Happy Late Halloween!!!

First off let me start this blog by saying, "How is it November already? Can tomorrow really be November 1st?" You would think by now that I wouldn't be surprised by how fast time goes by, but it really seems to go by even faster when you have children. Maybe it's because you don't necessarily want it to go that fast, but yet we always seem to want out of this stage and into the next? Who knows, but time does seem to go at warp speed once little ones enter your lives.

So Halloween was a few days ago. Okay 5, but who's counting! It's been really busy around here so I'm just now getting these pictures out.

Caden was a race car driver at school and an army man at home. (The little girl down the street liked the camo, so that's what prompted the costume change for trick-or-treating at home. I am so not ready for this!)

Maddox had to be the Blue Power Ranger. He's never seen Power Rangers, but from day one this was his request. Anybody who knows Maddox knows, you just go with it.

Brennen wanted to be a Fireman like last year. He has a little trouble say it though. Instead of telling people he's a Fireman, he tries to say Firetruck. However, it comes out as Fire____ (dirty four letter word.) So we just told people what he was for Halloween!

Then Preston had to be what Mommy picked for him. He went as the world's cutest little octopus. With as much as he gets into some days, it feels like he's an octopus! Here is also a picture of Caden, Josh, Maddox, Brennen, Madison, Lily, and Lauren. They all started out trick -or-treating as a group. Aren't they cute?

Mommy's Little Pumpkins!

Tonight the Ross household engaged in the time honored tradition of carving pumpkins. I had not had the best of evenings, so taking my frustrations out with carving utensils and unsuspecting fruit seemed to be just what the doctor ordered! For some reason I am the only person in my house who will clean out the inside of the pumpkin. How I live in a house of all males who will touch every disgusting reptile there is, but won't touch the inside of a pumpkin, is beyond me. Oh well, again ripping out the insides of something seemed to release stress. Caden wanted a scary pumpkin, while Maddox wanted a happy pumpkin. (He said that he wanted the smile to look just like his. He then proceeded to say that he wanted it to only have two teeth. So I guess it's a little closer to Preston's smile than Maddox's!) Brennen wanted a happy pumpkin too. Bob took on Caden's request and I worked on Maddox and Brennen. Poor Preston's pumpkin still sits whole, but he doesn't seem to mind. Everything went surprisingly well. No yelling or screaming, not even a raised voice. That's amazing sometimes when we do family time!

My Teddy Bear

As I mentioned in my first post, Brennen is just like a cuddly bear. He is the sweetest little boy I've ever met. I just have to share a story from our time at the mall today. Maddox is battling a little cold. The child refuses to blow his nose and instead seems to think that if he just keeps sniffing all the congestion back up into his head, it will magically evaporate. We've gone around and around about this, but that's beside the point. Brennen heard his big brothing sniffling like he does and went up to him and very gently asked, "Are you alright Maddox?" Now I know that this may not seem so incredibly sweet to some of you, but for a child that just turned 2 1/2, I was impressed. (Not to mention that there is not a lot of "brotherly love" in our house as of late!) Maddox just looked at him and shyed away. A little while later there was another incident that followed this exactly same path. However this time when Maddox shyed away, Brennen gently put his hand on Maddox's chest, got close so that he was looking Maddox in the eyes, and said, "I love you, Maddox." Talk about melting Mommy's heart. The boy could have gotten anything he wanted from me at that point.

Also today while we were running one of Mommy's many errands at the grocery store, Brennen proved he is also going to try his hand at comedy. He asked me, "Mommy, why'd the chicken cross the road?" I said I didn't know, really wondering where a two-year old was going to go with this. He answered, "He crossed the road to use his legs." Probably not cable worthy, but it made me laugh!

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch

As a stay-at-home mom, I don't usually get to just talk about all the weird little things that pop into my head that I feel like I want to tell somebody. Maddox and Brennen don't seem to care, and Preston only seems to respond to words like cup, no-no, and bye-bye. So this blog is bound to become my release. So please excuse me if I go into strange rantings that make absolutely no sense!


Today we took the boys to the Pumpkin Patch. You know it's one of those outings you do because you have these grandiose ideas of the great family time that will be had by all. However, by the time you're on your way home, everybody's exhausted, fighting with one another and have either been threatened with a spanking, or has actually had to have one. Okay, it really wasn't that bad. We did have a great time and it was wonderful weather. (Only one disciplinary incident!) Anyway, we are now the proud owners of two big pumpkins (which symbolize Caden and Maddox) and two little ones (which symbolize Brennen and Preston). Apparently Bob and I don't need representation!


These are a few images from our trip today. Hope you enjoy!

And last but not least is was my favorite picture of the day. I can just hear the theme to the Andy Griffith Show playing in my mind as I look at it! I just love these simple little moments.

My very own blog!

Wow. I've always been so excited to read everybody else's blogs. When somebody updates, it just makes my day. (I know it's a little sad, but it's a form of adult contact, which at times I seriously lack!) But today I got my very own blog. I hope to update this somewhat often. Don't expect too much from me at first, as I am new at this. I'm usually just the reader, not the writer! If everything goes as planned I can help you all keep up to date with what's going on in the Ross household. (Well, everything that's fit to print or capture on film.)

We are a family that is full of boys. Caden is 6 and in the first grade. Maddox is 4 and attends preschool three mornings a week. Brennen is 2 and is just a sweet cuddly bear. Preston is bringing up the end for now. He is 13 months old and has a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. They are our pride and joy.