Pumpkin Carving 2014

While big brother has been sick for a week (a virus - either one or two combined - but thankfully no pneumonia or strep throat), sister is feeling spunky and doing great.

Here she is carving her little, tiny pumpkin at our neighbor's last night.

Rhys did get into the action as well.

Awww...I do love Halloween. And hoping everyone is healthy by FRIDAY!

Costumes

From Bumble Bee to Skeleton to Ninja/Firefighter to the One-Eyed Orange Monster to Princess?

Except for the Bee, Claudia has chosen all of the above costumes...she knows her mind, that's for sure.

I get it, Claudia. I love your strength of will and adaptability. And how you are learning about who you are ... and you look amazing.

(With her BFF - again! )

Halloween - Boo in the Park!

More candy and more candy and MORE candy. 

One more week until this madness is over. :) 

Mommy Day

While Claudia and Rhys prefer "Mommy" days - they usually have a good time with Crystal and her son A. 

Case in point.  

We Love Daddy!

and it shows...some days (right Claudia?!)

Can I have a 5-0?

While Dom and I jetted off on our one-night away to celebrate a non-event, a non-birthday with good friends in Chicago...

(You can tell we are very sad to leave.)

the children went to the pumpkin patch with their babysitter.

but want to go again with Mom and Dad -- it's nice to be missed.

And it's nice to get away...

Can you tell we had fun?

First Grade and First Literary Loves

I love how big and yet how small Rhys still is. Despite chewing on and destroying his shirts and developing a sudden deafness when it comes time to do something, anything, a parent says -- I wish I could bottle him up in time now.

He LOVES Harry Potter right now - and I am sure you can guess what he is going to be for Halloween this year. We both wish Hogwarts was real...but I am 41 to his six.  But somehow, I don't care.  It's true you can enjoy all sorts of things again when you have children -- and Harry is one of them.