October 2013

We had so much fun this past month. Maybe that's why I haven't posted any blog information for a while we were having too much fun!!  Have I mentioned this is my favorite time of year :) I'm sure I have once or twice! It just that the weather is (can be) so beautiful and you can get outside and enjoy nature without freezing or sweating. We visited AppleWorks with our MOPS group, went to a couple of pumpkins patches with friends, hit up the zoo and of course Halloween. Nothing would complete October with Trick-or-Treating! You'll notice that Mason and Max were in full dress-up mode this month. Everywhere they went they were either a fireman, policeman or batman. I LOVE it! They are so creative and it's fun to see what they come up with. Although, these outfits are becoming an every day occurrence and I just notice they need a good washing. If I can get them to not to wear them for a day!  Next up, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm starting to get in the holiday mood :)

 AppleWorks with our MOPS group. It was a tad cold that day and I wasn't really prepared for the weather. It was the first week in October and 40 degrees in the morning. Oh well, we still had fun!

Pumpkin patch antics! The boys loved going through the corn maze and of course Matthew and Max found a dirt hole to stop and play in for a while. Good thing our police officers were there to guide our way!

We traveled down to Louisville to Huber's Farm with the White's and the Bishop's. Our neighbors we are blessed to have living next door! It was a great day and fun to catch up with our neighbors on the car drive down. This day I overdressed the kiddos and it ended up being 70 degrees while we were down there. Nothing the little ice cream shoppe couldn't fix!! I had told Mason and Max they could get whatever pumpkin they wanted as long as they could carry it themselves. I'm thinking they were happy to have some older neighbor boys there to help them with the heavy lifting.

ZooBoo!

Trick-or Treating! I think we're safe with Batman, Robin and the Police Commissioner on our side!

October randomness. Mason worked really hard on getting together a full fireman outfit complete with air tank and mask. He also got new glasses this month to help with strengthening his right eye. He's so cute in them and so far he's doing pretty well with wearing them. I was lucky enough to be able to join Max on his school field trip. We made sure to leave a little early to stop off for some doughnuts first! We've all enjoyed being outside and meeting up with friends this month! It's a great thing to be able to do before the busy holiday months ahead. Plus, I've had two friends have new babies this month, Emersyn and Hunter welcome to our crazy crew!! Looking forward to the few months left of 2013!

Our Superhero is FOUR!

Max, our keeper of peace and fighter of crime, turned 4! I really can't believe that he's four but he was ready to hit that big number :) The morning of his birthday I think he asked us at least 10 times if he was actually four now. I'm sure that it was confusing considering we actually celebrated his birthday with our families the weekend before and told everyone during his birthday parties that he was not four YET!! Even the day after his birthday he woke up and asked if he was still four! It's been an exciting time for him to celebrate! Max, you are definitely our cuddling guy that LOVES batman, Octonauts and just being an all around crime fighter. You give hugs to Trudie and your siblings every day and often like to just sit on our laps and watch a show. I know fighting bad guys can wear a guy out!! Looking forward to watching you continue to grow!

For Max's fourth birthday he picked a Octonauts theme. For those unknown to Disney channel's Octonauts show it's basically a group of land animals that help water creatures. I do have to admit it's entertaining and the boys know more about sea creatures than I do!

Max enjoyed TWO parties and as one can tell Mason took full advantage of testing homemade icing! I coming to realize Mason gets his sweet tooth from me :) It may have been an Octonauts themed parties but Max still managed to score some cool Batman rain boots (which he's been donning even if not raining!).

Max made this in his recent Sunday school class and it is SO very true. Love this little guy. Happy 4th Birthday!

State Fair

I love going to fairs and hometown festivals. There is just something about the atmosphere and FOOD! :) The boys are starting to like to go on the rides and see all the different sites. Last week I was talking with my friend, Traci, and she mentioned how she had never been to the Indiana State Fair. Crazy, right :) I knew Brad wouldn't be excited about going on a weekend or evening with the crowds so the fact that Traci and I could take the kiddos on a week day worked out great. Poor Mason had to miss because of school, but I think we made it up to him with kettle corn from the fair!

I knew it was going to be a great trip when we successfully managed to fit 5 car seats and two adults into one vehicle. It was awesome not to have to drive two cars! Plus, kids five and under got in FREE! We really only had to pay for us to get in (perk of having all your kids in the vehicle being 4 and under!).


The weather was AWESOME! Especially for being in the middle of August. Who would have thought the high would only be in the 70's! Max wore his jacket most of the morning (well we did get the at 10) but the early bird does get the worm! There was hardly a crowd at all and we pretty much could do whatever we wanted. They had a great little farm area for the kids to go through and see what is was like to work on a farm. They got to play on a great indoor play area and even feed some animals. Fortunately, Unfortunately the rides didn't start until noon and we walked past them around 11:30. We were so bummed they weren't open yet! But, we did get to enjoy some great food and I don't think the kids really even remembered about the rides. We were on a time crunch to get back before Mason got out of school so we missed some of the animals and exhibits. But, overall the trip was awesome and I will totally try to go in the middle of the week again next year. Especially if the weather could cooperate again!

School Days!

Ready or not, the school year has begun. This time of year has not really been a big deal for our family in the past since we didn't have anyone that HAD to go to school. I mean, Mason and Max were in Pre-school last year and we made it a point to show good conduct about school by going on class days. But, if something came up (i.e. vacation to grandma's, ect.) they were able to miss a class or two. Well, not this year! It has begun. We have a Kindergartener. Really?!?! Yep!

Mason is basically in grade school, Max back to Pre-school.Thankfully for this mom they both love their schools. So far :) It is only the first few weeks! Here's hoping for a great school year and a smooth start to our MANY more school years to come!

(I thought it would be fun to ask them a few questions at the beginning school and "attempt" to ask them these same questions each year to see how they change. It's funny to hear their different answers!)

 Mason-Kindergarten-5 years old

*What do you want to do when you grow up? "Be a policeman. So I can get "bad guys" and help people".

*What is your favorite thing to do? "Be outside riding my bike and playing with my friends".

*What is your favorite thing to play with? "Policeman outfit". He does deck it out complete with belt for his gun holster, notepad for taking notes, handcuffs and flashlight!

*What is your favorite food? "Grapes, Mac & Cheese, Fruit Loops and apple sauce".

Max-Pre-School-3 years old (almost 4 in a few weeks he always notes)

(And yes, he is smiling. This is his cheese face!)

*What do you want to be when you grow up? "The REAL Batman. So I can fight crime!"

*What is your favorite thing to do? "Pretend fight bad guys and watch Octonauts."

*What is your favorite thing to play with? "My cap gun." Nice!

*What is your favorite food? "Chocolate milk, hot dogs and corndogs."

Baby BOY Moore #4

Yep, that's right. Another member of our crew is set to arrive January 2, 2014. It was a bit of a surprise but an exciting one. And, yes, you read that right baby BOY #4. At the ultrasound the tech wasn't able to get great pictures. So of course I kept asking "are you sure???". Yes, another boy to join our brood. I'm so excited!!! Mason and Max are excited for another boy too. To them that just means more trucks, cars, and superheros to play with. Not to mention someone else to teach to wrestle, find bugs and explore dirt. We are truly blessed beyond measure! And, yes, for a side note. There will be no more babies for this household. We are one shy of a basketball team but we live in a neighborhood with a slew of boys. We can always borrow one of them for the day :) Here's to counting down the days until January. I know they are going to fly by and it will be here before we know it!

Hooper Family Reunion 2013

Each year Brad's mom's family does this awesome week long camp-out at a state park for a family reunion. It's great! Who's family has a week long family reunion?!?! The boys LOVE it! Well, Matthew not so much sleeping in the cabin this year but there's always next year. Brad and I haven't actually stayed the entire week (we keep having little ones). Maybe one year we can have all the kiddos old enough to stay the week! But, Mason and Max have stayed the entire week (thanks to Grandma and many Aunts and Uncles) the past two years and when it's over they always ask "when is it going to be family reunion time again?"! What's better than staying up past dark roasting marshmallows, horseback riding, rock climbing, movies, nature center and all the bugs and dirt one could have! They are totally blessed to be able to be a part of such a great tradition. Already looking forward to next year!

Cousins!

(and one happy baby once we got home and actually slept at night!)

 Mason practicing his karate moves (he learned from Tyler) while waiting for his horseback riding turn. Crazy boy!

Nature center, yep my boys pet a snake. You will NEVER catch me promoting that. But, they LOVED it. Boys!!

Relaxing and rock climbing

Pizzas and praying mantis. There was an abundance of both!

 Worn out campers :)

June/July Shenanigans

The summer has flown by in a flash. Mason starts Kindergarten (sigh) August 5th, with Max heading to Pre-school the next week. We've celebrated birthdays, holidays, traveled and even found time to goof off these past two months. Who am I kidding, there is not a quiet moment at our house with these three boys!

 

 Water Fun

 All the boys love playing/swimming in water. Mason and Max do a great job swimming around with their float devices. I can totally trust them to go off swimming on their own and don't have to worry too much about them. Thinking next year Mason is going to have to start learning to swim without his because I'm afraid it wont' fit him next year :) He's just a growing boy! Max has started putting his face in the water and swimming around. I have a feeling he won't be too far behind Mason in the swimming by himself department.

Camping

Brad set up the tent in our back yard for an overnight camping experience. We had set up the tent in the basement before so the boys could play in it and they always begged to camp outside. Brad was a trooper and camped out with them while Matthew and I snuggled inside. They stayed out all night with not a peed from any of them until morning. I see a lot of camping adventures in our future. But, will be make it out of the back yard?!?!

Traps

I got a message that Mason and Max needed me upstairs. I come to the stairs and what do I see but a trap set up just for me. Yep, that's a skillet top attached to a bungee cord. Where do they come up with these things?!?! Luckily no one was hurt (or actually trapped) from their invention but I am now aware to always be on the lookout. Especially when these two are together and quiet for an extended period of time!

County Fair

 

Yep, we loaded up and headed out to the county fair. Ye-Ha!! Just kidding, it does remind me of summers at home. For me know it's all about fair food. For the boys, it's all about the games and rides. They are getting a little more daring in their choice of rides but we haven't made it to the "big" ones yet. Thinking Max will be the first to want to ride them, but we'll see. There's always next year!

 Haircut

 

Matthew got his first haircut this past month. He really did need it. At bath time he was starting to don a mullet. I held out as long as I could but the time finally needed to come. He looks like such a little boy now, no baby left :(

 

 

Soccer Camp

I signed the boys up for soccer camp this summer just to see if they would be interested in the sport. I thought it was better to see if they like it during a week long event rather than sign up for a 6-week commitment. Of course, the week of our camp had the be the hottest week so far of the ENTIRE summer. And, of course, Mason and Max were in two different age groups so we were there for the ENTIRE morning. But, they loved it. Even despite the heat. Maybe it was all the drink breaks they were given, ha! We will for sure sign-up for camp next year and I see them playing soccer in the spring. Here we go with the sports already!!

Matthew was a trooper during the camps. Even in the heat. By the end of the week though he was done. One day we all piled in the car between their different camps and just drove around in the air-conditioned car!

 Sunday afternoon adventure

Mason LOVED to go on bike rides and fortunately for us there is a great people trail just down the road from our house. On one direction of the trail there is a creek that runs under the trail. Mason wanted to take all of us there to show what it was all about. We donned on their rain boots and off we went. Well, rain boots didn't work so well considering they waded out so far the water went over their boots, ha! And Matthew, well I thought we wouldn't really be interested in the water and we would just walk around and hang out. Boy was I wrong. We had to strip him down to his diaper for the ride home. Oh, well! They had a blast!

Random shots of our household shenanigans!

 Already Matthew wants to drive, YIKES!

Mason was so worn out one day he fell asleep in our living room fort!

Baseball boy!

A car full of boys and their guns!

Love these guys!!