Movie Night

We started a new tradition a few weeks ago. Caleb and McKenna did not want to go Trick-or-Treating for Halloween (Caleb actually wanted to protest with his very own picket sign at school, but that's a whole other story =) )...they get scared by all the costumes and stuff that come out this time of year. I, of course, don't mind...no need to buy costumes, no candy to sort through...no problem! =) So, we set some candy out for the kids that I knew would be knocking on our door, and we started a new tradition (for us anyway). Friday night is now "Movie Night" at the Pifer house. We borrowed several kid movies from the library earlier that day, had pizza for dinner, got our jammies on, brought our pillows and blankets out, popped popcorn, cuddled and watched movies. We had so much fun together. Last Friday, the kids and I actually made the pizza (with a little help from the Pillsbury dough boy =) ). Caleb and McKenna sure can make a mean pizza! I tried not to be uptight about making messes and just let them have fun...and we did =) Here's a picture of them with their masterpiece:

Go Air Force!

A few weeks ago, we went up to West Point to watch Air Force play Army...well, to watch Air Force BEAT Army (Army actually played better, but Air Force came up with the win...Go FALCONS!) =) We were sitting right by the cheerleaders, so McKenna was entertained the whole time by that (okay, McKenna and I ) =). It was SUCH a gorgeous day for a football game...60 degrees and sunny, and the leaves that surrounded us were at their peak. Perfect.
After the game, we drove around a little. We had seen pictures, of course, but nothing can really prepare you for the castle-like buildings and the serene views (although I'm sure there's nothing serene about it for the cadets) =). It was all pretty amazing. We would like to go back sometime for an actual tour, but on a day when we hadn't already sat through an entire football game with the kids =).
The only bad part about the day was that our oldest (as in known the longest, not age =) ) Air Force friends (Chris and Mary Jenny) were supposed to meet us there, but couldn't make it. We sure missed being able to spend time catching up with them, but overall, it was a wonderful day to spend together as a family.

Thought you'd like to see a few pics:


on our drive up more scenery

the game "The Bird"


more beautiful color their incredible chapel one of their amazing buildings

Yankee Doodle McKenna

As I was getting ready this morning, McKenna started singing "Yankee Doodle Dandy". I didn't even know she knew the words to this song!! =) She is always surprising me with what she remembers and picks up on, without us trying to teach her. I guess it's a good reminder that little eyes and ears are always watching and listening (at least when they want to =) ). Anyway, I thought I would share a video of McKenna singing her song...she cracks me up!! =)




***Also, there is another new post after this one, be sure to scroll down to see it =) ***

Pumpkin Patch

We, like many of our friends, visited a pumpkin patch recently (I'm ashamed to admit that it was over a week ago, and I'm just now posting about it) =) We had a play date at a local farm called "Strawberry Acres" (apparently they do more than pumpkins =) ) with our new friends (thanks to Annie), Jacklyn, Aidan, and Jana =). It was a pretty chilly day, but we had lots of fun visiting, pumpkin picking, Turbo Tube riding, and animal petting =) We're looking forward to going again sometime, maybe daddy will get to be in on the fun next time =) Enjoy the pics...

Like father, like son...

Okay, we're sitting at the dinner table tonight, and Caleb says, "How about a little Revolutionary War Trivia". He was actually talking about something he wanted for his birthday, but I thought he wanted to play some Revoluationary War trivia as our discussion over dinner =) So, I start trying to think of anything I could possibly remember (Aaron wasn't home for dinner tonight or we would've been all covered on the subject)!!
Well, Caleb decides to go first..."Here's one for ya" (exact quote), "who commanded the British forces during the Revolutionary War?" Whoa, wait a second, how old are you?? Am I talking to Aaron or Caleb??? So, I stop and think for a second, and gave my correct answer (do you know?? General Cornwallis). I then asked my question, which he got right. Caleb's turn: "Here's one for ya..." (again) "...Who hung the lanterns at the Old North Church?" Now, I really had to stop and think about this one. I guessed Dawes (a name I remembered from reading The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere). He told me that he thought it was Robert Newman (read: "your wrong mom!!") So, I came in to our handy dandy computer encyclopedia and looked it up =). He was right, of course. But there was another man as well, for all of you who just have to know this little piece of trivia. According to Wikipedia, it was Robert Newman who carried one lantern and Captain John Pulling carried the other to signal "two if by sea."
We continued our little trivia game and eventually moved on to the Civil War (I shouldn't have to think this hard over dinner =) ). The best part of all this is not that Caleb is a little Revolutionary War buff like his daddy, or that he even cares about this at his young age, but that he actually stumped daddy on his last question!!! I was relaying all of this to Aaron over the phone tonight, and when I asked him that question about who hung the lanterns, he wasn't sure either! There isn't much that can stump this man, especially when it comes to history, but Caleb did, and we were both proud of him for it! =) We love you Caleb and are very proud of your inquisitive little mind. Always keep learning!!

New Bikes

We recently took Caleb and McKenna to the playground to help Caleb learn to ride his bike without training wheels. It was then that we realized how big he has become and that his bike was too small for him =) So, we passed that one on to McKenna (poor little girl, riding a blue and green Hot Wheels bike =) ), and got Caleb a new big boy bike (so, they both have "new" bikes, right? =) ). They got to practice in our driveway the other day...it was soooo gorgeous out. I love FALL!! =)

Soccer

Caleb has really been enjoying playing soccer this Fall. He has been trying really hard and is improving with every game and practice. We are so proud to see him doing his best and really trying to do the things we tell him to help him improve. He has done an especially good job being goalie (when he gets the chance) and he really enjoys it! =) We thought you all would like to see some pictures of him in his little uniform at some of his games.

In action!!

Making a save!! =)

And, McKenna enjoying some sunflower seeds during the game =)

"Everything"

Our youth group at church performed this skit a few weeks ago, and it absolutely blew me away. There is really no particular reason that it spoke to my heart, except that I was reminded how AMAZING God's love is for us!! Maybe I just needed to be "blown away" by His love again. I think...no, I'm sure I take it for granted way too often. This video is just an amazing depiction of how no matter who you are, no matter where you are in your life, or where you have been, God is ALWAYS pulling for you to come to HIM! His love NEVER fails and is the ONLY absolutely UNCONDITIONAL love we will ever find.
Sometimes I feel like I am supposed to share when something has been impressed upon my heart, but I don't always do it. I usually regret it later. Well, I didn't want to regret not sharing this skit with you all since it touched my heart so deeply when I saw it. Anyway, I just found this version of it on GodTube and wanted to share it with everyone. I hope it touches you as much as it did me. Love to you all =)

First Day of School, Part 2

Well, Caleb is home now. The time actually seemed to go pretty quickly. I have already learned one thing as a new Kindergarten mom: if your child is a walker, you're supposed to send the teacher a note, so she knows he's not getting on the bus! Thankfully, McKenna and I were there early enough to learn of this before Caleb was delivered home to an empty, locked house! =) I wondered how they knew what he was supposed to do, now I know =) So, I have already put the note to his teacher in his backpack for tomorrow =)

Here are some of Caleb's thoughts on his day:

1. He helped the teacher with the weather and calendar ( I think all of the students got to help with this for today...eventually it becomes a special privilege)
2. He got to say the Pledge of Allegiance (glad they still do this)
   
3. He had his first assembly in the gym with all of the kids in his school
4. He wasn't scared or nervous at all (even when there were big kids in the cafeteria while he waited for school to start in the morning)
   
5. His teacher is really nice (Mrs. Rice is her name)
   
6. When the teacher asked the class if they were ready to go home or if they wanted to stay at school, he said that he wanted to go home, but that he really liked school a lot

I think he had a really great first day! We spent about 20 minutes when he first got home just going over every detail of his day (that was a whole 2.5 hours of his day that I wasn't a part of)!! Some of the other things he told me were that they didn't have recess at all (don't know if they never have it, or just not today). They did go outside to write their names with chalk on some curvy line (??). He thinks he gets to have music tomorrow. He made one little friend today, a little girl named Avery. He said that the teacher called out 2 names at a time, and they were supposed to introduce themselves to each other. His overall synopsis was that it was hard, but fun!! =) I'll keep everyone posted with new Kindergarten adventures as they arise!! =)

First Day of School, part 1

Well, my "baby" started his first day of Kindergarten today!! I can't believe how quickly time has gone. It doesn't seem possible that Caleb is 5.5 already and has begun that seemingly endless journey we call school!! =) I thought I was going to be a basket-case, but amazingly enough, I didn't cry. I think I was just really excited for him. He has been soooo looking forward to starting school. I have been trying not to dwell on missing him...just looking forward to hearing about his adventures =)
There is another little someone who was sad this morning though... As soon as we dropped Caleb off, McKenna and I started to walk back home. She looked up at me with her lower lip turned down, with her oh-so-cute sad face, and said "I miss my brother." That was the first of about 10 times I would hear that on our 8 minute walk home. Poor Kenna. She absolutely ADORES her older brother, and he is so sweet to her. I think she's just not going to know what to do with herself =) I know we will get to enjoy some special mommy/daughter time that we don't have very often...I think we'll make it! =) I will post more this afternoon, once Caleb gets home with all of the exciting details of his first day! (and pictures too, of course) =)

Caleb's Song

My precious Caleb has written his very own song. Caleb is always singing and talking (to himself or anyone who will listen =) ). One day he came and told Aaron and I that he had made up his own "Christian song". Well,of course, we were anxious to hear it. As he was singing it (for the first time and every time since), my eyes welled up with tears as I listen to my precious 5 year-old sing about Jesus =) Here is a video of him singing it (so you all can cry too =) ):



I think you can probably hear the words okay, but he's a little quiet, so just in case:
Although I walk, in the darkest valleys and mountains
I won't be in fright, cause I know You're right beside me
And I know You're Jesus, yes siree
And I must go tell, the people, about You, Lord
And about You're love too, God

I hope you enjoy listening to Caleb's song...he sure loves singing it!! =)

NYC

We have made several trips to NYC since living in Eastern PA. My dad and brother were here this past week and we thought it would be fun to take them since neither of them had been before. Well, this last trip has added to the things that we have learned about taking trips to the Big Apple...

1. Take public transportation while in the city (it can take you over an hour to drive 5-10 miles in Manhattan)...it only took us 4 trips to figure this out =)
2. If rain is forecasted, TAKE YOUR UMBRELLA!!! Or you will end up paying $10 from a street vendor (for one that cost 50 cents to make) if you're already standing in the pouring rain, soaking wet!!!
3. Times for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty don't matter (so if you're stuck in a downpour trying to make it to the ferry before it leaves...don't worry about it)!!!
4. Apparently, Applebee's can double/triple their prices if the restaurant is located in Manhattan and overlooks Broadway =)

Thankfully, my dad and brother are troopers and we had a great time despite the fact that we were soaking wet for the first half of the day =) Enjoy the pics =)

Welcome =)

I've been wanting to start a blog for a while now...everybody's doing it =) Seriously, I enjoy reading about my friends' families and catching up with what's going on with them. Hopefully, you enjoy doing the same and I can do a good job of keeping you all updated on what fun things the kids do and say. Maybe we won't feel so far away =)