HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

OBVIOUSLY we have been quite busy....and I have been trying to watch my "computer time". It can be too time consuming, don't you think?

Anyway, I thought I would post some pics of our activities of late and some of my most recent project. Keep in mind I am asking Santa for a camera this year, so I can have some quality images to share with you, rather than these cloudy out of focus ones!
This picture (and the one above) were taken at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster in early November. We thought it would be fun to take the kids for an outing...they really liked it. The corn maze was the best part for them, but they also learned a few things while we were there, so all in all it was really fun!























This is my darling little "Native American" at Thanksgiving. I also wore a feathered hat, as did her cousin Eli:) Claire also persuaded her Aunt Torrie to wear a bonnet so there was a pilgrim present as well! I didn't feel so silly in a feathered headband when I saw her in her bonnet! hee-hee
















We JUST had our first snow on Saturday! The kids were SOOOOO excited and spent most of the day outside with their friends! They tried building a snowman, displayed the "biggest snowballs ever", and went sledding Sunday morning! I am so happy they had a chance to play in snow already this year:)


And now for "the project"...
I have been co-chairing the Staff Appreciation Committee at the elementary school this year. Typically we provide the occasional specialty lunch or snacks, goody bags, etc. for the teachers. This holiday season we thought....WOW, how about an Extreme Faculty Room Make-over!! We had a little bit of money in the budget, and worked with it to improve the faculty room as much as possible! We were not allowed to paint:( BUT we were able to make a BIG difference with lots of small features within the room! Take a peak!








Windows Before,

and after














Couch corner Before...



After














Bulletin Board Before....



and After













Fridge placement before....



and after.
We had a lot of fun finding creative "pick-me-ups" for the room and I think the teachers really appreciate it making it very worthwhile!

OOOOOOOO! SPOOKY HALLOWEEN!

Today was one of our favorite days ever:) TRICK OR TREAT! At school, the tradition is to have 'Crazy Hair Day', bringing the challenge of having bigger and better hair every year!!




This is Ayden in his classroom and yes this is the pose he chose to make when I said "smile". Obviously he is very much 'himself' when he is at school!














One of the best parts of being a mom is that you still get to be a kid whenever you feel like it! I mean, anyone who knows me knows that I cannot overlook an opportunity to dress up!

TRICK OR TREAT

Ayden chose to be a zombie from Thriller, and Claire wanted us to be a mother-daughter team of witches.....with style! It was SOOOOO fun to do their make-up and find great costumes! Claire has had this witch dress in her dress-up bin since she was 3!! That's the kind of costume I'm ALL about!! Ayden's speaks for itself, don't you think?

Hear are my dear children all hopped up on sugar and fresh air, trying to look their very scariest. As you can see, Ayden is pretty frightening. Claire, however is the type of child that can wear "ugly" and still look so darn pretty!!! What a fabulous Halloween! Loved it!!

FALL FUN

The kids carved their pumpkins Tuesday night....I think this is the first year they have done everything on their own. They made the lid, they "gutted" it and they designed/carved their jack-o-lanterns ALL BY THEMSELVES! It was really fun. You'll have to wait to see their designs on Trick-or-Treat. I will post many pictures of my costumed family!



A TEA PARTY!!

On another note....Claire and I went to a mother/daughter tea party last weekend and had a very nice time! She chose our outfits for the special occasion. The tea included a professional photo, yummy sandwiches and scones, a magic show, an open candy bar AND quality time with my Baby-girl!! It doesn't get much better than that!

Claire volunteered to help the magician and was able to pull scarves out of his magic sack....when she uttered the magic words the scarves would change colors!! ooooh-ahhhh!

We had a terrific time...the only bummer was that Benny and Lilo found her candy from the tea party and ate all of it! AHHHH! Apparently they do not like starbursts, because all the starbursts were nicely left whole among all the trash and scraps they had torn through! How weird is that? Only our "special" dogs would be finicky about candy!

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN......

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN
DANCE DANCE DANCE!!

WOOOO!! We were on the hot tamale train last night!! Thanks to our great friends Cole and Brian, we all went to Baltimore for the tour of "So you Think You Can Dance!" It was awesome. The kids LOVED it and were talking about their favorite parts this morning. Of course, They want to grow up to be on the show! Go for it kiddos!

This is what happens when you ask 3 grown men to strike a dance pose at a SYTYCD show!

Excitement mounts as we wait for the dancers to appear on stage....the stage is in the background of these pics. We had a pretty awesome view and could see everything perfectly from our seats! It was so fun to see the entire routines on stage, rather than the little window that we see on our TVs at home.

The kids (and adults) were really impressed with so much of the show! We didn't get home until after midnight...I don't know what kind of parents/educators that makes us!! The kids went to school an hour late this morning:( Sais la vie!
We had a TERRIFIC time. Thanks again, Cole and Brian.

VENTING

No pictures this week guys! Let me just take a moment to recap our last two weeks...Last weekend Ayden sprained his foot on the trampoline while jumping with his Daddy, of course:) The poor kid was using crutches for five days and still has a limp! Sprains take some time to heal even on little people. So, that was last Sunday....

Last Friday Claire was sent home from school with a fever! Of course this is after I insisted she go to school, insisted her throat was sore from her allergies, and insisted that she would be fine once she went to school and saw her friends.....oops. This poor child had a fever Friday through Wednesday (today)!! I THINK we have finally conquered this virus -ear infection- strep -combo, BUT HOLY MOLY!!!!

It's just crazy that all we hear about is the flu and swine flu , blah blah blah, and here I am with a child who has neither, but has missed 4 days of school!! I guess what I am trying to say is none of us know or can predict what ailment we will encounter this year....all we can do is our best to stay healthy and happy:) and believe me I am trying to stay happy!

SOOOOO, thanks for listening to me vent!! I say all of these things in the most cheerful way possible...please don't read it as otherwise!! Hopefully all of YOU are doing better than we have been these few weeks!! Let's pray that Ayden, Jason and I don't get bit by the fever bug too:)

FALL FUN!

These first three pictures are of the kids doing the "Elementary Run for Fitness" race. They did an AWESOME job. The course is a 1/2 mile run around the E-town Fairgrounds. There were about 15 girls in Claire's race...and she placed 3rd!!! WAY TO GO CLAIRE!!!!

There were about 20-25 boys in Ayden's race. One of the boys is Ayden friend and BIGGEST competition...they were in the same class last year and like to compete for the fastest times in EVERYTHING. His race was very fast paced, but he pulled through and came in 2nd place.
WE ARE SO PROUD AYDEN!! GREAT JOB.

Of course the race is fun, but the kids take it very seriously too! They were both very pleased with their accomplishments and did their very best! That's all we ever ask of them! p.s. the pics of Ayden are courtesy of our friend Jeff Ethreidge...Dalton's dad(Thanks Jeff). Dalton is the kiddo in the blue shirt in the group shot and is one of Ayden's closest friends.


NOW we shift gears (no pun intended) to a different type of race........
Jason participated in a cyclocross race last weekend...the kids were able to race afterward on a course designed specifically for them. It was SO fun to see them race so hard against other kids with the same passion for cycling......Like father - like son and daughter!!!

Claire checking out the course....

Watch out boys....here I come!!

Oh yeah...jumping the barriers is no sweat with Claire's determination:)

Ayden was, of course, VERY serious about the competition!! He wanted to race with kids who were older than he is...and he did with no problem
!

On your mark, get set, go!!

He sets high goals for himself and his sister is there to run beside him , cheering him on (in the background)!!

An expert already!!

MY CHAMPIONS!! by the way...I will post pics of jason soon. He did a great job too and the pictures of him were professionally taken so they are extra good!

SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOLS DAYS!

It is hard to believe it's that time of year again. Our first week of school is now under our belt! The kids are having fun, but are not easily adjusting to getting up early and being away from home 8 HOURS A DAY! I haven't adjusted to that part either!

Clarie took great care in choosing her outfit for the first day of school.
She was definitely making a statement! You've hit the big-time when you reach 1st grade!
Can you believe my baby is in 1st grade?

Ayden didn't so much care about what he wore as long as it was "Tony Hawkish". Doesn't he look old in this picture? It just eats me up!!

The neighborhood kids have enjoyed walking to their new, CLOSER bus stop this year! It is so easy to step outside and walk two houses down to catch the bus in the morning!

NEW PICTURES

To catch you up with our Summer activities, I will include few words and more pics this time!! Enjoy!!

These first few are the infamous E-town Fair!! woo-hoo!

PEACE!

Okay, is it me, or do sheep really look like they belong on a different planet? weird.

How cute is this?

SMILE! doesn't it look like it is smiling? for real.

Claire could spend everyday grooming bunnies....

and loving bunnies.....

and just being happy:)

THE BEACH!!!!

Claire is getting ready for some boogie boarding...with Daddy of course! She still likes to have big bad Dad by her side!!

Ayden's goal was to be the best skim boarder possible this year....he is definitely the best in our family!! It took a few tries, but once he started skimming, there was NO stopping him!

Just scouting for the perfect wave!

wipeout!

I like to call this picture "Gram's mini-me"! She's got the cover up, the visor, the sunglasses, and the chair....hold on, is that Gram or Claire. It is so hard to tell!