November Happenings

Not sure how it's November 17th and I've only blogged once and that was a recipe. We haven't really been doing anything super exciting, just normal every day things, which leads to lots of "photo dump" posts. I keep thinking I don't have enough pictures for a blog post and then I go and look and somehow have tons of pictures that I haven't blogged. So, the next couple of posts will be what we've been up to so far this month.

The first Saturday in November, my parents kept the boys all day so Greg and I could have an afternoon to get some things done and go get lunch. We dropped the boys off about 9:00, then went and ran some errands, had lunch (where we ate way too much) and then we went home and cleaned and organized. It was glorious.

Carter had his first appointment with his new allergist down here. I'm not impressed. We will not be going back. I have no idea how we got so spoiled in Virginia, but we had the best preschool, the best pediatrician, the best allergist, etc. We were lucky to find a great pediatrician here on the first try, but we'll have to keep looking for an allergist.

My mom kept Evan, so I was able to take Carter. It is so much easier to keep one 3 year old entertained while we wait than to keep two 3 year olds entertained.

We got a great package in the mail from Brandi, filled to the brim with all kinds of fun goodies, including some things from her recent trip to Africa. The boys favorite part? The bubble wrap. They LOVE it. If anybody needs ideas on what to get the boys for Christmas--get them bubble wrap.

I have several videos I'll have to post of them stepping on it and just having the best time. They knew what it was as soon as they saw it and they didn't care about anything else.

With the boys have school three days a week, it's nice to stay in our pjs and play on the days they don't have school. They play so good together now. (they fight too, of course) but they'll come up with different games or just have the best time playing with their toys. I love watching them.

They love this play kitchen, they play with it every day. They love to cook and feed each other and us.

Carter was being such a ham in car line the other day. I unbuckle them so it's easy for the teachers to just get them out when we pull up and he was wanting his picture taken. When I went to try and get some of Evan, Carter started leaning over to get in the picture too.

The boys love swinging. We're trying to teach them to pump their legs so they can swing themselves. I don't know if they're just spoiled and don't want to or if they're too young, but either way, we have to push them. And by we, I mean Greg. They say I don't push them high enough.

We couldn't rake up these leaves, the boys just love playing in them too much. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) ;)

The boys had their school pictures taken. I think the one of them together is so good. I definitely bought a package of that one. I can't wait to get the package back so I can put it in a frame.

We took the boys to the mall so they could play in the play area and they just wanted to go up and down every single escalator in the mall. We walked the entire mall and back and they went up every single one. When we got to the play area, they said they didn't want to play, they wanted to turn around and go up and down the escalators again. It wasn't busy and it was free, so we were happy to do it. We passed a play area that has the "rides" you put money in, but the boys had no idea, they just thought they were fun things to go sit in. We're going to let them think that for as long as we can.

I have a couple more "photo dump" posts coming, then we actually have some fun things coming up that I can actually do a whole post on.

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Pioneer Woman Baked Ziti

This turned out so good! I knew it would. I love every recipe I've tried from the Pioneer Woman. I have a ziti recipe that we love, but I was in the mood to try a new PW recipe. It was really easy and had a completely different taste than the other ziti I normally make. They're both good, just different. this recipe reminded me a lot of her lasagna (which is also amazing), but it was much easier to make. So, I'll probably use this recipe instead of her lasagna recipe from now on. Also, my 13x9 dish was overflowing, so I'll probably divide this into two 8x8 dishes and freeze one from now on.

Pioneer Woman Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Large Onion, Diced
• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• 1 pound Ground Beef
• 1 can (28 Ounce Can) Whole Tomatoes, With Juice
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
• 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 16 ounces, weight Ziti Or Mostaciolli, Cooked Until Not Quite Al Dente
• 1 tub (15 Ounce) Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 1-1/2 pound Mozzarella Cheese, Grated
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 whole Egg
• Fresh Minced Parsley

Preparation Instructions

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for several minutes, or until starting to soften. Add Italian sausage and ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture.
Add tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. After that time, remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a different bowl to cool down.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps.) Add the cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.
Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta, the sauce, and the mozzarella.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
(Sprinkle chopped parsley over the pasta before serving!)

Trick or Trunk and Halloween

Last Tuesday, we took the boys to Trick or Trunk at Chick-Fil-A. It was actually calling for rain on Halloween and I wanted the boys to get to experience some trick or treating just in case it ended up raining and they couldn't go.

The boys wanted to wear their Buzz Lightyear and Super Why costumes. I got these at a consignment sale for super cheap, and I thought it'd be fun for the boys to have for dress up.

There were several businesses set up in the parking lot with trunks or tables decorated and lots of candy. You got a card punched at each table when you got candy there and if you went by all of them, you got a free sundae from Chick-Fil-A. The boys loved going up to the people and saying "trick or treat"

There was a police officer there handing out coloring books, badges, stickers, etc. He was letting the kids climb in the back of his car. I told the boys this better be the only time they are ever in the back of a police car.

There was a bounce house set up. We got there as soon as it started, so there weren't too many people, but it was crazy when we left. There was also a putt putt golf set up for the kids to try out.

The boys loved their little sundae with sprinkles that they got afterwards.

They didn't even want to bother with the spoons.

That night, Carter got sick. He started coughing and running a fever when he went to bed. Neither of us got any sleep that night. He woke up exhausted and feeling awful. Greg had Wednesday-Friday off due to some contract issues so he took Evan to the mall for lunch and to play in the play area. Evan didn't want to go to school without Carter, so we let him stay home. He's had a hard time before when we've dropped him off somewhere without Carter. Evan had so much fun spending the day with Greg. (this was the only picture Greg took)

I took Carter to his pediatrician because his breathing was worrying me. He sat in the waiting room like this, moaning. He was miserable. Turns out, he had pneumonia. A breathing treatment, a couple shots, and some medicine and we were back home. I could tell he felt a little better before bed. I slept in his room on the floor to listen to his breathing because we were told to take him to the ER if it got any worse. He did fine and the next day he woke up feeling so much better.

The boys were so excited to go Trick or Treating. It had been an exhausting couple of days and I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted, but, I managed to get a couple before they left.

They were supposed to be Mario and Luigi, but Carter wanted to wear his Super Why costume. I could tell he was not going to give in, so I didn't bother fighting him on it. I got my pictures of them dressed as Mario and Luigi for the fall festival that we went to, so I was happy. :)

Greg took the boys trick or treating in our neighborhood and I stayed and handed out candy.

The boys were so good for Greg. They loved going up to the doors and saying "trick or treat" and they were good about saying Thank you. They knew that they couldn't touch any of the candy in their bags and that when they got home, we had to go through it first to get out all the candy that had peanuts or were processed with peanuts. They were so good about it. We were a little worried about Halloween with Carter's allergy, but it wasn't a problem at all.

When the boys got back, they helped me hand out the rest of our candy. They loved going to the door and seeing what the kids were dressed up as. They were so excited from trick or treating and probably on a sugar high, and they would just talk a mile a minute to whoever came to the door. It was really cute. The boys had so much fun with all the Halloween stuff we did, it was much different this year because they really "got" it. They're already talking about Christmas, so we know the holidays are going to be so much fun at this age.

Abilene Fall Festival

Sunday evening, we took the boys to a Fall Festival that was held by the same church that they attend preschool at. It was a free event that was open to the public, you just had to register beforehand. The boys were so excited to wear their costumes. I love their costumes, I think they are so stinkin' cute!! I got them at a consignment sale I went to last month, I can't believe they had both Mario and Luigi and in the boys' size, but I'm so glad they did.

Seriously, are they not adorable?!

There were so many things to do at the Festival, three bounce houses, a train, horse rides, face painting, a live band, TONS of bible games, candy, etc.

We got there right as it was getting started and the boys wanted to ride the train first. I'm so glad we did because the line when we left was SO long. Evan was very excited to ride the train, even though he doesn't look like it.

Next, the boys took rode their very first horse. I was a little nervous, but the boys were not. The boys walked right up and didn't back.

They were able to go around several times, and Carter had a huge smile on his face the whole time. He just looked so happy.

Evan looked so intense, he was having fun but he was so serious (that's how he looks on carnival rides too). When he got off, he ran up to me and was talking a mile a minute--"I held on tight, I didn't fall, it was fun, I wasn't scared"

When he went by and saw I was taking pictures he said "cheese"!

When we went inside to play some games, a clown came up to the boys. I think this is the first time the boys have ever seen a clown. She knelt down and Carter stiffened up, looked straight ahead and just gave her the side eye and then his eyes started watering. I just knew he was about to lose it. But, then she did some magic tricks. She gave Evan a red ball and had him close his hand and then when he opened it, there were two. Then, Carter got over his fear and when she gave him two and he opened his hand and there were three, he got the biggest kick out of it. But, the best trick was when she said "oh no, where's my ball" and pulled it out from behind Greg's ear, both boys just thought that was the best thing ever! They actually talked about it in the car on the way home. I'm so glad that we happened to be passing her at just the right time and she picked them to sit down and do some tricks for, because it was just so fun for them being able to be involved in the tricks.

They had an auditorium filled to the brim with different bible games. They all had different themes and messages, it was so creative. After you participated in a game, you got some candy for your bag.
Here's Carter doing the ring toss.

They had a ladder set up that was decorated like a tree and the kids could climb up and look through the telescope and see a picture of Jesus. The boys thought it was so fun.

I'm so glad we took the boys to this. They had so much fun. I couldn't believe it was all free, it even included a hot dog and chip dinner for everybody. It's an annual thing and I can't wait to take the boys next year. They got several compliments on their costumes, so I'm going to have to start thinking of cute twin costumes that they can wear next year. :)

Nicholas Sparks and our Weekend

The boys have been begging us to take them back to the mall to play with the Thomas train at Barnes and Noble and every time they find a coin, they ask us to take them to the mall to throw it in the fountain. So, we took the boys there Friday night. There's also a lego table that Evan had so much fun at.

I ordered the boys a train set on Zulily several months ago and we're going to give it to them for Christmas. I hope they like it half as much as they like this Thomas one at the mall.

I gave each boy a little pile of pennies and they got the sit there and throw them all in the fountain. We just drove by the mall today and saw that they have a Christmas tree up outside next to this fountain and Christmas decorations up already. I have a feeling that we'll be spending a lot of time there this holiday season, the boys love looking at Christmas trees.

After we got home, the boys begged to have a picnic. It was freezing outside and dark, so we let them have a picnic in the dining room floor and they were happy as could be.

Saturday morning, we took the boys to Chick-Fil-A to play and get ice cream. We had a coupon for a free one that we needed to cash in. The boys took turns with spoons, straws and just licking the ice cream out of the bowl.

There met Rick Allen while we were there. He's running for Congress and he came over and introduced himself.

That evening, we took the boys to the park. Carter LOVES drums, he turns anything he can into drums and he is just in love with this little drum set at the park. And no, Meemaw and Papaw--he does NOT need a drum set. ;)

Caroline and I were going to see Nicholas Sparks talk at the Lady Antebellum amphitheater and so we decided to meet at the park and she could say hi to the boys and then Greg could just take them home. He was so excited for a boys night with them. Look at Evan's face--he just loves his aunt Caroline.

There were so many people who wanted to see Nicholas Sparks talk, that they had to move the event from the library to the amphitheater. They had food trucks there that we got dinner from and we brought chairs and a blanket and enjoyed our evening.

Afterwards, I got a book signed by him.

Monday, we went to Meemaw and Papaw's house for the day and they had fun trick or treat buckets full of goodies for the boys. I wish I would have got better pictures. They were filled with all kinds of fun things. Lots of things that lit up, a little mini fan that both boys used so much that they wore the batteries out, Halloween peeps, Halloween books, etc.

I love how Carter is looking at the bucket like, is that for me?

Evan digging into his basket.

These light up wands are a huge hit also. Carter is actually sleeping with his right now. He takes it everywhere. Evan is willing to leave his down stairs while he sleeps, but as soon as he gets up, he grabs it again.

We went to a fall festival on Sunday night, but I'm going to do a separate post for that since I took several pictures.