Happy Halloween!

 

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! We had a good one at our house. It is interesting, though, to see it change as the kids get older. Genevieve just loved it all. She was excited to put on a princess dress before going to her siblings' school parties. She sat very still while I did her hair (a rarity as she usually doesn't like me doing her hair) and posed for some pictures. Of-course 15 minutes later, she decided she wanted a different princess dress (luckily we have several saved from when Gabrielle was little). Nev actually wore three dresses before deciding on the green Tinker Bell dress for school. She then ended up growing tired of the itchy princess dresses and opted for last year's butterfly costume for Trick-or Treating! At the kids' school, she hopped and skipped from class to class sitting in each of her siblings' desks, eating the Halloween treats! I think Nev thinks school is one big party! She was a big hit with her siblings and their friends. Gabrielle and Willem got into the Halloween spirit at school, dressing up and having fun. Cade decided to not dress up for school and just wore a jersey and shorts, basically a 'free dress' day but no real costume for him for the first time.

Luckily I got Nev to take a nap (in the car) after the school activities and we then all headed to David and Amy's house at 5:30 to meet cousins, eat pizza and then Trick-or-Treat. Though Cade worked hard with both Chad and me (and his Aunt Tere) on his Spartan costume (he looked great!), he decided against Trick-or-Treating when he found out cousin Pascal wasn't going. I think he was a little bummed that the holiday wasn't as much fun as in years past :-/. Nev, on the other hand, hopped and skipped down the street, Trick-or-Treating with such joy! It was so much fun to see. It was like she couldn't believe what was happening...everyone was just giving her candy! Gabrielle had fun holding Nev's hand at each house and Trick-or-Treating with Willem and her cousins. Willem had a great time, too.

It was actually pretty relaxing Trick-or-Treating with just six kids and three adults (Chad, James and me), the weather was perfect and I just enjoyed watching the kids have fun. We did lose Carsten for a few minutes but luckily found him before we had to call David or Amy :). The bonus was we, for once on Halloween, got home at a decent time (8 pm) and got to relax a little at home together. 

One more Halloween tidbit before we get to the pictures, Gabrielle attempted going to the spooky corn maze at night with her friends on Friday but it did not go as planned. Elle was very excited and paid her $15 but then, upon arriving to the entrance, she got very scared and decided it was definitely NOT for her (at least not this year). We got a call at home from a tearful girl asking to be picked up. I didn't mind, it's kinda nice to know she's not completely grown up and still needs us :) I was happy to rescue her. Maybe I'll go with her in a couple years and we'll try again.

Genevieve's first princess costume

As usual, Nev wanted to pose a little differently for pictures! I couldn't get her to stand up and just smile for the camera, instead she wanted to lie on the floor and pose!

Dress #3!

Willem with some of his buddies...and Nev :) Willem was proud of his sis and said all his friends loved her. It was nice to see him take care of her and be protective and proud of her. I am used to that with Gabrielle and Cade but not always as much with Willem.

There was lots of colorful, yummy food!

...Which Genevieve loved!

Elle, Nev and BFF Jorja! They are Toddlers & Tiara girls (Elle had a pacifier too)!

 Elle with some of her classmates

Cousins before Trick-or-Treating 

Counting the loot!

Pumpkin Patch with Amber and Kids

We were very excited to meet up with Amber, Jacoby and Antonia yesterday!  We don't get to see each other enough and making the time is challenging with all of our busy lives.  So this was a special treat.  After I told her we were going to see her cousins soon, Genevieve asked me everyday for a couple days if we were going to see 'Koby' and Nia today! We met up at E.Z. Orchards in Salem which Amber picked out for us.  It was a great choice!  The grounds were big and open, with a playground, petting zoo, tricycles and a big farm store ~ all perfect for kids this age.  The kids ran around together and played with each other for the 4 hours we hung out.  Genevieve just follows Jacoby around pretty much copying whatever he does and she loves to mother Antonia.  Amber and I were able to catch up a bit too, although not nearly enough!  I hope that we'll continue to find the time for get-togethers like this over the next few years, especially while our Nev and her cousin are young :)

 

An Update on Willem's Fall Season

Willem's U10 team just finished playing their regular season of fall soccer (end of season tourney still to come). The EMFC U10 academy split up the twenty U10 boys into two equal teams for fall play in the Kidsports U11 Silver Division. Willem's team, comprised of three 2nd/3rd graders and seven 4th graders, ended up in the middle of the standings with a 2-4-3 record. Willem always loves playing in the games and wishes he could play a game every day! All season he played half of each game at keeper and the remainder on the field, usually at forward or center mid. Willem scored about six or so goals this season and had probably as many assists. He sees the field very well for his age and makes lots of great passes. Willem is always so much fun to watch. He hustles and plays with a lot of heart. He is fast, strong, athletic and fearless. He is so knowledgeable about the game and aware. He amazes me each time I watch him play well against kids two to three grades older than him. Willem loves to win and is very competitive, sometimes letting his frustration show on the field when his team is losing, but he is able to shake off loses pretty well. I look forward to many more soccer seasons watching our Willem play!

Another nice save by Willem!

Looking like a little professional out there :)

Willem working hard on the field

 Willem is always yelling instructions at his teammates from the goal (that is what goalies are supposed to do :)!

 

Willem with James who is only 7 years old and a lot of fun to watch (he can juggle the ball over 600 times already)

Parker who was a good addition to the team mid-season

Zane, Jared and Abe

Lone Pine Farms

When Cade, Gabrielle and Willem were little I took them to the pumpkin patch every year but, with our full schedules now, I hadn't taken Genevieve yet...until today! I really wanted to take her this year and am so glad I fit it (and hope I can go it one more time this fall). Genevieve loved it! And Willem also had a great time with his buddy Boston. I also really enjoyed catching up with my dear friend, Chris. Genevieve was especially lucky that Chris's daughter, Sydney, came along as she played and played with Nev on the playground after our trip to the pumpkins. What a great fall day!

 

 

  

 

  

As I was editing my pictures from today, I took a look back six years ago when I last took Cade, Gabrielle and Willem to Lone Pine Farms. Amazing how time flies...