Benny wins for Halloween

Sand Lot has made a big impression on our boys, in lots of ways (we ended up getting the edited version after some of those impressions :). They are in LOVE with baseball. They want to play it, watch it, and dress like "Benny the Jet" Rodriguez. You may have noticed Cruz's open shirted, wife-beater stage through pictures.

We are moving on a bit these days, but they both still love their "Benny" shirts. When they saw some real baseball jersey's at the store, they were sold as to what they wanted to be for Halloween...and I ran with it.

Here is Team Nobmann (I was the real-life umpire)

Tyce's 1st Halloween! He had no idea what was really going on but he laughed his little evil/sneaky laugh and was a "great sport"--Ha!

The Excitement!

Oshyn Jack

The Crew

The Loot...I'm surprised Cruz had this much considering he started eating candy after the 1st house & kept the sugar flowing from then on

The Cutest baby on the block!

We had a nice and simple Halloween, trick-or-treating around the condos. The kids had a blast and a nice little sugar high for the next week.

Shark Attack O

Watching the Sharks play this year was exciting! This was the first season out of Tot Soccer and boy were they ready. The growth of the whole team was so great, but of course I noticed Oshyn the most :) When he had the mind set to attack for the ball, that boy mowed people down. He was so aware of what was happening and entertained us all. One of the dad's started calling him Hoover and MVP. The best part was that he worked so hard EVERY practice and EVERY game & was humble (don't confuse that with confidence--he has PLENTY of that & its awesome). Great season Sharks!! Can't wait until next year!

The Best Walnut Pumpkin farm EVER

Cruz's preschool teacher decided this year she would have their annual pumpkin farm field trip at her house. That made my pumpkin farm year!

We loaded up Cruz, Tyce and two Joneses and headed about a mile west of our house to Teacher Jan's walnut farm. She told all about the walnut machines, let them pick their favorite pumpkin, took them on a hay ride and gave them freshly popped popcorn & juice. It was so simple and fabulous. The kids loved having their teacher as their tour guide and of course she was super personable, loving and a natural horse three-year-old whisperer.

We finished up the morning with some walnut demonstrations. My favorite was the machine that hugged the trunk of the tree and SHOOK! Then it rained walnuts. One of the coolest. things. ever.

Out of the 4 years of pumpkin farm field trips this was my favorite.

Why I do what I do

It makes all of the catch up posts and continual photo journaling worth it when I see my boys pouring over the blog books I've printed out. They love to look at the pictures and laugh at the stories I retell them. They are my "I think I can"s.

SO BIG!

Swimming on Saturday, Fall on Sunday

I guess it is about time, being that it is almost the end of October--yet it has felt like the endless summer over here in Lodi. The boys have loved it, but welcomed a change of pace and a good jump in some puddles. We even saw a double rainbow.

Can you guess who I "isms"?

Statements we hear quite often...

He's sure somethin' else.

He's not afraid to let you know how it is!

He's got quite the personality.

He's going to give you a run for your money.

What a little firecracker!

You've got your hands full with that one!

He's a nose picker and last time I told him to get his finger out, he told me, "But there's a bug in there and I gotta get it....See I got it!" (then he proceeded to eat the "bug")

Me: Don't eat bugs!!

C: But I ate an ant at your meeting (TRUE) and it was GOOD!

And on another day as we were riding bikes...

C: I have to stop for a minute. (everyone stops to wait...for him to proceed to pick his nose!)

Lately he's been telling me there is spiders up there and he needs to get them. I tell him leave the spiders in there--maybe they'll eat the mocos and they'll stop bugging you. Hasn't worked...

Random-isms:

"My tootsie's hurt." (I like this b/c he's starting to use words that I use & my parents did)

"I'm not going to fall...I'm just hanging on and shaking my booty!"

"I'll be your best friend!"

"Tyce is my friend!"

"Tyce LOVES me!!"

"This is goodie-goodie!"

His version of reverse psychology? This is when I really know what's happening...

"I didn't push something."

or

"I don't have to go to the bathroom."

or

"Don't look over here."

or

"I don't have anything."

or his famous...

"If you guys weren't here I would _____" (fill in with---watch movies all day, eat all of the cereal, candy, etc.)

"I just want to hang out with you guys." (Said in his sweetest, cutest voice---when he's supposed to be in bed.)

He LOVES puzzles...a regular ol' puzzle-a-holic and VERY good at figuring out what goes together. It amazes me.

We love and laugh with this crazy guy--a whole lot.

29 to 60 SURPRISE!

We all gathered for the long weekend up in Tahoe for my Dad's 60th birthday. Little did he know that this quiet, laid-back weekend was gearing up for a raging party!

Even Tyce was in on the surprise!

Pretty much everyone knew and actually kept it a secret...in the mean time--

We threatened them not to tell by dangling them by a swing over the water--and when that got too fun, Cruz got thrown up so high he almost wet his pants. Okay maybe not, but it was hard to keep the excitement inside especially when the food looked delicious (not a surprise, this was a Mack/Sue and co. party!!), the pictures & decorations had his name and cute baby/handsome man face all over them, everyone was sporting their "Mack Daddy" t's and we just had to wait.

Then the man of the hour showed up...just a bit surprised!

Besides Chad/Marcy, Beau/me, and Sue...we had sisters (and -in-laws), brothers (and -in-laws), friends, family, more friends, more family--even Papa came in from Kansas! Let's just say if I didn't know before (which I did...) I now know that he is LOVED by a whole lotta people. It was a fabulous weekend, great party and celebrated my most favorite Daddy whom I love to pieces. He has a heart of gold and I am thankful to be his daughter.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

and Happy Birthday Grampa!!

Sweep the Leg

Johnny