Halloween and more Fall Fun!

Hello!  Hope everyone has had a wonderful fall.  Hard to believe it is almost Thanksgiving!  I thought I would update the blog before yet another event happens with more pictures!

Here are several pictures from Grace's school performing in the Festival Latino downtown Lexington this past September.  During this festival, thousands of people enjoy the cultural displays, dancing presentations, live music, and a variety of food from different regions in Latin America.  Very cool for her school to be a part of considering it's Spanish Immersion Program.  

 Here is a video (not great quality) but you can get the point.  Fun huh?

I celebrated my 33rd birthday on September 28th.  Grace and I went to Dairy Queen to get my favorite ice-cream cake.  I told her she could pick any cake she wanted and could write whatever she wanted on it...here's what she came up with.  Ha!  Is she hinting that I need more sleep?  (grin)  I agree...smart girl Grace! 

Evan, Holtz and I joined Grace during her field trip to Evan's Orchard.  We lucked out and had a beautiful day!  Here is Grace's class wandering over from the bus.  

 Yum...fresh apple cider!

 Grace, with two of her classmates, on the tractor hay ride through the apple orchard.

You wouldn't believe how tall this slide was...probably 25 feet high.  He went up and down all by himself.  No fear!

 Pumpkin patch time!

We headed up to Wabash to attend an Angelina Ballerina performance at The Honeywell Center with Bob and Sharon.  Before the program, we headed to the YMCA to let the kids enjoy the new kids pool.  It was the most amazing kids pool!  

Kids at a candy shop!  

I wish I had some pictures of Mr. Beckett Shaw...this was at his birthday party.  Happy 2nd birthday buddy!  Thanks so much for including us- we had a blast.

 Our trip wouldn't be complete without a trip down to the barn to see the horses.

We stopped at Grandma and Grandpa's house on our way home for lunch and a good stretch.  The kiddos fed the birds and picked tons of tomatoes and peppers out of Grandpa's garden.  Yum!  

Could Yogi be our good luck charm?

Yogi, Yogi, Yogi!  And the Irish are #1!  Yogi still gets the crazies (he's only 7 1/2 months afterall) but he is really starting to follow commands.  We have been working so hard- yay!  And, today we took him to the dog park, then to Lowes and PetSmart and he didn't get sick in the car (our new car!!!  2012 Buick Enclave)!  Baby steps- there's hope!

We had to celebrate Grace's 1/2 birthday (chuckle) with yet another ice cream cake.  I wish I could eat some every day!  Grace lost her 3rd tooth on Nov. 6th (bottom left of center).  She really wanted it out and after I tried, our neighbor Savannah tried- ha ha...and finally Evan yanked it right out.  She has another loose tooth and Grace said that Evan can pull it again.  What I am thankful for on Thanksgiving...that I'm not her go to person to pull her teeth...yikes!  Gives me a shiver up and down my spine!

Just some random pics from the back yard and some random happenings.  Let see...these days, the kids have a hard time staying seated at the table during meals.  They love to get up to give me hugs- ha!  Sounds like a good excuse to me!  Holtz is really into having pennies in his pockets at all times and the kids earn (and lose) nickels for good/ bad behavior.  

 See those white teeth.  Well, after Holtz's last dentist appointment, after getting home and opening his door to get him out of the car, he had sucked down 1/2 a tube of toothpaste that the dentist put in his little gift bag.  Oh my god...we had to call Poison Control (our 2nd time.  First time was when he got into Grace's aquarium chemicals).  This kid has 9 lives...thankfully.

 And the case of the crazies begin...

 In the background is a picture of Brutus, Savannah's new puppy.  So tiny!

The kids are taking several classes at the YMCA.  Holtz is taking a Jr. Gym Rat class.  They do obstacle courses and are introduced to some of the major sports.  Holtz is also taking a swim class and is the best, most brave, in the class.  

For Halloween, we thought it would be fun to make homemade dog treats.  We made a double batch and made a total of 527 dog treats!  Wowsers!  

The weather has been absolutely beautiful.  We spent several hours at The Henry Clay Estate...

 "Mom, my cheeks hurt from smiling!"

Grace joined a girl scout troop this year- she's a Daisy!  I'm going to give everybody a shout out to see if they want some delicious girl scout cookies in January!  Her first major project was to plant flowers/ plants/ mulch at the East 7th Street Center.  This is a community center in town and safe place for kids.  Kids can come here for activities and homework help as well as a hot, home cooked meal.  I lucked out that my little brother, Mike, and his girlfriend Ashley were in town.  Grace was head over heals to have Mike help out!  She adores him.

Grace carved her very first pumpkin!  Evan cut off the top and helped to clean out the seeds but Grace took it from there.  She did a fabulous job!  We were stunned!  She really is growing up.  She just moved to a booster seat in the car.  Her reading has taken off and reads a new chapter book about every day.  

Halloween time!  Sharon made, yes MADE, the kid's costumes this year.  Evan and I really wanted Holtz to be an Oompa Loompa this year considering this is probably the last year we'll get to pick his costume.  He was PERFECT!  Look at that green hair and bronzed face- chuckle chuckle chuckle!

 Grace was the most beautiful Snow White.  Can you believe her costume?  It's stunning!

Grace is taking an intro to sports class at the YMCA.  So far, her class has played basketball and t-ball. Soccer and flag football are next!  Grace is also taking a swim class and gymnastics.  She has improved so much in everything!   

She is seriously running for a home run below...and guess what!  The kid going after her missed her and she scored!  HOME RUN!  Woot woot!  Oh, and she is the only girl in the class.

The first successful sleepover.  I just love those sweet faces.  We tried a sleepover about a month earlier.  I built a fort out of sheets in Grace's bedroom- cool huh?, filled up bowls with snacks and brought up books and several toys only to end in disaster...two tired bickering kids.  Ha, they prefer the low key snooze.  Both kids try to delay bed time these days because they say they are scared of monsters and bad dreams.  Grace is legit, Holtz is her mini-me.  If Grace comes out of her room and says she's thirsty, Holtz comes out and says the same thing.  It's like he's just waiting on the other side of his door...

 Holtz woke us up with this...what in the hell?  Ha!