Happy (belated!) Halloween!

Halloween has come and gone, and it's hard to believe it's already November! In the past week I went on Max's field trip to the pumpkin patch, we watched him sing at his Fall Program, and we joined the neighborhood kids and went Trick-or-Treating. 

Trying to get a class picture of nine 3 year olds wasn't easy!

Max is very good at telling everyone else to be quiet, but isn't always good at being quiet himself!

Baby goats had been born the week before we got there 

And Max enjoyed cuddling with him!

There were also very stinky and dirty cute pigs to be petted

And a donkey too!

The kids learned where eggs came from, though Max proudly stated that he got to pick REAL eggs from under Oma's butt. Then I (slightly embarrased!) had to explain that he meant under Oma's CHICKEN's butts! Laughter exploded from the other adults and Max went on the whole day talking about the eggs from under Oma's... you know what.

He got to pick the most apples since he was the only one that could reach to the top! (and yes, those are his classmates that are the same age as him!)

And then there was a tater diggin' race (digging for potatoes for those of you not from the South!)

Ready, Set, GO!

The corn maze was a lot of fun

But going on a hayride was the most fun!

Max got to pick his very own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch

And he even let me take a picture of him on the tractor!

Two days after the pumpkin patch, it was time for the school's Fall Program and Fall Festival

Max was by far the, ahem, "most vocal" child when they sang "Five Little Pumpkins"

After the program we went off to play games. Max loved the cake walk

And left as the proud owner of a yucky and dry beautiful orange pumpkin cake!

He was also quite good at balloon stomping. So good that you might think he had some aggression issues! ;-)

The next day it was time to say goodbye to Max's beloved teacher, Mrs. Amy. She has been so wonderful to him and has made his adjustment to the US much easier. Though we will miss her, I'm sure Max will have lots of fun with his new teacher, Miss Jessica. 

And then it was time for the Halloween activities to draw to an end with Trick or Treating.

Lucas the Lion did not find Halloween very amusing,

But he cheered up after his big brother toted him around!

Max met up with Blake (aka Buzz Lightyear)

And the boys began their evening of fun!

He had been practicing saying, "Trick or Treat" for weeks, and was finally rewarded with candy! 

And then we dropped our sweet, sugar-loaded children off at Mimi and Opa's house so Mama and Papa could go out and celebrate Halloween as well!

NOD Pre-Halloween Party!

Before Halloween we headed down to Pensacola, FL and met up with the rest of the NOD (Nederlands Opleiding Detachement/ Dutch Training Detachment) to enjoy a day of fun on the beach. It was a costume party, but we didn't get the memo that the costume part didn't start until dinner. So despite utterly embarrassing ourselves feeling a little silly with our grand entrance, we had a great time with some fun people!

Max and Matthew are only a couple days apart in age. They've become good friends since we've moved here, and can understand each other's "Dutchlish"

A student enjoyed some flying time above the water

Anouk worked on her world-series hit

And after a few drinks, people started getting tossed in the water.

It was great fun to photograph

And even more fun to see my soaking-wet hubby walking over to me

Luckily, he thought it was pretty funny too!

Max wasn't so keen on going into the water,

and Mama wasn't either!

But luckily we had costumes to change into! Can you guess who we were?

Yep, that's right... Familie Flintstone!

I didn't have a Pebbles so I had two Bam-Bam's. And I may or may not have put a hair bow in his hair that day!

A group shot before the BBQ that ended a fun day!

Blake's Birthday Party!

Max has become a little socialite since moving here, and I swear he gets invited to more parties and events than we do! So 2 weeks ago we headed over Max's classmate, Blake's, house for his birthday party. Luckily, they are our neighbours so we didn't have to travel far!

Blake had lots of fun toys to play with

Max loved the "Car Slide"

Yippeee!

Blake is also a Thomas the Train lover, and although Max was a little...ahem... heavy for this motorized train, he still had a great time sitting on it and hoping it would work!

The birthday boy had more fun pulling Lucas around than playing with his toys. We definitely didn't have to worry about entertaining him that evening!

Little L taking a 'water break' from all of the attention he was getting

Anole lizards are very popular around here, and the kids love to catch them. (And then return them to the wild of course!)

Lucas didn't quite get the concept of sliding, but he loved trying to go up it!

Bridger enjoyed playing t-ball

And Max's "girlfriends" had lots of fun going down the slide. I tried to get a picture of Max on the slide, but he spent most of his time trying to get that train to work! ;-)

Liza looked like a dandelion from all of the static!

And all of the children except for one enjoyed eating pizza. Our child likes to be different and wanted BROCCOLI instead of pizza. *Sigh* Only Max.... 

After the festivities, and a long day at the park. Our children slept like angels, and life was good. 

Sunshine Day!

I think we'll go for a walk outside now

The October sun is calling my name

I hear ya now

I just can't stay inside all day

I've got to get out

Get me some of those rays

Everybody's Smilin'

Sunshine Day

Everybody's Laughin'

Sunshine Day

Everybody seems so happy today

It's a SUNSHINE DAY!