Happy Halloween...a little late!

Greetings from a now chilly desert!!  We have been spoiled with such beautiful weather until two days ago.  Now it is windy, raining, and cold.  It is suppose to freeze tonight.  I am not complaining as this is much more tolerable than the dang heat!!!

Melody cutting into her pumpkin!  

Ghoooo!!!

Meet Mimi!!

My Chipmunks!!!


We had a great Halloween full of parties, trick or treating and our favorite carving pumpkins!!  The girls did their own pumpkins this year, from designing the face to cutting.  I love that they are able to enjoy more of the fun but at the same time it makes me miss my little girls.  It seems with each little milestone I ask someone "didn't we just get them?".  Time certainly doesn't stand still!!  The girls were Alvin and the Chipmunks and loved it!!  I dressed up this year as Mimi Bobeck from the Drew Carey show.  It was fun!! 

COBRA Kid!

 Melody received a COBRA kid award for being the most improved student!  She had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to a new school and teacher so the first month was a little shakey!!  We are so proud of her for turning it around and is now doing great!

 Receiving her certificate from Mr. Gelsone and Mrs. Ladwig

Hugs from Mrs. Ladwig! 

Thanks Britt for coming!!!!  

Gotta Go Back...Back, Back To School Again!

If anyone can tell me what song that movie is from I will let you keep 3 darling girls for the night!

In all seriousness, because I am so serious, I can't believe how big these girls are!  I have a 3rd Grader, A THIRD GRADER!!!!

 The official "Please Mom" photo!!  I already warned them that this will happen until their Senior year so get used to it!

 Aunt Peggy was kind enough to help me out, since Erik was working out of town for the day, by taking Melody to her school.  Mel was a little intimidated but once her teacher started taking them in she was fine.  Thanks Aunt Peggy for helping us and trekking all the way back to the car for the forgotten lunch box!

Priscilla found her dot and said "see ya!"  She is in 2nd grade now and this is old hat!!  She didn't want me to stay to see her off so I sulked my way to the 1st grade side.  I snuck this picture in by having a friend of hers call her name!

 Little miss didn't help my ego much either.  She informed me that she didn't need me to stay and also that she didn't want any more pictures taken!  After promising I would leave her alone she let me take "just one"!!  Hilarious, my girls never say to me no pictures!! I am happy that they are so comfortable at school and LOVE their teachers!!  It is going to be a great year!!!

Aye Aye Captain!

The girls participated in the annual Cardboard Boat Races help at the city pool.  It is not as easy as you would think...not only is your vessel made of cardboard but they must hold a noodle between their legs as they kick their way down the lane, while pushing their boat with a kick board!  It makes me tired just writing about it!!  

                                     

Before the races started Melody won one of the raffle prizes...5 free blizzards from Dairy Queen!! 

 Priscilla was determined!  

 Melody just kind of floated along!! 

 Priscilla's determination earned her 2nd place!  

 Captain Hook is a little worn out!!

Serenity...now most of you know she isn't very fond of the water.  She tolerates swimming lessons because the rule in our house is you have to know how to swim.  Erik and I were a little worried that her race was going to be a total wreck but we were wrong!  Serenity kept telling us she was going to do it and by golly she did!  She came in DEAD last by about 5 minutes but she kicked the entire length of the pool, for the very first time, with her swim teachers, and the crowd, cheering her on!!

Doctor Doctor....

Erik had a bad ingrown toenail.  He let it bother him for almost a week until I finally made him call my dad.  Much to his dismay, I had to document it all!!

 Betadine prep and we are ready to go.

 A little knumbzit!!  

 This was the coolest part...dad took a blunt end of some tool and just poked it under the nail, moved it from side to side and pulled off the nail with a little gauze!  Fascinating!!!  

 So long yucky toenail!!  

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

I love, Love, LOVE, coloring eggs!  As it is tradition, Peg and her girls joined us, as did Caitlin's friend Ryan aka Mike, as in Monster's Inc., and Ashley even joined us for a little while!

 Look at all the pretty colors!!!

Melody using her tongue to help her concentrate! 

Britt getting just the right color.

Caitlin's smirk! 

Ryan's smile.

Ryan and his beautiful eggs!!

 Serenity showing off her beauties!  

Amanda thinking hard! 

 "Actually" Ashley!  

 Peg gettin in on the fun!'s 

 So cute Caitlin!! 

 Melody and Mamoo showing off their colorful eggs!

 Pretty, Ashley!

 Priscilla and her lovely eggs!

It's a World of Laughter!

We made our annual family trek to Disneyland this last week.  It is always a great, even though exhausting, time and this trip was no exception!

To pass the time while making the long drive, Peg, her girls, Erik and I decided to play mobile eye spy.  This was my fourth or fifth guess and a plea for more paper...which was soon handed to me via window transfer at 65 mph!!  

Priscilla was oblivious to such shenanigans as she played on her leapster!!  

 Upon entering our hotel room we were greeted by a fabulous night sky!  Thank goodness I found the switch to turn OFF the black light!!  

How fitting that this picture hung above the girls bed!!  

This was Erik's idea of jazzing up the place!!  

Morning brought great excitement as we prepared to head over to the park.  Serenity passed the time by playing hide and seek.

The Gang!!  

 PLUTO!!

 Nan and Cait with Gepeto.

 The girls with Gepeto

 Just some strange man they found standing there signing autographs!

Daddy had to ride the rockets with two girls!! 

If you look closely you can see her one buck tooth that has yet to fall out!!  Love it!!

Hands and feet in the boat at all times miss!! 

 Melody was THRILLED that she was finally tall enough to ride the bumper cars by herself! 

 Serenity still needed an adult but was more than happy to spin daddy in a circle!! 

 Priscilla wasn't to sure about the whole thing!!  

 While the "big" kids rode California Screamin' and Aunt Peggy waited in line at Midway Mania, Serenity, who is to short, got to meet Woody and Sarge!   Sarge is a kick, his one liners had me cracking up!  

This little gem is little blurry but HILARIOUS!!!  The looks on Peg and Priscilla's face will have me chuckling for a long time!!  

Thanks Poppop and Mamoo for another great trip!!!