Happy Halloween

It was a fun Halloween night for the little Keckler kiddos this evening. Our very own Oompa Loompas made their way through the neighborhood complete with green hair and pointy white overalls!

For those of you unfamiliar with these tiny creatures from Willy Wonka land, check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZhs7w-FzeI

After some initial reluctance from Kari, the idea of being an Oompa Loompa became more popular knowing Holly would be making the outfits herself. The final result :

We started the evening with our annual pre-trick or treating party at the Clawson's. A festive group of 10 neighborhood kids gathered for some pizza, a movie and some non-candy sugar filled treats (brownies, cookies, etc.).

Since the sun sets so early these days, we headed out to get candy rather early. Within minutes, though, it seemed as though their pumpkins were full of every possible candy known to man. The kids made it down the streets a little faster thanks to rides in wagons. It was rather adorable to see both Kari and Bryce approach a front door together, since they had their matching outfits on.

So Halloween 2012 is in the books and the kids should be asleep sometime before Thanksgiving!

Potty Training, Bunk Beds and Sleepovers

This weekend turned into an impromptu potty training session for Bryce.  He was on a roll Friday night so we thought, why not?!  While this potty training is not going to be as cut and, ahem, dry as it was for Kari, we are making good strides.  The dangling carrot has been a bunk bed for his room.  This may sound like an awesome incentive for a little guy, it's also pretty difficult to describe a bunk bed to a three year old.  So, our big stinkin' incentive somewhat blew up in our face.  Fortunately for Bryce, I was getting tired of my car being displaced in the garage by the unassembled bunk beds and with Kari at Nolan's for a long-awaited sleep over, we got started on assembling the behemoth.

Eventually we got the thing put together and Bryce couldn't be more excited.

We've still got a ways to go, but we're getting there.

In other news, Kari has diligently been working on earning stickers on her good behavior sheet.  A few weeks ago she had finally earned all 40 stickers and proclaimed that she wanted a sleepover with Nolan.  Come to find out, her idea of a sleepover with Nolan meant AT Nolan's house.  It sounded like a win-win situation for Kevin and I, and we reluctantly got Clawsons on board for the reward.  After wading through busy weekend schedules and family sickness, we finally were able to land on this weekend.  From what we heard, they had a great time.

This afternoon we'll be heading out to one of the Purdue Farm pumpkin patches to get a couple pumpkins.

Remember The Giving Tree?

Gone.  To the chipper.

As much as I am for progression and development, this one took me by surprise and made me a little sad.  I'm glad we got to enjoy it all these years, but truth be told, the tree was in serious declining health.    Here's a link back to my last post on The Giving Tree.

It's Never Too Cold For Ice Cream!

A quick trip to our favorite ice cream shop while Daddy's away.

Dressin' 'Em Alike

because I know this, like Kari's pigtails, won't last much longer.