Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination!

We had a fun morning today, visiting a local chocolate factory for a tour.  The kids were very excited to see the chocolate factory, one of their favorite books is Curious George Visits a chocolate factory.  We met some new friends there, it's funny to see how the kids react to new people.  Things change quickly, but right now Dawson was glued to my leg, hanging on for dear life.  Ava made all sorts of friends and Carter said "Don't worry Mom, I'm going to watch all the kids for you."  He was the oldest child there, and he did keep an eye out for all the little kids!  

A chocolate factory decorated for christmas?  Must be pretty close to heaven!

But anyways, the chocolate factory.  On the way there, I was discussing with Carter how he was not allowed to eat any of the chocolate there, that it was all processed with peanuts.  But I had a pack of Hershey's in my purse that he was welcome to have.  Ava then asked me what chocolate she was going to have.  I told her she could have the chocolate from the factory.  She burst into tears and started crying "but I don't want to eat peanuts!  Please don't make me!"

It's funny how she has already picked up on the whole peanut allergy thing, but when push came to shove and she was offered a cherry cordial processed with peanuts she gobbled it down. 

The kids loved looking at the big vats of chocolate, the white pipes running the length of the factory with liquid chocolate running through them.  I thought it was interesting learning how they make the gigantic chocolate bunnies and santas.   

Weekend Happenings

This weekend we went to visit Meme, Grandpap Bob and Nana.  We had to make a trip down to Beavercreek, so we decided to visit the Air Force Museum for awhile.  Carter was very excited about visiting, almost as much as Uncle Patrick!

They Flew a helicopter

Even Dawson

Played with Airplanes

Saw Huge Tires

{Check out Daddy in the background, he had to see if it was a Good year Tire.  It is.}

Sat in a Cockpit

It was so great to spend time with family.  

Funny Ava Story:

We are at Bob Evans and Ava is eating a roll.  She looks at me and says "Look Mom, it's my daily bread!"

I guess she is listening when we say the Our Father.

READ!

I have always, always, always, for as long as I can remember, loved to read.  It was not uncommon for me to ask for books for christmas or my birthday {which, lets be honest are pretty much one and the same} even as a kid.  Lately as Dawson has gotten older we are in a great pattern of reading during breakfast, lunch, snack, before nap, before bedtime and of course, whenever they plop down with a book.  One of the biggest benefits of reading to kids is expanding their vocabulary.  Here is just a little example from today:

Ava and Dawson are playing with cars and wooden blocks.  They had lined up the blocks to make a little road on the floor and were running the cars back and forth on it.  Then Ava decides to play Godzilla and knock it all over.  As Dawson is screaming I ask Ava "Why did you knock over the road?"

She looked at me and said "Well, Mom, it's a complex situation."

Goofy Goofy kid.  But she did reassemble the road for Dawson.

{Shh, still working on Mike but I'd love to get rid of television for awhile.  I'm hoping to do this at lent.  I tried to convince him last year, but it was a no go.  Luckily lent does not fall during football season.}  

A little Voting Humor and more

Heard around the House:

On Tuesday we ventured out to the polls, and after an hour wait we were settled in the van driving home.  Ava asked me "Mom where was the water?"  

"What do you mean, I'm not sure what you are talking about?"

"You said we were going boating."

"Oh, no no.  Voting.  With a V."

After that little bit of excitement we took a walk down to our neighborhood park.

One of the best parts of being a parent is remembering all the fun things in your childhood.  I remember hanging on swings like this, and these two had a ball.

My little Dawson is crawling all over the the play set.  

My little three year old is slowly growing out of napping.  But on this particular day she took it really hard.  While we were riding our bikes back to the house she suddenly stopped and started crying.  She started sobbing "I'm too tired to ride bikes any more."  Then lucky me, I get to pile a bike on top of the stroller and piggy back her to the house while pushing a stroller {don't forget about the bike on top!}  I'm sure if anyone had seen me, they would have been laughing pretty hard.

Tonight was an exciting night for the kids, I was watching two neighbor kids over dinner time.  It was pretty big to have friends to play with, but then we had a pizza party as well.  Mike was running late from work and I realized that I had a 5,4,3,2 and 1 year old.  And then I poured a big glass a wine.  

Little Moments from the week

Thursday is a BIG day in our household, its garbage day.  In our old home, the garbage truck came really early, between 5 and 6.  But now, the garbage truck comes around 8, so we all rush to see it.  The kids will hear it cruising down the block and run to the nearest window, and out of everyone Dawson loves it the most.

Can you tell that Meme came to visit?  Don't worry the window markers and crayons only took approximately 3 cleanings to finally get off.  Oh, and don't forget the half a bottle of cleaner.  But don't worry, Meme forgot that she has some of the biggest windows the kids have ever seen!  Maybe I'll need to bring those special presents to her house!

Evening Wrestling time with Daddy

I just realized it looks pretty dangerous that Dawson is wrestling with a recorder in his mouth.  No worries, no one was hurt during the wrestling session.

This weekend Mike and I had 24 hours kid free, thanks to Grandma and Bo.  The plan was to get Christmas shopping for the kids done, so we were asking the kids about gifts.  Ava told me "Well, I really want something grown-upish."  

WHAT! You are three and a half! 

But speaking of our kid free day, it was wonderful.  Mike and I slept in past 8 for the first time in five years maybe?  We enjoyed the peace and quiet, but I missed them all.  I forgot how easy it is to get out the door!

Also, we've recently had conferences at Carter's preschool.  She had a wonderful compliment about him and I wanted to share it here on the blog for future Carter.  Ms. Riki said "He is such a kind and loving little boy.  I wish I could just clone him and fill a classroom full of him."  

Ava also had a wonderful compliment from her ballet teacher.  Ms. Michelle said that she is a leader in her class.  She is very attentive and all the other little girls follow her.

I'm 1000% convinced that they are great little kiddos, and it's my job to make sure that in raising them I don't screw up!   

Poetry and Dreams

Today Carter came out of his room and told me that during quiet time he had thought up some poems.  He started to tell me one about Batman and then said "Mom can you write them down?"

So I ran and got paper/pencils and he once again told me the same Batman poem again, word for word.  I was pretty surprised that he put enough thought into his poems that he was able to repeat them verbatim a second time.  Anyways, here are my little boy's poems:

Christmas

Man, what do you want for christmas?

It is snowy out tonight.

I want a snow sheep and a snow eagle.

Santa, that man down from heaven wants a snow sheep and a snow eagle.

The End Good Bye

Batman

Batman have you found bad guys?

Yes, I have.

Can I come too?

No you can't Robin.

Good Bye Good night.

Lobster

Lobster, do you live in a house?

"No, I don't" said the Lobster

I live in the ocean and the sand.

Good Bye Good Night.

I don't know, I think I'm partial to the Christmas poem!  Any chance we could make some money on five year old poetry?  Haha!  I'll just let the blog preserve it for future Carter.

In other news......

This weekend while Meme was visiting she shared a room with Carter and Ava.    Apparently Ava woke up crying in the middle of the night.  Meme went to comfort her and heard all about her dream.  In Ava's dream there was a wolf that ate Meme.  Meme told her "don't worry, it was just a bad dream."  

And Ava through her tears told her, "No Meme, it was a good dream."  

Trick or Treat!

Trick or Treat!

This year Carter wanted to be Batman, and Ava wanted to be Super Girl.  She was very happy with her costume of a tutu, leggings, batman shirt and a Mommy crafted cape.

We were very lucky to have a full house of Grandparents:  Grandma, Bo, Meme, and Nana.

All of the trick or treaters, although Meme choose to drink or treat.  Not too surprising, though.

Dawson in his hand me down Elmo costume.

Although it was chilly and rainy, the kids made it a lot longer than I thought they would.  Dawson yelled "MORE MORE" after each house.  

At one point Meme asked Ava "Do you want me to hold your hand?"  

Ava said "No, that's ok, it's just freezing."

Then everyone came home, ate three pieces of candy and passed out.  

Mission Accomplished!