The End

After almost 6 years, 824 posts, and 19,311 page views later I am out of room to store pictures on this blog. (Apparently...) So I have started a new blog. If you would like to continue to follow our adventures please add: http://wicksfamilyfive.blogspot.com/ to your bookmarks - or however it is that you follow this blog. I will be updating it over the course of the next month. (Have to get those Lilypie Tickers on the new site...and everything else that I follow, etc.) I will do it as quickly as possible, but am not super fast at these things. Thanks for stopping by and updating your info!

New Favorite Thing

Etta & Mae LOVE Charlie Brown and Snoopy. As in, we have to read them Peanuts (in the paper) two or three times every day. Last Christmas we got Etta the boxed set of Peanuts holiday classics. She would watch them every day if she could. When we have an easy evening we'll eat an early dinner, get the kids bathed and in jammies, make some popcorn and let them enjoy. So. Much. Fun.

Family Tradition

This year, like last year, we went down to Locomotive Park to decorate a couple of trees. We again only went one Saturday, but everyone did come down. It went pretty well and we enjoyed donuts and hot chocolate when we were finished with our two trees.

Giving the tree some pre-decorating loving.

Red tree: Complete!

White tree: complete!

The Girls, on the other hand, went down 3 FULL Saturdays (9:00am-2:00pm) to volunteer their time and talent to decorate the park. So proud of them!

Big Sisters

Etta & Mae (and The Girls) came with Bob & I to the ultrasound. I wanted to get a picture of them in their big sister shirts. This was as good as it was going to get. [I think that they are both going to belong to Mae though. Etta was two when Mae was born, so her shirts are a little small for her.] The ultra sound tech was a little taken aback when our 6 person circus entered the room. Mae barely lasted a minute though before Rachel had to take her out in the hall. Etta hung on, silently, until we found out it was a boy. Then she just kept saying, "A brother! I'm going to have a brother!" I'm glad that they could be there though. [106 days to go!]

Fall

Mae picked her clothes. If you look closely it is flip flops, green flannel Thomas the Train pj pants, a pink fleece pj top covered by a pink Minnie Mouse hoodie. Nice.

Fire Safety and Halloween

On Halloween day Beacon had their chance to watch the fire safety assembly put on by the local fire department. Etta wore her full fire fighter outfit. A lot of people thought it was her costume. Nope. Just a day in the life of Etta.

Her actual costume was (in her words) "an evil soldier". It was based on something she found in her Bible. Aunt Molly found this one online and had it sent. I think it was from The Titans or something. I'm not sure. Thanks Aunt Molly!

Mae was a monkey. And a cute one at that. This costume was courtesy of Aunt Molly also. The next door neighbor brought her grandson over to trick or treat as we were getting ready to go. He is Mae's age. We opened the door and he came right in and made himself at home. In his costume. That was identical to Mae's. As in...the same. exact. costume. Pretty darn cute. Of course - I didn't get a picture.

These were the three pictures I took while attempting to get a "good" one of them in their costumes. Wasn't happening and we were burning daylight.

The Girls came with us, just like last year. Helps us out SO much! This was the first house we went to.

Mae was not shy and knew exactly what to do. Overall it was a fun night. Mae had taken a loooooooong afternoon nap so she got to stay out for the entirety of the evening. After we got home and were getting the girls ready for bed we had some trick or treaters ourselves. Etta helped me hand out candy. One little girl that looked about her age - or maybe even a little younger - said, "Thank you little girl!" after Etta handed her the candy. It was so funny!

Carving Pumpkins!

On Monday the 29th Grandpa Steve & Grandma Cathy came over for dinner and pumpkin carving!

Mae getting ready to help.

Her reaction after being asked if she wanted to help pull out the "guts". (How did I manage to catch that face?!)

Etta scientifically trying to pull out guts without having to actually touch a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g.

Mae maybe rethinking the helping.

Maybe.

Grandpa scraping so Etta can maybe just pull it all out. (Check out his face. Very similar to years past. Or here or here. Or just some finished product here. I can't believe how much Etta has changed. Or how much the girls look alike at approximately the same ages...)

Nope.

But she will put the lid on!

Proudly displaying their finished pumpkins after bath time. They are "Snoopy" pumpkins. Designs chosen from window decals that Grandma Cynthia sent.

Fall Harvest Festival

Last weekend Beacon had their Fall Harvest Festival. There were many activities, and I wasn't going to let Etta do this one, but then other pre-schoolers did it so I gave it.

Getting a lift up from Mr. Dieter.

Trying to build up enough steam to run at the wall. But can barely walk.

And then there was a speed bump, I mean, launching pad.

Not enough forward motion. Going back to try again.

Bob came to save the day. Unfortunately he didn't realize quite how light Etta is and threw her up quite high.

Then Mae decided she wanted in on the action. Crawled right up and took off her shoes. She didn't need no stinkin' velcro suit! 

One of the 4th grade girls was doing Angry Birds face paint. Etta wanted in on that action too.

She was quite happy.

Then they had a costume "contest". From left - Khloe, Sophie, Zayne, ??,  ??, Kyle, ??, Etta. Khloe, i.e.: Bat Girl "won". Etta had ditched the sword and shield by this point.

The Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday we did a 3K and then went for a quick trip to the pumpkin patch as it was about to start raining. [Etta actually walked 3.5 miles on Saturday! She walked the dogs with Bob, 1.5 miles, did the 3K and then trekked out to the pumpkin patch and back. I asked if she is going to run cross country someday. "Yes! And I'm going to be fast!!"]

Mae picked a "wittle" pumpkin.

Etta had to pick one that she could carry herself.

On our way home we stopped at Patt's Garden Center to buy a tree to plant in our backyard. They had some fun decorations up.

I think that the sign said it was a scare crow - but I thought it was creative. Mom, do you think that's an amaranth beard?