Trick-or-Treat 2011

The pumpkin-carving kit I bought was horrible this year. The knives were so cheap, they weren't long enough and the blades bent and broke. And I didn't even really use the patterns except for the ghost. Michael wanted a monkey and Luke wanted Spongebob, so I had to look on the internet for some pics to use as guides. Somehow, they all got done, but my hand is sore. I'm not sure it's ever fully healed from falling down the stairs Labor Day weekend.

 Grim Reaper Luke and his evil monkey servants--Senior Monkey and Junior Monkey.

 Junior Monkey would not trick-or-treat without his doggie blanket.

 So chubby. Michael wore this costume when he was a year older than Justin and I think it was a bit big on him. Justin barely fit in it.

Luke got this ghost decoration from the Koguryo party and he was preoccupied with hanging it just right.

Koguryo Halloween Party

 Koguryo hosted a Halloween party again this year. Last year, Luke got really scared by the teens in the haunted house area, so we thought we wouldn't bring Justin. However, this year it turned out to be much more kid-friendly. Matt brought Luke and Michael and they just had the best time playing games, getting prizes and talking with local policemen about Halloween safety. Next year, Justin can come.

 Lining up to play "wrap the mummy,"look how tiny Michael is compared to the other kids.

 Michael and Vili wrapping one of the instructors. Vili is on the demo team with Luke. She just friended me on Facebook. She updates her status every five minutes--now I have a window into the life of an eighth grader. Not sure I needed one, but she's a cute kid.

Happy Halloween from 1988

I believe I am 13 in this pic and dressed as a french maid. Bart was dressed as a cat. He was still a puppy in this picture. What an awesome dog. Thanks for the scan, Mom and John.

Boo at the Zoo 2011-take two

There is so much to do at Boo at the Zoo and it is so crowded, that it really demands two trips. Last weekend we did treat stations, animals and playgrounds with friends. This weekend, we did the rides at Jungle Jack's Landing, the carousel and more playgrounds. I still didn't get many pictures and poor Matt was miserable with his allergies. The kids had fun, though. Last weekend we put Justin in the monkey costume, yesterday we tried the puppy. Not sure what we will do tomorrow for the real Halloween. Luke is the Grim Reaper and I don't have to tell you what Michael is.

Busy Weekend

Not that the pictures will tell you that! Friday night we let the kids stay up to watch a Spongebob Squarepants Halloween special.  They set up their blankets and pillows themselves. I thought they looked very "kid." After the kids went to bed, we saw there was a frost warning, so Matt and I went out back at 11pm to harvest the rest of the peppers. On Saturday morning, Michael had soccer and then our friends came over for violin lessons. We've been off the wagon for violin for quite some time, but the kids picked up again pretty quickly. Too bad I didn't think of taking pictures. Then we went to Boo at the Zoo. It was crazy crowded.  We saw some more friends there. I only got like 3 pictures of the boys because it was so insane, but somehow they got erased from my bloggie anyway. Is it terrible to hope for slightly worse weather next weekend, so that we can go back to watch some more shows and ride the rides with slightly less company? Then we went to dinner and finally got home around 8pm. Sunday was church, grocery store, repainting the deck and various other projects including this one:

Luke's first report for school. This is part of his All Saints' Day project. The picture and report is due tomorrow. Then on All Saints' Day next week, he will go to school dressed as Saint Luke and process during mass. His costume is basically finished and I think he did a great job on his report.

Field Trip to the Fire Station

Luke's class went to the Clintonville Fire Station today and since it's midterm break, I got to go! We were walking and if it had rained, the trip would have been canceled. Luke prayed so hard last night that the rain would hold off and, thankfully, it did.

 Coats on and ready to go.

 The "Mrs. Ponesse" group--Luke, Evie, Sophia and Abbey--arriving at the station. It was a pretty long walk all the way across North Broadway and then up High.

Taking turns holding a big metal hose hookup.

 In the truck.

 The class. Mrs. Hansberry is in the back. She's so darn cute.

And speaking of cute . . .this is Evie. She was Luke's first friend in K and they are still close. They goofed off and whined the ENTIRE walk back. Evie burps and talks about farts and flashed her underpants at one point. No wonder Luke likes her. She was the only little girl in pants today and check out those glasses! She's a major PITA, but I love her!

Hard at Work

In the new study/nursery.

It's About Time!!!

Luke FINALLY lost his first tooth tonight! Well, pulled it out because it was driving him crazy is more like it. Watching him standing in front of the mirror all bloody-gummed as he wrenched it out totally brought me back to doing the same thing. I never had the patience to just wait for a tooth to fall out on its own. I had him put the tooth in an old pill bottle (stole that idea from Ali)  and told him that the tooth fairy will take the tooth and leave some cash. He has by now heard from everyone that $5 is the going rate for the first tooth. Rates beyond seem to vary by family. I told him that the tooth fairy may leave her "terms and conditions" along with payment tonight.

A Work In Progress

Our house is 1238 square feet. And, due to the crappy housing market, it will likely remain our house for a few more years. We have been long overdue for a major reorganization project. Our long term plan, and I know some folks disagree with this, is to have all 3 boys sleeping in one room. Justin's room is destined to be an office/library/guest room. Moving all of the office stuff upstairs, will open up two large closets in the play room to store the toys that have been creeping out into our living space. Matt has been chomping at the bit to get started, but Justin is nowhere near ready to share a room. But we are so desperate for some space that we decided living with a temporary solution would be preferable to waiting it out.

Step One: move all of the books out of the boys' room and into the nursery. Justin liked this part a lot. 

Step Two: move out the changing table that Justin doesn't really fit on anyway and bring up two large bookcases and the desk from downstairs. We moved out the rocker, as well. Once Justin is out of his crib, there will plenty of room for a reading chair and an air mattress when guests sleep over.

Step Three: buy Michael a big-boy chest of drawers. Move Justin's clothes into the plastic drawers in the boys' closet. I'm leaving Justin's hanging clothes in the other closet indefinitely.

Tomorrow we will reorganize the toys in the playroom, but we are super happy already with the changes, even if  Justin will essentially be sleeping in an office for the next 6-9 months. He is quite happy to have loads of books to unshelve.

Justin vs. Sippie Cup

Jammies

When Luke was 2, I bought him a bunch of two-piece flannel jammies because we were going to be potty training in the winter. I never used them with Michael because I always had him in feet jammies, but Justin is wearing them now because he has a rash on one foot and the doctor said no feet jammies until it heals. Much like Luke did, Justin loves these jammies because they have Thomas on them.

 Apparently, these jammies also inspire us to force our children into wearing stupid slippers. Yes, we still have the Thomas ones that Luke is wearing, but Justin wanted to wear "doggies."

Fall Day

Some apple picking.

 Some clean up.

Some swordplay.