spooky, scary day for some...

Yes, today was super spooky and scary for some of us as we celebrated Dennis' 40th birthday!

Trying to look 40 and serious over a cup of coffee at brunch,

and enjoying birthday brunch while sitting with his monkey, Alyssa! I got a few other good photos but I think he would prefer I didn't share them since they are part of an inside joke! I'll respect his wish on his birthday but maybe I'll post them later or maybe I should be careful in case, he ever hijacks this blog and decides to post some of my bad photos!

Happy 40th birthday, sweetie!

annual halloween parade

Saturday morning ... it was time for more Halloween fun so we headed to Main Street to enjoy the annual Halloween parade.

 Anxiously awaiting the marching band and all the costumes...

A sampling of our parade. Starting with top left and going clockwise... a scary pumpkin, pumpkin goats, an awesome cardboard robot on stilts!, Lego people (Jaiden's favorite!), a wiener dog looking yummy, and the kids trick or treating at one of the local businesses.

It's a wonderful parade and this year, it was huge! Lots of people and super cool costumes!

the "j" day

The day he's been waiting for since maybe the first day of school! He was thrilled to go to school in costume. The morning was chilly so put the vest on to keep warm but I am certain many neighbors were scared to see an alien in the neighborhood.

 Despite the earlier drama (we had flu shots and then he fell out of the car!), he was ready for the afternoon!

 The school parade was a hit. I missed a perfect shot of him jumping in front of me to show off somehow I caught the landing which wasn't nearly as exciting but I did catch this one of him rounding the corner and he looked so proud and happy to see me with camera in hand ready to catch his big parade moment! Of course, he'd never want to admit that he really did want to be photographed!

Part of his class party making his batty craft... which I forgot to take a finished photo of. He loved his class party and I was so glad I got to be there too! I took lots of photos of the party but there were only a handful of favorites... need to make note to self that even if I am the class photographer- I need to take more of Jaiden! He's so cute to watch in class... really intent, excited, amazingly focused and behaved, did I mention intent? He loves it and we couldn't be happier with that!

the 'a' day

The 'a' day is a day literally almost entirely all about Alyssa! What a busy and fun day it was. She started out at her cooking class this morning where she decorated her glass.

 that later became where she made her dirt dessert and cute spiders to eat! She loved it of course!

And then it was off to school in her bat costume...

 ... where she and her fellow preschoolers got to parade around the entire school going into classrooms. She even went into Jaiden's class and I watched from a distance as she excitedly said "Hi Jaiden!" and reached out to hug him while he nonchalantly said in a bit of monotone voice "Hi Alyssa" but inside I could see he was beaming at the attention she gave him!

 Then it was back to class for the Halloween party. She decorated her own pumpkin, a ghost cookie (which she later gave to Jaiden after school!) and a trick or treat bag.

Then it was off to Granny Suze's for a spooky dinner party...

... which really did turn spooky when the door was opened to this! Yaya and Gampa Boo flew in to surprise all of us... let's just say it was a very scary night and leave it at that (wink!)!

yodeling at oktoberfest

High on a hill was a lonely goatheard

Layee odl, layee odl-oo...

 

Just couldn't resist a little song to go with this photo...

 

 

... and I also couldn't resist dressing them up to celebrate Oktoberfest with our neighborly progressive dinner this past weekend!

 

Yes, these were my lederhosen, socks and sweater on Alyssa. Not sure about Jaiden's lederhosen, they could have been my brother's, sister's or mine but I do know the sweater was definitely my brother's! It was fun to see them play and enjoy their first German Oktoberfest progressive dinner.

a batty week ahead

Phew, where did the weekend go... and soon I will ask where did this week go? It always feels super busy around this time of the year, we seem to have so many fun opportunities to celebrate Autumn and Halloween. Today was a magical day and yet, so very bittersweet. I took Alyssa to her last library Halloween story time/parade. It's been a tradition I did every year since Jaiden was 1 1/2 years old and I felt a bit sad knowing that next year I won't take any kids because it will happen while they are both in school!

 The wind has been horrific here for the past few days but it made perfect weather for a bat to fly amongst the leaves to the library!

In the library sitting with her friend, James. James actually went to preschool with Alyssa last year but this year, she is at a new school. They recognized each other immediately  several weeks ago when I began taking her to story time. It was fitting that they would sit together today.

On a side note, James is wearing the same costume that Jaiden wore on the first time he went to the library's Halloween story time/parade! Which reminds me, he wasn't so happy to hear Alyssa got to go and not him. Lucky for him, his little sister divided up her candy with him so they each got 4 pieces ... and then, if that wasn't enough, we played trick or treating around the house. Jaiden and Alyssa dressed up in their costumes and then had to find me behind doors so they could trick or treat. We played this for an hour before bedtime!

More posts to come... I have lots to share from the weekend and these upcoming batty days!

the craft table

Sometimes the story isn't funny, or maybe all that interesting, and today's post is certainly one of those but it's a memory that I wanted to record because I think these two kids are adorable and excited over the littlest things. Jaiden asked if he could use my punches that they recently discovered. When I said yes, he went to take it to a table but I told him he could work on the craft table. You would have thought I handed him a golden ticket! He was elated to sit at the big table and Alyssa, of course, wanted to jump in on the action too!

 Here they are enjoying the punches and buttons they requested.

 Oh, and a few stickers too!

 And the glue sticks!

What were they creating? Button collages with punches, string and stickers. They entertained themselves for almost an hour which gave me the time to get dinner ready! Hurray for quick, creative crafts!

bats in space

This girl ...

 ... has a fascination with chickens and bats lately...

 ... but when she found this pumpkin too, it was destiny to make sugar cookies this morning.

 Getting lots of help from Alyssa... I actually included this one because I can not get over how beautiful her eyes are and at least on my screen when I blow it up, I can see those sweet freckles!

 Later after school, a bat came to help me decorate the bats... but when I tried to take a photo of the finished cookies, I caught this...

 ... a sneaky bat!

And finally spaceboy makes his appearance! He's trying to do Nanoo Nanoo or maybe it was Spock greeting. And yes, it is official I finished his costume and he couldn't be more delighted with it. I asked him if he needed anything else with his costume (me thinking maybe I was going to have to rig some antennas or something) and he said,

"No, I decided I don't need a laser gun. I want to be able to carry my treat bag with both hands so I can get LOTS of candy!"

home depot

Last night when Daddy was brushing Alyssa's teeth, I overheard him say:

"Alyssa, where did you get such pretty, white straight teeth? From Mommy or me?"

And she replied ... "Home Depot"

Don't we all wish we could get such pretty teeth at Home Depot?



fried ham, fried ham, cheese and bologna

Today was... a typical Saturday around here. We did some cleaning, went to REI for new ski gloves, sang silly songs (hence the title because this one is stuck in my head) and did a bit of nothing until the mailman showed up... while Dennis was cooking dinner, I noticed this from the kitchen... 

love how they are cuddled up on the couch

 The mailman brought the new Lego catalog and the two of them poured over the contents, talking about what they would like for Christmas... which actually reminds me of a funny conversation shortly after this photo was taken.

Daddy said to Alyssa: What did we see at the store today?

Alyssa: Pumpkins.

Daddy: No, the other store?

A: Winter houses, Santa Clauses

D: And what else?

A:  Snowmen, Christmas lights and CHICKENS!

We are still trying to figure out her fascination  with chickens lately!

Then tonight, we decided to teach the kids how to play...

 They, of course, LOVED it. Daddy and Alyssa were a team and she rarely rolled what he asked for but she didn't seem to mind as she had 2 chocolate chip cookies and chocolate on her face!

Jaiden actually did get YAHTZEE in this photo but the one of him excited was too blurry! You get the idea though... he hadn't quite figured out yet that he had 5 2's!

dream ... BIG

I have lots to share but it's been busy the past couple of days. I did manage to get a couple more pages done of the fortune cookie album I am making and thought I would share them quick. The irony of sharing them today is I keep peeking at the news. I have watched live 1 miner pulled from the Chile mine and read about the previous 15. I keep checking, holding my breath and crying when I hear one more has been lifted up... it makes my dream seem so small but the beauty of their dream is that it is being realized and it teaches us to value and treasure the life we have been given. If you haven't watched any of the news yet, do! It is the most beautiful, happiest piece of news being broadcast and it will inspire you!

 So this fortune says "your dream will come true when you least expect it" and was inspired by this summer when I volunteered on the committee to host an event to raise money for our hemophilia chapter. I was asked to submit photos of Jaiden to the designer of the team and gave her a few of my recent favorites at the time. This photos was one of them... what I didn't know was what she was going to do with them...

 ... and this is what she created. A small poster photo with our stories of our children. These were spread around the room amongst the silent auction items, on tables, near the food and drinks... everywhere. They were all very moving and I was surprised how she put them together because all I did was answer some questions and gave her some photos. I wanted to send it to Papi for his birthday but I was concerned it would be damaged so I will bring it to him when we visit next month instead. The reading says:

 "When I hear my dad's stories of what he went through to get treatment and then the various ways in which treatment changed since the 1950s, I am in awe and relief that I have access to so much more.

My dad gives me hope that one day Jaiden and I will go in for his last poke because my dad is convinced Jaiden's generation will see the cure.   ~ Jaiden's mom"

And then to top off the emotional overload the caption reads "Help Me Dream". If you think that was heart pulling, you should have seen the other ones at the benefit. Since I know many of the boys and their situation is so much worse, I had to stop reading most of them! Audrey did an amazing job.

And now for a sprinkle of silly to balance this post out...

I couldn't resist using this photo. The fortune for E is "eat something you've never tried"

So how about a baguette with carrot and it's greens still attached, a pickle, a partially eaten peanut butter & jam and a small carrot on top sound? Compliments of Chef Alyssa!

hippo birdies papi-o!

I will give Dad a break today, but only today... and I won't try to calculate the number of days you have been alive... I was thinking I could double Cyndi's and then figured that would mean you were 72! Tee hee hee!

Jaiden's birthday wish for you is to win this hand game! (don't be suprised in another year, he just may given how much he is growing lately!)

And Alyssa's birthday wish for you is "to throw you in the pool like a sack of potatoes!"

Watch out Thanksgiving time Papi!

We hope you have a fabulous birthday doing something fun and exciting but I suggest skipping candles on the birthday cake, it doesn't need to be THAT exciting!

Lots of love from all of us

lollilock lollipop, oh so lollipop...

Conversation between Alyssa and the hairdresser went something like this:

Alyssa: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Lindsey, the hairdresser: I don't know, why?

A: To get to the other side!

L: (laughs) Ohhhh!

A: Have you ever seen a chicken cross the road?

L: No, have you?

A: Yes, it's funny. I see them all the time.

L: Where do you see them cross the road?

A: In Denver.

L: Oh, really?

A: Yes, you should go sometime.

Another hairdresser: Yes, there are lots of chickens in Denver that cross the road!

A: They are everywhere those silly chickens.

Other hairdresser: You see them on every corner waiting.

L: I am really going to have to go to Denver sometime soon!

By now, all of us (3 hairdressers, another mom with her kids and myself) in fits of laughter and can hardly keep a straight face. The conversation only ends because Lindsey (Alyssa's hairdresser) combs Alyssa hair straight up to trim it and Alyssa exclaims quite loudly "Look, my hair looks like spaghetti!"

And so the crazy conversation continued!

13879 days

Yes, I did the math twice to double check myself and my sweet little sister has been around for 13,879 days... (I am not sure I should try the math for Papi's upcoming birthday) making her officially 38 years old today!

And in the spirit of sibling rivalry for the past 36 years (with the exception of last year when she began to realize this was no longer an advantage), I have heard in a sing-songy voice "we're the same age!"

Now it's my turn for the next 36 and more years to sing back. "we're the same age and I look younger!" Wink, Wink!

Happy Birthday Cyndi-lou, lou!

1st grade field trip

Today, Alyssa played with Granny Suze so I could venture out as a chaperone for the 1st grader's field trip to a local farm! We had gorgeous weather (especially given that we had the craziest thunderstorm last night at 12:20 am and lasted until shortly after 2 am!), a lot of fun finding and collecting various veggies from the fields and a lot of dusty dirt all over us.

My only chance at ever getting a photo of him looking out a school bus window and Max (Jaiden's very good friend) gives me a goofy face! As you may or may not know, our school is designated as a walking school which means that there are no buses that come to school... not to mention that we are less than 2 blocks from school!

First up, we get on the hay wagon, are given plastic bags to collect our veggies in and what's the first thing he does? Puts it on his head like a hat! 

Probably his all time favorite veggie (next to edamame) is green beans. Here they are collecting as many as they can.

Admiring their bag of goods which included carrots, a cabbage, potatoes, leeks, green beans, beets, turnips, corn and later a sweet little pumpkin (which he also put on his head)! It was a great adventure. It was also wonderful to be able to go and see what Jaiden gets to do at school as a big boy!

Now the next photo deserves a bit of explanation. Daddy has been gone all week (since Sunday, but technically since Saturday for the kids since he left at 6 am) in Miami doing some NASA proposal review work and on Saturday night, he tried to explain to Alyssa that he was going to Miami near the beach. She, of course, wanted to go but he told her he wouldn't be on the beach working so it wouldn't be that fun. She then told him to bring her seashells back.

Ever since he left, she asks me everyday "Where's Daddy?"

And I reply "In Miami working."

And she says "No, he's not. He's on the beach!"

So Daddy sent her a photo of him on the windy beach!

a good argument to not multi-task

Notice the following details...

1) a little girl in a huge tub

2) the water level in the tub...

this is a perfect example of why Mommy shouldn't multi-task in the mornings. Let me clarify... it WAS intentional that I would give Alyssa a bath and as I turned on the water I had good intentions to return before she got in as well as before the water got to deep... but I started to multi-task (although I can't remember exactly why I left the room in the first place) and was interrupted by the shrills of "Mommy, come quick ... the tub is FULLLLL!"

To her delight, it was like having a mini swimming pool in the house and a perfect playground for her and her polly pockets to swim in... for almost 1 1/2 hours! No kidding... she was playing so contently that I thought it wasn't a big deal until she came out as a prune!... but a happy prune to say the least!

playful pumpkins

Another lovely day spent at the farm... although this time it was for picking pumpkins. The weather was actually cool and crisp! The patch wasn't huge but the pumpkins were beautiful.

Alyssa trying to balance her mighty pumpkin on her head!

"I can do it, I can doooooo it... I NEED help!!!"

  

 Then Mike took the kids for a hay ride, and I just happened to get this photo of Alyssa!

And we picked lots of beans! Jaiden loves them so he ate just about as many as he picked. Annie found a bean shaped as a letter J, and then Jaiden found this one shaped in the letter O!

spooky on the 1st

Wow, can you believe it's October 1st? Yikes... I am a little scared... I have costumes partially made, decorations still packed away and 2 kids who want to get spooky!

Jaiden had a fundraiser at school this past month where he sold these coupon books for local restaurants and retailers. He really wanted to sell 5 so he could get a "spy" watch. Well, he did it and this morning he colored and wrote his first thank you card to one of Dennis' co-workers. I loved how he was so intent on coloring it just right that I scanned it in before I sent it off to work with Dennis.

Alyssa had other plans for her day with Mommy... which involved creating this spooky Halloween scene from Yaya. The glue took awhile to dry and here she is gently trying to press down on the fence. We didn't quite finish it because of the glue not drying so quickly so tomorrow maybe you will see the finished product... we got lots of plans for tomorrow so we will see!

And tonight, I relaxed by working on the letter b... the fortune reads:

become who you are

If only this photo had her with her rotten fake teeth or orange dracula teeth and her fake mustache...

Happy October 1st! Beware of more spooky posts this month!