What they want for xmas

Michael wanted to make a "change" to his xmas list yesterday - three days before the big day - to add the gift he got for Joshua (a small Indiana Jones lego set) to HIS list. "Only bigger." Just to make it perfectly clear for us how his gift-picking logic works...

Too Late for the Card

We were able to get some nice pictures of the boys one afternoon...unfortunately too late for them to be options for our Christmas card (I had just finished ordering 70 or 80 other pictures!). But still so fun for Chris and I to look at. Maybe next year I'll start earlier...(maybe!)

When Gymnastics Practice Becomes a Game of Tag

Chris shot this clip of the boys sometime recently...I'm not sure where I was during the filming. My work shoes and bag are in the background so I'd like to think it's a Monday night and that I had already gone to bed because I was so tired from a weekend of work.

Most mornings after working I don't get far inside the door before I have to shed all that I am holding and pick up one or more small children. And usually that bag and those ucky shoes (I just got new non white ones--thanks mom!) don't get put away until Tuesday and have been known to stay there a good part of the week. (yikes!) So that's where I'm going to say I was---sound asleep after saving lives, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Chris thinks I was out gallivanting. Could be. I do have an extensive social life.

Anyhow, I was hesitant to post this what with the shocking (to some) clutter in the background but...what can I say? This is our life---cluttered and filled with happy (most of the time) giggly boys. Enjoy.

The Fall

Fall has arrived bringing with it some beautiful colors, cooler weather and new additional yard work. Luckily, as usual,the boys have been very helpful. First they help us rake the leaves into big piles and then help us spread them all over the yard again by jumping in them.

Michael and Joshua hard at work.

Matthew has learned how to smile for the camera!

Capitol DC Boys

We went to tour the new visitor's center at the Capitol building. Afterward Kate took this picture on her phone...

Uncle Brian!!!

Brian came for a visit today to check up on his nephews. As always we all were very excited to see him come and sad to see him go...

Halloween

Halloween was a big day for us. Michael was off from school (teacher workday), Joshua had a Halloween party and parade at his nursery school, we had Michael's birthday party, and then of course there was trick-or-treating. Here's a peek at our day:

Joshua and Tabitha (Snow White)

Miss Terri's class parade

Decorating pumpkins at Michael's Birthday Party

Ezra and his creation

Michael and his.

After the party was over Chris and I collapsed (we were both sick with a lovely bug the boys had traded throughout the week) and sent the boys to nap. With the threat of not being allowed to trick-or-treat the house was soon quiet. After we all woke up Michael decided he wanted to be Speed Racer for Halloween, rather than any of the superheros or various animals we have in our costume box (a mere 2 hours till trick-or-treat time). After some discussion I convinced Michael that no, I could not make a Speed Racer costume "real quick" but I did think we could put together a Luke Skywalker costume with the help of the hour old lightsaber from Ezra. The following is the best that we could do (apparently we don't own any cloaks...). Luckily, while he may look back on these pictures and groan, he had no qualms Halloween night about trapsing around in an inside out bathrobe... Having a lightsaber on your belt gives one a certain confidence.