Halloween

We ventured to our church carnival on the 30th...tons of fun for the kids!  Vivi and Georgia were so sweet to meet us there for some cousin fun!

Poor little Carson buddy!

Look at that cute Minnie Mouse!!

Every picture from the carnival night of N and J was blurry.  No kidding.  Boys!

We trick or treated on Halloween night in our neighborhood.  It was totally fun!! I read an article today that said, "what other night of the year are all your neighbors knocking on your door?"   Isn't that true?  What a great night to welcome them, dote over their little ones, love by giving (even if it is candy!)!  It's the perfect night to turn on your house lights! Next year, the Calvert house just might have a popcorn machine in the driveway!  (Shhhhh...don't tell Bryan!) 

Meet the Green Ninja and the Blue Ninja!

When the boys got tired of walking the neighborhood, they had so much fun passing out candy! I think Nathan made some new middle school friends.  He was quite generous with the handfuls of candy!

It was a great night!  Lots of memories made!  

Look who has a tooth!

This big boy!!!

Jordan is the Super Star Student of the Week!

Jordan was the Super Star Student this week at school. He had to make a poster of his family and fill a star bag with things he wanted to show his class. If you know Jordan, you know that this was very serious business. He worked hard on his letters and he came up with the phrases he wanted to put on his poster. He filled his bag full of toys, his Ellie, some artwork, and of course his game ball. I called him from work to see how his day had gone and he reported that everyone, “screameded very loudly when I took the snake out of the bag”.   This kid loves school!

The babies…

Carson and Harper have really started to show their personalities lately. They aren’t crawling yet but it won’t be long and they started rolling around so much that we had to put up the play-pen and block off most of our dining room. Harper is laid back and super sweet. She smiles most of the time and loves to be held and loved on. She also loves to eat! Her latest trick is waving and “talking” so loudly that we can’t hear the tv! Carson is a nut! He loves to squeal and does not like to sit still. He LOVES his brothers and fights for their attention every time they enter the room. He has recently discovered Mickey Mouse and we have to turn on an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse before we start his breathing treatment. They are super fun and super exhausting!

No more Doc Band!

People always ask us how we manage four kids and two demanding jobs. The answer: lots of coffee, prayers, baby wipes, and help from our family! Since school has started we've been lucky to have MeMe and Granddad take Carson to his weekly Doc Band checks in Dallas. Last Friday he made his last visit and after 4 ½ months Carson has finally graduated from his helmet!  This kid is a little fighter and I already know he’s going to be a handful but we will give thanks for every single moment. We love this kid so much!  I can’t believe that just 8 months ago he was in the NICU, hooked up to a slew of tubes and monitors, and fighting for his life. He has come a long, long way.  We are blessed beyond measure and more grateful than we can express…what a cool kid…what an amazing God!  Becca and I were both thrilled when we got this picture texted to us at work last Friday..way to go Carson!

The Empire Strikes Back!

I couldn't resist taking the boys to see The Empire Strikes Back on the big screen last Friday night. The old theater on Main Street shows classic movies and I've been waiting on Star Wars to come around for awhile. The boys are into all things Star Wars these days. Every time we get in the car Nathan assigns everyone a character that they must pretend to be on while we are on the way to church, the store, or basically anywhere. He always insists that I be Chewbacca and if I try to talk during the ride Nathan polity reminds me that I can’t talk and can only make “Chewie sounds”!  The Parker’s met us at the movie and Vivi was dressed as Princess Leia and Georgia was Darth Vader. It’s amazing that Georgia and Nathan didn't get us kicked out since they provided the first four rows with an unofficial commentary throughout most of the movie. Nathan entertained as usual with a loud, “ewww GROSS!” when Han kissed Leia and a loud repeat of, “laugh it up fuzz-ball!” It was a fun night and we can’t wait until they show Return of the Jedi. The only disappointment of the night was that the fact that the boys didn't have “real Jedi” costumes to wear to the theater!

Wrapping up baseball season…

This Wednesday the boys will play their last tee-ball game of the season. They have had a blast and both of them have improved a ton. I’m happy that I was able to assist the coach and steal a little extra quality time with my boys every week. Plus, I find it beneficial to be arms length away during the games- because they are still four and a lack of focus can be an issue at times.  Both boys were overly thrilled on the nights when they were awarded their game balls. They are now proudly on display on top of the playroom shelf. I’m already looking forward to next season and I pray that it continues to be a fun and positive experience for the boys. There’s a great quote that says sports don’t build character but rather reveal it. I found this to be true with Nathan and Jordan this season. Nathan’s love and zest for life was evident when: he charged first base with the bat in his hand, used it as a cane to approach the plate, road it like a broomstick to approach the plate, yelled super hero tag lines while running the bases, hugged his coach when he scored a run, told all his teammates they played a good game, and ended every game by yelling “hey guys, let’s get some snacks!”.  Jordan’s tender heart and attention to detail were evident when: he always wanted to know exactly where to stand while playing each position, had me constantly tie the laces on his glove, carefully set his batting helmet and his water at the end of the bench, and when he cried because he missed shaking the opponents hands after the game because he was trying to take off his catchers gear. It was a great season! Go Sharks!

Great job #4!

Way to go #5!

 It's always cool when your mom crashes the team huddle to take your picture!

Best Buds!