Jesscherry arrives

Jesscherry came to visit us this weekend from Albany where she is in law school. The night started off with her hanging out with Wendy, the kids, and meeting Crash! I think it was mutual love at first sight! Crash decided that her boots were the best place to sleep and then the boys got Jess into a game of, what else, Dogopoly!! Sadly, Jess went close to bankrupt and then bedtime approached, so I think that was her bailout!! Emmawright arrived around 9:45, it was late, we were tired, and the kids were all in bed, so there aren't any photos of her, yet! There will be more today, since it is the big day of Halloween, and that means we'll have extra friends to go trick-or-treating in the rain with us!!

Potter at Reading Counts night

The program at Potter's school, Reading Counts, began last night with a kick off celebration that included hot dogs, chips, cookies (which Potter carefully inspected for Swine Flu germs before he at them), drinks, book give-a-ways, the B-Mets mascot Buddy the Bee, the UE Tiger mascot Ty, many UE high school students, and lots of friends!! Although Potter didn't get one of the books from the drawing, he did get a new book for signing up for this program. The program is a signed contract that each student will read at least 10 minutes a night with their coach (I am Potter's coach :) ) Given that Potter is a voracious reader, we won't have any problem making that 10 minute goal each night!!!

Still shots from gym

A few still shots - Molly doing her bridge (I can't imagine doing that anymore), Molly right as she is about to land from her vault, and Molly mid-back roll.

Open gym night at gymnastics

On Wednesday night, Molly had open gym at her gymnastics academy. This means that parents are allowed into the gym and can watch for the hour while sitting on the bleachers. I was able to take a lot of video of her and a bunch of pictures. Realizing that a parent is their child's biggest fan, I won't expect you all to watch every single video, but there are many to choose from !!! I'll have some still pics up soon. Most of those were from my iphone, and I have yet to download them :)

Molly doing her first type of vault.

The backwards roll

This video is of their entire circuit of events. There is a point where the girls get backed up before the vault and Molly has to wait for about 20 seconds. Sorry!!

Molly on the beam doing little kicks. Molly on the beam doing foot scoops.

Molly's new hair

Molly wanted to wear her Leia ears to school today, and since that is a harmless request, I obliged. When it came time for nap and we took the Leia ears out, Molly had an entirely new look and it freaked me out a little bit, seeing how different she looked. But she loves the look and hope that it stays in her hair forever.

Kids head to a birthday party

The kids went to a birthday party this afternoon where they were to wear their Halloween costumes. If you don't want to know what they are going to be before the actual day of Halloween, STOP READING AND DON'T LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!

The rest of you, continue on. Bonus points if you can tell who/what each kid is dressed up as!!

Potter's piano recital

This afternoon was the fall piano recital at Hilltop Retirement Home and Potter, of course, participated and played Clare de Lune (which doesn't sound like the one I know, so maybe it is a close cousin???) and did so great. Since it is close to Halloween, the teachers told the kids to dress up in their costumes and bring candy for the residents. Can you tell what Potter is going to be for Halloween???

Molly's big event

After the cement truck extravaganza, I took Molly to the library and she got her very own public library card. I am very proud of her. She wrote her name on the card as instructed and then we went to the children's area where she quickly picked out a bunch of books on tape and some story books. What a big day for her, I am so proud. Aunt Jean, I know you approve!!!!

Cement truck insanity

On Thursday, the neighbors across the street had the second half of their driveway poured and the cement truck was parked on the street for a good hour. Potter was at school, Caleb was napping, but Molly wanted to watch the ENTIRE event from start to finish. She took most of the pictures of the work being done, and was insistent many times that she get down there and muck the cement with them. Obviously, I had better judgement than she.....

Picture day at preschool

Molly and Caleb had picture day at school this morning. Given his track record last year, where he refused to have his picture taken, I thought it would be a good idea to take a couple at home and show that yes, my kid(s) did dress up and were ready for the chance to be photographed. As it turns out, Caleb's teacher said that he did pose for a few and that the best one maybe has him with his hand in his shirt. I told her I didn't care, I was just so incredulous that they got him to do anything at all!! Molly, of course, loves this stuff, and she was so happy to wear her new favorite dress with new tights and new shoes. What a beautiful girl!!

Crash - uncensored!!

This is the face of a puppy whose IQ would be the square root of a negative number. (If you don't get it, see the end of the post)

IQ = imaginary

Chautauqua in the fall - kids, animals and nature

Dave took the kids down to the art school in Chautauqua this past weekend. It was so gorgeous there, the leaves were all beautiful, they had such a fun time with Crash running all through the leaves. There was also a lot of mud, because it had snowed and rained for a few days. My kids are so wonderful, so loving and so much fun - I love taking them places!!!

Artists

The kids needed a project to work on, since outside was so muddy, snowy and yucky. Whip out the art pad and the crayons, colored pencils and markers. Instant Van Goghs!!!!

Crash meets Mac - love??

Once we arrived in Chautauqua, Mac and Crash went outside to solidify their relationship, well, sort of. Crash was the very inquisitive youngun' and Mac was like 'when is this peon going to leave me the heck alone?' On the upside, Dave and his dad didn't feel the need to sniff one another at all!!!

Friday, October 16th, first snow of the season

On Friday morning, we awoke to a decent amount of snow, given the date!!! As we crazily went about getting ready to leave for out of town to visit Dave's dad, I was able to snap a few shots around our house and yard, as well as a couple as we were leaving on the interstate.

Nature gardens

Last week at school, Molly and her class went on a nature walk where they gathered a ton of stuff to bring back. The next day, they created nature gardens, where they took all the things they had collected and then made a little creation out of them, sticking the flowers, etc..into playdough. They were so adorable, but things like that do not last forever. Coupled with going out of town, we had to take some pictures of them and then put them in the trash. But what a wonderful display she made!!!!

Now THIS is relaxation

Tonight after the fire was built, Crash decided that it was the place to be. He is totally exposed with his belly on the upside, but sure happy to be here with us. And he is using his lovey as a pillow. This is, to quote a dear friend of mine, so sweet that it makes my teeth hurt. I love my little guy to pieces!!!