Cinderella and her Bomber Pilot

Gone are the days where I can get these two to agree on some type of matching costumes...

And so Cinderella stepped out with her bomber pilot instead of prince charming this Halloween...

Carving Time

Bessman family pumpkin carving goes a little like this...

Kids get excited and then grossed out by the pumpkin "guts" and turn the process over to the parents.

Aubrey becomes Daddy's helper and Brendan complains that he can't handle pumpkin guts by himself.

Mommy stays upbeat and cheery through the entire process because she truly enjoys this tradition.

Daddy ditches complicated patterns for something more simple as he gets frustrated with the mess then claims that his carving is superior to Mommy's and anyone else's involved.

Mommy chooses a pattern that is moderately difficult but turns out great and proceeds to carve the pattern that Brendan has chosen.

Daddy still brags that his pumpkin is the best and positions it just right for the photo op...

And they all live happily ever after.

(P.S.  while this is pretty much EXACTLY how things happened LAST year, I have to give Joe credit in that after carving his superior angry pumpkin there in the middle, HE proceeded to carve Brendan's spider web pattern of choice... go daddy ;)

Field Trip!

I... LOVE... field trips.  It's a little known fact about me.  I always wanted to be the mom who volunteered in the classroom, joined the PTA and chaperoned every field trip.  But while my younger child prevents me from being in the classroom and my lack of motivation has prevented me from joining the PTA, I jump at any chance I get to chaperone the occasional field trip.  I went on every single one he had in preschool... I was the mom who could not only chaperone, but shuttle up to 4 extra kids (a perk of driving the not-so-flattering mini van)! Then kindergarten came and went... an entire year without a single trip.  Brendan didn't seem to notice or care much but I was devastated.  So as soon as the notice came out for his first grade trip to the pumpkin patch I was emailing his teacher within hours.  He was thrilled to have me there and I was ecstatic to be involved.

And I'm proud to say that while being in charge of 4 first grade boys in a group of nearly 100 without losing one is something short of a miracle, I presented them all back at the bus safe and sound (so one may have been missing a coat that took several more adults to track down... I didn't say I was perfect...)

Brendan and his "girl" friend Gracie... inseparable :) 

Family P-Patch Day

I love fall time in Central Oregon.  Well, fall in general really.  The crisp cold air, the pumpkins, the apple cider, the changing leaves.  It's a beautiful season and I look forward to it every year.

Our yearly pumpkin patch trip is always much anticipated despite the chilly temperatures and need for heavy coats and winter hats.  The kids enjoy picking out their very own pumpkins, trekking around the pumpkin fields, taking a ride on the zoo train and climbing on the hay bales.  Memories in the making...