I took the kids over to a nearby (very commercialized) pumpkin stand just to snap a few pictures. 

BUT.....because I refuse to pay $18 for a large pumpkin we then went over to Albertson's so the kids could pick a few for carving.  But we didn't grab a shopping cart (poor thinking on my part) and so everyone was laughing hysterically as I was carrying one large pumpkin and the three of them were carrying another.  Finally, a very nice man stopped them and asked them if he could give their pumpkin a ride in his shopping cart to the check out stand. 

The kids all giggled, "YES".

Then......Dad, Chloe, and Ryan carved them.

Ryan wanted a spooky pumpkin!

Chloe wanted a rockstar pumpkin!

It was a great night full of seeds, guts, and happiness!

Oma's Pumpkin Patch

 Callista's Joy School Class took a field trip to Oma's Pumpkin Patch in Lakeside, CA. 

In this picture from left to right are :  Callista, Ruby, Brooklyn, Giovanna, and Emily.

It is a dairy farm filled with lots of baby animals and the smell and flies to go with it.  We had a great time though.  Callista just loved looking and talking to the piglets.

This is the pumpkin that Callista chose.  She looked long and hard, and chose VERY carefully.



Her teacher for that day Lisa, gave each of the kids some decorations to poke into the pumpkin like Mr. Potato Head.  Definitely safer than carving it!!!

Student of the Month

Both Ryan and Chloe were awarded Student of the Month for September.  We are so proud of them and the good citizenship they are showing to their new teachers.  Ryan was funny because he asked what it meant and what he had to do.  I knew if I told him he would have to walk on the stage and shake Mr. T's hand he would never agree to doing it, so I just said, "Remember when we went up to the school for Chloe last year and we ate cookies and drank fruit punch".  "Oh yeah...I remember drinking fruit punch, that was good, that's all I have to do?" "That's right Bud."  "OK"

 Chloe * Mr. T * Ryan

 Ryan loving his fruit punch and Chloe loving her cookie.  They are sooo opposite. 

Ryan would much rather drink than eat, and Chloe would much rather eat then drink.

 Mom and kids in front of the Hage mural.

Dad couldn't be there with us that morning, but he left us a sweet note with fresh donuts for breakfast, and the movie Pete's Dragon that we can all watch together in celebration.

Baseball Season 2010

This was our first season of T-Ball and Baseball.  It was a fun experience for the kids. 

Ryan was on the "Scrappers".  Ryan would often get frustrated at practice because he is such an obedient boy and at the end of every practice the coach would tell them to all go run a lap.  Ryan made sure that he never cut corners, but all the other kids did.  He was always mad that he was the last one, but his coach would always commend him that he followed the rules.

Chloe initially was trying out for Girls Softball, but there weren't enough girls to form two teams, so they combined the girls and boys to play co-ed baseball.  She was on the "Yankees".  Paul said he would overlook it this one season as long as she didn't cheer for them in real life.  Her games got progressively more real.  The first few games they batted off a pitching machine and got 5 pitches, period.  Fouls, strikes, or balls were not taken into consideration.  Then one day she is up to bat with the "kid" pitcher.  All of a sudden her coach is telling her to go to 1st base.  She says "but I never hit the ball".  She finally gets there and eventually gets back to homeplate and the dug out.  I went over and asked her if she knew why she went to first base.  Her response was, "No...and I am so confused right now".  Once the proper rules of baseball were explained she was good to go



Ghosts, Witches, and Blue Angels

What do they have in common? 

They all fly, and we spent our Saturday watching or making them!

Chloe's Witch

Ryan's Ghost

Callista's Witch and Ghost

 The Three Witches Together

It's really hard taking a picture of moving jets that move at 450 mph.  I tried and this was as good as it got.  We didn't actually go to the air show, but we have a favorite spot to sit in a parking lot across from MCAS Miramar where you have a pretty good view, without the crowds, and without my anxiety that something is going to crash right on top of my kids.

So thank goodness for the Blue Angels professional photographer who does have the equipment and capacity to take pictures of the Blue Angels at 450 mph.  It was a great day full of "flying" adventures!

First Day of Joy School

School has been a big part of Calllista's life since she was born.  She has watched her two older siblings get excitied at the start of each new school year with their backpacks and lunch boxes.  Over the past year she has often asked, "When do I get to go to school".   Good question?  She is my baby, my best friend (or so she says), and my Candyland pal.  She is easy to take on errands and what would a trip to the commissary be like without her?  I was not overly anxious for her to go to pre-school.  However, a few of us Moms got together and formed a "Joy School" group that includes 6 children either 3 or 4 years old.  SHe goes 2 mornings a week and couldn't be more thrilled.  She HAD to have a Dora backpack and Dora lunchbox. (Note....I never let any of my other children have themed backpacks or lunchboxes, I hope I am not becoming a softie with her).  A soon as Chloe and Ryan started school she asked every day if it was her day yet.  Well...it finally arrived....last Tuesday was her first day of Joy School at Angela's house.

She was so excited to knock on that door and begin her educational journey, or maybe it was that she was just excited to see her friends.  Either way....she was EXCITED!!!

I stayed with like every good Mom does on their child's first day of pre-school because I just knew she was going to need me, and feel abandoned, and have separation anxiety, and not be able to cope.  BUT NO, she sat on her spot and after a few minutes turned to me and said, "go away Mommy, go home". 

She loved every moment of it.  When we got home, I sat her on my lap and asked her all about it. 

 I asked if she had fun, "yes". 

Who her friends were, "Emily, Ryan, Giovanna, Ruby, and Brooklyn". 

And what she learned, "that we can't share our food with anyone". 

Because her friend has a peanut allergy, they were instructed not to share their lunch or snack, and apparently, it made an impression!

So Callista, we wish you the best of luck as you begin your first of many years in school!

He Is Home!!!

Look who drove in at around 10:00 pm.  He drove the entire drive from Denver to San Diego in one day and even had time to stop in Vegas for dinner at Macayo's with his parents and my parents. 

 He looks tired!!!

But not too tired to stop and buy my favorite (yellow roses) before he makes his appearence.

He went in to each child's room for a hug and kiss and Callista is the only one who really stirred and gave him a hug in return.  But the next morning......they couldn't contain themselves. 

 How did they welcome him....

Tackle Time!!!

They got all their hugs, kisses, and wrestling out right away!

Its great to have hime home (for good, and not just for a few days)!

Callista asked after a few hours when he had to go away again. 

He was happy to respond, not for a VERY long time!!!

I made it through 11 weeks unscarred and I have to say thank you to my parents who endured many nightly calls around 11:00 PM and my Dad would patiently walk me through going down the stairs and checking all the windows and locks.

Also, a big thank you to Angela and Melanie who gave me some much needed breaks to grocery shop, and also kept me busy with fun activities and lots of cheerful phone conversations. 

The Lord did truly make my burdens light!