Halloween 2007

The Crocodile Hunter
(even though that is a snake on his shoulder, I think he also wrestled snakes and crocs) Christian had a hard time choosing his costume. He didn't want anything that seemed to little kiddish, but then he didn't want to be something gruesome. After many suggestions and trips to different stores he agreed upon this. Not his best costume, but he was satisfied.

The Pirate King

Jacob usually puts a lot of thought and planning into his costume, but this year was more challenging for him. So I just went to the store while he was at school found something I thought he might be satisfied with and it turns out he was very excited to be a pirate. Although he didn't want to wear the eye patch, the earring and the scruffy goatee

My Knight in Shining Armour
This was a costume he has been wearing the entire month of October since the day I bought it. He loved it and as I was helping him get it on this morning I noticed it had holes in the knees. Oops, I guess costumes aren't made to be worn more then a few times. I love when my kids get super excited about their costumes and they want to wear them all the time.

This is them right before they left to go trick or treating. They have always gone all together. Although, I thought this year might be different and Christian would want to go with his "older" friends, but he ended up going with his 2 brothers. I hope they always stay this close.

This Halloween was much more relaxing then last year and I realized why. It's because I didn't sign up to be in charge of any classroom parties. It was a first time in almost 5 years. And I very much enjoyed stopping in on the parties and then leaving. What a liberating feeling and I didn't feel guilty because I've been there, done that and went out to lunch instead.

Introducing the cutest baby!!

Jacob and I got to take an airplane ride and meet his newest baby cousin. Isn't he the cutest baby ever? I thought my babies were pretty cute, but this guy wins the prize. It was so much fun seeing my baby sister with her baby. We fell in love and couldn't get enough of holding his chubby round little hobbit body. He's doubled his birth weight at only 6 weeks old. (although he did start out pretty scrawny at 5 pounds.)

Oktoberfest 2007

Saturday night we had our 2nd annual Oktoberfest at our house. It included delicious German bratwurst and Bockwurst + my mom's secret recipe for Sauerkraut + German Potato salad + Apple Streudel + Linzer Torte + Good friends + fun games - the German beer - the children + our friend who dressed up as a German (notice the picture below as he is wearing dark socks with birkenstocks and bavarian sweater. He got the costume just perfect) = a really great night!!!!

Here is our special german visitor.

Is that Mark in the Kitchen? I had to take a photo since it's always a memorable moment when he is doing the dishes. He has many wonderful qualities and talents but cleaning the kitchen just isn't one of them.

Some of the fun friends that came to share in the festivities.

The husbands hanging out while the girls giggle and talk

Meet Jacob

Meet Jacob, he is sweet, kind hearted and loves dogs

He is adventureous, will try new things, very artistic, happy and feels the need for speed when he skis

He has a love for life and likes to make us laugh. Sometimes he makes us laugh even when he doesn't mean to. He asks lots of questions and informed me the other day "Mom I am a curious kid and have lots of questions." Oh, I can't wait for when he is a teenager. Any advice???

And the best part is he loves his family, especially his brothers and tells people they are his best friends.

Kudos to good friends

Sick Day

Thank you to the neighbor friends who took care of the carpool so I didn't have to leave the house. Thanks to a friend Celia who brought me what I needed when I was to sick to think straight. (tylenol sinus medication, special magic pills and Jamba Juice) Thanks to another friend Denae who took Carson most of the day. Thanks to my sweet children who were perfectly good all day so that I could get better. They even offered to massage my head and tried everything they could to help me feel better. Thanks to a husband that although he was 3,000 miles away in the middle of business meetings all day, he sent me countless text messages hoping to help me feel better. I woke up with a killer sinus migraine/headache. Sometimes I just get these terrible headaches and I become completely useless, which I hate. It's hard for me to ask people for help, but luckily all they had to do was look at me and know I wasn't feeling well. Thank goodness for gracious people who will help you when you are down. Here's hoping that tomorrow is a better day.

What's your season?

The other day at the park a bunch of mom's were talking about their season and what colors they can and cannot wear. Well I've heard this before, but honestly have never known my true "season." My mom always told me when I was little that I should wear blue and green because those were the colors that look good on me. So I spent most of my youth with many blue and green outfits. As I got older and out of the house I started realizing there were other outfits besides blue and green. It's like a whole new world opened up to me. So I dabbled with all kinds of colors and realized that some colors you just can't pull off with my coloring.

So at the park we were trying to decide what season I was, I think the consensus was Spring which makes sense because I have green eyes, fair skin and blond (with a little help from the salon) hair. I actually tend to like those colors and even decorate my house in those colors. So what does that mean, do I really need to stick to my season.? And how about different shades of the same color? And being spring means I shouldn't wear white or black and I love wearing white and actually think it looks good on me, apprently not and so now I am on the look out for beige to replace my white shirts. And what about black can't everyone wear black??? And suddenly getting dress is so confusing. One of the moms at the park sticks to her season colors and then even if she is wearing a non season color she will make sure she has her season color somewhere on her wardrobe. Wow, I was impressed!!! Okay, tell me what your season is!!! And how do I actually find out what my season is? Is there some kind of test I can take?

Legoland

Legoland with the cousins

My boys couldn't have been more excited then to spend 5 days with their cousins who are boys and happen to be their ages.

My sister in law, and my brother with their sweet daughter Eva.

Mark with the boys on one of those rides that spin and make you barf, that's why I am taking the picture and not on the ride.

Is that San Francisco or just an amazing replica at legoland?

Wow, now we are in NYC, funny how quickly that happened.

Legoland was fun. Although I imagined that literally the whole place was going to be made of legos. I was a little disappointed when the sidewalks and structures weren't all made from legos. So of couse we joked around about how the trees and flowers looked so real you couldn't even tell they were made from legos. We were also able to squeeze in Disneyland one day and a beautiful day at a San Diego beach. The weather was perfect and the company even better. In fact as soon as the cousins left Sunday morning my boys looked at me and said "okay let's go home now," they were done with the vacation when their cousins had left. We hope we can take another vacation with the cousins soon.