Thursday, December 31, 2009

Wrapping up 2009 - Part 3

Beet beet, sugar beet, beet, sugar, beet, sugar beet, BEET!
 (any old sesame street memories kicking in there?)

Tom does sugar beet research (BUY MICHIGAN SUGAR - shameless plug)  and we talk about it all the time with the boys, but they had no idea what one looked like and neither did I!  So, after they were done harvesting the ones they use for they research (in October), Tom bought one of the extras home.  We were amazed!


 It is GINORMOUS!
 

 Quent and Jack were just fascinated with it.  Tom let them hold it and check it out, then he cut it open for them to see and even taste if they wanted to.  It was a cool learning experience (for Mom too) that they talked about for weeks!


 And boy is that sucker heavy, look at that poor boy straining to hold it up.


 Quent found an easier way to hold it up, but not too high!


 WHOA - look at the size of those leaves!

And just cuz I have the sugar beet song stuck in my head, I feel like sharing that insanity with all of you.
Your Welcome!



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The members of the Church where we hold our Mothers of Multiples meetings offered to throw us a Halloween party again this year.  They did it last year and it was a great time for us and the kids.  This year was lots of fun too. They had snacks, games, trick or treating stations, and a clown that came to visit.
My Mom went with us (cuz Tom was working) and we had a good time watching the boys play with their buddies and do the activities.
This year one of the trick or treat stations had a man handing out candy that scared the crap out of Jack.  He didn't mean to, but took Jack off guard and yelled kinda loud, "BOO!". Well, after that, Jack was done with the trick or treating and hid behind me or my Mom when we came anywhere near where that man was.  Poor kid.  Other than that it was a successful and fun night.  All the kids were dressed up really cute and it was a wild time with all those multiples running around!!

 Playing some games to win some candy:








 


Who is that lovely little monkey in the mirror?
Is it me, Quentin?
Why, yes it is!!






Jack playing games downstairs at the church

We shed our very hot monkey costumes to visit the clown.  The clown that came to make balloon animals. Jack and his friend, Luke (or Aiden, its too hard for me to tell them apart, Sorry Susie, if you read this and I get it wrong)wait for the clown to make a sword.   Imagine my surprise when BOTH of the boys wanted to see the clown and wait their turn for a balloon.  It was not too long ago that they would have nothing to do with an adult in a costume (ie; santa, easter bunny, clowns, etc.)  Guess we are getting over that fear.


This is the color I want...


As Quent watches intently for his balloon animal.


Its an Orange Kitty cat!!  Surprise Its orange -  his favorite color!



Hmmmm, let me think....
what balloon animal will I choose?




Aha! A purple kitty Cat!!


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Picking the perfect pumpkins at our local farm - the boys really wanted the really big ones, but Mom and Dad drew the line on picking out ones that we coudl not lift, so they found some others that they liked.
Although the huge pumpkins made for cute picture taking spots!










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Halloween Night
We stayed at home and had family over for.  Gramma, Papa, Unlce Len and Aunt Kyle came here and we trick or treated around our neighborhood, passed out candy at our house and ate some pizza.
This year we had fewer trick or treaters than we have had any of the 7 years we have lived here.  The weather was pretty good, so not sure what was keeping the kids away.  We had TONS of candy leftover!



Visiting our neighbor twin friends, Caleb and Wyatt, dressed as puppies (their Mom and Dad - Charlotte and Chris are there too)



The man in the yellow hat helping 2 little monkeys maneuver down a neighbor's porch while trick or treating.  I thought these turned out so cute!!  All 3 of my boys!
Jack and Quent's monkey costumes were Pottery Barn costumes from a Mom 2 Mom sale earlier this year, whew - I am glad that they ended up fitting so well.  The banana treat bag was from Old Nay that I got on a great deal!  Tom's entire costume was from the Salvation Army and the Goodwill Stores (don't think I don't get the irony!)  The hat was a straw hat covered in yellow felt and stuffed to look taller. 



Our Curious George inspired family:
Mom as Professor Wiseman
Dad as The Man in the Yellow Hat
And our own Little Monkeys: Jack and Quent!




Our Spooky
Jack-o-lanterns lit up that Halloween Night!!







Wrapping up 2009 - Part 2

The Gymnastics edition...



In September we got to visit a local gymnastics studio for an open house and family fun day.  The boys got to jump, bounce and play and got to explore a fire truck and ambulance that were there.


All my guys in the ambulance, checking out all the gear.
Quent was striking a little pose for Mom.


Jack makes a dashing firefighter!



That helmet was so huge and heavy, but he would have worn it all day if he could have.


Quent and Jack jumping on one of the big trampolines, they could get going pretty high on that thing!


WOO HOO - Jungle Jack!!
We tried really hard to get him to do the zip-line that they had but he was not so into that, I think he would have loved it.


Quent sliding into the foam pit, for maybe the 46th time!!


Jack in an action shot, going into the foam pit. 
It was fun going in but then Tom had to try to fish them out because it was too deep to get out on there own, not so much fun for the Daddy!!


Quent is a pro on the wide and easy balance beam.


Jack liked this one because you could get it to swing while you were going across.

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We also got the boys into a couple gymnastics classes through the Community Ed.
It was a rough start at first.  They both were eager and more than willing to go with the teachers and do all the stuff they were asked to do, but it took them a little while to learn to stay with their group and stay on task following the directions.  They got better and better as classes went on.


Taking attendance - they were supposed to say "here" when the teacher called their name.
Jack and Quent said "here" with everyone!!
(Jack is in the blue tie-dye, Quent is in the green tie-dye)


Quent is loving this gymnastics stuff!!


Running on the black line around the gym.  Surprisingly, I got a picture with Jack actually running while still in line!  More often, he would be taking cuts, running to the front, and in general - NOT on the black line.
But he was having a blast doing it!!


All lined up...


Doing tiptoe walking, supposed to be with your hands in the air :)


STRETCH
and
STRADDLE


One of their favorites:  donkey kicks!!




Swinging on the bar -
again another big favorite!!

We started classes in September and ended just before Christmas,
Oh, gymnastics class how we miss you!!