BOO!!!!

Happy Halloween

This weekend was filled with so many exciting things.....

Paityn wanted to stay in Newberg to celebrate Halloween with her friends. She stayed Friday and Saturday nights at the Hergert’s home. Paul and I dropped her off before we left town. She was able to spend time with one of her best friends and do girly stuff….















Paul, Maddux, and I drove down to Eugene to spend the night with my Mom and Dad for the weekend. Paul and I were actually able to go to dinner Friday night, just the 2 of us…..we were able to have adult conversation, a glass of wine, (beer for Paul) and good food.



Maddux as my DUCK (in honor of the Oreon Duck/USC Trojan football game)












Saturday October 31st – Halloween was a FUN, FILLED, FANTASTIC day!!!!!!

1 – Paul and woke up at 3:30 AM to start getting ready…
2 – Trace, Josh, and both there boys came by at 4:00 AM for Bloody Mary’s and meet so we could all drive together…
3 – We drove down to Autzen Stadium to get in line to park for tailgating before the Duck/USC football game…

4 – The gates opened up at 5:30 AM and we parked the cars, walked over to the opposite side of the stadium and there is was…..College Game Day…

5 – College Game Day was in Eugene for the #10 Oregon Ducks/#4 USC Trojans football game…most importantly Kirk Herbstreit was in Eugene…

6 – Paul and I walked around and took in all the sights, it was cold, rainy, crowded….so much fun to be there!!!


7 – Since we had to leave the car there, I called Dad and he was able to drive down and pick us up and drive us back to the house…
8 - Once we arrived back home, that is when I had to begin cooking…breakfast, lunch for Maddux, and of course tailgate food…
9 – About 12:30 PM we headed back to Autzen to begin tailgating…we had to enjoy in all the festivities…



10 – Paul and I were able to take Maddux around to trick-or-treat there while we tailgated…it was Halloween!!!

11 – We started heading into the game about 5:00 PM, the game started at 5:30 PM…



12 – DUCKS WIN, DUCKS WIN, DUCKS WIN!!!
47-20

Carving Pumpkins!!!!!

Last night we decided to carve pumpkins!!!!

As you see we had to carve the pumpkins inside the house. The "rain" has started and will probably not stop until July 2010. I simply laid out a couple large black trash bags on the wood floor and the kids were ready to start….

Paityn knew exactly how she wanted me to carve up her pumpkins, but Maddux was still a little unsure. Paul helped Maddux decide on a design that they were both happy with.

With the kids getting a little older now all I do is cut off the top and carve, the kids get all the seeds out “YUCK”.





This is Jack O' Happy.
This is Jack O' Sad.
Now you see him sleepy.
Now you see him mad.
This is Jack in pieces small,
But in a pie he's best of all!

Baking Day at The Willoughby's

Last week Maddux was digging through my kitchen drawers and found my "pumpkin cookie cutter" He asked "What does this pumpkin do, mama?"....I continued to clean up after dinner and again he said "What does this pumpkin do, mama?"....I looked at what he was getting into and I answered his question...That is a pumpkin cookie cutter and you can make pumpkin shaped cookies. I think that was the wrong answer, because then he asked, "Can me make pumpkin shaped cookies with this?"....

That is how Sunday became "Baking Day at The Willoughby's

We made over 80 pumpkin shaped cookies and also mini pumpkin muffins. The cookies are a family recipe that we make at Christmas time, but I changed the flavoring to "orange". I iced all of them and the kids decorated them. I only had mini chocolate chips and green sprinkles, but the kids were exact with that.

Maddux lasted about 30 minutes into the decorating, but Paityn stuck it with me the whole time. After I cleaned up I went and checked on Maddux, he had fallen asleep to motorcycle racing on TV. Paityn then brought up to me that I also had a pumpkin mix and she was really craving pumpkin muffins. So I dug out the mini muffin pan and liners and began to bake over 80 mini muffins.

5th Graders And Knives At School!!

Thursday was the day that Mrs. Auld (Paityn's teacher) and Mrs. Danielson classes were going to carve pumpkins for the Senior Center which is located next door to the school.

I was lucky enough to attend this activity with Paityn. I had to check this one out....I was a little frightened when I heard "carving a pumpkin". What....5th graders and knives at school!!

The event was very successful and the school provided safety knives for the kids. In all there were 60 pumpkins that were given to the Senior Center.

Paityn Is Back At It!!!!!

Last night was Paityn's first hitting practice with Tracy since she broke her ankle.

Tracy is now in a warehouse in Tualatin, Oregon....this will be great for the winter months coming soon to Oregon.

Paityn was excited when I picked her up from school earlier that day. She asked me..."do I get to go see Tracy today"? As soon as we arrived home she completed all her homework without any whining or arguing with me. That was a nice treat!!!!

Paul came home from work and was able to wrap her ankle for me. He wrapped it nice and tight, so there wouldn't be much movement. Later that night when we arrived back home, Paityn did mention that her ankle was a little sore; she iced it for 30 minutes.

The Past and The Future Come Together in The Present

I awake to the sweet smell of my baby “big boy” tightly embracing me in a bear hug and an excited 11 year old anticipating what this day’s activities will entail…

Temper tantrums, new discoveries, emerging vocabulary, and lots of cuddles from my cuddle boy…

Shuttles to and from practices, a schedule full of games, late nights completing homework, Chiropractor appointments, a lively house full of friends, a father/daughter relationship redefined to as Paityn enters her last year in elementary school…

These events define my days.

Each child’s character is unique and their needs all distinct; a full spectrum of emotions, phases, freedoms and nurturing - determined by their respective age, gender and personalities.

I am incredibly blessed to encounter this diverse spectrum of events each day.

I am privileged to see the past and the future come together in the present.

I am reminded each day that Maddux will grow out of his temper tantrums and will all too soon be passing up the cuddles and loves for other entertainment as Paityn and I discuss where to go shopping.

I am presently watching my oldest daughter grow into a young woman yet I am constantly reminiscing about my firstborn as a babe as I watch my youngest babe toddle through life.

Maddux’s confidence and attitude will serve him well in life but have me terrified of what his teenage years may bring – but I am comforted because Paityn is patient with her novice mother as I discover what it’s like to be on the other side of the parent/soon to be teenager relationship - so I hope to hone my teenage parenting skills and glean practical tactics that will be applicable with my son who is in a league all his own.

I convene in the full circle of parenting head on each day... from babies to children and even soon to be teenagers. And with each child, each day, I am brought back to their younger years where innocence prevailed and their arrival was surreal; and as I look ahead to what their future may hold and wonder what their dreams may entail, I am continually reminded of the circle of life and prompted to enjoy the present - for all too soon I will find my self with an empty nest.

2009 Fir Point Farms Pumpkin Patch......

Sunday, Paul suggested we visit a "Pumpkin Patch"......

Last year was the first year the entire Willoughby Family was in Oregon for Halloween. We visited a pumpkin patch in Dayton (a small town near Newberg). While driving back and forth to work each day I noticed many large and small pumpkin patches along the way. Both Paul and I would like to take the kids to a different pumpkin patch each year.

This year we decided to visit Fir Point Farms in Aurora, Oregon. We had heard some nice things from neighbors about this pumpkin patch, so on Sunday we decided to take the journey. There was a break from the rain and when that happens you need to take advantage of that.

There were many activities for the kids to have fun with, but we soon realized you needed "tickets"!!!!! So I promptly got in line to purchase tickets for the kids. I ended up purchasing $10.00 worth and apparently I didn't get enough for the kids, but when does that ever happen. They did however get to play and have plenty of fun.



Paityn and Maddux after they completed the "Hay Maze"....Maddux won!!!!



Maddux is ready to load up all the pumpkins....



I think Maddux found the perfect pumpkin



Paityn's surrounded!!!!!