Happy Halloween, and other things!

Matthew and I got back on Wednesday from 3 glorious days at the Four Seasons in Scottsdale, for an Owner's Recognition Meeting (think AIG in Half Moon Bay!) put on by a company we represent. It couldn't have been better timing for me. My parents came down to take care of the kids, which made it sooo easy. I'm not sure who was more excited, or had more fun - my mom and dad or the kids. I'm pretty sure it was equally mutual! Matthew golfed, we both had massages, I had a facial and a luxurious mani/pedi - in between lounging around and reading/watching TV! Like I said, it was perfect timing. Now I'm ready for the next 4 weeks and whatever it brings (most likely a baby at some point!). I'm waiting for pics from my parents...I'm sure there are tons!

We carved pumpkins last night - you can't carve them a week or two before Halloween down here, like you can in Washington. They rot pretty quickly! Wyatt carved two pumpkins completely on his own this year! He was very proud of himself. Annabelle has grown in to being able to at least touch the goo inside the pumpkin! Last year, she had nothing to do with it...this year I was able to get her to scoop out some of the stuff!

This morning both kids had their Halloween parades at their respective schools. They are so excited for trick or treating tonight!

We grew our own pumpkins again this year, but Wyatt went to a pumpkin patch for a field trip with his Kinder class, so I felt guilty that Annabelle hadn't gone to one this year...soooooo, a little last minute, we went to a pseudo pumpkin patch down the street. I don't think Annabelle cared that much that it wasn't the full deal! She like the stinky animals and the hay!

Working on his first masterpiece!

Papa helping Annabelle out on hers!

The finished products!

Wyatt's are the two on the outside! Pretty good carving for a 5 year-old!

Captain Rex, the Clone!

It's just a little wet today...so unusual for here!

The princess, Cinderella!

We are heading over to Michael and Karyn's tonight for our traditional family pizza dinner before trick or treating! I'm sure there will be more pictures to come! Happy Halloween!

Yep, I was a pregnant nun, with my Ghostbuster hubby!

We are Alive and Well...

Even though it has been more than 6 weeks since I have posted! It's not because of lack of material...it's more lack of time and energy! Our schedule continues to be busy! It has been one fun thing after another, so I'll try to give a brief "look-back" of the past month and a half!

Wyatt's first homework assignment was to decorate a box to house all of the take-home books they make at school. When we first talked about it, he really wanted to make the box out of wood...I told him that was a cool idea, but I thought the teacher wanted us to use a cardboard box (like a shoebox) and decorate it to make it his own. He seemed o.k. with that... Then I shared the story w/another parent at school, and she was all ooohh-ing and aaahhh-ing over how creative Wyatt's idea was, and I felt like a big old lump of you-know-what for reigning in my son's creative genius! So, off we went to Home Depot to buy some MDF (like particle board for those of you that don't watch HGTV!), cut it to size, and get to box-making! It took us two tries, but the second time around, it came out pretty cool! Wyatt was very specific in his ideas of how he wanted to paint/decorate. He wanted it to look like a treasure chest! So, here is the famed book box:

Working hard on the finishing touches...

The Treasure Chest!

Annabelle started a beginning soccer program through our town rec program called Kids Love Soccer. Wyatt did a few sessions of this, and had such a blast. I was always impressed with the coaches and the activities they did with the kids. Annabelle has been sooooo excited to do this, I think mostly because of having watched Wyatt for the last year and a half participate in these sorts of things. This is once a week for 30 minutes, which is just enough. She hasn't completely grasped the "no hands" rule, but each week gets better and better at dribbling the ball. She loves it, but is eager to take off her cleats as soon as it is over...she says they hurt her feet?!

Cutest soccer player on the field!

This is what she does when she feels like she's falling behind the group!

Listening to instruction...just sitting on a ball is a new skill!

Random pictures...

Annabelle in her new Cinderella costume. She still loves to dress up, whenever the feeling strikes! Matthew captured Cinderella reading to herself! (Notice the new carpet beneath her tush...I'm in heaven!)

Apparently our neighbors had a sewer problem, so they had to tear the cul-de-sac up to fix it. Wyatt, always the engineer, pulled up a chair to watch. I couldn't resist capturing a trait that he still has not outgrown!


Lastly, we took a little mini vacation to spend a long weekend with my mom and dad, brother and his family in Indio, CA (a little east of Palm Springs). I only have a few pictures of the kids playing in the pool with Grandpa, but this will give just a small idea of how much fun they had the whole weekend!

Guess who was tuckered out after this?! :)

I am feeling really good...counting the days, but not wanting them to pass too quickly! I know the chaos a newborn can bring! We have a trip to Arizona (without kids! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!), and then Matthew has a trip to Michigan to get through before this baby can even think about making an appearance!