Spooky Storytime

The boys and I went to Barnes and Noble this morning for a Halloween storytime. A couple of books were read, we played a game where you toss eyeballs into a caldron (spooky!), colored, and had a costume contest (it was a tie with everyone winning).





We can't wait to go trick or treating tonight!

Oreo Eye Balls

Happy Halloween!


We are going over to Missy's house for trick or treating tomorrow night so I made Oreo Balls to look like eyeballs today. Oreo Balls are my new favorite dessert.

Here's the recipe ...

Ingredients:

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies, crushed
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 package white almond bark

Directions:

1. Using a blender or mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.
2. Roll into walnut size balls.
3. Chill for an hour.
4. Melt approximately 3/4 package of white almond bark.
5. Dip each Oreo ball in the melted white almond bark.
6. Allow to harden on wax paper.

To make the eyeballs, I added a chocolate chip with the point cut off after dipping the Oreo balls in the white almond bark. After they hardened, I used red icing to add the bloodshot look.

So yummy!

Saturday Activities

It was dry and a little warmer today so the boys and I finally made it out of the house. We made up for staying at home all day yesterday by staying out most of the day today. We started off the day with me getting my flu shot (actually I got the mist for the first time), we got Rylan a haircut (it's shorter than we expected it to be, but very cute), and we went to Pumpkinfest in downtown Franklin. This year Pumpkinfest was combined with a chili cook-off and Battle of the BBQ so it was insanely crowded (and we didn't stay long). There were also arts and crafts booths, lots of food vendors, a children's activity area, and a performance stage.

We visited the house this afternoon after naps and taking Charlotte to the dog park. The house is looking great. The primer (in our final paint color) was sprayed on today.



And here is the fireplace mantel that was installed either Thursday or Friday.

Cold and Wet

It was a nasty day here today. It rained all morning and was cold. The boys and I have been on the go everyday for the last few weeks so I decided to take a lazy day at home with them.

We spent a lot of time playing ...



And made cookies after lunch ...





Unfortunately lazy days at the apartment are actually not that relaxing. It's hard to keep the boys entertained enough so that they don't fight over toys or just start fussing because they are bored. I think tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so I'm sure we'll get out and do more then.

House Update

We went to the house on Wednesday night to check out the progress.

The exterior trim had been completed on the front of the house ...


Siding was put up on the back of the screened porch ...


The drywall corners had been installed and everything was taped and mudded. This is the master bedroom ...


And this is the bonus room ...


We skipped going to the house last night and Brian went on his own tonight after work. He said they had finished sanding the walls and cleaning out the house. Also, the mantel had been installed around the fireplace. We'll probably head out again tomorrow evening to check on the progress.

Rylan Update

Rylan is now 16 months old. He's still our baby, but when we're around younger kids (like Missy's Luke who is 6 months old), he seems like a true toddler.

Rylan is finally weened. I nursed him for the last time a couple of weeks ago (Oct 13th). For the first time in 44 months I am not pregnant or nursing. I've already put on a couple of pounds over the last few weeks as I was cutting down on the number of feedings Rylan was getting. I'm finally going to have to start watching what I'm eating!

Rylan has been sleeping through the night for several weeks now. You'd think I wouldn't be so exhausted all the time now but I still am. That may have something to do with Rylan often waking up around 5:30 am. I try to make him hang out in his crib until 6 am though unless he's really crying. I can usually doze through him fussing a little and playing in his crib.

Rylan is pretty easy to put down for naps and at night. Now that I don't nurse Rylan before bed, Brian has been putting him down at night and I've been reading to Carter. Rylan will often cry for a few minutes, but then he either calms down and babbles to himself for awhile or goes to sleep if he's tired enough.

Rylan is taking more steps and getting more brave. He's up to a dozen steps sometimes and will walk between things instead of just to us. I hope he's toddling around everywhere soon because it'll be nice when I don't have to worry about where he's crawling.

Rylan has a few words. Mama and dada. Water (or his version of it) and up. He also says over when a cartoon is over. The only animal sound he really makes is a quack for a duck.

We're still working on identifying body parts. Rylan has had belly and belly button for awhile. He usually lifts up his shirt to show you them when you ask. When I'm changing his clothes and take off his shirt, Rylan likes to pat his belly. He still has a rather large tummy so it's pretty funny. I mentioned something about teeth the other day and Rylan tapped his teeth. He usually gets this right when I ask him now. Sometimes he'll point at his nose when I ask him to, but that's about it for the body parts he knows.

Rylan is getting better at listening to books. Finally! He brings us books all the time now and sits in our laps waiting for us to read the books. He's starting to recognize pictures and will point out animals and other things.

Rylan loves to tickle Carter. Carter only likes it about 50% of the time. It's not the most graceful tickling, but it's not hitting either. Rylan thinks it's so funny.

Rylan also likes to give hugs now. He'll wrap his arms around you and rest his head on you. It's very sweet.

Rylan doesn't really like vegetables now that he's not eating pureed food, but he's a big meat fan (unlike Carter). He loves chicken.

Rylan is such a sweet boy. He has a beautiful smile and absolutely amazing laugh. But he also has a temper. Rylan can get so frustrated with Carter when Carter takes something from him or has something he wants. He will headbutt Carter and scream at him. When he doesn't want to get in his carseat or stroller, he'll slam his head back and forth and then start crying after he hurts himself.

Zoo with the Boys

The kids and I met Missy with Will and Luke and Heather with Dowden at the zoo today. I also met Missy and the boys at the park on Monday. We're trying to squeeze in as many playdates outside as we can before it starts getting cold.

A couple of gibbons were swinging all over the place!


The gibbons are ridiculously loud in Nashville. You can hear them hooting almost anywhere in the zoo. They are still one of our favorite animals to see.

We spent about an hour on the playground trying to avoid all the school groups that were showing up. I haven't been very good at avoiding school groups lately.

Dowden and Carter on an alligator ...


Will on another alligator ...


Will and Carter checking out some real alligators ...


The zoo has a ton of stuff up for the Halloween events they do in the evenings this month. Carter really liked this witch display ...

Grumpy Monkey

I took Rylan over to Cheekwood this morning for Goblins in the Garden. The main event was Trick or Treating along one of the paths.

Unfortunately it was pretty much a bust. It was super crowded and Rylan was not in a good mood. He was probably hot in his costume and I think he was still tired since he only got a short morning nap in the car.


We stayed about 45 minutes before I decided we'd have more fun meeting Brian for lunch.

Long Hunter State Park

We took the boys hiking yesterday at Long Hunter State Park. The park is on the east shore of J Percy Priest Reservoir and about 40 minutes from our apartment.

We decided to do the 4 mile Day Loop Trail. We knew it would be hard for Carter to hike that far but he probably walked a third of the trail.



There were a couple of other families that were starting their hike when we pulled into the parking lot. Carter saw another boy with a hiking stick and also had to have one ...


I carried Rylan in the backpack for the first third of the hike ...


A lot of the trail is close to the water. Since that is one of Rylan's few words, it was said over and over and over again.

Their were several spots along the hike where there were dozens of maples trees with beautiful leaves ...



We took a break at about a third of the way and had some snacks. We contemplated turning around at this point to shorten the hike but decided we could complete the 4 miles.


Brian took Rylan after our break and Carter hiked some more ...

I'm really glad that we didn't turn around because the bluff area that we hiked along was the best part of the hike.



Rylan passed out for about 30 minutes ...



Carter spent the majority of the last 1.5 miles on my shoulders.


It took us 2.5 hours to hike 4 miles. We were slow but we took time to enjoy the scenery, teach Carter about different trees and moss, and look into holes in between rocks. Brian and I were worn out after carting around the boys on the hike, but it was a lot of fun!

Drywall

We have drywall! All the rooms were completed this weekend. Now on to finishing the walls (corners, taping, mudding, etc).

Garage:


Family Room (from the Kitchen):


Kitchen (from the Family Room):


Bonus Room: