Getting Ready for a New Little Paine

It is hard to believe but in two months we are going to have a new little Paine in the family!  We had Laura's baby shower to celebrate and help them get some things for the new baby.  The shower was at Christy's house and we were so happy that almost everyone was able to come and help celebrate.  
We did the traditional shower activities; food, a game and presents.  One of my responsibilities was the game which Ella and Sam were super excited about.  They made sure I got them at game time, helped get it all set up and helped with the presentation.  I think everyone had a good time and we helped get baby Paine all set up with some things he or she will be needing in a few months!  I can't wait.  

The guest of honor by the goodies!

The food table (I forgot to take the picture until most people had been through). 

Cute little onesie that Christy made to go with our theme!

Opening gifts 

 

Taking on the Teachers

The kids school has a chicken BBQ and carnival as their big fundraiser for the year.  It was a good time and the kids love running around and playing games.  Part of the event is a silent auction.  In the auction the teachers usually sell some sort of time with them and they become some of the biggest money makers.  
The first grade teachers sell a pizza party during lunch for your child and a friend.  The kids love to have special time with their teacher and that is what Ella was set on winning.  It took a lot of bidding but we won it and Ella enjoyed her time with the teachers.  
The fifth grade teachers needed something a little more exciting to get the fifth graders to want to participate.  They auctioned off a game of laser tag against the teachers for you and three friends.  We knew this would bring in a lot of money so we made a plan.  Sam's friend Jacob had his parents bidding on the event too.  His mom decided we should split the cost and let each boy choose one other friend to attend.  It worked and the boys won the party.  They were so excited that they were talking strategy at their lunch the day of the event.  They had an absolute blast and best of all they beat the teachers! 

All ready to go! 

The teachers have on their game faces. 

Sam was Gladiator and was so excited to have the high score! 

This how we kept entertained while they played.  

A Spooktacular Time

We had a good time this Halloween!  It started with the parties at school.  I am Sam's room mother this year so I was in charge of his party.  We did a minute to win it theme and the kids really got into it.  They were excited and I was so glad they enjoyed their party.  Ella had fun at her party too.  Our friend Christi did her party which was a camping theme.  They had a pretend fire set up that the kids sat around and ate s'mores and told stories.  I was a little jealous I could not attend too.  

Then it was home and time to do a few things before getting dressed in our costumes.  Ella wanted to be Saige, the American Girl doll this year.  Her costume was really easy since they sell outfits just like the dolls at the store.  So with a pair of boots, a look a like hair do and some drawn on freckles she was good to go.  Sam decided to be Uncle Si from the television show Duck Dynasty.  We raided John's closet for some boots and camouflage and a blue t-shirt (I still can not believe that he and John wear the same shoe size).  I went on line and found a pair of fake glasses, a beard and a hat and Sam already had a tea cup so we were ready.  I think they both turned out really well. 

Sam's class doing one of the Minute to Win It challenges. 

Sam having fun at his party. 

The campfire at Ella's class party.

Ella enjoying herself. 

Ella and Saige

Ella, Saige and some of the ghost lanterns we made.

Sam as Uncle Si

Out trick-or-treating

The kids and I headed out trick-or-treating a little after six o'clock.  We just walked some of the streets in our neighborhood.  They trick-or-treated for a little over an hour when they decided to head home.  About that time John texted and said we were almost out of the seven bags of candy I had bought that week.   I couldn't believe it!  I thought we would have left overs for sure.  Luckily, the trick or treaters were slowing down and we just turned off our light a little before eight when it was mostly the teen agers.  It was a fun night and the kids have plenty of candy to eat in the upcoming months! 

Carving New Memories

The pumpkin carving at our house took place the night before Halloween.  This year Ella decided she did not want to make her pumpkin with me she wanted to carve with her dad.  Sam of course, wanted to carve with John too because that is the tradition.  So, I got relegated to searching the internet to help both kids search for patterns that would eventually become their jack-o'-lanterns.  The good news is they both basically cleaned their own pumpkins so we did not have to help much in that area except to clean up the mess they made on the table in the process.  
Ella wanted something spooky but I wasn't quite ready for the creepy pumpkin and I managed to talk her into a bat that I thought was pretty cute.  Sam took forever to decide on his pumpkin.  He wanted a Duck Dynasty jack o lantern at first but the patterns were all too difficult, then he wanted a sports theme but couldn't find one he liked so we eventually went back to the Halloween theme and picked out a mummy.  I think they turned out really well.  

The finished products; Ella's jack o' lantern she did herself, the bat she did with Daddy and Sam's mummy.

Pumpkin Carving Party

Our friends the Hoyts have an annual pumpkin carving party that is so much fun!  Megan is a great party planner but we haven't been to one of the parties since Sam was a toddler because we have lived in different towns.  They just moved back to Columbia and we were so excited to get an invitation to their event.  Unfortunately, Sam had his last football game at the same time as the party so it was just the girls attending. 
Ella even cleaned and carved her own pumpkin.  My only job was to cut off the top.  I think she wanted to be like Molly, our friend who is three and half years older.  I was amazed at what a good job she did.  We had a fun time and are looking forward to next year when hopefully we can all attend. 

Ella cleaning out her pumpkin

Molly getting ready to start carving.

Ella's face painting.  She wanted a snake and a mustache!

Some of the finished products.  Ella's is in the very front.