Halloween Costumes

It may be easy to tell that JT is a Power Ranger, but Andrew's costume would have been a mystery to me a year ago.  He has introduced us to the world of Pokemon and this year wanted to be Pikachu.  The boys once again scored big at the church Trunk or Treat and then several of our neighbors had special treats for them!

2011 Birthday Season

Between September 19 and October 16 we celebrate 3 birthdays.  First, Andrew turned 4.  This year he wanted a blue monster cake and we had his party at the pumpkin farm.  It was a very chilly day for the middle of September, but the kids, and Andrew had a blast!

I am so thankful to the Internet and all the other blogging moms when I start looking for ideas for cakes!

And this is why I spend so much time on these - he just looked at the cake for the longest time!  His only critique, it didn't have any hands. I made hands!

Everything was about Pokemon this year.  We don't even let him watch the cartoon!

Next, Bill turned 39.  He had been wanting a caramel cake, so he did not get his tradtional cake with super sweet icing. 

Last, we celebrated Joshua's 6th.  He got hooked on the show Wipeout this summer and so he wanted a Wipeout party.  We did the best we could with backyard obstacles.  All the boys really seemed to enjoy it.  Joshua's #1 wish this year was for a goldfish.  I thought I was getting off easy because they're only 38 cent each.  I bought 2 and both were dead in a week!  He now has a blue Beta named "Cut-tail".  All things Addidas and sporty were also cherished items.

The course started with a zipline out of the treehouse.  The most popular event!

The Stump Jump

Our attempt to simulate the "BIG RED BALLS" - hay bales and the sprinkler.

Happy Birthday to all my boys!!

Summer Flashback #1

Back in June I competed in my first triathalon.  I had gotten a bad case of shin splints so I had been biking and trying to swim a little anyway - plus it was something I had always wanted to try!  This was an all female sprint tri with a 300m swim, 11mi bike, and 2.5mi run.  I was so nervous for this event and at one point Bill told me I needed to get myself together!  With running, I know what to expect, but with this, I had no idea! The swim was my "weakest link", but even there I did better than I had expected! All in, I finished 17/98 ladies even with my chain poping off during the bike ride!

1:11:55, very happy with that!

Bill rides Bridge to Bridge

Mid September our family packed up after an afternoon soccer game and headed to the NC mountains for Bill to ride in the annual Bridge to Bridge cycling event.  The ride starts in Lenoir, NC and snakes around, up, down, around, and 101.8 miles later, finally finishes at the summit of Grandfather Mountain!  

The start - he's back there somewhere!

And there he goes!  I was so excited to have actally gotten this photo.

The boys and I had about 6 hours - and what to do?? There wasn't much in Lenoir, but we found a WalMart and found JT's Halloween costume.  I let the boys spend about 1 hour in the toy isles while I read a magazine! -And Bill was concerned about what we would do for all that time!

   

Maybe this is the cow-bell dance - not sure, but another 1/2 hour spent here dancing around!

Winding up Grandfather Mountain we spent some time viewing the animals and eating samples at the Fudge Shop.

It was a dreary, rainy, misty, cool day.  We even had to eat our picnic in the back of the SUV.



At the very top - the weather was beautiful! The boys even got a little sunburned.



We finally spot the correct red jersey!

Looking good!



Last stand up the very last incline.



Finish line!  Only 75% of riders finish this race and he finished 74 out of  332 finishers!

First Days

JT is starting his second year homeschooling and I am happy to report that things are going well!  Andrew is in preschool 2 days a week.  The teacher always rewards the well behaved students with stamps or stickers each day, but Andrew is the odd child that doesn't like either and refuses... Aren't they each sooo different!

No, it wasn't cold - he just really likes this shirt!

Spray Park

We visited the local spray park before "regular" school got out this year, hoping to avoid some of the crowds. Wouldn't you know it - one of the local 2nd grade classes was having a field trip to the spray park that day!!  The boys still enjoyed it and we hope to visit again.

Spring Soccer

JT finished his 2nd season of soccer with his dad as coach!  He still hustles after the ball very well even though he is not the star of the team.  We're just glad he wants to continue playing!