the Sternberg 5: Halloween!

We start off the Halloween season with decorating in the beginning of the month. I opened the decorations, mostly kid's art work and some hand-me-downs from my mom. I opened it and right away noticed that something wasn't right. The papers were damp and it smelled terrrible in there! I lifted one paper and realized that mold was everywhere. Although I never found out what it was because it was too aweful and went right to the dumpster, I am guessing that one of us put a real pumpkin or gourd in the box. So, we didn't do as many decorations this year.

We went camping with my family in the middle of October. We had so much fun once again. It is amazing how we have had such awesome weather for three years now. Some memories from this year would be sleeping 9 in an 8 person camper (8 very small people camper), which turned out to work great and we spent most of our time outside. Another good memory would be the "moosh" monster, running through the trails, eating delicious hot soups/chilis, Mom and Alan's pirate campsite (won the award for the campground), constant baby sitters (great neices who helped so much with the kids). I think my favorite is our walk at night time. We went to see the sights at night and we would hide out and scare each other. It was a simple memory, but there was something so special about it! It was a great weekend!

Saturday before Halloween was spent with the Sternberg's and the Puplis Family and great grandparents. (Sternberg and Haverdink). The kids played a fun game, got to see family, and added to their candy collection. It was great to see the great grandparents. They are always so good to us! Oh, and we celebrated my birthday!

We celebrated Halloween on Monday by going downtown, coming home for dinner, then going back out to people that we know and ended on our street, visiting our neighbors. Sylvia and Gracie ate a couple pieces of their candy and Andrew didn't have a single piece because he wouldn't say thank you to one single person! Don't feel bad for him, he just shrugs his shoulders and walks away.

Although I do enjoy Halloween, nothing compares to the real Holidays! I can't wait to go to the store this week and see the Christmas trees and decorations out! Life is so much fun this time of the year!

Here are a few words to describe the kids right now:

Sylvia: "No Fair", nothing is fair! Conferences: teacher "love, love, loves Sylvia", doing great at school! And she loves school. She gets along with kids and teachers great. She was saving up for a doll house, until there was a book fair at her school. She is not so good a saving.

Gracie: Starting to read! It is so much fun watching her figure out the words. I think this is a great stage where you can actually read her expressions and see it click. She loves to play school. She has been very shmoopy lately. Kisses, hugs, or kind words and wispers! (I love you so much mommy/daddy)

Andrew: Me no say please, me no say thank you, me no say sorry, me no smile (but he really is a great kid, I think it is just a fun game for him) "with me in my room?" = will you play with me in my room? He loves to play! "I tell you something in your ear daddy: I love my mommy" Mommy's Boy!

(lots of ) Pictures:

Close quarters with family we love!