Happy Halloween!

Wow, is October really over? It was a beautiful week here in KC! What a great way to celebrate Halloween week! Sunday evening we carved our pumpkins. Zane wanted to do his all by himself, and Mason wasn't too keen on any of it...but they turned out nice!

Zane starting his pumpkin

Mason "helping" on his pumpkin
The boys with our pumpkins...Mason not wanting to sit!

I had parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday. Jo was closed Thursday so Wednesday evening the boys headed with Matt to meet Grandma Farmer. She took them back to her house for the rest of the week. Man, was it quiet around here! It was very relaxing to come home after 2 long days and have the house quiet. I even had time to clean the whole house! They boys had so much fun combining and just being on the farm. They stay so entertained out there!

Zane on the combine

Papa and Mason in the combine

The Baker boys eating some lunch

I had Friday off so I spent it doing some shopping and also met Matt for lunch. Then we did some more shopping together before heading to Iowa. We stayed there for the weekend and then headed back to KC today for trick-or-treating. We went over to the Ottis house and walked around their block with them. The kids had so much fun! Zane and Madelyn were the leaders of the pack and were running to each of the houses. They had to keep stopping and waiting for the little ones, but were very good sports about it! Mason kept going up to the houses and he'd say "tick teet" then "happy ween!" He'd see a house and say, "How bout that one?" They both told me they had fun and they got some good candy!

Luigi Zane & Princess Madelyn

Minnie Nora and Yoshi Mason

Zane, Madelyn, Cooper, Mason, Nora, Ella

Trick or treat!

Nora and Mason trick or treating!

Zane and Madelyn waiting patiently...

"Following the leader.."

Sorting through their goods...

Zane driving the go-cart!

Zane-isms

• As we were driving in the van, Zane said, "Mom, this was the last juice in the fridge." So I asked him if he threw the box in the recycle bin. He said, "No." I said, "So, you left it in there empty, just like your dad does." He said, "That's what boys do!"
• One day Zane was getting dressed and wanted to wear jeans so he could wear a belt. He tucked in the front of his shirt, but not the back. Matt told him to untuck his shirt and he said, "But Dad, if I untuck it, noone will see my belt!"
• One day Zane was with Papa in the tractor and things weren't going well...and Papa said, "I swear!" Zane looked at him and said "Well I don't swear!"

Halloween Party and The Zoo!

The weather was super nice this week! We love this time of year and are trying to enjoy being outside in this amazing fall weather as much as we can! Jo has lots of leaves in her yard, and the kids always enjoy when Dale makes a leaf pile for them to play in!

Jo's kids ready to play in the leaves!

Mason in the leaves

This year Jo had a Halloween party for all of the daycare families. Every family was able to make it! We all dressed up and Jo had lots of food and goodies for us. We played a couple of games, had a pinata, listened to a story, and just had fun hanging out together by the fire on their back porch. It was a great night! Our family went as Mario Brothers characters. It was the first Halloween party we've gone to where we were all dressed up! Mason wasn't too sure at first and clung to Matt quite tightly, but he soon warmed up and was all over the place! Zane was invited to spend the night at Jo's so we only came home with one child...that was weird!

The Mario Family

Jo and all the kids
Mason hitting the pinata

Zane hitting the pinata

Two brave dads, being decorated as pumpkins...

The Kansas City Zoo is offering free admission in October and November to Kansas City residents...so we decided today was the day to take advantage of that! It couldn't have been a better day...wasn't crowded, weather was beautiful, we had a great time! It was such a great way to spend our Sunday together!

Ready to see some animals!

Mason...unsure of a big polar bear statue...

We liked watching the tiger pacing

This old van was sitting there...looked like a good spot for a picture!

The boys chasing the sheep!

Mason sitting so still on the train...

They had tractors to ride!

Wishing he could pedal himself...

Our boys...

One of our favorites was the elephants

Watching crocodiles

Cute family of baboons

The polar bear was fun to watch also!

Zane-isms

• After Jo called and invited Zane to spend the night, I talked to him about not telling the other daycare kids so that they didn't feel bad (Jo has them over at different times...so they all get a turn at some point). At the party one of the other kids went up and asked their mom about spending the night, so I reminded Zane he wasn't supposed to talk about it. He said, "I didn't tell them. I said 'I am not spending the night at Jo's house.'" Tricky...
• Last night before we left Jo's, we were discussing when to come get Zane. I told her we were thinking of going to the z-o-o (I spelled it) and Zane said, "Zoo!" Our life is changing...we can't spell all words to each other now because he can figure some of them out! Yeah for Zane and ugh for us!

Mason's Marvels

• Last night Mason had a rough nighth sleeping and was up crying a couple of times. This morning I asked him why he was crying and he said, "I no no (I don't know)." Then when I asked him again he said, "Cause."
• Mason is really showing his temper at times lately...and recently he's been particular about his sippy cups...we'll give him one and he'll say "diffent" and will have to pick out THE ONE he wants!
• Today Mason was singing "ABC, Now I know ABC..." Smarty pants!

Pumpkin Patch!

What a busy week! Tuesday Mom and Dad stopped by on their way to Branson. It was Matt's birthday so we went to 5 Guys to eat! Afterwards we ate yummy cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Matt (Mason still sings "Happy Nora to you!" every time we sing Happy Birthday)! Thursday Adam was here on his way to Tulsa. The boys and I had haircuts, so he went with us, then we ate pizza and took him to Yogurtini, one of our new favorite places where you serve yourself your own frozen yogurt...they have some great flavors and toppings! This weekend we stayed home. It was so nice to get some odd jobs done around the house! Saturday we woke up and headed to the pumpkin patch. The boys were so excited to go! It was a beautiful day and of course there was a crowd. Good thing we got there early!

Growing up!

Such changes from last year!

At the pumpkin patch there is a train. We were the FIRST ones in line! Mason was so funny all day, see the somber look on his face...that's how he was for most of the time...just taking everything all in. He was so quiet and just didn't know what to think...but had fun!

Waiting for our train ride

The boys waiting for the train to go
The boys and I waiting for the train ride

Couldn't get a shot of them both smiling...

Mason feeding a goat

Zane feeding a goat

After we walked around, played, went on a train ride, and fed the animals, we got on the hayrack to head out to the pumpkin patch. We came ready with bags to hold the pumpkins this year (learning the hard way from years past...). The whole out there, Mason was looking for Papa in the field! It was too cute! He also said, "Hi pumpkins!" and waved at them!

The Bakers at the Pumpkin Patch

Enjoying their ride...

Mason with his pumpkin

Zane with his pumpkin

My three boys!

They have a little stage area where they play music and kids can just go up on stage and dance/sing. Mason wanted to go up there, but then just stood there looking at everyone. The boy in the blue shirt went up to him and started dancing...Mason quickly escaped that! At one point he planted himself in the back corner and just stood there...I rescued him not long after!

"Dancing..."

Waiting patiently to ride the tractors

Tractor ride

Today we went to church. We sure miss that place when we're not home! Zane was anxious to go to Sunday School, but Mason cried so hard that they had to bring him up to us in worship. It's hard to really listen to the message at church with a little one there! But he did pretty well for being so little. Guess he'll be just like Zane...he did the same thing at that age. This afternoon Mom, Dad, and Adam stopped by on their way back to Iowa. They have Adam all moved out and he is now moving home and looking for a job there. Fingers crossed he finds one soon! We treated them to homemade pumpkin pie and strawberry ice cream (I know, doesn't sound like a good combo...but we were in the mood to make strawberry ice cream)! Yes...it was the first pumpkin pie I have EVER made...and I even used a real pumpkin!! Matt says it passes and I can keep making pumpin pies...so that's good! Have a great week!

Mason's Marvels

• We used to always just hear Mason in his room talking when he woke up, but lately he has been hollering, "Mama...come here!"
• In the van, Mason was saying "Papa Farmer. Papa have farm. Papa have cows."
• Zane went on a field trip this week to a place called Red Barn Farm. On the way to pick him up from Pre-K, I told Mason he had gone to the farm. Mason looked at me and said, "Me, farm" as he pointed to himself!
• Mason has been wanting to take showers with Matt or I lately. This morning I said I was going to take a shower and he said, "Me, sower" as he pointed to himself.
• Mason was trying to turn off the water in the bathtub and Zane didn't want him to, so he was pushing him back. Mason looked at him and said "Zane Baker no! Naughty!"
• If Mason wants something he'll say "Me have it" or "Mason have it."