Thanksgiving with Curt and Jeni

We enjoyed a nice meal on our nice new table:



Some of us went a little overboard:



The next day, we rode the miniature train and enjoyed the lovely fall weather.

Our new dining set

... looks so good!



love the bench for the boys:



It also has a leaf to expand out, but it's a pretty good size as is for our everyday use.

Soccer's end of season parties

Tuesday was Josh's pizza and trophy party for the end of the soccer season. I ended up having to put together the party and coach's gift, so while I was at it, John and I made cute soccer cupcakes too! I loved them. It was John's idea to add green sprinkles to make the frosting suggest the grassy field, and they turned out so well.



Thursday was Lucas' team's end of season party, and it was more low-key (given that they are only 3 years old). We met at a playground and the kids received their trophies, and then just played with each other. It was perfect for them. And Lucas was THRILLED to get his first trophy. Every time we mention it he gets the biggest, most genuine smile.

Unfortunately this picture is really fuzzy and it was the only one I could get, but I'm posting it anyway.

That perfect smile

Monday: Perfect smile still intact



Tuesday: Getting looser



Wednesday: Gone!



It came out while Josh was eating a cupcake at afterschool care. Can't think of a better way to lose your first tooth!

Tonight: first visit from the Tooth Fairy!!

Halloween 2010

We started off our Halloween day with a trip to the zoo. Boo at the Zoo started at noon, but we arrived when the zoo opened at 10 am so we could beat the crowd and get parking. Which was nice, because we had a couple quiet hours at the zoo with the animals before the festivities began. It had been so hot during August and September that we really hadn't been in awhile.

Around 11:45, we joined the line and awaited our turn for the Boo at the Zoo festivity area. Here are my skeleton and Superman in line:



Boo at the Zoo was fun. There were several treat stations, several carnival-type games to play, and a stage that alternated between a costumed dance party and an animal exhibition. The boys ended up with quite a bit of candy!

Back at home, we got our decorations ready, starting with our pumpkins: one skull, and one happy Jack-O-Lantern:



The boys got their costumes ready again for trick-or-treating:



And off we went through the neighborhood:



We went way too far. The boys wanted to trick-or-treat their babysitter Kelly, and we made the mistake of walking there. It's only a mile or less away, but with stops every few houses (with Texas in the World Series, a lot of people weren't home, and of those who were, most were in Rangers gear and most had the game on too!), it took its toll. Plus we had to walk back too. It was about 90 minutes round-trip. By the time we were almost home, Lucas was saying, "Mommy, this is hard."

To which Mommy said, Grrrrr purrrrr. (because I was a tiger!)

We ended up with a ton of candy (plus all the candy we bought to hand out, since by the time we made it back to our house, all the other trick-or-treaters were also heading home). But the boys have been great with only eating small amounts at a time.

Hope you had a great Halloween too!

Honored Hero Run

Today was the half-marathon I registered for back in the summer, pre-boating accident. I still can't run on my injured foot without it flaring up (though I have been able to start using the elliptical machine, since it has less impact on my foot), so I converted my registration to four runners in the family fun run, and we all headed out.

John ran with Josh, and Josh was booking. I ran with Lucas, who did great most of the time but did hitch a ride on my back for part of the race. Try running on an injured foot with a three-year-old on your back sometime!

Anyway, we all made it across the finish line, to much cheering from the other runners. Lucas got the biggest cheer. The combination of his tiny size and the very determined look he wears when running won their hearts.

Josh and Lucas each won completion medals:



It was a great family experience and a great way to support a very good cause--the registration fee goes to help children who are fighting and surviving blood cancers.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

We made our annual Pumpkin Patch trip this past weekend. Last year we drove north to Grapevine, TX. This year, we decided to try a farm to the south. It had all sorts of fun activities for the boys, starting with farm photos themselves:






Then, on to the pony rides. Lucas found a perfectly sized pony for himself:



And Josh was an old pro:

There was a fun wooden train on the playground:

And a petting zoo (FULL of poop -- when we first went in, I told the boys to try not to step in the little poop pellets and John just laughed. It was deserved -- they were EVERYWHERE! Completely unavoidable).

Fun halloween photos:

(and farm photos):

Self-portrait on the hay(less) tractor ride:

Sun was too bright, I guess, but still cute:

Then, finally, we headed into the actual pumpkin patch to select our pumpkins. Lucas found his first:

Josh had a harder time deciding among the larger ones:

And before we left, another round through the bouncy houses:

A little bean bag toss and some horseshoes (not pictured):

(P.S. Check out John and Lucas' matching style)

And, a final photo op:

John and Josh were in a heated horseshoe battle, so only Lucas made the last photo. Josh won the horseshoe game 10-9, so he left happy too!

Success x 2 (x2)

We had another successful weekend of soccer with Lucas. Not only did he once again actually play during his game, but he scored TWO GOALS!

And then a few hours later, Josh scored TWO GOALS for his team as well. I thought he actually scored three goals (out of his team's total of four), but he says it was just two. He had at least one assist too (and likely assisted on the other one too, where I thought he was the one who had scored). He is the scoring machine for his team.

Great weather and great teammates, plus good play and good sportsmanship by Josh and Lucas, are making for fun soccer Saturdays.

Success!

With the help of a little bribery, Lucas finally actually played in a soccer game. Meaning he not only went out on the field (and then just stood there), but he actually ran around and tried to get the ball. I was so proud. Everyone was cheering for him. He was so great.

He was even excited before the game:



Going after a ball at mid-field:



His kick-in:



Some tough defense:



Staying at it:

Run, Lucas, run!

He loved it too! He was proud of himself, and had a lot of fun. Hopefully next week will be another good experience.

Our new home

We moved this weekend, from our rental home about 30-40 minutes north of the city to a neighborhood close-in, about 10 minutes from downtown. It's a nice old established neighborhood with big old trees, wide streets, and a cute brick-paved main thoroughfare. We are renting here as well, and hopefully will stay here awhile. There are some great shops nearby, and it feels a lot more like the neighborhood we left behind in Portland.

Here are Josh and Lucas modeling the new house:



I don't have good pictures of the interior yet. First, there are boxes everywhere, which makes it difficult to photograph much of anything (other than boxes). And without drapes, the light is pretty severe for photography (but great for enjoying the sunny fall weather!). But here's what we've got for now.

The living room:



Josh's room (which is a nice size, and fits his new double bed (formerly the guest bed) very comfortably):


(and Sammy!)

Lucas' room, now with bunk beds!





Moving is exhausting though! Yes, he's really asleep in this picture, just like that.



Josh's new school has a dress code, and he looks so cute in his preppy clothes:



But before we left, he had to make a special card to say goodbye to his love, Ashlyn:





One of the things he's really looked forward to in this move was our promise that, at his new school, he could go to after-school care (because John will be substitute teaching in the Fort Worth school district, so he really has to. But because he really wants to go as well, we made it sound like a special treat). I think it's funny that he drew a picture of himself playing ball in after-school care inside Ashlyn's card.


More photos one of these days!