Here are the other two monster children.

So I was randomly checking out random blogs and came across the info for a picmonkey halloween photo contest.  The deadline is tomorrow.  

I thought well what the heck.  Might as well submit one.  Because the prize is a year free to the royale features of picmonkey.  Which I already pay for anyway.  Don't tell Brice.  

I was trying to remember my already taken photos, but then also happened to go to the park today.  I brought my camera along just for fun.

And Cam gave me this mean face.

Which was perfect.

So here is

before

And after

Even if I don't win, I am still happy to have this picture.  And of course will now have to go halloween up one of the other two.

When the cat's away the mice will play.

And be super sweet with each other.

On a completely different note, today one of the custodians at Jace's school passed away.  He died pretty young of a heart attack.  The school sent out an automated call to let us know and then advised us to talk to our child before school tomorrow, as their teachers will be explaining his passing.

I was so grateful in that moment for the gospel, because there was no question in my mind about what to say to explain his death to Jace.

I am so glad that he can know the comfort of life after death at such a young age.  And even though he doesn't understand fully, he knows the basics. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good.  I love it. 

We survived fall break!

And even had a really good time with Jace home all week.  It made me miss before-school life.  

But just kind of.  

Because the thought of having to just drag two kids instead of three to Liv's well visit check up tomorrow sounds nice.

On Wednesday we went swimming at the YMCA in Evansville.  But I was too preoccupied keeping three kids alive to take any pictures. 

Thursday we went to a fun park by the river in Evansville that Jace always wants to go to but we seldom do because it's kind of an intimidating park to tackle alone.  So I made Lucas go with me.

Liv hung out in her stroller for most of our visit.

I didn't get any pictures of the big wooden, castle like play scapes.  I don't know why.

But I did get this one of Jace a little too concerned to slide down the fireman pole.

Liv got out of her stroller for the swing.

And the boys tackled these monkey bar things (which were not very high off the ground)

Liv also slid down the slide a couple of times.  Once I made her slide into Lucas'arms.  She got scared and did not like that.  So then I put Luke behind the camera and it went a little better.  

Then we walked along the river to the train museum the boys love.  They have this model of old Evansville that is pretty fascinating.  Even I love looking at it.

On Friday we spent the day relaxing at home.  Watching movies, playing video games, and taking naps.  But in the afternoon we did go over to visit with GG, Papa, Lisa, and Lucas.

And the corn looked pretty cool and fall-like.  So I tried to get some pictures of the kids in front of the corn.  Though the boys interpreted "in front of" to mean "hide inside".

So here are my "children of the corn".

Jace is on fall break this week.  It's like life before school.  Mornings are lazier.  Which usually mean the boys are crazier.

I'm trying to do something every day to keep us busy.  Because seriously I know he's only been in school for two months but I forgot how I handled things when he was home all day every day.

Yesterday we went to the library and got a bunch of movies and a few books.  We already have a TON of books at home so usually I don't get books from the library for the kids.  Mostly because my kids like to destroy things.  But I decided to check out some super easy, using the same ending sound for every word, really boring and lame books for Jace to help him practice reading.  

Books along the lines of:

"This is a mug.  This is a jug.  This is a pug.  The pug is on the rug.  The black mug is on the red rug by the pug.  The bug is by the black mug and the red rug and the pug."

It's almost torture just to even type that, let alone read it.  However, it's a book Jace can read all by himself.  So we must clench our teeth and get through it until he can read more fun books by himself. 

Today we went to the zoo.  We have a family pass so I figured it's like it's free, so there is no pressure to stay forever.  So I went with the kids and we just chilled for a few hours.

It's no surprise that the maps were the best part.  The boys (especially Cameron now) have been very into maps.

The weather was beautiful.  Short sleeve, cool weather with NO humidity.  I wish it was like that every day here.

The turtles loved the nice weather, too.  I was trying to take a picture of them and Jace kept shoving his hands in my face to show me how many he "added".

The wolves (below) were marching around their cage.  All the other cats and big animals were being boring.  And, much to Cam's dismay, the rhino was out of sight.

The flowers and plants and trees were really pretty.  It will probably be even prettier in a few weeks when more of the leaves have changed colors.  So I guess we'll have to go back again.

Oh, and I lied about the maps being the best part.  

The giraffe was awesome today.

And then some people started feeding it grass.  So I let the boys join in.

Thanks for being so cool, Mr. Giraffe.  We hung out with him until a zoo lady started yelling at everyone to stop feeding him.  Sorry about that, Mr. Giraffe.

And meanwhile, in the stroller. . . .

Livvy drooled on herself and pretended to drink her bottle.

And kept trying to escape.