SCUBA Joe

Mitch and I went to refresh our diving because we are going to dive on our upcoming cruise. I hadn't dove for 8 years and needed to "get wet". Joey went with us and my dad got him started early. Joey had absolutely no hesitation about going under the water or breathing with a regulator. He did GREAT!! The picture with his head underwater, he is actually breathing with the SCUBA tank!! My dad floated around with Joey on his back breathing SCUBA. Joey hasn't got the descending into the water yet, he likes to float around on the top. He was so cold and turning blue but didn't want to get out of the water. What do you think, is he ready to follow in his Papo's footsteps as a NAVY SEAL diver?

Mitch and I are getting ready for our 10th Anniversary cruise to the Bahama's. We will be posting pictures when we return!! YIPPIE!!!

More Funny Things Kids Say

A few more funny things the kids have said recently.

Halloween Evening
Sammy: Daddy, I want to go Trick-or-Treating present.

Daddy: Present?

Sammy: Yeah, Mrs. Lowe teaches us fancy words and that is a fancy word for "right now".

One Morning Getting Ready for School
Momma: Get ready for school Joey and get your clothes on.

Joey: I don't want to go to school. Can't I just fail?

Halloween

This Halloween was fabulous. The weather was beautiful, I don't think it will ever be as perfect. Mitch and I took the kids to a friends' house for our Trick-or-Treating. We live on a country road, with just a few houses, so it is our tradition to go to their neighborhood. We also have two other family friends which live in this neighborhood, so we don't feel too guilty about the invasion. Many other "country folk" had the same idea as us and came to the neighborhood. Tons of kids were walking around and the houses were really neatly decorated. The boys had lots of fun. I am not sure how many more Halloweens are left where they are "CUTE". I thought Joey was adorable, but because he is so little, people "baby talked" to him when he came up to their houses. It was a wonderful evening. Thanks to all our friends for sharing their neighborhood!!


These are our friends whose house we went to. Does anyone know where he got those shoes?


This trailer was decorated and loaded with trick-or-treaters going around the neighborhood. Sammy wanted a ride.

This was my favorite decoration of the night. The "creator" hands out 1lb chocolate bars at his house.

Fall FUN!!

We have had lots of fun this season. The weather has been so awesome. The most fun we had was our Bonfire and First Ever Cornhole Tournament. We had trophies and everything. There are pictures of the winners, Tim and Mitch one first!! We are going to have the whole sha-bang next year. It will probably be the end of September or beginning of October again. We had so much fun!! I am already looking forward to next year's. I am listing some of the things we have done and posting some pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of all the fun things. My battery was out for the train ride. Gosh darn it!!


Notice all the "boys" around the fire!!

Mitch and I have really been enjoying the boys. They are so enjoyable and it is getting more fun as they get older to do neat stuff with them. They are also becoming great buddies and really play great together.

10 Great Fun Things We Have Done This Fall (In order of when they occured)

1. Bonfire and Cornhole Tornament
   
2. Mitch got a used truck and woodsplitter
   
3. Grandparents' day at Sammy's class- Grandma B, Papo & Grandma Nena got to enjoy a day at school with Sammy and eat lunch with him


4. Tuttle's Apple Orchard (Me and Joey)


5. Pizza Train - We took the train from Noblesville, got off and ate pizza in Tipton, then back


6. Larks Ranch in Greenfield -Me & the boys took a hayride, got pumpkins, and dug for gems


7. Children's Museum -Haunted House, Joey had an owl class, and Sammy and I learned tons about animation


8. Parent/Teacher Conference for Sammy - He is doing great and reading really well!!!


9. ZooBoo - The Whole family enjoyed a beautiful day at the "haunted" zoo


10. Carving Pumpkins - Mitch did this with the boys while I went to work. Unfortunately Joey's had a tragic accident during a very windy day

Halloween is tomorrow and we are sure to have cute pictures posted for that!

The things kids say ...

Two recent conversations I have had with my children (separately) are worth noting here. WARNING one is definitely not G rating and I am not sure where Joey gets his material

Setting: At the computer, Sammy showing or telling me something
Me: Sammy you are so smart.

Sam: I know. I am the second smartest kid in my class.

M: Really, well who is the smartest.

S: Alexis. (Sounding a little upset)

M: Well, Sammy, that's okay.

S: I was thinking I was going to be the smartest kid in my class and then along came Alexis!!!

Setting: In the garage helping Joey out of my car.
Joey: I gotta front wedgie.

Me: A front wedgie?

Joey: You know? When your underwear gets stuck to your balls?

Me: No, Joey, I really don't.

Taking Joey to see his "Superheros"

About two weeks ago I took Joey to the Children's Museum. He had his own class about concoctions then we went to see the superhero exhibit. He thought it was so cool since everyday he is a different superhero. That day he was Green Lantern (see the costume). He was excited to see the Batmobile, he calls it the Batman Vehicle, but was a little disappointed he didn't get to "drive" it. We had a super day and I was glad to be able to have some "Joey" time.

Tina and Ty Visit

This past weekend we were excited to have Tina (Mitch's younger sister) and her 3 year old son, Ty, visit us from California. We really miss them and love when we get to spend some time with them. We are looking forward to a day when they move closer (hint-hint). The boys sure have fun with their cousin Ty, and need to teach him cool stuff. The pictures are from an awesome day we spent at a really neat park in Avon, which is close to Tammy's (his older sister) house.

Adventures at the Blocher's

We have lots of fun at our house. Especially "outside". Here are some recent things the kids have done and love to do. One thing we have been doing recently is feeding our "neighbors", the cows. The farmer that owns them is very gracious to us and plows our drive after every big snow. In return we have been feeding the cows on the weekends since he otherwise has to make the trip from around the block. (They live behind us on another road) The other thing the boys love to do is take adventures in the creek. When the creek is low they like to hike in it with Daddy. Here is a recent trip which Sammy said was his "best day ever".

Joey's First Day of School

Joey started preschool this week at Park Chapel (our church) He has been excited about it for the past month. He loved his tote and kept taking his supplies out and checking his school calendar. The morning he started even went well, until we got there. As you can tell, he was a bit nervous. I was very proud of him though-NO tears- he was very brave.

This is after I picked him up from his first day. He got a king crown because he celebrated his 4th birthday at school. He did just fine. He even told me, "I was sad at first, then I got happy." He was really excited because he said, "I got in NO trouble, not even a little bit." I am so proud of my big boy.

Joey's 4th Birthday Party

We had a very fun birthday party for Joey. The theme was Iron Man but he had a Batman cake with Iron Man, Hulk and Ghost Rider figurines on it. (He didn't want the Batman toy on the cake) He was very excited to be 4 but is confused about still being the "little" brother. Every night since then he asks, "When I wake up will I still be 4?" One of the highlights of the night was the winning homemade ice cream flavors. Due to the poll, Mint Chocolate Chip was the winner and there was a three way tie for second; Orange Sherbet, Peanut Butter Cup, and Raspberry. We were blessed with beautiful weather and wonderful family and friends.

Bike ride

Today was a beautiful day and evening. After dinner the whole family went for a bike ride. Joey and Sam rode in the bike trailer while Daddy pulled them. We all had a very nice time.

State Fair

My mom loves the State Fair and likes to take each of her four grandkids individually to the fair for a day. Sammy got to go last week, and LOVED riding the fair train. Joey got to go this week and the picture is of him sitting on a 4 wheeler in front of a screen. I picked up Joey at the fair on Wednesday and so the boys and I also had a chance to do some things together. They really liked watching the Circus monkeys perform. And I really liked to eat some fair food. On the way home Sammy was very concerned about the "bad town" we were in since we were driving in the heart of Indianapolis. He said to Joey, "This is a bad town Joey because look at all the grass growing in the sidewalks, bricks missing from buildings, glitter (litter) on the ground, paintings on things, and all the people just walking all around everywhere." He made sure my doors were locked. We survived the drive, and surprisingly no one fell asleep on the way home.

Some final summer fun....

Here is fearless Joe jumping into the pool. He just jumps, goes under and swims under water for a little bit. Amazing!! When we went to the Shelbyville Pool for our last pool trip of the summer he asked Mitch if he would bring his "Scuva tank". We had a lot of fun at the pool. Someone made a comment to Mitch that he won the best dad of the day award for having so much fun with his kids.

I wanted to do something fun and new the Monday before Sammy had to start school. I decided to take the boys to Fort Benjamen Harrison State Park. It was really nice. They had an area with a really nice new playground. The boys are standing on "fake rocks" which are part of the playground. There was also a big man-made hill with slide going down it. You had to climb up the hill to go down the slide. It was under construction and it was roped off, but we of course had to try it once. We then went on a 1 mile trail that went through a wildflower path, then through the woods, and around a prairie hill, then back. We played for several hours in the creek that had a nice bottom of sand and rocks. We built dams and "water ways" making the water flow different ways. It was really fun. I can't believe the park is so close and I have never taken the boys. It was a beautiful day and I will treasure our time we had.

Sammy's 6th Birthday Party

Sammy's party was this past Sunday and we had lots of fun. It was a beautiful day and we got to share in with special friends and family. Sammy has lots of friends and we were happy most everyone could come. He had a LEGO party complete with LEGO cake (made by Grandma Nena), LEGO cars (that Sammy had built), balloons, games, special gift bags with LEGO'S and LEGO fruit snacks, and a very special LEGO city built by my brother, Troy. It is so awesome and the kids loved playing with it. Troy is an amazingly creative and talented guy. Sammy got LOTS of LEGO presents, which he has been working on putting together since Monday morning. He got some gift cards and cash and bought MORE LEGOS!! He is just like his uncle and is very good at building. Sammy can put all the sets together by himself and doesn't have any trouble. Even that big one pictured above. Sammy is such an awesome kid. He is very smart, sweet, and loving. I am very proud of what a great little boy he has become and I am so glad he was born 6 years ago!!