MJ's 1st Halloween & Ben's Night Of Fun

This year marked MJ's 1st Halloween to go trick or treating. We always had something come up. She was out of school so I took her to do my errands that morning. Every where we went she would ask me if it was it time to go trick or treat. My plans got changed so I could go help out my friend Jessica & her kids out. Ben wanted to go but we both knew that the German trick or treaters would be so disappointed. The Germans don't celebrate Halloween but since we do they also doing it now. It's really has taken off since we been here. It's really cute! After meeting w/ Jessica at the commissary we headed to her house to gather food & the kids costumes for evening. We loaded all our kids up & headed toward our friend's Mary house for dinner & to meet everyone. After dinner & visiting for a while we all got the kids ready to go out.

Me getting MJ ready:
Here's Mulan: I wanted to put her in something that I could layer w/o covering up her costume.

Mary dressed Blayne as Mickey Mouse: MJ LOVED Blyane's custom, especially when she found out that the ears squeak: MJ & Addison: My friend Jess & her kids: (left to right) Charlie, Nick, & Kinzie: Here's Kellen... a boy after my own heart: Here's random shots:

Let's go:

MJ & Charlie impatiently waiting to go trick or treating: She was SO happy when we finally left: She enjoy telling every one "Trick or treat". When ever we stopped to wait for the group she would tell me "Trick or treat again". She did really good waiting for her turn for candy. All the kids did a good job. MJ LOVED going! She kept telling me that she was so happy & giving me sweet hugs... I love moments like that! Poor Charlie was candied out before we were done: Me w/ MJ, baby Nick (in the sling), & Addison: It was kind of bitter sweet since all the families in our group will be PSCing after this summer except us & one other. After getting Jess & the kids settled back at their house for the night we headed home. Little did I know what was waiting for us. Ben went all out this year! He had music, lights, fog, & more. He went all out for it. I wonder what the German thought about all this "madness". MJ loved all the lights. She was not scared of any of it. Here's what Ben did while we were gone:

I have a feeling what next Halloween will bring.

Halloween Bunko & More Pumpkins

My friend Mary decided to have a Halloween Bunko. If you don't know what Bunko is it's a super easy game that you roll dice. We all bring a dish to share & a small prize. It's a nice fun night out that we try to play once a month. Mary decided to make this Bunko a Halloween one. I finally made my mind up to go as a 1970's Go-Go dancer complete w/ the hoop earrings & blue eye shadow. The sad thing is I already had everything but the earrings & the make-up.

MJ loved me all dressed up! She kept saying "Mama wow". I tried to get her to wear my hat but she kept putting it back on my head: Here's a group shot of all of us (& Blayne- Mary's son): We all had a great time. After I got home Ben wanted to light up our pumpkins w/ the mushroom candles that I won at Bunko- thanks Jess!

Lights on: Lights off:

I know the Blue Clues one looks creepy.

Craving Pumpkins

While my parents were here we went to pumpkin fest. While we were there we got some pumpkins. We finally decided it was time to crave them. Ben picked out two designs to do. We first let MJ color on her own "baby" pumpkin:

After Ben cut a hole into the top she wanted nothing to do w/ it. She wasn't very impress w/ it & really didn't anything to do w/ it:

We got her to at least use a spoon: This soon turned into a mommy & daddy project: She decided to come check to see what we were doing:

Ben & MJ posing w/ the pumpkins:

Ben was so proud of his "work":

MJ's 1st Field Trip

I got a note in MJ's backpack on Tuesday telling me that her class is going to the fire station today on Vogelweh AFB. It's a short walk from her school. I knew I wanted to be there for it! I think I was more excited about it then she was. I sent her off to school & waited for a bit at my friend's house, mainly I wanted to see her new baby. I went up to school & right before we left.

Walking to the fire station: MJ & Jac (a boy in her class) under the fire station sign: After a short tour of the fire station they took to see the trucks. Us w/ the firetrucks (Ms. Sara took these for me):

MJ & Ms. Sara by one of the fire trucks: Us leaving the fire station after getting the kids thier fire hats:

We got back before Ms. Sara & Jac so MJ got to help Ms. Colette put everyone hats in the cubbies: I tried to get a good picture of her w/ her hat but she was more into her cookies: She wore her fire hat all the way home.

Do I Look Smarter?

Ben fell asleep one evening in his chair. MJ took it upon herself to grab his glasses & play w/ them. She needed help putting them.

She thought she was SO fuuny: Okay, how cute does she look? She look so much older w/ them does she?

More Brownie Pictures

I know I take a lot of these brownie pictures but these were too funny. Ben was upstairs one night after I got the brownie prepared so MJ got to have it all to herself. I told her that she had to stay in the living room at her table.

What? Me share: Look at her chocolate goatee: Look at her go: And the sugar high is kicking in:

Ben's New Do

I'm not sure if it was b/c Ben turned 30 last year or what, but he shaved his hair off around this time when visiting his family last October. He decided that Sunday after my parents left he wanted me, yes me, to shaved his head again. Maybe it was my parent's visit or his birthday coming up. Kidding mom & dad! MJ enjoyed watching me shaved her daddy's head. She really didn't know what to think about him at first.

She didn't want her picture taken: Ben's w/ his singer from his band, Dave: Don't they look a lot a like? Don't worry, it will grow back! It already started coming back in!