In town from Kansas...

We arrived back from Toronto on Sunday night, cleaned up a bit and welcomed my Dad, sister and brother-in-law into town on Wednesday evening.  It was a great week of fun for the boys AND for me.  Thanks for spending the week with us AND for giving this Mom an extra set of eyes on her kids...it was like a vacation in itself.  Bonnie and Carloff took off today for three months in Germany as my sister has a role in an opera there.  Break a leg Bonnie!

One thing is for sure though...these boys WERE spoiled during their stay. Ben got his first John Deere green shirt and Charlie has a new CASE IH red hoodie.  Can't get more Kansas than that. Thanks for the gifts and for all the attention showered on these two boys.      

Benjamin Jay & Grandpa Jay

Ben fell asleep 2 minutes later...thanks Grandpa!

Best Buds

Hmmm...something about those morning eyes

Such troopers...

We took a quick trip to the pumpkin patch to pick up some flowers for the house since we had Grandpa's truck in town and ended up picking up a few pumpkins along the way. (The added bonus of getting to see over 15 buses while there made it a perfect day for Charlie.)  

"Hiiiii Bus"

Serious business

Thanks Carloff

Thanks Bonnie

Friday night, my gracious husband, took care of the boys while we (my brother and his girlfriend Cori) took Bonnie and Carloff into the city for a birthday celebration. Your a GREAT HUSBAND! We attended the musical "Once." AMAZING.  What a perfect show to see on a night out. 
 

If you look closely...you can see my brother's shoulder five rows ahead of me

Love this pic

Daddy and his boys...

Saturday was just as busy...as we had our annual Halloween party with Charlie's friends.  When asked what he wanted to be for Halloween...Charlie said "Mater Tow Truck" sooo that's what we decided to do.  Um yeah...what I thought would be a 2-3 hour project turned into a 12 hour project.  We have some editing to do but I think we will be ready for Halloween on Thursday.  

The beginning of the project

90% done

Poor guy can't really walk in it yet...but we'll get there

While Charlie's costume took half a day to get ready (which he then refused to wear)...Ben's got pulled out of the packaging 5 minutes before we left for the party and it was perfect.  Love it.

Our little bumble bee 

We spent one hour at the party...enough said.

Thank goodness for suckers (and Charlie's back-up costume)

And the babies...

Ben was soon trying to eat the little girl's face...

The rest of the weekend was a breeze.  Got the boys to bed.  Ordered Chinese...drank some White Russians and played a game with the family.  A perfect Saturday night.  Thanks Jeff & Cori for spending the weekend with us AND for sharing Sammy with Charlie.

And last but not least...HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLOFF!  Hope the next year is a great one!  You have two nephews here who ADORE you.  Thanks for spending your birthday with us. 

   

Good luck in Germany 

We're gearing up for a week of calm.  I already miss our Wisconsin, Toronto and Kansas families after two weeks of visits with them. Good thing the holidays are on their way in...

October Traditions

What to do?  Work-out or blog?  The facts are...your 6 month old woke up at 4:30 am and didn't go back to sleep until it was time to pack up your 2 year old for preschool.  You worked very hard to keep the baby awake in the car just long enough to rush back home, feed him and put him to sleep in his cozy bedroom for what you hope will be a LONG morning nap. Um yeah...hello coffee and hello computer.  I'll work-out later, right?!

It's been a fun and crazy week for the Wysocki family...we hit up the pumpkin patch last Sunday for the 3rd year in a row and then hit the road on Thursday for some family fun in Toronto for the 4th year in a row.  All successes in my book.  

Off to the pumpkin patch... 

Not only do we pick out pumpkins...but there is a petting zoo, train rides, a corn maze, pony rides and a tractor!  You also can't beat the fact that it is only 10 minutes from our house so it often becomes an activity the boys and I do during the week to have some fun.   

"Cheeeese!"

"Hi Dadda"

So serious...

On Wednesday, it was off to Toronto with the boys for some fun...and to finally experience Meg & Steve's (sister and brother-in-law's) newly renovated home. FYI...it is BEAUTIFUL!  You can see some of their renovations on her blog if you follow this link...Loving Albany. (Now that we are back home...we are re-energized to get our house up to snuff.)    

Charlie was extremely excited to go see "Georgie" and "Toronto" as evidenced by the smile on his face as we backed out of the driveway...

How was the car ride, you ask?  REALLY GREAT despite rainy conditions...the boys each took naps, Charlie watched four movies and we lucked out and hit McDonalds with play places inside when we stopped for lunch both ways.  

They are true angels when asleep...

Upon arrival in Toronto, it was, unfortunately, almost bed time for the boys.  So after a true fight to fall asleep Wednesday night...Charlie was overjoyed when his cousins came upstairs to play with him the next morning.  You will notice that one cousin is missing from all of my pictures...primarily because he is the only one who enjoys sleeping in when he can!  Smart guy that Henry is!  

Ben also got some major loving in while with his family...he truly was one happy baby while on the road.  

Lovin on Jake...

I do have to question some of the pictures I found on Joe's phone...poor Ben.

Not amused...

but always happy.

Highlights of the trip included celebrating Henry turning 6 (way to go little man), toys (toys and more toys), brain games and CUPCAKES.

Yum

Toys

Toys

And more toys.

Brain Games

Joe was determined to figure it out...

and succeeded after 4 hours.

And finally the cupcakes...Charlie snuck into the pantry, closed the door and was enjoying his dessert for a good five minutes before Mom found him.    The proof is in the pictures...

Ha...at this point he knew he was caught but kept on going!

Honestly though, the best part of the week was family time.  Thanks for hosting us and we look forward to spending time with you guys in the near future!

Watching cartoons

Buddies

Proof of an awesome time had by all was the silence we heard on the drive back to Naperville.  

We are looking forward to another fun week ahead when Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Carloff and Grandpa arrive on Wednesday from Kansas (en route to Germany!)  

And I believe a certain Uncle has a birthday on Sunday!!  Cupcakes??