Hunting Season 2011

This hunting season was fun! The kids are just a bit easier when we go down to the shack. We still manage to fit 4 in a row on a wheeler and they love everything about a dead deer hanging out of the back of their dads pick up truck!

And I mean everything. Yes those are 2 pics of my children holding deer legs. And my father in law in the background with half a carcass. They especially loved the hard tongue sticking out the side of the deers mouth. Ish! But here I was snapping away at pics of them holding deer legs that had been sawed off! And they smiled with pride that he is providing us with a freezer full of meat. Mmmm.

The first weekend we stayed home while dad hunted. Or should I say, while dad sat in his stand and saw nothing! We had friends over and made homemade pizza and hung out. The second weekend of the season was Parker's 6th Birthday party, so we were home Friday night...but we did go out and stay at the shack. Sunday morning our Griswold family of 4 hit the stand to experience "hunting" together.

Needless to say we scared all wild animals off in a 5 mile radius with our candy wrapper crumpling and fidgeting. We seriously were the loudest hunters in the woods. I can only hope that we drove the deer to someones stand for them to shoot.

Both kids came dangerously close to the heater, both argued over who was going to sit where and both kids ate their weight in Halloween candy! I officially don't need to see another Almond Joy until October 2012.

Bear did manage to get us deer. Our freezer is full and we are going to have great meals full of venison and canned vegetables to sustain us until next season. After not getting a deer the first weekend, I was a bit panicky about not having enough meat to feed these boys, but the hubs prevailed! Way to go, my mighty hunter!

My boy is 6

I never want to forget this face. The face of pure shock! You were so shocked the morning of your birthday. Momma scored a Ninetendo DS for you at a good price and totally surprised you. You had no idea you were getting one, I kept telling you that you were too young. But like I said, I got a good deal and you got a DS. You officially had to be set on a gaming timer. You would literally sit there all day and play if we let you. I am no longer ever going to wonder what you'll do in a car or any other long trip. The DS will babysit you. As much as I hate saying that, it's true.

Once I got you to put down the DS you went on to open the next present from us. And footie jammies still excite you too! You love them. You always have. And I believe you'll be the guy that sleeps in those giant ones with the trap door on the butt. Like Pa Ingalls.

The 3rd batch of werewolf cupcakes turned out even better. I did take the easy way out and cut off at 2 dozen for the party and plainly decorated the rest. We managed to shove 6 candles on one and as we sang to you, you did something you have never, ever done. You played shy or embarrassed and ducked under the table until we finished. I have no idea why. It's so not like you. But when we finished, you came up and blew out all your candles and the moment passed you.

You of course got way too many gifts. Lots and lots of people got you 6 one dollar bills in your card. It was significant in many ways.

Everybody enjoyed the cupcakes. Well the kids did for sure. All the kids loved the marshmallow and fruit by the foot nose. The adults questioned if the whole thing was actually edible.
Miss Shelby Lynn and Emmitt

Brooks' face is soooo hilarious is this pic! Like he can't quite get that crazy Auntie Becky gave him all that sugar! And Miss Gracie Lyn, cute as ever!

Daddy and messy Parker

Garret and Miss Jillian

Over all, it was a great party. It's hectic with all the people at times, but it's a great hectic. You never feel like you can talk to everybody, but they all talk to each other. It's become such a tradition. I had all the guests fill out their numerology and discuss with each other. You took the last 2 digits of the year you were born and how old you were or will be this year and when everybody compared answers it was 111. It was so awesome! The kids of course just came out to 11. But still. It was creepy and cool. We had a surprise visit from my Aunt and Uncle who haven't ventured this way in 10-20 years. That was special.
And to top it off, Parker got his new jersey for his purple hockey team and he chose number "11".

Halloween 2011

We had sooooo much fun dressing up this year for Halloween. I really questioned how it could get better than last year, but it did! Our costumes were awesome, a little flimsy (and ahem, skimpy) but they did the trick. Emmitt was so excited to start chirping out who we were all going to be to anybody who would stand still enough to listen.
And he rocked his sidekick Robin costume very well.

Both boys loved that they had huge muscles to flex when they were wearing their costumes. It was fun to see them punch each other and continue to talk about just how tough they really were.

But this man has totally come to love Halloween as much as I do. I mean, come on, it's natural for your kids to follow along your crazy ideas, but your husband? Yes, he was a trooper. When we first started discussing our costume options for this year, I asked him if he wanted me to paint his face or go with a mask...his natural response was, "well if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this right!"

That little comment took me to the whole next level. It took me an hour to paint his face for our Saturday night bar outing and only 10 minutes on Halloween! It took him straight to first place in Best Dressed/Costume category at the bar! He won some sweet prizes for it too. We were basically unrecognizable the whole night. Most people couldn't figure either of us out. He changed up what he was drinking even! But the face and the wig were creepy and totally sweet!

Thank you my dear husband for playing along, acting like a crazy man with me all for the fun of it! Batman and Robin won't forget either, just how cool of a dad you are!

Parker Can Read!

Well...it's the beginning of a new "chapter". Parker has been learning his site words at school. He brought home his first book from class and told me very frankly, that he "can read it to me!" Which he did, multiple times. I was so fun for him to read it to Emmitt too at bedtime. I am loving being able to sit and watch him with a huge smile on my face!

it's not the best I've ever done...but they are cute!

The first of 3 rounds of werewolf cupcakes are going to school today. With there being no school Thursday or Friday, we are celebrating Parker's 6th Birthday at school today. I am off to bring my big boy and his cupcakes to school today.

I definitely know that I can do better, but I need to just practice a bit more with the "fur". I tried the plastic baggie piping trick and it just wasn't working. My hot hands made the frosting slippery...so tomorrow I plan to use the actual frosting decorators I own. But I am sure the 5 and 6 years olds will thoroughly enjoy these today!

11-11-11

11-11-11
...is about the coolest date ever to have a birthday!
I literally scoured the web for any type of party ideas for this date and really came up with nothing. And as I always do, I asked Parker to look through our cupcake book and pick out what he would like this year. He came up with the howling werewolf cupcakes. Seriously? What on earth would I do with that?! I thought for sure, with his puppy/dog obsession, that I would be making those cupcakes, but nope! Werewolves. It was actually super easy to find dog lingo on the web, but not wolf. Let alone werewolf. Thank God I am a Twilight fan, because the amount of Jacob that came up when I was searching was ridiculous. And for the record I am totally an Edward girl. Too bad the kid didn't want a vampire party!

The costume I borrowed from a friend. Her Parker had just conveniently been a werewolf for Halloween. So the boys and I cut and painted a cardboard full moon and hung it up. Got Parker all dressed up and went for the perfect invite picture. Parker was so into posing with his scariest wolf poses I couldn't help but crack upFor some reason he turned the mask around to take a breather and out came my sweet boys baby face. Hairy head and all. I think a werewolf is totally fitting for him. He can be so utterly sweet and kind and caring and compassionate...and other times he is the wolf! He is sassy and rude and disrespectful and hyper and loud. But he is a 6 year old boy who is on the move constantly. And he knows right from wrong and has the kindest heart.

I do have some fun numerology trivia and such planned. I plan to make the best werewolf cupcakes for the party! I think they may blow the alligator out of the water!
So be ready to howl. Because it truly is a "ones" in a lifetime event. My Parker is 6 and we'll frolic with fright, because we have been waiting for such a night. The whole 11-11-11 concept is just too cool. And I won't forget my mom coming up with the fact that all those 1's add up to 6, when written 1+1+1+1+1+1=6.