The Bebej Blog: Halloween

October is always so much fun with kids. The weather makes it great to be outside. It is fun to point out all the different colors. We get to go apple picking, play in leaves, choose a pumpkin, trick or treat and enjoy the wonderful donuts at Post Family Farm! I cannot believe that we are already to October again, but as soon as it is gone we get to focus on other fun things too. Here are some great things that we did with Kyler this past October

Kyler still loves to make up Angry Bird games over and over again
In church Kyler is starting to remember the words to the songs and sings along, I love it!
When in front of church the kids were asked where God is, Kyler said in our hearts
We love color by number, and Kyler will go and get his "Clipping board" to deal with them
He had a great time doing show and tell at school.
Kyler continues to have fun at soccer and got to be cheered on by both sets of grandparents.
Grammy taught Kyler a new phrase that we heard for a LONG time "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner"
Kyler likes to "learn his maths"
Daddy and Kyler game time is always fun to watch and after a game of Ticket to Ride they started to sing She's got a ticket to ride too...another phrase we heard a long time
Kyler wanted a challenge so we did color by numbers with math, and he can do the addition and the subtraction all on his own!
We had a great time going to Crane's to pick apples. Kyler's favorite variety this year was the "Mutsu" and he ate a LOT of apples
Kyler loved getting to go with his Daddy out to see the Calvin Women's volleyball team, and they even got him a shirt too!
We were all sad to see Devin's Early On worker leave when he turned three but Kyler told her that if she ever wanted to come and baby sit him that he would ask us to go out on a date so she could.
Kyler had a lot of fun going to the vet with me and Duncan. He loved getting to hold the cats and it is a lot of fun to see how much he loves animals
For Devin's birthday we had Grammy and Papa in town again. Papa joined Kyler and Daddy at the Volleyball game and it was so sweet of the coach to give you a ball and backpack too! You are their unofficial mascot!
We went out to dinner at Red Robin, and you did really well waiting even if the waiter forgot to take our order.
At Target, you fell in love with the Ninjago costume that was there, so we ordered it secretly even though you thought that you were going to be BobaFet
Kyler showed his really kind heart by helping me walk Devin to his first day of school and then told me it was okay when I cried. He was such a great comfort!
Kyler and I had fun running a few errands together, including getting some skeleton dog lights for Daddy's office!
We made a lot of applesauce and Kyler did a great job of cutting up the apples with me with his kid knifes!
Daddy took Kyler and Devin to the hardware store and there were fire trucks there. Kyler loved showing them off to his brother
We tried to do family pictures and they did not turn out the best but Kyler had a great time running around and being a ham for the camera
After a lot of "I can't" Kyler can now put his shoes on himself
Daddy went out of town for a while, so to make a fun evening, we all had TV dinners! Kyler thought it was pretty special!
Complained about his fingernail hurting and it did get pretty yucky and infected so we had to start soaking it in hot water and give him medicine. We both had to do the same thing at the same time!
Now that Devin is at a different school, we were able to go to his school to trick or treat there! Kyler loved seeing all the costumes and going to get more candy
We did head out to Post Family farm to pick out pumpkins and had to have more donuts. Kyler was really helpful pulling the wagon with Devin and the pumpkins! Strong kiddo
Kyler got to trunk or treat at our church on Saturday and had a great time running around with his cousins and their cousins too!
With a fairly new house we have never had a lot of leaves to jump in. Kyler had a TON of fun going to Grandpa and Grandma's to jump and bury himself into the huge piles of leaves
Daddy got home the day before Halloween so Kyler and him made sure to carve pumpkins into Ninjago characters!
Kyler was so excited and surprised when he got to see his Ninjago costume, he loved wearing it
Kyler again loved going trick or treating with his cousins around the Wiersum's house. He was a bit on the wild side but it was great to see him having so much fun.

Mom and her boys in the leaves

What cute brothers

Ready to jump!

Sitting in the leaves!

Did not want to take off his Green Ninja pants =)

Kyler's favorite apples at Crane's this year is the Mutsu!

He sure likes to eat apples!

Looking at how tall he is!

Pumpkins everywhere

Grammy and Papa came to a volleyball game too!

Wearing the shirt the team gave him!

He looks pretty happy with the ball and backpack

Kyler and two of his girls!

Now with all three of them!

Boys playing at Devin's Playground

Kyler loved this rock climbing structure

Driving a fire truck...Devin looks a little worried

Kyler is so excited for Star Wars!

Smiles at the park

Not sure if it is a special sword or magic wand

Fun times at his soccer game! With Snacks!

Both sets of Grandparents coming is pretty special

Holding a kitty at the vet's office

Kyler or Kai?

Riding Sandy! Still only a penny

My little painter!

Apple sauce helpers

He is such a great brother...

...and reader too.

Look at this little soccer player!

Giggles in the tub

His "pose"

My boy, I do love him so

Holding up a tree?

Hiding at Post before getting pumpkins

Trunk or Treat!

It's Kyler/Lloyd the Green Ninja!

Off to get candy with cousins

What a cute ninja!

This kid has grown up so much, and it is hard to believe that he is going to be turning 3 this month! We have a lot of really great memories, but one of the biggest events this month was Devin starting school full time. He started going to the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) classroom Monday-Thursday but will only start out going from 9-11:45. Eventually little guy will be going until 3pm everyday but Friday! It is very hard for this mommy to see her little one go off to school so young but I know that we are doing all that we can to have him flourish. We also enjoyed apple picking, pumpkins, trick or treating and lots of other fun. Here are a few of the highlights.

He held up his hand and sort of blew a kiss!
Devin and I played hide and seek with a blanket and every time the blanket went over his head he would begin to giggle.
Devin loves the feel of soft squishy things, unfortunately one of those items is poop and makes for a lot for mommy to clean up
When we walk around at Kyler's school, he loves to walk up and touch all the trees in the playground
Devin loves apples, but he also really loves apple chips!
We had a large group come to visit him during his Early On time, and was very quiet but eventually "waved" and gave hugs.
When given a bowl of cereal, he will often eat the marshmallows first and then not eat the cereal part, oh to be three again
We have been trying very hard to have him go through a tunnel at group and he finally put his head into the tunnel, its a small victory but it still happened
Devin loves to push his tricycle all over the place and probably would never stop if he could
At BSF he played with play-dough, a first for him.
He has been identifying different letters on his apple tablet.
We roll him up in the yoga mat to make a kid burrito and he loves it so much he kept bringing me my yoga mat
Devin actually helped me make cookies, but he mostly liked eating the batter
Devin loves to do handstands, and when he will sit on your stomach and point up you know he wants you to lift his hips up into the air while he puts his hands on your chest. He could do this for hours and just giggles the whole time.
When we took Devin to pick apples he enjoyed it for a very short time, but he would pick one and then "hug" the apple.
For his birthday he got a Bilibo chair and he loved to sit in it right away!
Shopping with Devin is often a gamble, going to Keegstra's to get birthday supplies was a nightmare and he screamed the whole time!
We had our last meeting with Miss Jaimiee and Devin refused to bounce on the turtle toy, but once she left, he was right on it, bouncing away.
For your last Early On group, we meet Shannon another teacher and she really liked meeting you too.
We had to pick up medicine at the Vet and it was cute to see Devin squat down by the kittens
Devin got his haircut for the second time and he did really well, still screamed, but not a lot of fighting.
Grammy and Papa came to visit and had a great time going out to lunch but Dev always gets upset when his fries are too hot.
We went to get some fresh pumpkin donuts at Post Family Farm but he did not want to go near the goats or feed them
For Devin's birthday party he loved his Bot cake from Team UmiZoomi and even ripped the paper off his gifts.
Devin has been getting onto his tricycle all by himself now too!
Went out to dinner at Red Robin and handled the restaurant really well, even enjoying picking out his school supplies too.
Devin turned 3 and I can still remember the day that he was born! Happy birthday kiddo!
We went to cousin Lawson's dedication and did really well sitting, especially with the weighted turtle that we bought and had on your lap.
Devin's first day of school was 10/17 and even though he did not cry and did not want school pictures, mommy balled her head off and counted down the minutes before I could pick my little guy up. He was so brave!
We had a special nugget and fries lunch for his first day of school
His second day of school the teachers told me that he loves the movement and music class but that he was pretty sleepy at the end of the day, so much to do and focus on!
Devin loves to help take the garbage cans in from the end of the driveway, he even pulls a bit
Kyler and Devin love to read together. They may not always play together but Kyler loves to read to him and he loves to listen.
At school Devin is starting to recognize his teachers and wave at them when he sees them.
Anytime I go shopping, Devin knows that I usually have candy and will reach for my purse and dig through it looking for some. I might have to remind him not to do that when he is older!
We have been working on communication with Devin by using Pects cards which are pictures of things he would like and help him to show us what he wants. We practiced together with Kyler using goldfish crackers and Kyler is a very patient helper
Devin does not often hug or do much for physical affection, but he reached behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck when I was sitting down and leaned into me. That was the most hug I have EVER received and I almost cried.
We tried to take family pictures but Devin does not like to smile when he has to sit still at all so that made them quite the adventure and a lot of funny not so great shots
At school he has been loving the teeter totter and wearing his backpack very well
Devin loves to look for Curious George on every page in his books
Kyler was able to get an almost hug from Devin after picking him up from school with me
On the weekends we have headed out to his school playground and Devin loves to explore all the things that are his size and show his brother the climbing areas.
We did trick or treating at Devin's school and even with the long line and the chaos, he actually did seem to have fun. He saw his teacher Mrs Shannon and did really well taking candy from her when he had to. I was so proud of you kiddo, even if you hated all costumes and just wanted to wear your U of M jersey
Daddy was gone so Kyler and Devin went with me to get pumpkins at Post Family Farm. Dev loved looking at all the pumpkins and seemed to be hugging or sniffing them. Kyler even took Dev for a ride in the wagon when we picked them out!
In the tub Devin figured out how to SPLASH, and had a great time in the tub with his brother. It was wet but so much fun
Devin has been "sniffing" flowers a bit which is exaggerated but he is still doing it!
We trick or treated again at Trunk or Treat at church. This time, Devin wore a lab coat and pretended to be his Daddy. He did really well walking around and loved the hay ride.
We visited Grandpa and Grandma's house to jump in their leaves. We do not have a lot of big trees and it was so much fun to see how excited Devin was to play in them! He loved it and did not want to get out at all.
Carving pumpkins is not Devin's favorite activity and hated the feeling of the insides
At trick or treating we did only a few houses, it was a bit much for Devin and there was a lot of pushing which he did not like. Next year he might just get to go on his own with me.