Re-Vamping the Blog? YEP!

Hey all! This blog hasn't been updated in so long!! 2010 to be exact. So I figured, since I have the seperate blog for Evan.. (www.myevansjourney.blogspot.com for those of you who have been living under a rock), that I needed to re-vamp this one a bit and get some good use out of it. It now belongs mainly to Evie instead of a family blog... because let's face it, everything in the Hoctor Family revolves around one of the kids anyway. I'll try to update it regurally with little accomplishments, developments, artwork, etc. but you now how life sometimes keeps us so busy that we can slack on stuff like this from time to time.. so be patient with me! I'll let ya know when I've posted something, usually in an email or facebook, or you can subscribe and get the updates right away! Thanks for following us!!

Happy Veteran's Day

Evie's school celebrated Veteran's Day with a ceremony. We invited Grandpa to take part! You can see him on stage in this video of Evie and her schoolmates singing so beautifully.

Thanks to all of our Veterans!

Happy Halloween! 2010!

Happy Halloween friends and family!
This was Evan's first year going out to trick or treat and he had a blast! He chased Evie up and down the streets and said everything he was supposed to during the process. So sweet! And Evie was excited to show her little brother the ropes, such a great big sis!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Joe and I took the kids to Arthur, Illinois yesterday to The Great Pumpkin Patch. http://the200acres.com/thepatch/
They had a good time in all of the mazes and Evie is now known as "The Chicken Whisperer". It seems anytime we are at a farm and there are chickens, she stops to talk to them quietly and they all head over to her and talk to her. It was hilarious! Evan got in on it, too.. they seem to really like my kids.

I took some cute pics of the kids playing with the picture cut out boards. Had some pumpkin ice cream and Evie even caught a picture of Joe and I as the Pumpkin King and Queen!

A beautiful fall day!!!

Evan's first day of school!

I officially have a pre-schooler!
Evan started school two weeks ago and so far, he loves it! He walks up the steps by himself and tells me that he loves my before he walks away. *tear*

I can see a huge difference already in the amount of words that he uses daily. He wants to talk more, although at his open house he was the quiet boy who just wanted to play on the floor.. you could tell that he is still behind the other children in a few areas.. but that's why we've strted him at age 3.. he'll catch up!

More info as he progresses!

Singin' along!

The kids and I are having fun with a little karaoke game on our XBox 360...

Thought you might enjoy some videos of singing!!!

A weekend at the Sangamon River Festival

Last weekend was a great time! Every year, just as school is kicking off, in Mahomet downtown, the roads are blocked off for the Sangamon River Music Festival. Bands all weekend, beer tent, parade, good food, and this year carnival rides! We missed all of the fairs this year but that didn't matter.. all of the fair rides came to us! The kids had so much fun riding all weekend!
We stayed late the last night with the kids to watch a band.. they ate funnel cakes, elephant ears and danced to the music under the stars.
This was also Evan's first time riding rides.. he was so good!!
Here are the pics!

Evie's in the very back of this ride.. "It's faster in the back, Mom!"