Halloween 2009

The week before Halloween was super busy at our house this year. I had an old friend from Nashville in town visiting. I'd go to work during the day then come home & stay up late talking. It was great to spend time reminiscing, but it sure did catch up with me. I've been exhausted ever since! So, I'm finally putting up the pictures of the boys from Halloween.

When the boys were little I use to make a lot of their Halloween outfits. But over time they decided they wanted store bought costumes. Well, this year we went back to the homemade kind. Austin knew he wanted to be a zombie a couple of months back. He had an old pair of jean that got ruined last year when a red pen leaked in his pocket. For some reason I held on to those jeans. It's a good thing I did. Austin had fun ripping them & smearing make-up & blood on them. James did a great job helping him with the make-up on his face and arms. Up close it looked like parts of his skin were peeling off.

Dylan wasn't sure what he wanted to be. I knew we had a couple of old white sheets in the closet that we never used, so I suggested he be a ghost. It didn't take long for him to decide that was a good idea. Then we started talking about how we'd do it exactly. First I tried using a twin sized sheet. It was not big enough. So the day of Halloween we got out the king sized sheet & started cutting out the eyes & mouth. Dylan didn't enjoy the fitting sessions so much, but in the end the costume was pretty cool. The hula hoop added a great effect. As he walked it looked like he was floating.

This year the boys decided to go trick or treating separately with different neighborhood friends. James & I stayed home to pass out the candy. I was so worried Dylan would trip & fall. I pictured him coming home with a broken arm or leg. But at the end of the day he arrived home unscathed. I think this might be the last year of trick or treating. We shall see.

5K

This past Saturday we woke up super early so James & Dylan could participate in the Lukemia & Lymphoma 5K. It was FREEZING!!! But I braved the chilly temps so I could be there cheering them on.
Look at all those people!!

My speedy runner

Our friends Don & Ashley participated too! Dylan placed in the top 3rd & James placed in the top half. Don & Ashley won medals for having the top times for their age groups.

Here's James coming in for the finish! I'm so proud of my boys.

Forest Park Balloon Glow

Last night we joined our friends, Douglas, JD & all their kids at the Forest Park balloon glow. It was so cool. The park was packed. It took FOREVER to get there, but it was a great experience. We always love getting together with Doug & his family. The kids had fun playing together & the adults had fun eating & chatting.

This first picture is of the Energizer Bunny Balloon. It was huge!
I liked the gumball machine balloon.






Experimenting with light tricks

More light tricks


All the kiddos
Happy 20th Birthday to someone or something

A close-up view of the Energizer Bunny

Here's a video of the balloon glow. When the horn would sound all the balloons would fire up the flames. It was such a pretty sight.

First Day of School

I'm such a bad mother. More than a month after school has started I'm finally posting the picture of the first day of school. Austin & Dylan hate this tradition. They feel embarassed that I'm taking their picture while their friends could be watching! That's why it's never a picture of great quality. I'm literally trying to snap a picture while they're walking out the door.

This year the boys are at different schools. Dylan is in 6th grade & Austin is in 7th. The first day of school Austin came home loving his new school. Dylan came home crying saying he wanted to be home schooled. Things have improved some for Dylan. He's no longer asking to be home schooled, but he definitely doesn't love his school like he did last year. Oh to have the problems of an 11 year old!

Saint Louis Zoo

Right before school started, we decided to do one last summer thing. Off we went to the Saint Louis Zoo. They have a new exhibit where you can pet the stingrays. So, here's the pictures from our day at the zoo.
The zoo entrance
The stingrays were so soft. They loved to be petted. They reminded me of dogs because they would swim under your hand so you could pet them & then they turn around to come back for more. There were a couple who had really cute personalities. They'd splash you on purpose. Sometimes they'd flip up a little to look like they were smiling at you. I think we spent an hour with the stingrays, but it felt like just a few minutes - so much fun!!
Notice the happy face?

Not so happy anymore!!!
Austin's getting so tall!
Here's a mongoose.
My sweet boys
I took tons of pictures in the butterfly house. I was trying really hard to get a picture of a blue butterfly that kept flying around me. It was so fast! I never got a great picture of it, but here's some other beautiful butterflies.

We Have to Move!!

I am so sad today! It's a yucky rainy day. Just kind of gives you the blues where you want to crawl back in bed for the day. James & I went to run an errand. We decided to go buy doughnuts to cheer us up. Risking our lives, we drove through a thunderstorm to get there. Finally we pull into the parking lot. "There's nobody here!" I said. Then I noticed all the windows were boarded up. The Krispy Kreme signs were down. On the door was a sign saying they had closed. WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?! The closest ones to us now are about 40 minutes away. That just made my sad day extremely sadder. How can we live here when there's no Krispy Kreme?

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Last week I took the boys to the Missouri Botanical Gardens with my friend Doug. The boys & I had never been there before. They have lots of pretty plants. The kids really enjoyed the mazes & anything that featured water.
I love lillies. If I ever adopt a little girl, I'd name her Lily. Here's Dylan standing next to some pretty lillies.

Most of the kids standing in front of the Chihuly glass onions. At least that's what they look like to me.

Pretty peppers. We kept daring each other to eat one.

Trying out the macro setting on my camera.

Austin was staying cool in the shade. He was very tired after having stayed up all night at our church. Some of the junior high boys were having a lock-in.

I don't know what this building is, but I like it. Reminds me of an English cottage.

We were getting a lesson about this old tree. It has lightning rods & is grounded so that it won't get struck by lightning!

I dared Austin to touch the cactus.

Silly brothers

Landon, Doug's youngest, is too cute!!

If you look closely in the middle, you can see Doug with most of the kids down in the Japanese garden.

The boys were trying to touch a turtle. I'm trying to convince the boys that Swimmy should go live there. She'd have a huge pond to swim in & lots of family. But the boys asked, "What if those other turtles don't like Swimmy?" To which I replied, "Swimmy's friendly, of course they'd like her!" I don't think I've convinced them just yet.

The girls are resting in the shade while the boys continue to try & touch a turtle.

Mr. Chipmunk

Our only successful attempt at getting all the kids in one picture.

Dylan in the "pool" at Tower Grove Park. This is where we had our picnic. The kids had fun splashing in the water. It cracked me up that they had a lifeguard on duty. I know, I know. A child could drown in a couple of tablespoons of water, but seriously. Should we have lifeguards stationed at every wading pool/fountain around the country?

Landon, Clayton, & Aiden (with the gun). Aiden & the kid in the red shirt almost got into a fight. Then they were the best of friends. Boys are too funny.

Brenden loved the skates we had in our trunk. I had been meaning to take them to Goodwill for months. So glad we found someone who would enjoy them.
The adults were chillin in the shade while the boys played in the water. It was a fun day. Boy were we tired. Austin & Dylan slept the whole way home. If James would have been with me, I think I would have slept too. But since I had to drive, I don't think sleeping would have been a good idea.