Halloween 2008

Halloween is a lot of work! This year it was really a lot of work for Justin. He made both of the boys costumes. Wyatt changed his mind so many times! First he was going to be Indiana Jones, then Mutt Williams (Indy's son and sidekick) then it was Ghost Rider and finally he settled on Anakin. But, not just any old Anakin. It had to be the Anakin from the Clone Wars. So, here's the picture I gave Justin:

Here's the completed costume. He is a genius! He really amazes me. I have trouble assembling the costumes that come in a bag. I truly could not figure out where a part of a pirate costume went on a kid I helped get ready at school.

Jake, in true Jake style, wanted to be The Killer Moth. He's one of the lesser known Batman Villians. Remember last year's lesser known Pokemon character, Gengar: http://sallyfoo.blogspot.com/2007/10/happy-halloween.html Well, here's the picture I gave him:

Here's the completed costume!Chloe stared Halloween as the Little Mermaid or as she says, The Little Moomaid. Here she is with her friends and Miss Pat:

Here are the boys and I headed back to school after going home to get ready. The whole school marches in a parade around the neighborhood. Justin picked Chloe up so she could enjoy the parade and the parties in the boys classrooms.

Before the kids left, snow white came to the door and Chloe, in true diva fashion,made a quick costume change.Then, the whole neighborhood went trick or treating. I stayed home to hand out candy. Jake went for a little while to help Katy Morris trick or treat. But, then came home. He has pretty much never wanted to trick or treat, but I always make him. I finally decided that he's 9, he knows what it's about, if he doesn't want to do it and doesn't care about candy, then who am I to make him go. Sometimes it's like I snatched some 50 year old science professor from him college and made him pretend to be a little kid and he's very annoyed by all the nonsense I put him through. ;)

Party Day

What a day! We had a party with the boys in Wyatt's class and scout his scout pack from 9-10:30. It was a "Boys' Brunch." We had donuts galor, hot chocolate, chocolate milk and fruit.

I think Chloe jumped more than any other kid. I had tio stop her to make her eat. She loved it!
Then at 2:00 the family party started. Chloe had a ball playing with her cousin Joey and Ian and Sam.
Wyatt had more fun at the family party I think. He was a little overwhelmed by so many kids, I think.
Doesn't she have the most gorgeous eyes?
Auntie Missy and Coco:
No fancy cake this year. Grandma Lynn couldn't come and I am lucky I pulled off the party between the three kids and the full-time job.

The night before the party our wonderful neighbors, the Meeks and the Morris' gave Wyatt his present, a long board. He was very excited!

Happy Birthday, Wyatt!

Happy 8th Birthday, Wyatt!We started the day by giving Wyatt his birthday present, an ipod. He'd been asking for one for awhile and Justin found a nice used one for 1/5 of the price of a new one. So, when he eventually drops it in water or leaves it at the park, we won't be too upset.

Then, Justin met the kids and I at Rain Forest Cafe for lunch. It's Wyatt's favorite place to eat.
Chloe has never been afraid of the thunder, but was really scared of it this time. When Wyatt was her age, he would sit in my lap the entire time because he was so afraid.

The famous "Volcano" dessert. They sang happy birthday and he was a happy kid!

Annual Pumpkin Patch 2008

8 years ago today, on Thursday, October 12, 2000, I went to the pumpkin farm with my mom, my Grandma, my Aunt Colleen and a little 1 year old Jake. I wasn't due to give birth for 3 more weeks, but had already had an episode of false labor. Since the next day was Friday the 13th, of October no less, I said these fateful words: "Tomorrow is the only day I do not want to have the baby." Mother nature has quite a sense of humor and that is exactly when he was born. So, 8 years later on that exactly day, we enjoyed a lovely day at the pumpkin farm.

On our way in:


Chloe's favorite mode of transportation:
Chloe was dying to ride a horse. She really beginning to get interested in horses. I swear she has read the "girl manuel." Dolls, check. Horses, check. Camel rides will always seem strange to me.

Who knew Chloe's beloved pwincesses would be there?
Jake and Wyatt called this their "art pose."
This is Jake's favorite painting. I didn't know he even had a favorite painting until he needed to explain his and Wyatt's pose in the next picture.

Fun was had by all.

Yeah Chloe

Okay. My bragging about her is probably obnoxious for the people I work with, neighbors, etc. But this is MY blog so here goes! Chloe's been doing a gymnastics class at the local kid's gym. My friend Becky, Ian's mom, takes her on Wednesday afternoons. Chloe tells me she likes it. In fact she is certain and unchanging in what she likes and doesn't like when I ask.

Do you like school? "No"
Do you like gymnastics? "Yes"
Do you like ballet and tap? "No"
Do you like going to Miss Pat's house? "Yes"

I will try to ask her these questions separately and catch her off guard and no matter what, the answers are the same.

So, anyway... yesterday the coaches at the gym approached Becky and told her that they need to talk to me because they are inviting Chloe to join their gymnastics team. There are only 4 kids on the team (I'm guessing in this age range) and they see "true potential" in her. Hehe. I am so excited! Becky was joking that Ian wasn't invited to join. I told her the boys were barely invited back for another class after all the monkeying around they did there. I'll have to tell the "No Dicky" story in another blog post.

We've always had a feeling that she would enjoy gymnastics. My friend Megan has joked that everytime Chloe runs up to her she's waiting for her to do a half pike and that if she doesn't become a gymnast, then we've done something wrong.

Anyway... more to come. I'll put a picture cute Chloe picture up here later

So, today I'm going to call and found out what we need to do.

Goodbye Chili

Yesterday we said goodbye to our wonderful dog, Chili. We first thought we would need to have her put to sleep last December because she was so ill. Thankfully she rallied and we were blessed with 10 more months with her. However, in the last couple weeks, she'd lost a lot of weight, stopped eating or drinking and could barely stand. We will miss her so much. She was the best dog in the world and we were so lucky to have her for almost 13 years.