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!

COMING SOON

Okay...so this is what happens when you do not remember your camera on vacations!! OF COURSE, the grandparents are great sources of pictures (my mom , Jason's dad), BUT I haven't been able to get those pictures just yet!

In a nut shell, we've have had a really awesome summer. It's hard to believe it's over in only one more week. The kids are trying to be excited for school, and I have to admit I am trying to be excited too. It is actually going to feel pretty lonely with them being at school ALL DAY:(

Most of our days have been at the pool..my parents, or the public pool with friends...OR at home jumping on the trampoline with friends, playing dress up, spies, painting, playing GI Joe OR cleaning up after any of the mentioned activities!! The kids have really had fun this Summer and are learning to get along quite well. For that I am VERY thankful!

We also had two phenomenal vacations...one with my family at Canandaigua Lake, and one at Bethany Beach with Jason's family. The weather cooperated on both vacations and we all had a blast at both. The kids had so much fun tubing and boating on one vacation, and on the next they were skim boarding on the beach, jumping waves and building sand castles.

So I only have a few pics of my own to share (from Canandaigua), and the quality isn't great, but it will have to hold you over. There will be more adventurous pictures COMING SOON!

AHOY THERE MATIES! The Captain and his first mates head to shore!! and yes they were to be addressed as Captain and first mates!

Eli attempts his first plunge into the frigid lake water....and loved every minute!

WHEW!! That's enough swimming, boating and tubing for one day!!

WELLLL...some of us have more energy than other!!

These are some sleepy kids waking up together on vacation....what
a picture. Ayden was still tucked into his bed snoozing away the morning:)

Claire, Ayden and Trent decided the dock was a perfect place to get wet! I don't know how many times they jumped of of that thing!! I guess a good night sleep can do wonders!!

FAIRWELL TO MJ

It has certainly been very sad to learn of Michael Jackson's death this Summer. Let me preface all of this by saying, Jason and I have always been big fans and do not believe he is any of the negative hoopla the media sets him up to be. We like to capitalize on the good things he has done as well.
ANYWAY...the kids have been exposed to the Jackson 5 for quite some time, but not as many of MJ's pop hits. With the media and radio coverage of his life one of my children has become somewhat obsessed with the songs, the look and the dances of Michael Jackson.

Yes, you guessed it...Ayden is now on a mission to dance and sing like the KING OF POP. He created this get-up on his own while listening to Thriller, Beat It, Bad and number of other MJ songs that are now on the ipod.


He really has the spin down, and is working on the moonwalk daily. We even found moonwalk lessons on youtube, which have been very helpful! As you can imagine his dance moves are just as unique as MJ's and also possess the major cool factor that Ayden includes in everything that he does. Someday he is really going to love these pictures!!

So I will also take this moment to include Ayden's thoughtfulness and charitable spirit. We had a yard sale today which was almost entirely made up of their "things". He suggested, and Claire agreed, that rather than keep the money for themselves, they give it to other countries that need to build schools for the children of their nation. I am so proud. We found an organization, "Save the Children" that reaches out to children all over the world, but has a specific donation for countries in conflict. We will be donating their $135.00 to building schools that can teach civil rights and educate children in countries in conflict. The goal of this specific cause is to have 3 million children in schools by 2010. Let's hope that Ayden and Claire can make a difference!

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE!

Anybody who knows Claire and Ayden know who this is...oh yes, in the flesh...Nat and Alex Wolfe from the infamous Naked Brothers Band!! It really was a dream come true for the kids! We have told them for the past 3 years that if there ever was an opportunity, we would take them to see their favorite band in concert.

Let me first tell you, that we almost missed it!! Sunday morning Jason opened up the newspaper and hands it to me with a knowing face...."Nat and Alex Wolfe will perform at HersheyPark Ampitheater today at 4 and 6:30" WELL, did we even have a choice? NO WAY. So at 10 am we packed up lunches, bought some tickets to the park and off we went on a Naked Brothers Band pilgrimage!
Let me also say this, I have NEVER waited in line for ANY concert, EVER. I have now. The doors opened at 3:00 and were general admission seats only, SOOOOO I started standing in line between 1 and 1:30!! Yes, I know...we went a little overboard, BUT we got some good seats, darn it!

The kids were in awe! Seriously we were eye level with Nat on stage (about the 4th or 5th row, center!) Once Claire got over her star struckeness, she had a great time dancing, woo-hooing, and participating in everyway she could!
Ayden loved it, but as you can imagine played it very cool. He observed and studied their every move in hopes that one day girls will be screaming for him as they were for Alex and Nat! He REALLY loved it and was very into the clapping and holding rock-n-roll hands in the air after a good song:)

And yes, for those of you asking whether or not Jason and I had a good time! Honestly, the performance was very good. These kids really have talent. THe music was great and their show was very genuine.

ROCK ON!

Jason took a short video with the camera...I can't flip it in the right direction, plus Jason flips it during the video? not sure why? Anyway...enjoy!

ALOHA!

Claire had a VERY happy birthday this year! She organized a luau as her birthday theme! Can you believe that she is now 6 YEARS OLD! As you can see, she invited a few friends and her cousins to celebrate the big day! Claire LOVES a party!

Of course, no party is complete without Daddy doing something or some THINGS that are totally embarrassing! Hula dance anyone?

Peer pressure CAN be a wonderful thing....or not. In this case, it gave Claire the extra nudge to dare to jump off the diving board! WAY TO GO CLAIRE! She has really become quite the fish this Summer! She is now swimming underwater and everything, with no floaties! She is very proud and so are we!