Fall Festival Fun

first let me start off by noting that i did not intentionally take fewer pictures of peanut at this particular event.  i have a bunch of him but they're just not very exciting.  it's extremely difficult to get a 19-month-old to even look remotely close to the direction of the camera.  he was way more interested in the inflatable slide than in mommy taking his picture on this day!

last week was the annual fall festival at the boys' preschool.  it's always the week before halloween and the kids get to play games, earn prizes and play in the inflatable caterpillar slide.  i think they do this instead of dressing up and having candy and all the halloween stuff.  maybe it's b/c it's a baptist preschool and they don't get into all that.  whatever the reason, the kids love it! and trust me, we don't miss the candy at our house.  we get enough of it to put us all into a serious sugar coma!

this was doodlebug's second year at the festival and he had a ball.  it's a little more fun with him b/c he actually tries to play the games.  peanut, not so much.  as soon as he spotted the inflatable slide, he had a one-track mind.  plus, children his age totally do not get the concept of playing a game.  but it's cute, nonetheless, to watch them wander in awe of all the fun things they can participate in and most importantly filling their goody bags with all the little prizes!

just like last year, i volunteered to work at the festival again this year.  you just help the kids with the games and give them their prizes once they've played.  of course, i get the most joy out of seeing my own children come through and enjoy themselves, but it really is fun to watch all of them.  they just get so excited about the simplest things!  and this year was extra-special b/c daddy got to join in the fun.  pete is usually working during all of their little school events, but this year he decided to telecommute and participate with us.  all the parents are invited to walk through the festival with their children during their class's designated time.  it's nice that we get to be involved!  doodlebug was thrilled when he saw daddy was there this year.

i have to explain the one picture of peanut strapped in the little red buggy.  those buggies are the ones they use to transport the younger age classes like his around the school.  i mean, really, can you imagine trying to keep twelve 15-23-month-olds traveling in a straight line down the hall? it would be mass chaos!  there would be little ones running amuck all over the place!  i just think those buggies are the cutest things.  when you see them sitting in there, they all just have these looks of anxious excitement like they can't wait to see where their destination is.  and as you can tell, peanut enjoys the ride! 

being able to volunteer for such events is one of the many reasons i'm so thankful i can stay home with my kids and not work full-time.  it may not seem like a big deal to some people, but i get such joy when i get to be a part of the things they do at school.  i guess part of it is b/c i'm not usually there with them and i'm always dying to know what they are doing while they're there.  i mean, before they went off to preschool, they were with me 24/7 and i always knew what they did all day.  it's so different when they're gone for those 3 short hours, especially b/c you don't always get much response when you ask, so what did you do at school today?  i think the other reason i enjoy it so much is i really feel like God's purpose for my life is to be an active participant in the live's of my children and to savor and enjoy every moment of their childhood.  my boys are my passion and my ministry in life and just being there for these little moments in their lives is what i was meant to do.  it took me a long time to figure that out, but now there is no doubt in my mind that's what God planned for me.