The Kies Family: Halloween and a 'few' other tidbits

Disney Jr Live came to Moline a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could have captured the sheer excitement on both Maddox and Kennon's faces as they sat on the edge of their seats and watched Sophia, Jack, Cinderella, Tinkerbell, Mickey and Minnie. So absolutely fantastic to see them interact with the show. Definitely sealed the deal that the Kies family will be making our inaugural trip to Disney in 2014!!

All the characters...see who you can pick out??!

Maddox getting ready for her final soccer game.

Maddox is done with her first season of soccer. Most of you know she didn't really love it. But she did a great job the last game a couple of weeks ago and even kept the other team from scoring a goal by running out in front of the ball and kicking it out of the danger zone!! Way to go Maddox. I think we should maybe sign her up for one more season just to see if gets along a little better having a little more confidence the second time around. In fact they have another season in the Spring.

Maddox had her 4 year check up on Monday. She is 35 1/2 pounds and is 41 1/2 inches tall. I have no idea what percentile that is but Dr. Delessio didn't make any comments so we'll just go with it. I talked to Dr. about Maddox's frequent bruising and continued dis-coordination. She ordered a couple of blood tests, both of which came back perfect and recommended getting her into Tae Kwan Doe or dance class. She even gave us the name of a dance studio in Bettendorf she thought would be good for Maddox. I plan to take her back to Dr. Pyevich in January for her yearly check up. He is the pediatric orthopaedic Dr. we saw about a year ago who said come back to me in a year if she is still falling down a lot....which she does!! I have also noticed her knees have become more hyperextended in the last 6 months as well. Maybe I need to get her into a good Physical Therapist... Ha Ha Ha....I'm sure you are thinking 'just do PT with her Laura' but it doesn't work that well in our own environment!! We'll see what classes I can get her into in the coming months.

We went to the commercialized pumpkin patch this year. Just couldn't fit in a trip out to the farmish one we normally go to. But, it was just as well, as both kids had a BALL jumping in the 2 jumpy houses that the garden center had while I picked out the pumpkins!! Not sure they even cared what the pumpkins looked like they were just happy to be a jumpin' .

Maddox and Kennon both got on the tutu band wagon a couple of weeks ago. They were so cute twirling around the living room!! Kennon's skirt is of course one of Maddox's and Maddox's skirt was hand made by Aunt Diane and cousin Hannah. So fun!! When they behave well and don't pick on each other they are such a JOY to be around. This was one of those times. Just look at the happy smiles on their faces.

Maddox and Kennon practicing with their props for Halloween. Maddox with a fairy wand and KTK with his sword!! He's even got the stance down.

Grandma Jean Maddox Kennon and Grandpa Jim carving pumpkins.

The Sunday before Halloween we invited Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean over for some pumpkin' carvin' fun!! Well I have to say KTK was really the only one interested in putting his hand in all that goop!! Maddox still with the trait of not really wanting to get her hands dirty but Kennon got right in there. I think the pumpkins turned out great but best of all that we got to have G'pa and G'ma help us!! Grandma Jean came with a BOAT ( or should I say Tundra ) load FULL of fun Halloween activities for the kids to do after the carving fun. There were so many we didn't even have time for them all!! My favorite ( and I think the kids' too) the HUMAN MUMMY!! We quick had some home made soup after the activities and then loaded up for the Bettendorf Halloween parade...which proved to be a parade we'll probably consider skipping next year. Kinda blah!! But it was good to be outside in the sun, to see the pretty leaves and spend time with family.

Cotton ball ghosts!! Notice that EACH kid has their own bottle of Elmer's Glue....that Grandma Jean sure does know it's way more fun to have your OWN bottle than to share with your big sis!! Maddox is making the 'I'm working on a project face'.....complete with tongue action.

Next up...baked bean can mummies.

I love the look on KTK's face here.

Super genuine smiles!! LOVE IT!

Where's Kennon????

So despite the cold sort of rainy weather the kids and I headed out trick or treating last Thursday. Both were totally in tune with the fact that they were going to get candy, a slight change from last years experience. Since trick-or-treaters were slightly on the reduced numbers due to the weather most of the people handing out candy were more than willing to let the kids have more than one piece!! In fact Maddox capitalized on the fact that most of our neighbors just put the bowl down in front of her and let her have free reign. We only made it down about half of our street and back again before it was time to go home and get WARM and fill up on Papa Murphy's Halloween Jack o Lantern pizza.... Wow...why didn't I come up with that idea. I think the entire Quad Cities was having Papa Murphy's pizzas that night.

So the Tuesday before Halloween Kindercare had a Fall Festival. They decorated each of the rooms at the center and had the kids dress up and go from room to room enjoying the fun. Kennon's room was turned into a Haunted Forest and Maddox's room had games and decorate a graham cracker, bobbing for ducks. One room had a photo op and the other a big Halloween cake.. ( which if you can believe we actually skipped!!...) The event was in the evening and allowed all parents to come. We ALL had a ball despite the fact that it wasn't really in my plan for the evening but when both kids came begging to me at pick up to go to the Halloween party I knew there was no following my plan for the night which just consisted of dinner and baths. So glad we went though!! Super fun time. Despite my frustrations with the center they sure do know how to make the kids feel loved and special.

Maddox initially was not all that happy to have her Tinkerbell wings pinned on her back. Apparently the safety pin was 'poking' her ( even thought I know it wasn't they probably just felt funny back there ) but after a ride in the car seat and a great big hello from the center director Mrs Maribeth everything was ALL GOOD!!

Kennon, as Uncle Tyler put it, OWNED that pirate costume!! He was so darn cute and just strutted around with his sword like he was ready to fight Captain Hook. AARRRGH Buddy!!

He looks so old in this picture ...he is growing up.... sad.....

Well this was the only real action trick-or-treating shot I got. Maddox was too quick for me running from house to house .The only reason I got this one is because the blue rain boots were too big for him so he had to walk or sort of hobble along.... As you can see though, breezy, rainy, and no smile in between houses as it was CHILLY. Maybe next year we'll luck out with better weather.

Carter and Maddox making pumpkin pie frosting in a Ziploc bag!! You mix it all up in the bag...no bowl needed and then pipe it out onto graham crackers!! YUM. This was one of Grandma Jean's projects we didn't get to the previous weekend. We were happy to have the pre nap activity!!

We had a great visit with the Knowles' last weekend. Aunt Brooke and Uncle Tyler had tix to the Hawkeye game on Saturday against Wisconsin. So Eric and I watched all 4 kiddos!! Phew...!! I have to say it was the littlest one Reid who was by FAR the easiest. He is such a happy little guy just smiles and is happy to crawl about and play with his toys. Now the other 3 really needed a bit more chaperoning and I owe it to Eric for keeping those 3 kiddos under control. He even got all 3 kids down for naps completely BY HIMSELF while I gave Reid lunch and got him down for his afternoon nap. There was actually an overlap of about 20 minutes where all 4 were sleeping at the same time!!! ( and then Maddox woke up) Carter was genuinely perfect ( and I mean that in the sincerest way extremely well behaved), Maddox did a pretty good job of following directions, obeying, and playing with Carter but KTK.... boy that kid has gotten into a mean streak lately. He is just really into hitting, pinching, patronizing and disobeying at the highest level possible. I called him the devil child today in a text to Eric after he peed on the bench in the kitchen and then threw his chips from his lunch plate into the pee!!! Now, I'm not too upset about the pee....as he is cold and then hot with the potty training.... but the chips INTO the pee!! C'mon. That is just how his little mind is rolling right now. Let's see what I can do to really urk mom and more excitedly!! what can I do to make Maddox run to mom crying. Maddox on the other hand has had a bit of swing the opposite way. She has been quite good in the last couple of weeks. We are of course praising her behavior and hope that her 'good' streak continues...because now our attention is on getting Kennon back to the cute little sweet funny toddler that he was about 4 weeks ago. I know he's in there somewhere!

Saturday after the game we loaded up all the kiddos in Sienna and Pathfinder ( not sure what you all are calling your vehicle Knowles family) and headed out to the cemetery for our first visit to 'Grammy's box' as we are calling it. We explained to the kids that Grammy's spirit is up in Heaven and Grammy's box is just a place to go to remember her. I'm quite certain Maddox is still processing that but it's the best we can do. I AM however CERTAIN she knows she is up with God and now up with Great Grandma Berg and giving us strength from above and ALSO watching our behavior :) The headstone company started setting Grammy's headstone last week so we were excited to see how it looked. Unfortunately only the base was in place....so we didn't get to see the 'pretty' part but that made for like the perfect launching pad and bench for the kids to stomp on. In any normal case I would have been mortified to let my kids jump and stomp on a grave but I am QUITE certain that Grammy was looking down smiling as she watched the kids frolic on her base. We even managed to get them to all sit down on 'Grammy' and snap a picture. You can just see the granite base through their little legs. It was a bitter sweet moment...super sad...really miss her but great to see the kids just embrace Grammy's box. They are so resilient. I absolutely love all their faces in these pictures I had to post them all. The sun was just right to kiss their little cheeks. Check out the hats!!!