Trick or Treat

Headline: Hannah Montana Gets Eaten by a Werewolf!

I must say, Halloween costumes were so easy this year, yay! Blake saw the Werewolf mask/shirt and knew that is what he wanted to be. I think Paige has known all year that she was going to be Hannah Montana. I bought Paige a blonde wig and the rest of the outfit we scrounged up from around the house. Well, except for the hot pink leopard print treat bag. I saw that bag and had to get it, not only is it super fun but it is actually really well constructed (which is a halloween treat bag first)...and did I mention it was super fun! Blake stuck with the good ol' plastic pumpkin for his treats. Those were well worth the 1.99 or whatever it was that we paid for them years ago. A lot of candy has filled that jack 0 lantern! The kids had a fantastic time walking the neighborhood. It was pretty nice for Henry and I too. This was the first year that no one asked to be carried or for us to carry their bags or various costume accessories. After making the rounds, Henry and Blake went to the high school football game while Paige and I headed home to hand out candy. I should clarify that Paige hands out the candy. If it was my job to hand out treats, the lights would be off and I would be hiding out in the basement. I am pretty sure it is purely a manifestation of my introversion. While it is fun to see kids having fun, handing out candy is definitely not on my list of things I care to do, ever. Having said that, I really do appreciate the people that do like to hand out candy. Trick or Treating on Halloween is one of those great childhood experiences that is only truly enjoyed for a handful of years. But geez, it sure has changed a lot since I was a kid...I don't think I saw a single punk rocker or hobo, and there was not a single popcorn ball in sight.

Blake was determined to carve his pumpkin all by himself this year.

Paige still likes a little help from Daddy.

Still Friends.

Happy Birthday Henry

Henry loved his "cake" (pan of scotcharoos). Paige expressed concern about the number of candles. She was worried we might burn the house down. I was actually a bit worried too since the candles are being held up by a tiny bit of frosting on top of the bars. We had to take this picture quickly.

Which present should Daddy open first?

We have found that Paper Rock Scissors solves just about any disagreement. We have back to back rules when the stakes are high to avoid cheating. We also generally go best two out of three, in case you were wondering.

I let the kids choose their gifts for Daddy this year. Actually, this isn't the first one that Paige chose. I fibbed and told her the hot pink version of this Polo shirt wasn't the right size. She quickly decided that this was the one! She also made a gold star crown for the birthday boy. This is the first time that the kids really made their own choices so it was a lot of fun to buy the gifts. Henry loved them all.

The blow-out aftermath...who was worried? I was obviously too slow to get a picture of Henry actually blowing the candles out, but this is even better. I laughed out loud when I saw that I had captured the smokey haze. Quick, cut the "cake"...we love scotcharoos!

Happy 8th Birthday Blake!

Technology has come a long way in the last 8 years...
check out the quality of this digital camera photo.

My boy is getting so big but he'll always be my baby. I couldn't be more proud of what a fine young man he is turning out to be. He truly is a good kid. Love you!

On our way back home after a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's.

Back to School

Blake and Paige's first day of school together.
Man, we really need to work on his "picture" smile...
REALLY need to work on it.

It's official. The kids are back in school. 2nd grade and Kindergarten. Unbelievable. It appears that maybe I should go back to school in order to refresh my memory on sentence fragments. It is okay to break grammar rules as long as it is for creative emphasis, right? My biggest crime lately has been my severe abuse of the ellipsis...google it.

Reduced to Tears

Paige on Kindergarten Orientation Day

I cried when Blake started Kindergarten. I was prepared to cry when Paige started Kindergarten. However, I thought it would happen as the bus pulled away or in the middle of the day when I started missing her. Nope. I started tearing up the night before her first day as I was picking out her clothes. I looked up at Paige and her lip started to tremble, "Mom are you crying?". "Yes, I'm crying because I can't believe you are starting Kindergarten tomorrow." Paige seems to contemplate this for a few seconds. Then, with tears welling up in her eyes she says, "Oh Mom, you're sad because you won't have anyone to play with.". Princess sure knows how to make me smile.

First Day

On Paige's first day of school I sent the kids to the bus stop but decided to walk over to give them both one last reminder. Paige needed to remember what grade she was in and her teacher's name. Blake needed to make sure his sister got off the bus with him.

Well, it is almost time for the bus to drop the kids off after school so I head to the front yard to wait. The bus stops, Blake and one of the neighbor kids get off, the bus pulls away. He is excitedly yelling to me from down the street about how his day went. After about the fourth time I yelled "Blake!", he quits talking and looks at me. "WHERE IS YOUR SISTER?" The realization now hits him and he smacks his palm to his forehead. "Ugh, I am such an idiot!" Just then the bus stops, the door opens, and out bounces Paige. "I noticed I missed my house and told the bus driver he needed to stop." Nothing phases that girl.

Back to the Grind

So, school is in full swing now with spelling tests, speak-up, book orders, pre-decodable books, AR tests, school pictures, and all the other good stuff the come with elementary school. Blake and Paige are doing fantastic and are getting used to having a schedule again.

Blake's 1st Day of 2nd Grade

Life's a Beach and then you Swim!

A day at the beach at K&Ms.

Summer is swiftly coming to an end so I decided to do a little montage of some of this summer's water moments. It's time to let your favorite Beach Boys tune start on infinite loop in your head...

THE CABIN

Notice the snorkel gear is already in place.

White caps make perfect surfing waves,
for a 5 and 7 year old.

Whoa, guess it isn't as easy as they make it look on TV.


FOURTH OF JULY
A 4th of July tradition.

A new 4th of July feature this year.


ITALY
Monterosso here we come...
just over a 2 mile hike on a perilous, narrow, rocky,
mountain path overlooking the sea...fantastic!

On the beach at last!
Looking back at the mountains we crossed to get here.

Henry taking a dip in the sea.
This picture makes me thirsty for a Corona.