Presenting Bob the Builder.
I had a lot of fun putting this costume together, it really only included sewing him the tool belt which actually proved more challenging than I had expected because of the way I was trying to layer the pockets.
After wrestling with my sewing machine over sewing through 6 layers of canvas I finally broke the needle. In searching through my sewing supplies I found replacement needles a size larger and I vaguely remembered buying them when I was in high school. I popped one in and and ta da! It was like sewing through butter.
Ben printed a BtheB logo that I glued on his home depot helmet and it was complete.
We opted to only trick-or-treat on Main Street. It's easy because the stores are close together and it starts at 3:OOpm. I made Anna a sort of cute lamb costume, actually it was rather a flop, but I might revisit it again next.
It didn't matter because she was running a fever and had to stay home with Ben. I'd planned to put her back in her costume and take official pictures of her first Halloween, but I finally put it away this morning after it spent the last 3 weeks on my dining room table.
I'm hoping Joachim can actually use the tool belt when he helps Ben with projects, but as of yet Joachim is too apt to walk away with the nails in his pocket.
A funny story about that, recently Ben had to go under the house to fix a leak, I stood outside the crawl space for a little while handing him tools. Joachim came wandering outside and upon find Daddy under the house he declared he would watch him and help. Since I was holding Anna and it was cold I went inside.
Later Joachim came in the house wielding a large foam noodle. I asked if Daddy was finished and Joachim launched into a story about how he was using his noodle to help Daddy. I suggested he go back out. Thirty seconds later Joachim was back asking for a flat screw driver. We found one and he returned to the crawl space.
When Ben came in I asked about the noodle. Ben said, "Is that what happened? I asked him for a screw driver and he was gone a really long time. When he finally came around the corner and saw me in the hole he jumped and turned on his heels" (which is when he came back in the get the screw driver he'd forgotten all about.)
Jaochim's jack-o-lantern complete with cheeks, ears and eyelashes per his request.
Cousins came to our house and I threw on Anna's costume, she had four hooves, but it looks like only one ended up on for the group shot.
Uncle Chris and Auntie Beckah.
And we went for our annual post meal walk down the dirt road and enjoyed the sun taking a little of the chill off the freezing temperatures.
These two always make me wonder. They have an entire world all of their own and to explore it even more they've been enjoying Thursday mornings at grandma's house with Grandma all to themselves.
It was this picture that first inspired the idea for me... this and the several posts of earrings on her blog (I also want to note she is modeling the cardigan she designed and knit). It was a two month long decision and in the mean time I polled my mom friends about earrings. Here's what I learned... most of them haven't really worn earrings since the first or second child and the novelty is pretty much gone after twenty or more years of earrings.
Here's a picture of the cartilage piercing just for fun... the flower crowns are part of an orthodox wedding.
I had a lot of fun putting this costume together, it really only included sewing him the tool belt which actually proved more challenging than I had expected because of the way I was trying to layer the pockets. 
We opted to only trick-or-treat on Main Street. It's easy because the stores are close together and it starts at 3:OOpm. I made Anna a sort of cute lamb costume, actually it was rather a flop, but I might revisit it again next. 
I'm hoping Joachim can actually use the tool belt when he helps Ben with projects, but as of yet Joachim is too apt to walk away with the nails in his pocket.
Jaochim's jack-o-lantern complete with cheeks, ears and eyelashes per his request.
Cousins came to our house and I threw on Anna's costume, she had four hooves, but it looks like only one ended up on for the group shot.
These are from summer, but I still wanted to post them. It was a really fun time for our family. Even though it was our county rodeo, we felt like the tourists. It was quite the cultural experience. Below is Mutton Bustin', an event I never knew existed. It's a chance for little cowboys (and cowgirls) to get a start on bull riding skills.
Apparently sheep DO buck when ridden. Who would've known?
