October

October started with our big move to University Place! (AKA the most stressful weekend ever). 

I'd been doing as much cleaning and packing as I could during the day those last weeks (when I wasn't nursing or taking care of the boys who made messes faster than I could clean!) and then when Rob got home, it was nonstop work. Somehow, with help from people offering to watch our kids, we got everything ready. We were already exhausted and ready for this move to be over!

We moved on a Friday so we could have the rest of the weekend to unpack. Rob worked until noon that day. I had scheduled Bennett's 2 month appointment for that day, before we knew it would be moving day. I felt pretty proud of getting all four boys out the door and being on time for the 8:00 appointment! They did great at the doctor's office (though didn't love all the waiting) and I had to take a quick picture.

The rest of the morning was spent getting all our last minute things packed. Rob's parents came into town to help, his aunt and uncle helped too and lent us their trailer for the move, and some members of our ward came as well. We loaded everything up (with the worry of rain looming over us as we loaded all our belongings in a big uncovered trailer) and made it to our new house where more friends waited to help unload. We were so grateful for all the help and couldn't have done it on our own.
Let me also mention that I was sick that weekend. Like really sick. I hadn't been able to taste food for a week and had sinus headaches, and wasn't sleeping well. We were both so physically exhausted from the labor of moving, and I just remember that first night in our new house, when our kids were too excited to go to bed and we just wanted to collapse. We spent Saturday and Sunday working like crazy. Saturday morning Rob took all the boys to the old house to finish things up, and I stayed home and unpacked the kitchen. I just remember needing to take a break and lie down on the floor, and my ears were ringing and my entire face and head were throbbing. . . all I needed was to sleep but there was so much to do! We pushed through, our work paid off and by Sunday night, our house was liveable!

These lucky kids have a playroom now! (At least until Bennett's ready for his own room - we haven't decided what we'll do about bedrooms yet). It hasn't been anywhere near this clean since!

Breakfast on our first Monday morning here

The boys were excited about the new house, and wanted to explore everything. Those first few days and weeks were crazy. They got into everything! All day. Flushing things down toilets, lifting the floor vent covers and dropping things down (constantly), getting into the fridge, climbing up the pantry, sticking things inside the fireplace grates, throwing toys over the backyard fence, putting things in the garbage disposal. Nonstop! I mean, they got into things at our old house, but not like this. It was a bit of a rough transition, but with time and some childproofing, it's gotten much better!

Bennett testing out the Bumbo

Collin started preschool at a church down the street from us. He goes for 3 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays and brings his own lunch. He loves it!

While Collin goes to preschool, I take the little boys to a program called Play to Learn, which is put on by the Children's Museum. It's a preschool readiness program with toys, crafts, and songs and I'm glad to have something like that for the twins. They call it their "preschool." When the weather is nice, they get to play on the playground afterwards.

Elliott playing after Play to Learn. Those boys love to hang!

Truman

The twins and Adam helping push the stroller

Bennett blowing bubbles. He's our drooliest baby yet!

We love living really close to our neighborhood playground! This is Truman, just swinging around by one arm.

Daddy and Bennett

Bringing out the Halloween bin! Both of these pictures are of Truman.

Three kids in diapers once again...

We decided that since Collin and the Twins' birthdays are only a few weeks apart, instead of trying to plan separate parties with friends, we would just have one combined party for all three! We had it at the Tacoma Children's Museum. We were really glad we went the low-stress route with everything else going on. The boys loved having friends come (mostly from Puyallup) and play at the museum with them. We're so grateful for good friends!

Happy Birthday Boys!

They each blew out a candle! 

Party table

And some more random pictures from the month. . .

Collin and his Lego parrot

Neighborhood playground again. Collin and Truman both love sliding down that pole.

A nearby park. . . "Tot Lot"

Lunch one Saturday at Panera. The boys all nicely ate their food, and people stopped by our table to comment on how well-behaved our children are!

Birthday date with Truman at Red Robin. I loved having one on one time with him! 

Truman and Elliott turned 3! Hard to believe how quickly they are growing. Their birthday started out with balloons, which they all agreed needed to be popped right away.

We also put up streamers to decorate, and the boys had fun pulling those down next! (The night before their birthday, Collin had said in his prayer "Please bless that mommy and daddy will put up decorations for Truman and Elliott's birthday")

Chocolate chip pancakes may be becoming a birthday breakfast tradition. (E,T)

The boys played all morning, then we went to McDonald's to play and have lunch. Rob met us there, then we came home and did presents!

A photo to remember their presents

Rob left them a treasure hunt to do in the afternoon when he went back to work (maybe becoming a birthday tradition too?)

They boys figured out most of the clues on their own!

Treasure found!

The cake of choice was a dirt cake complete with gummi worms. The boys all enjoyed helping make it! We had the Ottos over to help us eat it.

Blowing out the candles

I brought Truman, Elliott, and Bennett to an event at the Children's Museum that was based on the book "Room on the Broom." The whole play area was decorated like the book and there was a live performance of the story. As we left, they gave us a copy of the book.

Dragon slide

Collin was at preschool and missed out on the event, but got to enjoy the book with us.

This kid is so artistic!

Funny boys getting into the ear buds

Oh Elliott and the vent obsession. He was sitting there with some little metal thing and said "Go upstairs, Mom. Go sleep... Go bathroom, Mom!" Trying to get rid of me so he could drop it in. I didn't fall for it, but the little thing still ended up in the vent that day. 

Truman at the playground

We headed to Spooner Farms one weekend for the pumpkin patch. The giant spiders were a favorite, along with the animals in the barn.

Elliott

Collin

Truman

Love all the photo ops

You may notice Bennett's car seat in the passenger seat, so I guess this is a family picture.

Looking at the baby ducks

Bennett!

I think Collin looks like me as a kid in this picture

Just some handsome boys in Fred Meyer

Elliott and I had his birthday date at Yeti Yogurt! He loved picking out all the yummy toppings for his yogurt.

Twins being silly in Elliott's bed

Halloween! It fell on a Saturday so we had a full weekend of family fun. We had a Halloween lunch the day before with the Ottos. The boys loved helping make spider sandwiches, ghost bananas, and pumpkin oranges. They all love Halloween and like to watch Halloween kids songs on youtube year round, so they were extra excited when it was actually Halloween season.

Elliott

We went to the Star Center that Friday evening, and the boys loved playing in the play place.

Truman was the only one who had an opinion when I asked what they wanted to be for Halloween, and always said "jack yantern!" We were glad to find the perfect costume at Value Village. 

Afterwards, we stopped by Bass Pro Shop since they were doing free events and photos. 

Halloween morning-- Krispy Kreme gave away a free doughnut for anyone in a costume, so we all dressed up for a nice free sugar rush!

In the afternoon, we went to a trick or treating event at a local retirement home. It was awesome! So many elaborate decorations, entire rooms set up in spooky displays, handfuls of candy and snacks passed out by sweet elderly people at every turn. We all loved it.

Truman did a great job saying "fwick a fweet," Elliott didn't say much but held out his candy bag, and Collin was the most nervous-- he planted his feet and needed a lot of encouragement to go up to anyone to get treats. But, he did say "trick or treat" quietly, knowing it was necessary in order to get candy. 

Outside the retirement home

Collin came home and went straight to the table to assemble the one little styrofoam airplane he got while the twins were busy dumping out all their treats.

Costumes! We went to our ward's trunk or treat. Collin was shy there too and needed encouragement to walk up to anyone for candy, but loved pushing the button on his jetpack to show off how his wings pop up. 

Our Superbaby!

And finally, the Rob took the boys trick or treating to a few houses in our neighborhood. It was a full day of copious amounts of sugar!

And one more photo that I snapped to remember Halloween night, and how even though our entire living room floor was covered in candy, Collin was still crafting. Love this creative kid!