Fall is here!

Get ready for picture overload!!

Fall is here and along with it comes Halloween.

We kicked off the Halloween festivities with our Church's Youth Costume Party. Kai got wrapped up like a mummy, Andrew got to play bowling with pumpkins, and Ryan got to dress up like a really good friend of ours, Mr. Steve!!

Next, we attended our Church's Fall Festival. The kids got to wear their costumes and play in bounce houses, ride ponies and carnival type swings, and climb rock walls. We were all exhausted after this crazy day.

Next we carved pumpkins. Andrew and I made a cat, and Kai got a "little help" making his bats from our friend Blake.

Last, but certainly not least, was Trick or Treating. Kai dressed up as a Clone Trooper, Andrew was Spider-Man, and Malia was SuperGirl.

We left home confident that tricker treaters would be treated well at our house.

The kids rode in style. Notice the sucker in Malia's hand.... she was one happy girl.

Not even the goblins could keep the kids away from getting candy!

And boy did they make out big!!!!

I think Malia is hooked!

Monthly Update

October has been a little busy for the Roberts' clan.

Ryan and I went to a beautiful wedding for one of my childhood friends.

Kai got to go on his first day trip with the scouts. He went on a nature walk, played games, and participated in a regatta boat contest.

He also got to participate in his school's Storybook Character Pumpkin Contest-- and won an award for the first grade group!!

Then sickness hit and Malia, Andrew, Kai and myself all got up to 104 temps. We just had the really bad fever--so it wasn't too horrible, but it certainly was not fun.

Later in the month Ryan got to preach at church. I am always so proud of him when he gets up and speaks. If you want to hear his sermon, you can access it here.

Malia's accomplishments of the month incude: learning to go up the stairs, standing all by herself, and growing two more teeth. (she is up to four-- two top, two bottom)

(sorry for picture overload-- but she is just so darn cute!!)

Andrew has been his regular silly self this month, but he has gotten really good at saying his nightly prayer. We started a new one and he loves finding it in his bible story book and reciting it along with everyone.

Lord, give us what we need today

And be in all we do and say

Please help us love the way you do

We give back all our love to you

Amen

Free Night

Since school started, we have had one dilemma after another. Ryan had a small procedure, then Malia got hand, foot and mouth disease, then Andrew and Ryan were both hit with the stomach flu epidemic of 2011 (which also took out half of our youth group). This, in addition to the usual stresses of going back to school, has made for a not so pleasant month.

Tonight, however, God gave us a break. Everyone was healthy and, for once, we did not have anything on our overflowing calendar, so we decided to sit in the backyard, grill up some hamburgers, and play in the sprinklers.

Hopefully we will have a few more nights like tonight, before it gets to cold to enjoy outside.

Back to School!!

This morning was the first official day back to school.

Malia headed back to the infant room at Montessori.

Andrew started in the "big kid" class at Montessori, and Kai is starting 1st grade.

I love this last one... it shows so much of their character. Kai is lost in thought, Andrew is cheesing, and Malia is looking around seeing what she can get into.

My kiddos are wonderful!!

Weekend at the Lake

There was a rope swing, jet skis, a hammock, and nature.

There was a ton of delicious, feel good, food.

There were no computers or cell phones. There was a TV, but it played mostly cartoons.

The biggest disagreement was whether or not to give points to baby talk or banshi as languages in a game of Scattergories.

Laughter was heard throughout the house.

It was a perfect weekend spent with friends at a lake house, generously offered to us by another friend.

Thank you for a wonderful memory.

Family Heirlooms

I have been on a blogging hiatus the month, due to the fact that a youth pastor's family's life is extremely busy during the summer. One, or all of us, have been busy doing mission trips, retreats, VBS, or fun activities with the youth. It is times like these where your church family really does become an extension of your real family.

This past week we finally got some free time.... so what did we do, we busy ourselves with home improvements, of course.

These two items both belonged to late grandmothers: the mirror to Ryan's and the table to mine. They were both nice pieces, they just did not fit our personality.

It is amazing what a little spay paint and glaze can do.

Before:

After

Before:

After:

We have also painted two rooms, painted all the trim in the downstairs portion of our house, and are putting in wood laminate flooring. We will have those before and after pictures coming soon.

If you want more amazing before and after pics, go check out this blog. I give it credit for finally giving me the courage to tackle these projects. I am addicted to it!!

And a special thanks to all the youth that came over and helped with our various projects and childcare needs.... like I said earlier, we see you as family and I don't know where we would be without you!