His Inner "Bad"

My hubby is the best.  He has all these funny quirks that you would never guess.  Such as:

Karaoke.  On his own.  So cute.

 He wants his children to be "manly" and build stuff.

 He hikes and carries kids up the mountains (or hill) like it's nothing!

 He takes LOTS of pictures!  (I delete 2/3 of them behind his back and it makes him super sad....but, who wants to look at 4 different pics of the same thing?)

 He walks uphill in the snow, barefooted

 And he's not afraid to dance!

Who's Bad?

Catching Lizards

Sometimes I find it so hard not to dash my children's hopes!

The Hope:

 A lizard trap if you couldn't figure it out on your own!

The Outcome:

Zero Lizards.

The Smiles:

Priceless.

Pilgrims

I have my very own "Pilgrim from the 'Hood".  That is what I get for being "grown" in Griffin...Great and Growing!

Chore Magic

I thought my kids were too young to do chores.  But then I went to Enrichment and we had this awesome lady give a talk on giving your children responsibility.  I immediately went home and made a VERY ghetto, but very effective, chore chart:

 And ever since I have mild notions to elect myself as "Mom of the Year"...those of you who know me well know that is a HUGE joke since I have meltdowns weekly about my inability!

It is A-MAZ-ING what your kids will do for a dollar store toy or an ice cream.  Best of all, it really has taught them responsibility.  I don't even have to threaten them...most days!

Our Halloween Bash!

Last year in Georgia our super awesome and fun friends, the Forsyth's, introduced us to their annual Halloween Bash.  We made an attempt to re-create the awesome-ness here in the southwest.  I thought it was really fun though I don't think our "attendees" knew quite what they were getting in to!

The Set-up:

 The Victims:

Napoleon and Deb

 Bleeker and Juno

 Gorilla and Banana

 Killer Bee and Bee Catcher

 Superman and Lois

 Pregnant Bella

 TMNT

 My Fave-The Day of the Dead

 Frankenstein and Elvira

 Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

 Eliza Doolittle and Prof Higgins

 The game:

It was really fun and obviously a good way to get out of your comfort zones.  Thanks, Forsyth's, for the tradition and thanks to all of our ABQ friends who were willing to participate!  Until next year...

Halloween, Before, During, and After

I feel like I celebrated 3 or 4 different Halloween's this year so that is why you are getting a Before, During, and After. 

Before (Trying to decide what to wear, pumpkin carving, etc.):

 Cooper was the only decisive one!  

The final products: Coop=pirate, Luke=Optimus Prime, Shuggy=Bumblebee

 THE PUMPKIN WARS! Jake is a pumpkin carving enthusiast so this is a big deal in the Hutchings household.  Perfection is demanded, therefore Emily is the photographer as my lack of patience usually results in a hideous pumpkin!

Jake's pumpkin (mine is not pictured as it was not worthy of a picture!)

 Our outdoor decor thanks to Dollar Tree!

 Caramel apples which, admittedly, didn't fare too well!

 Coop's adorable holiday preschool teacher put on a really cute Halloween buffet!

 Like father, like son for the Ward Trunk or Treat

  Like mother, like...Pocahontas?

During:

We went with the kiddos cousin's, the Tasker fam.  It was fun to go to a rich neighborhood!  The kids got several big candy bars which may or may not have been secretly confiscated by the parents.

 Hayden and Luke

 Scored a big candy bar from Hermione...and glow necklaces!

 After: