Catch Up

Times been flying by, so here's some photos to catch up on things.

Fall seems to have come and gone pretty quick! We haven't had a real snow yet, but flurries and rain and lots of "MOOOOOOM! It's snooooooowing! Get some gloves on!"

We haven't gotten much done on our little "backyard" property, looks like we'll have to wait until spring.

We took family pictures a few weeks ago. What that means is, I chased the boys around with a camera yelling at them to turn and smile. When it came time for the family picture, I set up the camera, gave it to my mom, then sat with Johnny and the boys and we yelled at them to hold still and be happy. The whole thing only took about half an hour, thank heavens. (The picture on my blog header may or may not be heavily photoshopped.)

The most energetic, unique, and funny boy ever...

The most pleasant, chubby Con Con ever...

...and this guy is intelligent, funny, helpful, cuddly, and growing way too fast!

Con spends most of his day undressed or half dressed. His belly will help you understand why.

Halloween started with visiting Great Grandma and parading down the assisted-living home to show off their costumes.

We then took the boys out trick-or-treating! At each house, after ringing the doorbell, Bubba would run straight into the persons house and show himself around. Drake just stood there staring and waiting for candy. It was entertaining.

I love how Bubba's face looks 3x's too small for his head.

Chubbacon as ChubbyNemo. Best. Costume. Ever. (and only $10!)

Mimi helped us go around her neighborhood.

Johnny carried Nemo most of the way.

Drake and Bubbs currently enjoy sleeping together on the bottom bunk. I love it.

Johnny spent 4 consecutive weeks gone for 3 days at a time. 3 of the times he was gone, they were ill (colds + fever, pink eye, then stomach flu). It was not awesome.

We try to have family home evening. This usually involves bribery like ice cream, to get them to sit still, and an attempt at teaching them some religious concept.

It usually goes something like this:

Me: "Drakie, do you know why we go to church on Sundays?"

Drake: "To learn about Jesus?"

Me: "Yep! And do you know who Jesus is?"

Drake: "My brother?"

Me: "That's right, good job!"

Johnny: "And Jesus gave the intercessory prayer, can you say intercessory?"

Me: laughing

and thats about it until the next week.

Tomorrow morning I head to Ghana, Africa with a humanitarian group that provides medical care to remote villages. It'll be a ten day trip, and truthfully, I'm terrified.

Also tomorrow, Johnny is headed to Pune, India for ten days to visit the 80 computer programmers they employ out there.

And after ten days, Johnny and I will meet up in Rome for a few days before heading home. I'm just hoping the global bank doesn't collapse for another two weeks, and the Greece-like rioting doesn't start in Rome for a bit longer.

The boys will be taken care of by great woman and her 5 kids (ages 9-19) who are moving in for two weeks to feed, hug, and tickle my three guys until we get back, and my boys Mimi and Papa will be making sure the boys get some one-on-one time with some sleepovers, movies, and popcorn.

...and in the time it's taken me to finish this post, Bubba and Drake have filled up the bathroom sink, flooded it, and put 14 cars on the toilet.