Halloween

Here we are in all our Halloween finery. Ben wanted to be a scary zombie, only he wouldn't wear the mask and we didn't paint his face so he's probably only mildly terrifying. Zack wanted to be a vampire. Then he upped it to a vampire/pirate/rock star. He ditched the vampire and went for pirate/rock star. We have a lot of pirate accessories but he wanted none of them. It seems like he would care more, but he didn't. Noah's original idea was to be a rich hobo. I know, that doesn't even make sense. Then he wanted to be a hobo who wants bacon. I know, what the heck? I really don't get 10 year old humor. I finally talked him into being a hippie. We went to the DI and he picked out this blouse (his word, not mine) and vest. Add the gigantic afro and he didn't give his beloved hobo idea another thought.
Matt & I were 1970s detectives. Matt's sweet 'stache cracks me up--although in real life it was pretty disturbing. I am wearing very high shoes so I look like some kind of amazon women which is one of many reasons I hate this picture of me. I was going to crop myself out of it, but I am swallowing my pride so that I can illustrate the tragedy of my hair. When I left our house I had a pretty darn good Farrah Fawcett feather going on. By the time we got to Ken's it was totally flat. I NEVER have that problem. NEVER. It bugged me so much that when we got home from the party I re-curled my hair and made Matt put on his costume again so we could get a picture. This is still not as good as it was and I have no evidence otherwise, but my hair does look a little bigger. This is not the first time my hair has let me down.
Anyway, the party was lots of fun and all night long I got to laugh at this:

We love tape

I am seriously considering buying Zack a whole bunch of tape for Christmas. He uses it for everything. For example, he was completely devastated that this Halloween sign was broken. I tried a few times to glue it, but it didn't work. The solution? Tape. He was really proud of his repair job. All he needed to do was cut a paper to fix the letter H and tape it on. Good as new.
He made a lovely paper rose, but how to affix it to the wall?
He picked out some festive skull straws at the dollar store and wasn't satisfied with simply decorating a cup to put them in. It's way more convenient when they are attached to the cupboard.
He isn't the only one in the family who loves tape. I've been having a little obsession myself. It started with a wall in Noah's room that was driving me crazy. I decided to paint a big diamond and Lynne made the vinyl graphic. She did an awesome job.
And since I had some leftover tape, I decided to stripe the boring wall in my bathroom:
Which led to my biggest tape and paint project. I had to enlist Matt for this one and it has pretty much cured my tape addiction because it was sort of a pain. I am happy with the end result although the color isn't exactly what I wanted (it really isn't as purple as it looks).

Ben Gets Baptized

Ben has been looking forward to this weekend for a long time.

He's growing up. This is one of the few times he was willing to pose for pictures. I just think he looks so handsome.

He was especially glad to have so many family members come support, play and eat yummy Costco chocolate cake with him.

Tired of Waiting

Zack loves to be festive. When all the neighbors started putting out pumpkins and other Halloween decor he wanted to do the same. Me? Not so much. I've had a few higher priorities. Zack took matters into his own hands and decorated the house himself:
You can't really tell all the detail work on his little pumpkins. He cuts out the mouths separately and then tapes them on. He's been through two rolls of tape. He is especially proud of the ghost on the window because it is saying "BOOOOOOOOOOO." He figured out how to spell boo on "B" day at school.

He prepared for the future by creating pictures for all the holidays, including a rainbow with a pot of gold for St. Patrick's Day. He keeps them all in a ziploc bag. I am not really sure where he is planning on putting them but I am sure he has a plan for them. Even though he gets a little obsessed and pushy about it, I love that he is so artistic. He can spend hours with paper and markers, add scissors and tape and he'll be occupied for days.

Gag me with a .....

We are trying something new at our house: eating healthier dinners. Somehow I've got to get Ben to eat more than pizza, quesadillas, peanut butter sandwiches, cereal, toast and sometimes mac-n-cheese. Besides chips and candy, that is really ALL he will eat. He won't touch a vegetable unless you count ketchup and the closest thing he'll come to eating fruit is a juice box.

The rule is that he has to take two bites of dinner. If he doesn't like it I will make him something else. As it is the first week, I've been really careful about making things that he ought to like. He likes pizza and macaroni so a pasta with sauce dish should be ok, right? No way. The first night he totally gagged and spit out the pasta and chicken on the table. Every night has been the same amount of drama. He seriously won't even come to the table if I put a vegetable on his plate--even if the plate has sections and there is no possible way that either of the peas can touch his roll. Really.

Tonight I tried manicotti. He likes cheese. He likes non chunky pizza sauce in small amounts. He did eat the garlic bread (he really likes garlic-explain that to me). It took me about 30 minutes and some pretty serious threats just to get him to take the two tiny bites.



I am not sure how long this little experiment will last. It grosses me out just watching him try. Why can't he just eat something and like it?

The Eight Year Old

Turning eight is a big deal. Ben will be baptized next month and he gets to start Cub Scouts. Fortunately, his first den meeting was also on his birthday. He has been looking forward to this day for a long time. He even earned his Bobcat badge tonight and will get it at next week's pack meeting.
Ever since this, everyone wants a "layer" birthday cake. Unfortunately, I am out of the layer cake business. I made an easier, yummier cake instead. It still has layers, which is how I sold Ben on it, but the layers are chocolate cake, fudge, sprinkles (special request), chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, chocolate cake and frosting. I didn't invent it or anything and I am fully aware that it is less than stellar to look at, but dang, it's good...so, so good.
Here are Ben's answers to his 20 questions we answered on his special birthday Family Home Evening. I scanned it because I don't want to type it out but mostly because I want to remember his writing and bad spelling. (Speaking of awesome spelling, re-read Ben's birtday sign above..how I wish I could say Matt made it.) By the way, Matt got the most answers correct. Although Zack and I would tie him if we could/should get to count Apples to Apples for his favorite board game. We were right, he was wrong.

8th birthday treasure hunt

This is mostly for my mom's viewing. She is the queen of clever rhymes, and just cleverness in general. Here is my meager attempt. This morning we started celebrating Ben's birthday early. He's barely awake...
Instead of the usual stack of presents he went on a treasure hunt. First clue, on a pack of gum, Chew...choo..choo your way to your next clue... (clue hidden in the toy train stuff)
#2 On a package of Reeses peanut butter CUPS--When you are thirsty and need a drink go find your clue near the kitchen sink. (Clue in the cupboard with the cups...ah ha--credit goes to Matt for this one).
#3- For this next clue, do what I've said and go to the room that is red. (Ok, the room isn't really red, but we call it that because of the couches. )
#4 Now we're tired. Let's take a rest and maybe find a clue on a spare mattress. (Not my best rhyme).
#5 Wii like to play and have some fun. The controllers go here when Wii are done.
#6. I SAW a clue here. (No rhyme, just a play on words.)
#7 The birthday boy is turning eight with eight gifts to help him celebrate. The last one isn't far away, look in the place where Dad likes to play.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!