Happy Halloween! and other news...

Yes, I realize it's almost Thanksgiving, so sue me. I'm a little behind on blogging. But, I should hopefully be pretty much caught up after this post.

We had a great Halloween this year. Erik's nephew Jaryn was here for the weekend, so that was fun (probably not much for him!). We started the festivities at a friends for a little pumpkin carving. Troy decided he would go the modern way, and just color his with markers. I kind of messed Brooklyn's pumpkin up by cutting too much off the bottom, but luckily she didn't know any differently. We ate way too much chili, pumpkin donuts, and hot chocolate and had a blast! The next day we had our Ward Trunk-or-Treat. It was a little crazy and crowded (we combined with 2 other wards and a branch this year), but still a lot of fun! The kids loved it, and that's all that matters. And there was no rain! SCORE!! Sunday we headed over to our friends house for a little pre-trick-or-treating dinner, then hit the road! Brooklyn was all gung-ho again this year. Troy was pretty chill and relaxed about the whole thing. But he DID enjoy getting lots of candy. They both made out like bandits this year. We still have a ton of left-over candy. Stocking stuffers maybe? Hope you all had a great Halloween. We're looking forward to spending Thanksgiving this year with friends. We are so thankful for friends who are willing to have us over on holidays! :)

In other news...I'm pregnant. 9 weeks along today, and due June 21st. We can't wait to welcome baby #3!!

Traditioooooon...TRADITION!!! (as sung in Fiddler On The Roof)

Like many people, we have a tradition of taking a trip to a pumpkin patch every year with the kids. This year we went to Fall City Farms. It had been recommended to me from a friend, and it did not disappoint! Although, we didn't buy any pumpkins there...they were WAY over-priced. But dang, their fresh-pressed apple cider?! TO DIE FOR!!! The kids had a blast in the hay-maze, riding the the tractor ride, petting the baby calf and mamma cow, and petting and feeding the cute little goats. Good times for all!!


So this clearly isn't our kid, but we thought he was so funny! Doesn't he look like he's having a blast? lol



This Mamma cow was so sweet. She was nursing her calf at this point.

Feeding the hungry goats. Don't mind the random kids in the picture.

The apple press. Seriously, this stuff was SOOOO good. And very interesting to watch. The guy said they only make it on the weekends, and average about 500 gallons per day. They sell out every weekend! Yup, that's how good this stuff is. AND it's $10 a gallon! We didn't buy a gallon (a little pricey,even though it was delish.) We just got a couple little pumpkin sippys for the kids.





Troy think it's hilarious for us to "ride" on his shoulders.



Hey, I'm a dancer, and a dancer, dances!!!

Brooklyn started her first dance class this year, and she is loving it! I don't know many little girls who don't enjoy dance class. Anyway, she's in there with her friend Rachel. I just love seeing her cute little body in pink tights and a black leotard. Her teacher is Miss Carly and is so great with the girls. She's learning a lot, and having a lot of fun in the process! During class, Troy and I like to play soccer or football. He says there's too much estrogen, so he brings it down a few notches by showing his "manliness."

Before her first class.  She was SOOO excited!

Doing some killer dance moves.

With Rachel before class.  "We so pretty!"

Another pose before class.  Troy was getting in on the action too.

Happy Birthday

For Erik's birthday this year, I sent him to Boise for a weekend with friends and football. I took about 150 cookies to his work to surprise him with his birthday gift. So we celebrated his birthday a few days early at our house, then sent him off for a boys weekend. Yup, I'm awesome. He had a lot of fun, but of course didn't take any pictures (even though I sent him with a camera). Aw well. The kids and I stayed busy doing little projects around the house. Happy Birthday Erik!

The previous weekend we went to the Issaquah Salmon Days parade. Who doesn't love a parade?!

Just love these faces. Not quite sure what was going on,but this is classic.

ARE YOU READY FOR FOOTBALLLLL?!?!?!

I'm so far behind on blogging, but I've been writing and saving posts and publishing when I can get the time to add pictures. Hopefully we'll have our big computer back soon! I'm using Erik's little mini notebook and it's a total pain!

Seasons have changed here in the Paternoster household. Well, sort of. Baseball hasn't actually ended yet (but I am counting the days), but football has finally arrived! I enjoy football MUCH more than baseball. And this season, the Broncos are out to prove, yet again, how awesome they are. The first game peaked in intensity, but BSU was able to pull off a win. We had some friends over (and Erik even interacted with them! He does NOT like being interrupted during BSU football games lol). We ate, we screamed, we high-fived and we had a great time. Go Broncos!!



Check out that hair! Erik's doing.



Happy!

Sad!  Classic Troy pose.

All the kiddos watching a flick in our bed.

Cutest cheerleaders I've ever seen!

Our friends Bryce and Kristina

I'm a big kid now!

Brooklyn is my big 3 year old. And what usually happens when you have a 3 year old (other than screaming tantrums when they don't get the toy/popcorn they want while trying to escape Target without being reported to CPS because you just flicked her lip while complete strangers stared at you like you were beating the crap out of your child...not that this happened to me, I've just heard about it. ha!)? Well, when you have a 3 year old, you start preschool. Actually, I had no intention of putting Brooklyn into preschool, I just don't feel it necessary when I can teach her the same things if not more while at home and saving $200 per month. But a few of us moms with preschool age children got together and started a little preschool of our own. We ordered some awesome (and inexpensive!) curriculum online and divvied out the next 9 months between the 5 of us. I was first up with September. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant and nervous about the first day, but it was a total success! What a blast we had. And such SMART kids! I am having such a blast so far, and I'm looking forward to teaching again in February (ok, and I'm also excited about NOT teaching for 4 months lol).

Such sweet siblings.

Posing before school starts. 1st day!

snack time, yellow and red foods

The 2nd week we made pizza. They were a hit!! We do lots of fun things, other than just eating  too. :)

A birthday treat

This year for my birthday, Erik surprised me with a weekend get-a-way to Leavenworth. It's a cute little Bavarian village right here in Washington. Well, being the spoiled wife I am (haha ya right!)

, I asked if we could forgo that trip and head to Hayden Lake to visit my sister and her family instead. We haven't been up there for years, so I was super excited when it all worked out with everyone! So a few weekends ago, we packed up the car and drove the short 4 1/2 hours to their house. We had such a great time too! We enjoyed lots of R & R and even caught my nephew Shaun's first football game. And then we water-skied "all day" Saturday. OK, so we were only actually on the boat for about 45 minutes before a storm rolled in. But I did manage to ski, wake-board and tube in that small amount of time. Of course, it only takes about a minute of skiing before my muscles are twitching with over-use. lol  I am so not 16 anymore and just can't ski for hours and hours on end! It's a little embarrassing. Anyway, we had a great time, ate great food, including a smorgasbord breakfast of champions (Don KNOWS how to do breakfast!). And we really enjoyed being with family. Heather and I of course had our "sisterly" moments, or as the brother-in-law's would refer to those moments, our crazy and out of control moments. I never laugh as hard as I do as when I am with my sisters. I love that we can all be super goofy and crazy with each other. We have no inhibitions when we're together! And that's just the way it should be right? Thanks for the great weekend Duffy's!!



The kids had  a blast at the football game. Especially playing on the hand rails.

Troy driving the boat with Uncle Don.

Troy was a brave kid and rode the tube. Fun times!

Troy and his "bodygaurds." Cousin Brad and Shaun

Playing with Brad and Daddy.

Cousin Shaun.

"Ewww, Troy did you toot?!"

Brooklyn with cousin Carmen! She is the sweetest and the kids LOVED her!!