Candy Corn and Chocolate Obsession

Someone is LOVING the Halloween candy this year!  The second I walked in the door this afternoon, Beau ran up to me with so much excitement!  I was preparing for a full-on bearhug, but he stopped short and began yelling, "CANDY CORN! CANDY CORN!"  Hmmmm . . . perhaps my value has fallen a bit since he has been introduced to this seasonal favorite!  Don't worry, buddy - I love it too!  He knows that he can only have two pieces and his greedy little fingers were twitching with excitement as I fished out his treat.  The jar for Hershey bars is mysteriously empty.  Daddy, Lincoln and Beau are all mad about Hershey bars.  If one of them is eating a bar, everyone has to have one.  Seriously, they have chocolate radar and come running when they hear Daddy sneak away with a treat.  Who can turn down such sweet little faces?  

Latest Activities

Halloween crafts have been quite a hit lately, but I keep forgetting to take pictures.  We have done lots of stamping, painting, baking and decorating for Halloween . . . oh, and we have spent a lot of time in our costumes.  Here's a hint - these little guys are fighting some serious crime around here!  Tonight's activity was a glue ghost covered in marshmallows.  Lincoln struggled with not eating the marshmallows, but he loved his craft ghost!

All done and pleased with his work!

Beau was not interested in tonight's activity, so he helped me prepare Linc's lunchbox.  He was a cheerful little helper, as long as he got to sample the food!

What a cute little lunch Lincoln will have!  Cheese squares, turkey on a toothpick, Ritz crackers, apple slices and a bonus cereal bar to sweeten the deal!  He's totally excited to take a break from sandwiches, wraps and pitas . . . hey, we gotta keep it fresh!

Everyone has been in (mostly) good spirits for the last few days, the boys have been having a blast at school, and we've spent a lot of time having fun.  We are really enjoying the cooler weather and lots of fall activities!  Lincoln and Beau have also been extremely generous with kisses and hugs these last few days, and that makes my heart happy!  I love love love the sweetness, and I know that it is not forever.  They'll get into their share of spats . . . probably tomorrow!  Daddy and I have really been talking to Lincoln lately about love.  You can be upset with Mommy or Daddy or Beau when something happens that you don't like, but we always love each other.  I think it is sinking in slowly, and we'll keep repeating it.  I love these guys so much, and we all need to remember just how important we are to each other!  

Fun!!!!!!

It's a big weekend here in Dallas . . . it's the Red River Shoot Out!  I've been schooled recently that I'm supposed to call it the OU/Texas game, as opposed to the Texas/OU game.  As Kuhlmans, we are instilled to know a great disdain for anything Longhorn and a love for anything Sooner.  Well, on the Friday afternoon before the big game, the UT Band just happens to be practicing at Daddy's old High School just minutes from our house.  We aren't supporting the enemy . . . we're just enjoying a fine afternoon outside with a little fun music.  I dressed the boys in orange to blend in, but the joke is on Texas because they were Halloween shirts!!!  Beau loved everything but the loud music.  He would instantly climb up on Nana's lap or my lap when they began to play. 

Lincoln thought it was really important to shout instructions to the band members.  He warned the flag people ("don't drop your flags"!) and encouraged the drummers ("boom boom really loud, ok!").  After checking out the entire field, he was concerned that they didn't have a xylophone.  He considered letting them borrow ours but decided that they should go to the xylophone store and get their own.  He told me we couldn't have our own band if we gave them our xylophone.  So true!  

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Lincoln and I headed out for soccer practice and a few games.  Soccer has been a little shaky for him (that's an understatement if there ever was one!), so we have really been working on a game plan this week.  Practicing drills was super fun, and I was sure he had gotten over the yips.  He played in the first game pretty well.  He did get sad a few times when he ran after the ball and another kid got the just before him, but he played the whole game.  Go Linc! 

 Our team has 7 players, and only 5 can play in each game.  Lincoln and his best girl, Carolina, sat out for game 2.  She must have been exhausted from all her efforts in the first game because she needed a rest!

 Lincoln played half of game 3, and then we headed for the neighboring playground.  A kid needs a few slides after a morning of soccer! 

 One of Linc's best buddies turned 4 this weekend, and Linc was so excited to go to Oliver's benastics (gymnastics, I don't know why he calls it benastics) party!  Oliver and his sister were having a joint party, so there were lots of kids at The Gymnastics Place.  After a lot of playing, everyone stopped for a group pic.  So many of Linc's school buddies were there:  Oliver, Christopher, Sam, Lindsey, Erin, and Noah.  They had a blast!

 Beau was a tag-a-long party crasher, and he had a blast!  He stayed close to me at first but really warmed up when the cupcakes came out.  Beau ended up with one of Elle's pink cupcakes that was decorated with a plastic ring.  What's a boy to do with a plastic ring but use it as a scoop for icing!!!!!  The little girl next to him said that was a great idea and scooped her icing too!

Lincoln really had a blast with gymnastics.  When this soccer season wraps up, we may need to go back to gymnastics.  He loves to run, jump, bounce, and swing.  Diving in the pit was a highlight today! 

This little guy had his first gymnastics experience and loved it!  I think it's definitely time for Beau to enroll in gymnastics.  None of Linc's friends minded tag-a-long little brother Beau . . . in fact, they were all happy to see him.  So cute! 

This has been an action-packed weekend so far!  Lots of fun and lots of friends . . . and lots of pink icing!

Is it a guy thing?

Seriously, do all guys need reading material while they visit the potty?  Two of the three guys I live with think this is the best way to go!  The third one is still in diapers but is sure to follow in their footsteps . . . really?!?!  (I'm sure the future teenage Lincoln will be terribly humiliated by my posting of this picture, but Daddy couldn't help taking his picture.  He was so proud!)

Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

While dropping Lincoln off at school this morning, I managed to volunteer to provide the "class pumpkin"!  So on the way home, we stopped by the neighborhood church pumpkin patch for the biggest pumpkin we could carry.  The boys took off running as soon as we arrived!

 Linc immediately began grabbing pumpkins.  He soon learned that the big ones are really heavy!!  He settled on this one for a bit, but it just wasn't big enough!

Beau was not ok with being pumpkin-less!  He really needed a pumpkin!

Beau found a pumpkin that was his size!  A little boy there wanted to take pictures of Lincoln and Beau, and they happily posed.  He was so cute and loved showing them their pictures on his camera.  His Mommy was one of the volunteer workers, and he really wanted to help us pick our pumpkin.

The guys had fun strolling around the pumpkin patch, and we finally found the perfect pumpkin for Linc's class.  Beau has repeated "punky patch" over and over and over all night!  What a fun surprise activity after school!  I hope Linc and his classmates enjoy learning our pumpkin for the next few weeks.

Update

Our week and weekend have been so crazy busy, but the boys managed to steal a few wrestle-hugs! 

 Hugging usually starts out innocently, and both boys are loving their brother time.

 Often hugging ends up in pushing or pinching, but on this day it was all love!

 Our bathroom remodel has finally been completed, and the results are super!  We have soooooo much more space, and our contractor did an amazing job.  I still need to "decorate" and will take a few detailed pictures then.  The boys were so excited to get in their new tub!

 Happy kids in a cool new bathroom . . . sweet!

Construction is done, the house is clean again, and we can get back to our normal routines . . . except that Linc and Beau love to hang out in the new bathroom just checking things out!  Bathtime was especially fun on this night. 

Happy Friday!

Friday was an action-packed day!  I love not working Fridays . . . this flex time thing is super!  We began our morning at the library.  Linc grabbed a couple of Franklin books and Berenstain Bear books right away.  I don't even show him where they are anymore because he remembers where his favorites are stacked!  Beau sat down with a book right away, while Lincoln perused the shelves for anything else that might interest him. 

 I'm glad we were early and the only ones at the library this morning.  Let's just say we weren't quiet, even though we discussed being quiet in the library all the way there.  These boys were tearing it up!  Lincoln finally settled down with a book while Beau continued his beasting. 

The park was next on our list on this wonderfully nice fall day.  Nana met us there, and we had so much fun playing.  We had the park all to ourselves for most of the morning.  Lincoln is a master climber and slider, and Beau is determined to keep up.  He surprised Nana with his counting skills . . . he was counting up to eight on the steps!!!!  We worked up an appetite after all of that playing, so we had a picnic.  Lincoln was very specific about what could be included in our picnic when we were preparing the bag this morning.  He said we needed to have ham sandwiches, a jelly sandwich (for him), Cheetos, apple slices and chocolate chip cookies.  I was able to meet all of his demands!  Until he told me on the way that in the Biscuit books they take a cake on their picnic, but I informed him we were not stopping for cake!!  Yummy picnic!  We'll have to do this again soon!

Once we finished our picnic, we headed back to the steps and slides.  All smiles!!!

Beau discovered a fun swing that looks like some kind of throne.  He loved it!  Actually he loved all of the different swings, and we all took turns pushing him.

This weather is absolutely perfect to be outside.  We suffered through a seriously hot summer that was made worse by the threat of West Nile Virus, so we are happy to be outside.  What a happy Friday!

Showers!!!

The boys got to experience something super cool tonight . . . the shower!  We had the master bath remodeled when we moved in, including new tile for the floor and shower and walling in a private dressing area.  The boys' bathroom floor was tiled back then, but more necessary improvements were called for in the present time.  The problem was that we didn't seem to have enough space for Mommy, Lincoln and Beau during bathtime each night.  It was tight before Beau came along, and now it's a disaster each evening!  I swear Kevin just got tired of hearing me yell out in pain (from bumping into the wall/door/closet) or yell out in frustration at our cramped arrangement, and he found a contractor to help us out!  The main issue was the door/wall separating the tub and potty from the rest of the bathroom.  The sink/vanity was also pretty massive and needed to go.  Tuesday night we had a family trip to Home Depot to pick out a new tub and sink (pedestal - I'm serious about getting some space).  Linc and Beau were so excited to shop!  The boys had one last cramped bathtime, and we said bye-bye to our old bathroom.  The contractor came early Wednesday morning to begin the demolition.  Lincoln was in awe of the empty and unfinished look of the bathroom after school.  We went to pick out the tile for the wall after dinner and headed back home for tonight's version of bathtime.  I wasn't sure how the boys would react to the shower, so I tried to make it sound cool . . . like "Hey, guys!  You get to shower in Mommy's bathroom tonight?  Isn't that sooooo cool?"  Linc squealed with delight so he got to go first.  Wednesday night is shampoo night, and I did that in the sink (with him lying on a towel on the counter).  With the shampoo out of the way, it was time for the exciting part.  Linc stepped in the shower and proclaimed that he loved it - as long as the water wasn't spraying on him.  He giggled like crazy and talked about what a big boy he was and even danced a bit - as long as the water wasn't spraying on him.  I finally reached in with the washcloth and soap to get him clean, and he was happy to get all soapy and rinsed off - as long as the water wasn't spraying on him.  You get the picture, right???

Sometimes during all of the fun, he had to stop and check that the water that was spraying out of the shower was still a safe distance away!  Silly guy!

Beau was not at all interested in checking out Lincoln in the shower, despite Linc's many cries for Beau to come see him.  I decided that Beau would probably not react well to the shower spray, and that I wasn't interested in climbing in with him to hold/calm/bathe.  So I pulled out a few little tubs and his old baby bathing sponge.  He had a blast!!!  I won't say that he was fond of the sink shampoo, but his little shower was awesome!  He splashed the water and played with the soap like it was the best thing ever!

Seriously, Beau was crazy with "cheese" tonight!  What a crazy little guy!

I don't know how either of them managed to go to sleep quietly because they were full of energy after their super cool showers.  A few bedtime stories did the trick, I guess.  We have two more nights of showers before our bathroom redo will be complete.  I can't wait to have more space, and new tub and sink, and cool new tiles.  Mostly I can't wait to have more space . . . I bruise like a peach and that annoying (and now gone) door frame is a too often offender! 

Sports Weekend

Lincoln is a super sporty little guy!  We enrolled him in gymnastics for over a year, and he loved it.  We switched to baseball lessons for this spring and summer, and he always had lots of fun hitting, batting, catching and running the bases.  He still takes swimming lessons once a week, and he's swimming like a fish!  So for the fall, we decided to try out soccer.  On this rainy Saturday morning, we all geared up for a fun new sport.  Linc had a blast in the practice and loved kicking back and forth with the coach.  He thought Linc's kicks and timing were really good, and he was so encouraging.  Success, right? 

 So the game after the practice wasn't nearly as much fun.  Linc just didn't get in the rhythm of the game, and he was so sad there was only one ball.  Ok, Lesson One was a learning experience!  Beau was prepared with snacks, water and his own ball to kick around on the sidelines.  He wasn't bothered by the drizzle and had a blast!

 After our rainy soccer morning, we helped our buddy Conner celebrate his 4th birthday with a sports theme.  The party was at Kevin's old gymnastics place in the Heights Rec Center.  I'm sure Daddy was reliving tons of old gymnastics memories . . . he said it looks exactly the same!  The kids had so much fun, and Linc didn't let a busted lip slow him down.  He was super excited about the cookies and cupcakes, and he was definitely the loudest "Happy Birthday" singer! 

 I wish I had a picture of Beau eating his cupcake at Conner's party.  He was only interested in the icing, and tried a few times to pick it up and lick the icing off.  He finally decided to just sink his hand on top of the cupcake and suck the icing off his fingers.  YUCK!  His face and hands were a complete mess, but he was a happy boy!  Sweet Beau also posed for a cute picture after dinner on Sunday.  He was making a mess of the movies, but looking so cute doing it!

We had a pretty chill Sunday after a busy Friday and Saturday.  The week ahead is sure to be busy, but I think a lot of fun is planned.  Lincoln's preschool class is moving to the letter N, so there will be lots of new things to learn about.  We try to compliment his studies at home, and we always learn a lot of new words and try a lot of new letter-themed activities during the week.  What yummy foods start with the letter N . . . I'll know soon!

2012 State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is finally here . . . and we were all so excited!  Of course we headed there right at opening on the first day.  No lines and no germs - who can beat that?!?!  We stopped for a few necessities right away.  Daddy needed a Fletcher's corn dog (which I'm told is actually a "corny-dog" but whatever!), and Lincoln and Beau needed a pretzel.  The got the first official pretzel of the fair!!!  It was yummy and warm and buttery, and we loved it.  I tried one of the "bits" this year that was a Picnic on a Stick.  It wasn't actually as advertised, but it was yummy.  Chicken, tater tots, cheese and pickles on a stick then dipped in batter and fried . . . yep, that was super healthy!  After our snacks, Linc demanded that we head for the rides.  Our yearly measure showed that Linc is up to 38 inches.  He could ride so many rides by himself, and he was definitely excited to get going.

 Linc's first ride choice was his favorite from last year.  He marched right up to the motorcycle and climbed on like a pro!  He gave us a few cool waves as he passed by.

 Beau was pretty happy to take in the action from the stroller.  He was really checking out the midway games and the rides whirling by.  Such a sweetie!

 After a few more solo rides, Lincoln recruited Daddy to ride a roller coaster with him.  They were all smiles before it started . . .

 . . . but Daddy wasn't all smiles after it was over.  He said he got thrown around in all of the violent spinning, but Linc had plenty of delightful squeals.  Lincoln had so much fun on the roller coaster, he insisted that I take a turn with him.  It was a blast!  He really loved the parts when we were whirling around, and I loved to hold him tight and squeal right along!  (Note:  Like Daddy said, it wasn't the smoothest roller coaster ever.)  Fun, no less!

Beau decided to join in the action, and we all climbed in a hot air balloon ride.  He actually enjoyed it.  We all squealed as we spun in circles and swooped up and down.  So proud of Beau!

 Look at these two twins . . . Daddy and Linc waited in line for more tickets, and they are just the same.  Tall and skinny!

 While Daddy and Lincoln hit up the fun house, Beau chilled with Samantha and Eric.  We were so happy they could meet us at the Fair this morning.  Baby Jackson is so soon!  We can't wait to meet him, and Lincoln and Beau will have a new buddy to love.  They definitely needed one last Fair without a baby, and Beau was happy to have them for entertainment.  (Or at least to have people to pick up the cups that he had so much fun throwing from the stroller!)

 It was a beautiful day for Opening Day.  We were a little warm, but the rain held off.  A few clouds and a little breeze made it a perfect morning to ride lots of fun rides, eat totally fattening foods and stroll around for a few hours.  One day we will actually get to the giant Ferris wheel . . . well some of us will get to the giant Ferris wheel.  Daddy says no way!

We didn't hear anything from Big Tex as we entered the Fair, so we had to check him out before we left.  Luckily he was ready to announce, "Welcome to the State Fair of Texas!"  Linc loves to mimic his super-deep voice.  He's been saying all day!

Hooray for the best day at the State Fair of Texas.  We had a blast and can't wait to do it again!