Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

It has been a crazy day and evening. It is 7:00 pm as I write this and it doesn't look like the craziness is going to let up anytime soon.

We started the day at Jason's school for a costume parade and party.

Think he has had enough sugar already.

Then it was off to the downtown area for some trick or treating. The street shuts down and all the merchants stay open to hand out candy.

Here is Megan, Jason and Dar-Chi, one of Jason's friends.

Megan quickly blew us off and hung out with her friends. This is a look at the downtown area and yes those are storm clouds in the distance.

Jason getting candy at the movie theater.

This is a lot of fun and we usually run into all kinds of people that we know. Anthony wasn't with us, he worked at getting the carnival set up at the high school. He is working there tonight. Steve and Jason just took off to head there and then off to the college dorms. The college kids decorated the dorms and hand out candy.

I have to say this has been one of the warmest Halloween we have had since leaving California. Last year it was in the 20's and the year before it was down around 15 degrees. Tonight it was in the 50's which is sweet shirt weather for us.

This picture is of Megan, right after I told her that if her pumpkin is inappropriate it would not go on the porch. Well, her pumpkin is very boarder line. If I get a good picture of it, I will post later.

And because I feel bad that I have no pictures of Anthony tonight, here is one from yesterdays game. They lost big time.

Have a happy Halloween and remember only 55 days until Christmas.

Steve's Pumpkin

So....what do you think of Steve's pumpkin?

Monday Monday ......

You can finish the rest of the song on your own. The kids at school today where nuts. Can't wait until next Monday after they spent the weekend loaded up on sugar. lol

Steve is home today and is working on pumpkins with the kids. I will have pictures tomorrow, of course. I didn't do much cooking yesterday and I am making up for it today. Jason made me feel bad, because I have not finished his "Pasta salad with cheese and olibes." His words not mine.

Other then that, a pretty mellow Monday around here. Then again, it is only 3:30 and I am still waiting for two more to come home. Who know what they will bring.

Enjoy your Monday.

47 - 0

Yes that was the final score of the homecoming football game. And no we did not score the 47. The other team also spray painted our goal posts purple. Not a good night for the tigers. There is always next year.

Today I am spending most of the day in the kitchen. I need to get my freezer stocked. Plus, I promised the kids some of their fall favorite treats. Carmel apples, pumpkin bread, peanut butter and chocolate cookies (OK, that one is mine) and some other things. I am also starting to think about what I am doing for Christmas this year. Last year I sprained my shoulder 3 weeks before Christmas and my baking suffered. My lovely sweet nephew said he understood, but you could hear the disappointment in his voice when he found out there would be no "Aunt Chris's famous Peanut Brittle".

Enough with the Christmas talk. I am going to start stressing myself out about it and it's not even Halloween yet. I should start stressing out that we don't have our pumpkins done and my decorations are still a box in the middle of my living room. We did go to the pumpkin patch yesterday and here are some pictures of that. The pumpkin patch and maze is located on Anthony's football coach's parents place. They do a very cute job and it was a lot of fun.




Teenagers are good for something. I didn't have to carry this thing.
Megan, not in a good mood and would not smile for a picture. She had her hand up telling me no pictures. I think this one was the best shot of the day.


This was taken in the maze, and it was a close as Jason would get to it.
They are plotting what they would like to do to scare kids this Halloween. With the talk of scarring people, Megan's mood started to get better.

What A Morning

I just have to laugh when days start off like this. For the most part everyone this morning was in a good mood. That's not always a good thing. What put my little bundles of joy (and my hubby too) in such a good mood? Our cable station finally got with the program and added a bunch of new channels. We now have the Cartoon Network, which we have been without since moving out of Washington. I could barley get them dressed and out the door. Jason left mumbling in his best zombie voice "must watch TV, must watch TV."

The big homecoming game is tonight. Of course we are going!!! We live in a small town and that is what you do. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a victory tonight, we need it to go to the playoffs. This town has not won a state title since 1976. Between us, I don't see it happening this year either. My son is not on the varsity team, so I can say that.Here are a couple of pics from the homecoming parade the other night. This illustrates my need for a better camera.

My kid is in the white truck.
I had to really edit this picture to be able to see the truck.

There was no hope for this one. Anthony is the one looking like he is going to fall off the truck.

All Kinds Of Stuff

It has been awhile since I have updated but I have a good reason. The only spare time that I have had has been taken up with sleeping. It has been absolutely crazy around here.

It is homecoming week here and in a small town that is a big deal. It would be bigger if the varsity team was winning games, but that is another story. Anthony will point out that both the Freshmen and JV have been doing pretty good. Of course, he is on both teams. According to the team, coach's and Dads it's a rebuilding year. Isn't that what they always say when they are losing.

For spirit week, the kids where supposed to dress up as something from the game Monopoly.

I think I mention that Megan is done with soccer. Here are a couple of more pictures of her. She usually played goalie the first half then forward the second half.

I just thought this one was funny.

Here is one of Jason, because he is just so stinking cute.

Other updates:
My job is going well, and I am starting to really enjoy it. I do miss my free time and the house looks like a bomb went off. Oh Well....

Megan finally heard from DJ. He likes his new house, likes San Diego, glad they have lots of candy and hates his new school. Sounds like the same old DJ. Megan is much happier now that she has talked to him. You can tell they really miss each other and school vacation's are going to be tough. I can tell my phone bill is going to go up.

Steve has finally agreed with me that I need a new camera. While I love mine it just doesn't cut it in low lighting. Now we just need to agree on which one I should get. There is a $700 difference between the two different cameras up for discussion. Believe it or not, the one Steve thinks I should get is the more expensive of the two. Both are of the Nikon family. I have wanted a Nikon since I was 16 years old. Anyone interested in what I want for Christmas?

A Week In Review

It's been one of those weeks around here. Thank goodness select soccer is over. No more driving 1 1/2 hours to a soccer game every weekend.

Anthony finishes up football in the next couple of weeks and baseball will start right on it's heals. He is being worked over pretty good by his old wrestling coach. As soon as he heard Anthony wouldn't be playing basketball he was all over him to start wrestling again. Of course being the good mother that I am, said "whatever you want my dear child." While the whole time I am thinking, please please please let him take the winter off from a sport. In reality, high school football never ends.

Steve's Dad's surgery went well and he is feeling much better. He is a lot happier being out of the hospital and back home. Doreen is working on fattening him back up. Steve is happy to offer some advice in that department. Sorry Steve, it was there...... :)

My Aunt Dorothy's funeral is this Monday. I am really feeling bad that I can't be there. She was like a grandmother to me and I will miss her. Family is starting to arrive from out of town which is very good for my Uncle. When all is said and done, my mother needs a vacation. You are always welcome up here.

I am working on getting some soccer and football pictures uploaded but I have just been to tired to work on them. We now have 4 kids at the preschool, which makes it a lot of fun. We have an open house scheduled for this Sunday and Tuesday. We are really hoping to add another little boy. We only have one in class right now.

Ok that is all I have for now. My friend is coming up to visit tomorrow with her family and I need some sleep. I have evidently been a little bit cranky the last couple of days.

Have a good weekend.

Aunt Dorothy

She lived a full good life and touched the hearts of everyone who knew her.
We love you and you will very missed.
Picture taken at Uncle Bud's 90th birthday 2 years ago. She is the one in pink her favorite color.

A Joke From Jason

Why does the banana Peel????

Because he didn't where any sunscreen.....

Get it.....Get it??


Note from Chris:
Admit it, you laughed a little bit

Another Soccer Season Has Ended

It was a great break in the day for us. The weather was nice and lunch with the team was fun. The girls finished the season by only losing one game and they tied today. They have really come along way.

The news for Steve's Dad wasn't what we where hoping for. I believe that his positive attitude will get him through the next couple of days just like it has for the last couple of months. It's times like this that we wish we lived closer to our families.

I also wish we where there for my Mom and Uncle. My aunt is passing and it is really taking a toll on everyone. She has lived a long and full life but it still doesn't make this time any easier.

Even though we are not there with you guys, we are thinking of you and saying our prayers.

We love you all.

Updates

My Dad is doing well, and has to spend the weekend off his leg. Too funny, I told him he can play on his peter and Mom can't yell at him. Well, she can yell at him, just not about the peter.

Still waiting to here about Steve's Dad. We should hear a little bit more this afternoon.

A quick observation: What did we do before cell phones? Steve has got to be going out of his mind. He forgot his at home. So that should be about 2 days without it. LOL

Let's see, what is today's date? October 1oth. Is it really time for snow? That is what we got and it is in the low 30's. None on the ground here but you can see it all around us. According to Farmers Almanac, the Pacific Northwest is in for a long COLD winter. Hey Mom, I am thinking you should visit in November. hehehe

I got some good shots of Anthony's game and I will post those later. Of course, one of the best is a little blurry and I am going to see what I can do with that one.

Have a good Friday, and enjoy your weather you Californians.

Waiting For The Phone To Ring

This is the true bummer of not living close to your family. We are waiting to hear news from both Dads today. My Dad is in surgery and Steve's Dad is having complications from the cancer. You are both in our prayers and we love you very much.

We Love You

It's my Dad this time who is in need of some prayers. He is having surgery tomorrow and I really wish I could be there.

Good Luck tomorrow and we all love you.

Goodbye

I had a long post figured out, but I really don't want to do anymore crying.


GOODBYE!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Change of Plans

So, we had a major shift in plans this weekend. We decided that Megan would skip her soccer game this weekend and spend it with DJ. We found out that he would be leaving early Tuesday morning. We took him to the movies yesterday and he spent the day with us today. Meg has to go to Confirmation class tomorrow but they can spend the rest of the day together.

The family he is staying with has really relaxed their rules and allowing him to spend all his free time with us. This is going to be very hard to say good bye, but we know that he will be very loved. I can't believe that it has been 4 weeks tonight that his father was killed.

One more thing.... Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a movie worth missing. In my opinion, not the kids. They liked it and I guess that is what matters.

A Long Post and A Long Week

I know, I know it has been a while since I posted. I started working on Monday, it is fun, but it is going to take a little while to get used to. We have one kid in the school right now but we have several others that are thinking about it. It is a little frustrating that there are so many people just not sure about the "Catholic" thing. I don't know what people think us Catholics are going to do their children. Oh Well, what are you going to do?

Let's see where should I start. OK, lets start with Jason.

He is in love. We already talked to him that girl friends are not appropriate at 7 years old. He brought home a note from his new love. In the note she says that she has a crush on him and not to show anyone this note. Of course, he showed us. Again we said it's OK to be friends but you are TOO young for a girlfriend. Later he gets upset when he realized that he showed us the note after she said not to. I told him he did the right thing. He says, and I am quoting here "she might get mad at me and break up with me. You guys might be happy about that but it will break my heart." Then he started to cry. I told him that if she is a nice girl she won't get mad. He keeps using the word "relationship." Where is this child getting this stuff. I need to check out what he is watching on TV.

Anthony:

Not too much new going on here. Just football, school and youth group. We haven't done too much with the "Shinning" but we are going to put some time in this weekend. I am proud of him because he is having a problem with math and he is going to school early to work with the teacher. It could be that we said his grades had to be good to get a drivers license. He wants to drive really really bad. Amazing enough, he has a science teacher that doesn't believe that global warming is made man.

Megan and DJ too:


Megan is really struggling right now. She has been very emotional and finally broke down last night. DJ is leaving next week. She has been hard at work putting together a comic book for him. I see cartoon drawing in her future. She is really good and her imagination is unbelievable. We have been in contact with DJ's foster family. Let me first say that these people are amazing. There is a special place in heaven for them. She knows how important this friendship is to both kids and assured us that she would not let DJ leave without saying goodbye to Megan. As soon as she knows the date she will let us know. She is also hoping to have a party for the kids.

Megan and I went shopping for gifts for him. I have been taking pictures for an album that is almost done. Well I hope so anyway. Every time I think I have put the last picture in, I come across another one. I know everyone by name at the Walmart photo counter.

Roger, Steve's Dad:

He is doing really well and please keep him in your prayers. For Doreen as well. Roger has a good positive attitude going and that is really good.

And last but not least, Steve:

He has been working on getting our dresser refinished. But is having some problems. There are some very fine details in this dresser that are proving to be a challenge. The weather has turned nasty and he doesn't have a spot in the garage to work on it. It is also October which means that hunting season is getting under way. Steve is not a hunter but everyone else is on the RR. So over the next few weeks he will be putting in a lot of time covering turns. He is going to take a little time off next week so that he can go to Jason's parent teacher conference and catch one of Anthony's games. He has yet to make one.

As for me (no pictures) I really don't have all that much going on. Yeah right!
Quick note: right after I typed that last sentence, Jason called because he forgot his homework. "It's treasure box day MOM PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE bring it to me." I did get a big hug from him when I brought it in.
Back to me: hehehe I am teaching First Communion class at the church. Helping with dinners for the high school youth group and filling in to help once a month at the middle school youth groups. Life at night should slow down a little bit because Megan's last soccer game is next weekend. I am also going to do reading groups again for Jason's class. I did step away from Wed lunches at the church but that was the one thing I didn't want to give up. I love working with Charlene and the high school kids. I do have to admit I love being part of the preschool and kindergarten program. I know that this is going to be part of something big. Father Christopher is very optimistic and I love the smile of excitement that he gets when he sees the room.

Our plans for the weekend: Anthony is off to a friends for the night. Megan another soccer game in WA that hopefully Steve will make it back in time for. Tonight we are going to try and get DJ and go see Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Alter service for the kids tomorrow night and Sunday school the next day. With that, I have to say goodbye because I have dishes, laundry and a Sunday school lesson plan that needs to get done. Plus my ipod is full of podcast's about last nights debate that I am dying to listen to.

Have a good weekend.