Transitions are hard!

Last Saturday we decided it was finally time to convert Bennett's crib to a toddler bed.  He had been starting to climb out...and I was scared he would hurt himself.  Plus, he had been refusing to nap for much of the week before so I figured it was as good as time as any.

I have trouble with these transitions.  It is hard for me I think because I realize my kids are growing up way too quickly!

It has been a rocky road with Bennett and the toddler bed.  We have only gotten him to nap in it twice.  Once, I laid down next to him until he was drowsy and then today he napped without much of a fight because he got up at 5:00 am.  Yikes!  He has been waking up randomly during the night and either crying from his room, knocking on his door, or standing/crying in the hallway.  He will usually go right back to sleep.  However, we could not get him to lay back down this morning.

The boy still needs naps though.  He is a mess on the days he does not nap.  Two days this last week I drove early to Maya's preschool (and he falls asleep in the car within 5 minutes) and just camped in the parking lot while he got a short nap.  I can't do this everyday though...especially as the weather turns colder.

Then, on Friday he was so tired he crawled up in the bed next to me as I was on the computer and laid down and fell right asleep.  Now, if I could just convince him to lay in his own bed and take a long nap in there so he is not so cranky!

Right after we showed him his new bed: He climbed right up and wanted to read a book

Passed out within 5 minutes of getting in the car

Sweet, tired little boy crawled up next to Mommy and fell asleep

Halloween 2012: Part 3 (and 4 &5)

Halloween just seems to grow in the number of festivities each year!

Part 3:

We had fun painting the pumpkins with Dad.  Maya (crazy girl) painted her whole pumpkin and then used a wipe to wash it all off!  Nathan (amateur artist by night after the kids go to sleep and he has 2 hours to spend on the pumpkin) did the awesome monster on Bennett's pumpkin.

Part 4:
The girls each had a halloween parade at their schools.  Bennett and I enjoyed going to watch our little mermaids parade by!

Part 5:
Actual Halloween: We went out trick or treating with our friends the Jensens and Kings.  It was super cold that night so Bennett, Maya, and I did not last very long.  Jadyn went out extra with Dad.  I did not take any pictures that night...must have be Halloween'd out!

The artists!

Finished products

Monster pumpkin...the back had ivy on it

Jadyn with her best friend from her class, Megan.  They planned their coordinating mermaid costumes!

Maya's preschool class