Best October

We have been living our best October lives over here. If it has had anything to do with celebrating, making messes or dressing up, we have been there. for. it. There for all the memories and all the fun. 

We have been putting candles on everything. 

Bananas, pie, cinnamon rolls, french toast. Whatever our birthday boys wanted, we put some candles on it and sang our favorite October song. By now we have lots of renditions of "Happy Birthday". Always with a big finish.  

We have been making messes. 

Bennett wanted to carve pumpkins on his birthday; what a great way to celebrate! This picture makes me happy. Wacky hair from a dress up at school, messy shirts from pumpkin guts, big blurry smiles from pride over their finished product. The big three were very competitive with their pumpkins this year; lots of smack talk, grand reveals and disputes over who's was the best. I for see pumpkin carving getting more and more fun as this crew gets older (and easier, right Douglas?). 

We have been celebrating. 

Bennett and Theo finally (according to B) had their birthday party on Saturday. Theme this year: Airplanes and Bananas. Both big favorites. I had long decided that this party was going to happen outside (ain't nobody got time to house clean), and Doug threw out the idea of celebrating at Sam Parr. It ended up being the perfect place for our families to spoil these two cuties. God gave us a beautiful day too.

Everything Bennett opened was met with an enthusiastic grin  followed by him stating that he had "always wanted one of these". I don't think he knew so many airplane toys existed! The last gift was what he had really been asking for...a skateboard! Yes, Doug and I are crazy for buying him a skateboard, but just look at how cute he is. B couldn't wait to ask Nora to teach him a thing or two. So far, no broken bones.

Theodore was the cutest gift opener ever. From the first present to the last, he squealed with excitement. Two year olds are just the best. We have decided that every little boy needs a bubble backpack leaf blower that looks just like Daddy's. My boys better get ready to use their machines; it is leaf season!

An airplane cake, appetizers and banana splits were on the menu and enjoyed by all. We opened new toys, played in the leaves, and didn't want the day to be over. Thank you to family for loving our boys so well. 

We have been dressing up. 

From Red Ribbon Week, to the Halloween Parade, to Trick or Treating, the Jansens were barely in regular clothes last week. The kids and I walked in the Effingham parade with Nana for McDonalds. I thought my bid three would be sad that they didn't get to watch it or get candy, but instead they were so excited to throw out candy. And throw candy they did! Bennett took his job very seriously. He was determined that every person watching the parade got candy; I think he would still be out there if I hadn't hurried him along.  

On Halloween we donned our real costumes. The theme this year: what we want to be when we grow up.

Doug wants to be retired and golfing whenever he wants. I want to be a "lady of leisure"-also doing whatever I want. Em wants to be a kindergarten teacher. Auggie wants to be a Heartland Realestate Broker aka his Dad (he even had business cards). Bennett really wants to be a pilot (hello birthday present). And Theo probably still wants to live at home with me. How cute is my couch potato son? These costumes were easy-peasy this year, but still so fun. We stuck with our tradition of supper and trick or treating with Ammon's and Dana's; this night just keeps getting more fun. The big kids are fast, the littles are slow, and the adults are somewhere in the middle making sure no one is getting ran over and that everyone is saying thank you. 

We have been up to a lot, but October is always so good to us. 

And this one was one of the best.