Aidan's pumpkin

Probably the easiest to guess. It was guessed correctly by everyone. Either he's that transparent, or I need to think of more Aidan like things to confuse people. I give you The Pumpk-IU.

Don't worry grandpa(s)...I'm working on this.

The Results are in...

We each ranked the cereals from least to most favorite. As a reminder, the cereals we ranked were Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry, Frute Brute and Fruity Yummy Mummy. We added the total number of points (one for the least all the way to five for the best) and totaled them up to find the winner.

Now that our poll is complete we can reveal the winner.

Aidan's votes:
1. Frute Brute
2. Boo Berry
3. Fruity Yummy Mummy
4. Count Chocula
5. Franken Berry

Ethan's votes:
1. Frute Brute
2. Fruity Yummy Mummy
3. Franken Berry
4. Boo Berry
5. Count Chocula

Mom's votes:
1. Boo Berry
2. Frute Brute
3. Count Chocula
4. Fruity Yummy Mummy
5. Franken Berry

Drew's votes:
1. Fruity Yummy Mummy
2. Frute Brute
3. Boo Berry
4. Franken Berry
5. Count Chocula

The totals:
Fifth place - Frute Brute (6 points)
Second Runners-up - Boo Berry and Fruity Yummy Mummy (10 points each)
First place (tie) - Count Chocula and Franken Berry (17 points each)

Because of the result, the tie will be broken by the fruit finished first. The three lowest scoring cereals will be eaten. Once they have been consumed in full, the box finished first between Count Chocula and Franken Berry will be the winner.

Full disclosure, we weren't impressed with any of the cereals and picked the cereal which just wasn't absolutely horrible. Saying "best" cereal was more of a matter of not being the worst. It was a lot of fun to do this together though.

As promised...Erica's pumpkin

Completely done without assistance. I am beyond impressed with all this woman can do. She is going to make an amazing nurse.

Busy Night

As mom studied her brains out, the boys had a little fun. The boys went out and checked out some ideas for Christmas and picked up some pumpkins for carving.

We went and got family pictures taken for the first time since the wedding and had a nice relaxing night carving the pumpkins (while we watched tOSU carve up Penn St.)

Pictures of the final products to come. While you wait. Please leave comments (votes) for which carving each of us did.

(Erica's is forthcoming as her's was the most impressive and we all loved it's perfect representation of who she is.)

What did Aidan choose to carve?
1. A Colt's horseshoe
2. The "Flash" symbol
3. A box of mac 'n cheese
4. An IU symbol

What did Ethan choose to carve?
1. A "Creeper"
2. The "Blue Beetle" symbol
3. A football
4. Himself

What did Drew choose to carve?
1. The TARDIS
2. Something "Wicked"
3. Chuck Norris
4. A golden snitch

Dear People

I'm Aidan Belt. I'm 10 years old. I have red hair. I'm very short and I love IU (Indiana University).

I'm very happy that we are a family. It has been hard for me to adjust. In my version of Drew, he is a nice guy.

I would really want to do another food challenge. I love food. I like superheroes, sports, and strawberry stuff a lot.

I'm an outside person. My favorite food is mac 'n cheese. I think my family, starting with Ethan, is my favorite part the family. He is kinds, respectful, and sharing. Drew is kind respectful, loving. Mom is very, very thoughtful. She picks up our slack and encourages people. That is my family.

Dear Biography Readers

My name is Ethan W. Belt. At the moment I am 11 years old and have a brother that is 10. I have dirty blonde hair with dark brown eyes. My favorite food is pizza, and my favorite color is black.

I have one brother which is Aidan, a mom which is Erica, and my step-dad which is Drew. I really enjoy hanging out with my family. I typically play video games like Medieval total war, unless there's a football around.

I think that I am the typical sixth grader that you see on his bike. I like the sixth grade probably better than I think. My family is kind of like a plate. Mom is like the fruit, sweet and caring. Drew is the meat, strong and important. Aidan is the grains and carbohydrates, always keeps us going. I'm like the veggies, juicy and entertaining. God is like the dairy, helps our skeleton and holds us together.

That's my life.

The First Challenge

Check out video with our reactions to the various cereals. We had so much fun. Enjoy.

Hey there!

I'm Erica Walter, most affectionately referred to as "Mom". I grew up the oldest of three girls, in a Christian home. Being homeschooled, it was easy to feel like a square peg trying to fit in to a round hole.

I became a mom to Ethan at the tender age of 18, quickly followed 14 months later with another son, Aidan.  Being a mom for almost 12 years, it has been my primary focus to protect, defend, train, and love my young cubs. For nearly 4 years, I did it all alone, providing for them and going to school full-time. As I prayed for God to guide me to the right man He had set aside to join us and complete our family, I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. I was protective. I had walls up. I was going to fight.

And then God sent Drew. My walls quickly crumbled. I didn't need to be protective. I didn't want to fight. I loved this man, with all of my being. The boys did the same. There wasn't an ounce of doubt. There wasn't a single question. We were a family.

Since getting married this summer, we have been on a roller coaster ride. We have had lots of 'big' things happen. I have said to others, it's as if we have lived at least five years of marriage in three months. It's made for lots of excitement, exhaustion, and our family standing on a foundation that's ready for the future.

Now we have made it half way through the first semester, Drew is cancer free, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are all looking forward to Christmas break, where we can relax and enjoy our time together. In the meantime, we are working hard to enjoy each day, appreciate our differences, and love each other the best we can.

I look back now and I can't figure out how I did it without such a supportive partner. Nor do I want to. My life is exactly as it should be. God brought Ethan, Aidan and me the perfect man to complete our family. I love these three guys more than anything. 

Come in, -- come in! and know me better, man!

A brief introduction, for those that don't know. My name is Drew Walter. Son of a preacher-man, world traveler, former collegiate tennis player, amateur artist/guitarist/writer,  husband, dad and (most recently) cancer survivor.

I met my now wife (Erica, a.k.a. "mom") a little more than a year ago. While our courtship was brief, it was clear that we were both ready for each other. While we were ready, there were two others which my über-intelligent wife had to consider. Enter into my life the three most important people. There are none more important to me than Erica, Ethan, and Aidan. It is with them in mind that this whole crazy idea came about.

In the few months we have been married, Erica and I have experienced a less than normal honeymoon period. In the first month of our marriage I got a new job, bought a "new" car, she started back to school, the boys started back to school, I had surgery, found out that I had cancer, had another surgery, went to all the boys events (especially football), and received a treatment in which I had to be isolated for five days (cause I was...radioactive, radioactive.) Now that the boys are settling into school, as is my beautiful wife, I am settling into my job and the cancer is gone we finally feel the opportunity to have some fun.

As it were, I have a slate of challenges which I am hoping will bring as many laughs for all of you as it will for us. This family was enough to pull me back to the states after living abroad for the last seven years, I hope everyone can see how special they are. Most of all...to me.

Challenge #01: The Great "Monster" Taste Test

Perimeters:
Each participant will have a small sampling of each of five General Mills "Monster" cereals. Each participant will reserve judgement until all cereals have been tasted.

Rules:
Rule #1 - No trying to influence the other contestants into liking a cereal different than the one they chose.
Rule #2 - Each contestant will be able to choose whether they would like to have their cereal dry, or with milk.
Rule #3 - Any person not interested in participating must decide before said taste test begins (once we start, you're in it til the end.)
Rule #4 - Every person will have an opportunity to video tape, so that reactions of each contestant can be captured (and any embarrassing facial expressions can be used as blackmail at a later date.)
Rule #5 - This is all about fun and that's what we are going to have.

Medium:
Please take the polls to guess which cereal was the family favorite.

The game begins tonight.

The Details

Goal: To bring a closeness and sense of unity to a blended family searching for an identity.

Participants: Drew Walter (Drew), Erica Walter (Mom), Ethan Belt (Ethan), and Aidan Belt (Aidan). Guest participants (Grandpa and Grandma Melcher, Mommo and Bapa, cousins, friends, aunts and uncles) at the request/invitation of Drew and Erica. Requests by Ethan and Aidan must be submitted in writing and copied in triplicate.

Ground rules:

• Each participant (which will vary based on event) must participate to the best of their ability. No mailing it in!
• All responsibilities for the day need to be completed by all participants before a challenge may commence (homework, reading, chores and the like).
• Any video taping/recording will be done by adults, unless otherwise designated (i.e. mom v. Drew competitions).
• Competitions will not necessarily all be themed, however there will be some seasonal competitions.
• Precaution: these competitions are for fun and our own personal amusement. Any poor sportsmanship or displays of bad attitude will not be permissible. Bad/disrespectful attitude will be met with extreme prejudice.
• Games (time permitting) will be initiated by parents at appropriate times. Events will be decided upon and planned for accordingly.
• Publication and promotion will mostly fall on the parents (social media-wise) while other participants will be able to recommend and the others via word of mouth.

Challenges will be uploaded and new polls will be available for a more interactive experience for all involved. Please feel free to participate in our adventure.

Welcome to the Jungle

I live in a family of wild cats. Having grown up a tiger, I later became a panther. Into my fold I have taken two additional panthers. We are approaching a right jamboree.

Our blended family is taking shape and in need of a solidifying force to help unify this new unit we have begun. Enter the world of our extreme family challenge. During our free time with our boys, Erica and I will be participating in a variety of contests. While a "winner" will be declared, we will all be winners through the strengthening of our family.

These tasks will take place through a wide range of competitions that test everything from our endurance to memory, accuracy to our directional acuity. We will be posting videos in an attempt to provide everyone with the most up-to-date information. To that end, keeping others involved (through the use of polls and supportive comments) that we can use to help motivate our cubs into giving it their bests.

Goals and ground rules upcoming. Welcome to our challenge.