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!

Pumpkin Patch!

When I was a little girl I loved to go to the pumpkin patch. I remember going on hayrides, eating caramel apples, drinking hot cider, and of course-- picking out the most beautiful pumpkin. Since they don't really celebrate Halloween in Holland, I was very excited to take our kids to the pumpkin patch this year and carry on the tradition.

Do you see me?

Me and the most beautiful pumpkin!

Me and my daddy

With pumpkins and caramel apples dancing in my head, off we went this Sunday to enjoy our perfect day at the pumpkin patch. With our fresh-out-of-the-shower children and camera in tow, we headed out to Dothan to Aplin Farms. We were going to do all of the things I did as a child and our whole family was going to have a great day.


After driving 45 minutes with two very whiny children in the backseat, trying to explain to my very confused husband where were going and why, and trying to keep my composure for our first family pumpkin patch adventure, we made it.


Even though Lucas was screaming and Max was jumping up and down because he had to pee, I was still very determined to make this day perfect.

First we checked out the animals

Max's favorite was by far the donkey

And he definitely didn't care for the POOOOOP from the cows!

He also got to practice "milking a cow"

And Papa gave him a helping hand

We saw some creative hay bales

Max got to go on a train ride with Pappie

While Lucas hung out with Mama

Lucas blended in with the pumpkins with his orange hair and not-so-clean face

And I attempted and failed to take took a perfect picture of our perfect day of our boys and their perfect pumpkin.