So You Want to be a Lego Movie Character for Halloween...

Since its premier last February, Noah has been obsessed with the Lego Movie...

And since big brother is just the coolest, Gigi is also a Lego Movie fan...

Ok, no problem, except there are no Lego Movie costumes to be had!  Anywhere!

I find myself in a position I never expected, I find myself actually wishing a movie was better merchandised!

Darn you Warner Bros!  Why can't you be more like Disney!  

I mean, I guarantee there will be no shortage of Elsas and Anas this Halloween, but just try to be UniKitty!  

Fine!  I'm a mom, I can do this!

I'll give you UniKitty...

And Benny the 1980s something space guy...

AND, I will even throw in Wild Style!

And I'll do it all with foam pieces cut and glued...

and my old fall back, sweatshirts with fabric paint!

I got this!

So take that, Lord Business!

Heh Heh!  ;-)

One of THOSE Vacations...

This weekend we took one of those vacations...

You know, the kind that are somewhat educational...

The kind that will be referenced for years to come even though the kids won't remember a lot of the details...

The kind that is bound to be repeated when the kids are older...

When Josh and I will walk around happily remembering the first time we came...

While the kids roll their eyes and desperately wish for their electronic devices...

That's right, this weekend we visited Mt Rushmore, or Mountain Rushmore as Gigi affectionately terms it...

There aren't a lot of vacations taken with kids that can be termed relaxing, but honestly, this trip was just that!

We took the 6 hour drive in stride...

And we were ready to head out first thing the next morning!  (It's a little known fact that no one enjoys a hotel breakfast like Noah!

He delights in taking and eating a bit of everything, but don't be fooled into thinking that this large feast in any way prevents him from claiming he's hungry 10 minutes after he's done...)

We spent an entire day at Mt Rushmore...

exploring...learning...admiring...

...becoming junior park rangers...

...eating snacks...

...and buying souvenirs!

Day two was spent in an even more relaxed state of random exploration...

 Culminating in a return to the monument via a different route...

Which offered new perspectives of the vista...

And each evening was topped off with a long dip in the hotel pool...

Even though Gigi was dismayed to discover that mermaids were not allowed in the pool!

Our trip home was not quite so smooth...

Thank you Nebraska construction!

But all in all it was a great trip!

Fun with Leaves...

One of the best things about fall is the changing leaves...

One of the worst things about fall is that once those leaves turn, it only takes one windy day and they are gone...

So, on the way home from school yesterday, we stopped to play in the leaves...

I'm not going to lie, this was a totally contrived plan to take pictures of my kids frolicking in the fall foliage (say that 5 times fast!)...

But it was still fun to watch them throw leaves into the air and let them twirl to the ground...

Of course, that changed into pelt your sister with handfuls of leaves before too long...

So I suggested that Noah pick up a leaf and look at it, really appreciate its beauty...

He complied, but after careful study...

He concluded that yes, it was in fact a leaf...

Gigi seemed to understand my fall foliage fascination...

Or maybe she just liked to pose for the camera...

And, ironically, after all the attempts to capture a gorgeous picture with my good camera...

The best one I took was on my phone...

Sigh, so much for the fall leaves...

Anyway, everyone knows the best thing about fall is actually the boots!