called them) in the sand was much more fun.

Camden showing off his witch craft.

Daddy is working hard carving the pumpkin. We still have one more to do at home.

On to eating some yummy Halloween treats. This was Carson's favorite. He started out sitting next to all of the other kids, but quickly found a table to himself to concentrate on his desserts.

Of course we couldn't end the night without a group picture of the kids. It is amazing how much they all change in one year.

Preschool/MDO Fall Parties

Last Thursday the boys had their Fall Parties at school. I had double duty that day. Mr. Al takes the classes on a tractor hayride around the church grounds and then stops to let them pick out a pumpkin. Each class then heads back to the school/church for some pumpkin activities.

On your marks...get set...GO!!!

Decorating a pumpkin cookie

I love tractor rides!

In deep concentration coloring his pumpkin

They are singing "Five Little Pumpkins"...as you can see they are really into it. Carson is the only one doing the motions with the song. This is a popular song around our house right now. Camden also sang this during his party.

Pumpkins Galore!

It's that time of the year again...we went to Stoney Creek Farms this past Sunday for the 4th straight year. We met Tatum and Jose and the girls for what turned out to be a very hot day at the pumpkin patch. Who would have thought we would break a sweat (literally) trying to pick out the right pumpkin. The boys had a blast. They tried to throw rings on pumpkins and balls inside of pumpkins, ran through an air caterpillar obstacle course, and rode the pumpkin train before finding some much needed shade to have a picnic. After the picnic we took a hayride out to pick the right pumpkins and headed home to take a nap (including mommy and daddy). Carson was so proud of his pumpkin, he had to have his in his room before he would take a nap. The rest of the photos are in the web albums.

Apples, Apples, Apples!!!

We took our first trip to apple orchard today with Tatum and the girls, and it was an absolute perfect day for it. In addition to picking apples, we were able to watch them clean the apples and put them on the conveyor belt, and watch a machine pour apple cider (the boys' new favorite drink) into jugs. We were also able to watch a "bee farm" and listen to the lady talk about how honey is made. It was a really neat experience for the boys and I highly recommend it. The rest of the photos are in the web albums.

Drs. Camden and Carson

Here are just a few photos of what the boys have been up to. They have really been into playing with their doctor kit and one night they continued to wear their doctor accessories while reading books before bedtime. They shouldn't be too hard to get a hold of in the event of an emergency...Camden has the pager and Carson has the cell phone in his "pocket". Camden went with me to one of my doctor's visits and now he loves to pretend that he is hearing the baby's heartbeat and goes and gets his tape measure to measure my belly.

Camden has come a long way in his creative drawing. We have finally gone from scribbles and circles to actually drawing a picture. He is in to drawing people. He drew this one night while I was fixing dinner. He informed that it was a picture of me. Acccording to Camden I have a giant head because I have a baby in my belly (it is pretty typical of early writing skills not to draw the body). Even though I have arms and legs coming out of my head I still have hands and feet.