Last soccer match of the season

Saturday was the last soccer match of the season.  I think they start up again in March.  It was freezing cold, but the kids hung in and had a good time.  Here are some shots from the game.  

Keeping warm while waiting to start playing

Asa going after the ball.   He has really improved his skills!

Lining up for the 'good game' high five (or side five).

Silly pose

I think the coaches were into it more than the kids this day. 

They did it earlier in the season and were much sillier.

The Flying Fish

Asa loves fish and sea creatures of all sorts.   He especially loves eating fish and would probably eat it every day if he could.   We took him to The Flying Fish (http://www.flyingfishinthe.net/LittleRock_Menu.php) in downtown Little Rock about a month ago and he's decided it's his favorite place to eat.   He loves it mostly because he can eat fish there, but also because they have cool fish all over the walls and pictures of people catching 'the big one'.  The food is great, the atmosphere fun and the kids' meals come in cool boats. 

Super excited to eat his shrimp

A BIG shrimp!

Asher enjoying a cracker on another visit

Dragons on the loose

A few pictures of our dragon boys. 

Asher didn't really have a choice for what he'd be this year, but he didn't mind it :)

Asa thought Asher's little tiny dragon wings were so cute.

He had a great time flying his big dragon wings, thanks to Nana's handywork.

A pair of dragons

Our pumpkin family got kicked out after a few days due to their lack of hygiene. 

STINKY!

Picking up some 'fall' as Asa would say.

Tasting the fall.

Not too sure about that fall :)

In or out of costume, Asa loves to dig!

The dragon boys and if you look closely, you'll see their fur dragon (Hershey's new nickname) in the background.

The Grand Finale of Halloween - AWANAfest!

The grand finale of our Halloween fun this year was AWANAfest at our church.  Several weeks before Halloween, the kids were told that they could wear their costumes to AWANA on Halloween.  Asa was so excited about wearing his dragon costume to AWANA!

The kids had a costume parade to start off AWANAfest.  They came walking in to Halloween music.

This is Asa's AWANA cubbies group. 

I think there were 3 spidermen, 2 dragons, a firehouse puppy dog, Super Mario, a cheerleader, a princess or two and a few other unique costumes.

Tim and Asher enjoying the festivities.  Asher was in his dragon costume, but got a little overheated.

The kids were encouraged to bring shoeboxes filled with goodies for the Operation Christmas Shoebox outreach.   Here is Asa decorating some wrapping paper for a shoebox.  We started doing this a couple of years ago with Asa.  He really enjoys helping me buy toys and other items to go in the shoeboxes. 

Beanbag toss

Getting his face painted.  Fire for his dragon :)

These were his favorite games.  They were timed challenges - Asa loves a timed competition!

Here he is stacking bowls and cups.

Pumpkin bowling

Another stacking game

Fall Festival

Mom and I took Asa and Asher to a fall festival at Geyer Springs Baptist Church.  It was like a mini fair/carnvial as they had carnival rides and games.  It was super cold and a little bit crazy, but Asa had a blast.  Asher enjoyed the first hour and then was ready to go :)

Asa playing a carnival game - I think he was supposed to drop a heavy mallet, but couldn't quite lift it himself.

Asher taking it all in.

The Dragon Wagon

If you've been around Asa the last 7 months, you know that he LOVES dragons! 

Asa saw this dragon ride as we drove by the church a few days before the festival and

really wanted to ride it.

He was super excited to find out it was the same one he rode with Tim at the Clark County Fair.

I had  the privilege of riding it with Asa :)

The dragon who lead the way on the Dragon Wagon :)

Waiting to go down a super big slide with Nana.  Obviously he could barely contain himself :)

Backseat rider

Boo at the Zoo

Mom and I took the boys to Boo at the Zoo.  It's a fundraiser for the Little Rock Zoo and loads of fun.

The kids dress up and trick or treat from various organizations who have tables set up around the zoo.  There are also carnival rides, games, carousel rides  and train rides too.

Asher taking it all in.

Mommy and Asa on the carousel.

Great shot of Asa's dragon wings.  We got him some glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets. 

 Here he is pretending the necklace a baby dragon.

Getting his treat at one of the tables.

Eating cotton candy in front of the zoo's pumpkin patch.

Dragon going through the hay maze.

Waiting to do the next fun activity.

Asa and his pony in the pony ride area.

Purple People Eater!

Taste of Home magazine had some great recipes in their most recent issues.  They had 3 different ideas for crazy Halloween cupcakes, so Asa picked out one and we had a go at making them.  They are called "Purple People Eaters"

Purple icing on the cupcakes and sorting out the various bits and pieces for their faces.

Asa dipping the marshmallows on pretzels into the purple icing.  These were the eyes.

Our little assembly line of eyes.

Taste test break :)

Adding the teeth and crazy tongues.

The proud baker with is masterpieces :)

Up close and mabye too personal ;)  Aren't they crazy looking!?!?

I voted!

I voted early and took the boys along.  One of the ladies working the polls let Asa push the buttons to set up my electronic voting machine and then I let him push my selections.  He had a ball and got that really cool sticker. 

He asked the lady if she happened to have a stamp too :)

And yes, he was fully clothed when we voted.

Asher's 6 months old!

It's hard to believe that Asher's been with us for 6 months!

He's M.r Serious much of the time and it takes a lot for us to get giggles out of him.

But two things do the trick for sure - his big brother Asa and his doggie Hershey :)

He loves to suck on his two middle fingers :)

Big brother's foot gets a smile from Asher :)