Gabe gets a Bobcat

Gabe had his first Pack Meeting tonight! He got two awards: his Bobcat Patch and a Wildlife Belt Loop. He loves, loves, loves, scouts. He was so excited about getting his awards and being part of the skit they did. He was giggling in anticipation of the skit because he thought it was so funny!

Boo at the Zoo

Tonight we went to "Boo at the Zoo" 

We have made it a tradition to go every year that we have lived in Erie. It was weird tonight to think that this is our last one. 

We did all of the usual stuff: Trick or treating at the booths, face painting, dancing on the "Zoo Tube" stage, riding the train, the carousel and the carnival ride. It was a great night!

Doughnuts

Yesterday I told Noah that we were going to make doughnuts today. He asked me all day long if it was time to make doughnuts. He was really excited to help. 

Gabe's Baptism

Gabriel was baptized and confirmed today. What a wonderful day for our family.

Soccer

Gabe and Zoe started up soccer again today with their first practice of the season. 

Gabe was happy to find that two friends from school are on his team. I was happy to see that he is a lot more comfortable with soccer now than he was at the beginning of last season. He likes to play offense and he is a good hustler. 

Zoe likes to be the goalie (and pose for pictures). Today she told me that she wanted to move to Hollywood and she was wondering if I knew of any TV Schools for kids there. She cracks me up.

Good Night Babies

There is nothing better than freshly bathed babies. I could just eat them!

On a different note. I was leaving the church tonight, I walk outside and it is SNOWING! What?!? I immediately got sick to my stomach and my eyes started tearing up! I am so not ready for Erie winter. 

I tried to be positive and think hot chocolate, white twinkly lights, Christmas music and cute winter scarves but it was just not working for me! I still want pumpkins and hay rides and red and orange leaves! 

Someone please make it stop!

Gabe is a Cub Scout

So I am driving away from the Scout store after purchasing all of the items Gabe needs to start Cub Scouts and I am sobbing. Not because I just had to shell out $60 for all of that stuff but because I cannot believe my baby Gabe is a Cub Scout. Why? Why? Why does he have to grow up?

Tonight was his first Den Meeting. He was sooooo excited! Before the meeting we worked on some of his Bobcat Requirements (memorize the Cub Scout Promise, Show Me the Cub Scout handshake, etc.) and the look on his face when I signed things off in his book was priceless. The look on his face when he thumbed through the book and saw all of the fun things he was going to get to do was even better. 

At Cub Scouts they got to make a bird feeder and talk about the food chain. He can't wait until his first Pack Meeting next week where he will hopefully get his Bobcat Badge!

Noah's Check Up

Noah had his 3 year checkup today. 

He weighs 34 1/4 pounds and is 38 1/2 inches tall. He is in the 75th percentile for both. 

Overall he is a healthy happy kid but we did find out today that he has bronchitis! Apparently it is not bothering him because he is as active and silly as always. 

A Day off of School

The kids had the day off of school today. Gabe and Zoe went to a class at the Zoo and learned about Native Americans ("It's not very polite to call them Indians mom, they are not from India!").  Zoe made sure to show me each and every piece of paper they worked on at the Zoo. Gabe put his bag down somewhere and will probably never think about it again.

Sunday Drive

Today we went for a Sunday Drive after church. We headed to a nearby town called Northeast that is known for their grapes which are in season right now. We saw lots of vineyards and fall leaves. We also ran into a new frog that we hadn't seen before. 

Zoe and Mom

I had such a great time with Zoe at the Outlet Mall today that I wanted to write about it. 

The drive to the Outlets is about an hour and the views were AMAZING. Trees are everywhere and they were gold, green, red, yellow and orange. Occasionally the trees would open up to reveal an awesome farmhouse with a barn, a windmill and/or a pond. Zoe and I sang and talked and pointed out the beautiful things. On the way back home the sun was setting which made the trees look even more amazing. Zoe and I ate kettle corn and it got just cold enough to turn the heater on in the car. It was perfect. 

While we were shopping, I was walking with Zoe, holding her little hand, listening to her talk, and I could have just cried with happiness. I realized that it would be one of the moments I remember and long for when she is 16 and doesn't want to be caught dead with me for one reason or another. 

I am so lucky to have my Zoe. 

*Tomorrow I am going to take a picture of her and I together and add it to this post. I am not very good at getting myself in pictures but I think it is important for us to have one together. 

Doctors Office and Patriotism

Zoe and Gabe had the day off of school today. They both had "well child" appointments with their doctor. Turns out that Zoe has bronchitis (we didn't even know she was sick?!?) and they both need to go to the eye doctor and possibly get glasses.

They kept asking if they had to get shots and the doctor told them the only shot they were due for was the flu shot and they had to ask their mom if they were going to get that. Well, me, being the mean mom that I am said yes they had to get them. Zoe had a fall apart and I basically had to bribe her to stop crying. In the end, Zoe didn't have to get the Flu Shot because she was diagnosed with bronchitis. She was jumping around, smiling, singing "I'm Sick!, I'm Sick!" 

I've never seen anyone so happy to be sick! 

For the record: Gabe was very brave for his flu shot and it was decided that he is not obese as his school reported him to be (?!?)

Zoe had been saying the pledge of allegiance and singing "Your a Grand Old Flag" over and over all morning so I decided to record her while we waited in the Doctors Office.

Halloween Costumes

Tonight we got out our box of Halloween costumes to see if any of them would work for this year. The kids had fun trying them all on. I made Noah try on this Snow White dress to see if it might fit my friends little girl who is 3 years old also. He was not too pleased with me making him wear a dress.

Special Delivery

Every night when we get Noah out of the bathtub we have to wrap him up in a towel and say "Special Delivery! Special Delivery!" Then we have to deliver him to somebody and he POPS out of the towel and laughs and laughs.

Pumpkin

I made this pumpkin. 

Yeah, I'm pretty much bragging. But only because on a craftiness scale of 1 to 10 I am a definite one. So, Go Me!

I want to make 2 more to go with it. So that should only take me about 6 more hours.

My Big Boy

Gabe mowed the front lawn almost all by himself today! It was so cute I couldn't stand it. He was so serious and concerned about. I just love him.

Dan and Noah chillin and watching Gabe

Conference Picnic

Dan had the idea to have a "Conference Picnic" in the living room while we watched the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference. The kids thought it was pretty cool. It is amazing how easy it is to make them happy sometimes. 

Today we went to some friends to watch the Sunday sessions of General Conference and eat together. It is nice to have good friends here in Erie. It helps me not miss being with family for conference so much. 

Children's Museum

Today Dan was at something for school all day so I decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum to get out of the house. They were celebrating Hispanic Heritage and they had lots of fun things for the kids to do like decorate pinatas, make bracelets and flowers, get their faces painted and breaking open a pinata. It was a good way to kill a few hours. 

Handsome Gabe

Gabe (and Noah) before his baptism interview.

Gabe's Birthday Party

Gabe had a birthday party with some friends from school and church today. We were supposed to have it at Port Farms but it rained ALL DAY LONG so we ended up at good old Chuck E Cheese. 

A Big Day for the Eltons

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary and Gabe's 8th Birthday. My brother also left for his mission in Ghana, Africa today. 

To celebrate we went to The Olive Garden for a family dinner. Gabe's favorite restaurant is The Olive Garden because he loves the Zuppa Tuscano soup. After the Olive Garden we stopped by Dairy Queen for some ice cream and then came home to eat it and open Gabe's presents. 

There is just something about your child turning 8. I get tears in my eyes just saying it. Okay, well to tell the truth I get teary eyed on all my kids birthdays. I just hate that I am never going to experience them at that age again. I keep telling them to stop growing but I guess they just can't help it. 

Gabe is the absolute sweetest, most tender hearted, kindest kid you have ever met. He is so thoughtful and always says the nicest things. He went to be interviewed for baptism yesterday. He is excited to be baptized and to start cub scouts. Tomorrow Gabe is going to have a party with some of his friends and then he will be baptized next weekend.

As for Dan and I being married for 10 years. I love it! It doesn't make me feel old, it makes me feel so lucky and happy and excited to double, triple and quadruple that time together. I love him more today then I ever have. Seriously, I am not a sappy person but that is how I feel. 

We are going on a family trip at the end of the month and that is kind of going to be our celebration for our 10 year anniversary.

We love you Bryce and hope you made it safe to Africa. We are praying for you and can't wait to get your updates.