Pumpkin Patch

We made our annual pumpkin picking trip to a new place this year. Very basic patch without the fancy jumping inflatables, concession stands, and gift shop but really, really big pumpkins. At most pumpkin patches they charge you a certain amount of money by the pound but at our new place every pumpkin fell into a $1 - $5 range! This place also had the BIGGEST pumpkins I have ever seen and they were only $5! So, the boys had the freedom to choose which ever pumpkin they wanted and Haley said she wanted "a little one" which was very hard to find!

Here is Haley checking out the durability of this one.

Jacob was on a mission to find a big, round pumpkin so he can carve a wolf into it.
Take note of how big the pumpkins are around him! ($5! I love a deal!)

Tyler was looking for a big and slightly tall pumpkin to test out his carving skills this year.

We tried to get a "kids at the pumpkin patch picture" but, no one wanted to sit still!

Brian is carrying the winning pumpkins for the boys.
We will carve them next weekend and feast on roasted pumpkin seeds for weeks to come!

More Potty Mouth

In continuing with the last blog entry...I picked up Haley from the Y childcare after working out and here is the conversation I had with one of the workers....

"Haley had an accident."
Me, "What, how, what kind?"
Her, "She wet her pants."
Me, very confused, "Did her diaper leak?"
Her, "No, she said she had to go to the potty and we let her."
"We thought she had undies on then realized too late that she had a diaper on."
Me, "Mmmm, ok. And why is she wearing someones shorts?"
Her, "Sorry, we didn't have any extra pants, but hers are in this plastic bag."
Me, "She is NOT potty training!"
Her, giving me the are you crazy look, "She might be ready!"
Me, deep breath, "Thank you, have a nice day!"

On a side note, we have been hit with our first official illness of the season. Jacob is home today and tomorrow with strep throat. Just can't wait to see who pulls the short end of the stick next!

Potty Training Princess

This picture was taken back in August. After dinner one night Haley proudly proclaimed that she "had to go potty!" "Oh ok," I replied and daddy carefully put Haley on the potty while I ran to find the Dora special seat.

As she sat there thoughts of losing my baby came streaming into my head. Potty training...she's only 2! The boys were well into their 3's before I even came to this bridge, but I heard girls train faster...blah, blah, blah.

See how proud daddy is of his little girl growing up!

Every time I bring her to the gym or to church, she tells the childcare workers that she "has to go potty." She is always going for them, I mean they do have the cool little kid potty! Haley probably also heard another child want to use the kid potty so she said she does too ( I might have some problems with her when she grows up!) She doesn't do any of that at home and is completely happy filling up her diapers for me. Which I am ok with!!

I am in denial. I refuse to potty train my baby! Haley is our last child and potty training her would mean that I would never be able to take a shopping cart through the diaper aisle again! She would become this "big girl" that I am not ready to let her be. I know, I have issues. I just want to keep my baby, my baby for a little longer....or maybe just till Kindergarten :)

Morning time!

A typical morning in the Benes house looks something like this...

Three crazy kids on a pillow train instead of the bus! :)

By the way, we turned our heat on for the first time this morning. It was a chilly 62 degrees when we were trying to eat breakfast...in the house.
Sure can't wait for the 39 degrees it is supposed to get down to tonight!

Catchin' Up

I apologize for going "missing" the last couple weeks. We have been super crazy busy and I just wasn't finding the extra time to blog. But now, we have done so much in the past couple weeks that I don't know where to start or what pictures to even post. So stay with me, I am goin' try and catch up!

We packed it up and headed out to Nebraska for cousin Jevon's 1st Birthday!

The boys dream came true when we got an up close and personal tour of the Law Enforcement Building.

We played at the Children's Zoo.

Then we returned home, tried to get back on schedule and catch up on all the things we missed. But we still had time to make a trip out to the Apple Orchard to pick Macintosh apples.
Tyler is showing off his "pick!"

Jacob found this to be the best one!

Haley is enjoying the fresh fruit of the day.

We got a family photo!!! (Ummm, you might see this on our Christmas card.)

Izzy truly enjoyed her first trip to the orchard!

I also had the first MOPS meeting of the year. A BIG thank you to all my MOPS mom's for making it such a wonderful morning!

She's running the show!

The first week of school has flown by. I miss my boys! I'm sure that I will grow to be ok with the silence but for now, I don't like it. Haley has fallen asleep the last 4 days before lunch time so I have just the tv to eat with. Even my hubby is afraid to come home for lunch, I might just talk his ear off! Anyways, the boys are loving 1st grade and I am so glad that they have gotten into the school groove.

Haley does miss her boys during the day, but she gets to do pretty much anything she wants now that mom is such a sucker! Like eating lunch in the recliner while watching "Dora!"

Or having her nuk (she's probably too old for it) and the boys' Lego's in the recliner while watching "Diego!"

I can't even let my mind think about when she goes to school!!!

First Day in 1st Grade!

It finally arrived. The first day of school. (Insert big sigh and a few tears.) I loved having my boys home for the summer, I just loved the noise and activity that ran loudly through the house. Today, as I write this, Haley is napping and I ate lunch by myself. Quiet house. I know that I will grow to like this time to, but I secretly can't wait to go pick up my boys and hear all about their first day in 1st Grade!

The three of them were wonderful this summer. Full of life and lots of laughs!

Jacob was very excited for school!

Tyler too!

The boys together, great toothless grins.

Always a funny smile picture.

Why can't they stay little longer. :(