Happy Halloween

My NASA Flight Commander and Cutest Chef ever!


Our whole crew!!!!




Check out all this LOOT!!!!



Hope you had a great night too!

I Like Pink Skies

Also, dirty windows don't seem to bother me.

~

Tomorrow, I'll get some footage of our Garden Gnome in action at the Fourth Grade Halloween party (though don't they just stand still?) ;)

And did I forget to tell you about MY costume?!



Because I have red lipstick now.
And plastic fruit.

AL

Family Game Night

We couldn't play SORRY! because it's Daddy's favorite game and he's out of town.

The boys vetoed the My Little Pony Game;
Max and I dissuaded Kirby from Trivial Pursuit.
We settled on a really cool Cranium game.

BUT~
I'm not going to lie to you.
It wasn't very much fun.
It was maybe 70/30, yelling and laughing, respectively.

Turns out, though, that the boys are comfortable with those odds.
I guess I am, too.

~

I should clarify that it wasn't me yelling, it was the boys at each other. Also at the Pet Shop Owner under the table.
You may not have noticed but she's kind of loud.



AL

Seussical the Musical

The sun did not shine. It was -almost- too wet to play. So we sat on the bleachers all that cold, cold, wet day . . . ~Dr. Seuss, and Al



Kirby's middle school marching band got their first taste of the spotlight last Monday, when they were asked to perform pregame on the High School football field.

Well technically, they marched out and then played. They're not quite ready to do both at the same time - but they're getting there. And that's half the fun, right?

They were able to sound great AND have fun at the same time, despite the freezing rain. I, on the other hand, couldn't feel my fingers, my toes or my butt.

I do not like bleachers.

I do not like them wet or dry. I do not like them, though I try.
I do not like them in the rain. I do not like them, they give me pain.

AL

The Royal Vonn Brennan

So that was kind of a crazy week.

Soccer games every night (regular season ends tomorrow!), our big PTO sponsored Spaghetti Dinner at school (my last one as Prez!), and of course, our girl's Bday(!).

Taking a cue from Aunt Jen, Lilah managed to stretch her birthday festivities from Wednesday straight on through to Friday, when we celebrated with a Library Storytime Party.

She had so much fun with her sweet friends and received so many wonderful gifts that I can say for certain she is now officially spoiled.

Popsy says it's okay though, that "they all smell like that from time to time". ;)





She spent a good portion of the party on this 'throne' - with her legs straight out, sucking on DumDums like a gluttonous king, while her admirers threw gift bags at her feet.




Why a pink fish cake, you ask?
I have no idea. Who am I to question royalty.
It was a little rough around the edges (literally) but seemed to satisfy the Queen...


...though sometimes she's the jester.




AL

Four.

Happy Birthday to my super spunky, seriously grown-up, smart and snuggly sweetheart.



Who loves to be silly.

How has four years passed so quickly?

AL

Al Plus Five

That post title? I was going for a 'Kate Plus Eight' spin-off, but there are some very key differences. For example, my kids are not x-tuplets, and not even all mine.
Also I'm still holding out for that free tummy tuck.



While Jen, Darren, and Jer are off at the races (company sponsored NASCAR), some or all of the remaining six of us have done the following, in no particular order and never spending more than 15 minutes on any one task.
We have pictures to prove it.

jumped a stream
got our feet wet
caught a toad
washed our hands
pet a sheep
washed our hands
had a picnic
were attacked by imaginary bees
watched a parade
ate some candy
had a Nerf war
learned our lesson
built blanket forts
sewed a blanket
played basement soccer
bonked our heads
lost Chase at the zoo
found Chase at the zoo
rode a carousel
pouted
made pizzas
took our vitamins
counted our blessings

Did you get stuck on 'lost Chase at the zoo'?
It was seriously only for like two minutes.

AL

Costumes are So Much Fun

One of the simple joys of parenthood is making your child look ridiculous on Halloween.
For example, I find this 2007 photo of Mr. T always uplifting.



We are still in this year's planning stages, naturally. And no matter how late we wait, there's always a chance that they'll bail on their costume at the last minute. Remember the sumo nipples?*

But I must say I'm surprised and excited to have tentatively talked Max into being a garden gnome. Obviously, he shares my fascination with facial hair, because I had him at 'big white beard'. He agreed to the red pointy hat and black boots, but drew the line at suspenders.
I'm still hopeful.

Kirby has decided to be a domino. There is a school dance, you see, and his plan is to get several friends together in a straight line, all facing the same direction and with black-dotted posterboards strapped to their young chests. They will ask someone to give the first kid a shove - I'm sure someone will volunteer right away - and then they will proceed to sequentially fall on top of each other.
Does that sound fabulous or what?

And in regards to Halloween costumes, our princess here is uncharacteristically easy to please. We have a lovely hand-me-down pumpkin fairy costume that she's excited about. I personally am in love with the coordinating orange silk elf shoes.

I did want to give an honorable mention Max's second costume choice. If, by chance, he chickens out on the gnome; his friends at school have suggested he be a unicorn.

I wonder where they got that idea?



AL

*Sidenote: Speaking of sumo nipples, would you believe that I talked Jeremy into our adult-sized sumo costume for the PTO's Amazing Race again this year?!? I did not get the opportunity to witness/photograph this task, but I did hear that he ran into a few soccer friends that may or may not have circulated a photograph via text message to everyone in Marysville.

Our Walk

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

AL

Soccer Saturday

Enjoy your weekend,
AL

Surprise!

I surprised Max at school yesterday.

And I mean really surprised him.

I'm there all the time, he's used to that. But on this occasion, as I noticed his class coming around the corner, I instructed Lilah to hide with me on the other side of the wall. Then just as I caught sight of his red Honduras soccer jersey...
BOO!

He screamed like a little girl and then the actual little girls giggled.
I felt a wee bit guilty.

Lilah, on the other hand, has a new addiction.

So by 2:30 that afternoon she had big plans for Kirby.

I was instructed to wait with her behind a large tree in order to jump out at the unsuspecting brother walking home from the bus stop. I was game, except for a small nagging worry that one of us might get a trombone case to the face.

It serves us right then that on this particular day, Kirby's bus driver somehow completely skips his stop. (He notified her of this only after the bus reached the high school and was boarded by large teenagers.)
This had never happened before so by 3:00 the prank was forfeited so that I could go inside and make some inquiries.

Surprise canceled = Lilah bummed.

But just look what you can make while sitting behind a tree for half an hour: a fairy teepee using only a ponytail holder!



And you know what this means. Yep, a new camera for Al. It's red and I like it.
Here's proof:







AL

6 Months Update

Here's just a little 6 months update. Thanks to everyone for the support.

Here are a few before pics and a few afters.

In Regards to our New Firepit

My original title for this post was "Build It and They Will Come" but then I realized that a more accurate version would be "They Will Come and Build It" - because our awesome friends were so very integral in its construction...
And then I realized that that sounded stupid.

Still camera-less, here's something from a few weeks ago that I neglected to post.

It was still warm out during this inaugural fire -- now that fall is in full swing we're especially excited about our new open s'mores oven!

And to give credit where credit is due: Max and Kirb's BF, Alex, outlined and dug our circle, Lilah and I cleared nearby brush, Chris unloaded and placed the bricks, and Jeremy and Kirby did a little bit of everything, but mostly directing (a.k.a. bossing).
Emily baked fresh bread, and Jeremy M contributed some mysterious highly flammable liquids... just to get us started, of course.





You're all invited to our next pow-wow, where I promise to take better pictures. With a new camera, no doubt.

Stay cozy,
AL

Bad News

My camera has been misplaced.... possibly left on a soccer field somewhere.
I plan to give it two weeks to show itself before I begin searching for a replacement, to be budgeted as an early Christmas gift for Al.

What I do have here, besides a cold, is PhotoBooth and 10 homemade Mustaches-on-a-stick.



AL

Brooke as a Rhythmette

Bet you never thought you'd hear those words with Brooke in the same sentence!! lol. Brooke and Taylor went to a little dance camp a fellow teacher was doing and if they went, they got to dance on the field for the Varsity Football Team. This is a really big deal because they are doing preshow awards and recognizing past athletes and performances. Taylor wanted no part of it, But Brooke was absolutely sure she was doing it. We got an outfil and got hairbows made.

She went and practiced, practiced with the team. She made me proud.

Here a video of it, but its not very good. I had Cody on my lap and he keep grabbing the camera so it shook a lot. She is on the far right with the curly hair and bgox, she is holding afootball. At one point she comes in front of the signs. lol

She had a blast and we are very proud!!.

The video is having trouble, sorry!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Cody!

Two weeks ago was Cody's 3rd birthday. It was a difficult week with Craig being out of town bc of a death in the family but we managed. My mother in law made dinner and had a cake for the day of his birthday and we sent cupcakes to his school for a school party.

This is the first year Cody really knew what was going on. He kept saying "MY birfday". After much debate, we did have a Buzz from Toystory movie as the theme. He wanted a tractor theme but I'll save that one for later. I have a feeling the Buzz thing won't last.

It was a small party. Only family and two sets of friends but we had a blast. I decided not to tackle cooking this year and ordered pizza. I think that worked out just fine and no one complained so I consider it a success for laziness!! lol.

Cody got lots of wonderful things from family and friends but his big gift was out in the yard.

He is like Craig, in that he doesn't show a lot of emotion but he knew where to put that key and he knew he wanted on that thing. He absolutely loves it. he still drives too fast so we have the governor on it and Craig rides with him. He did get that shiny new Moto helmet so we are all good on the safety.

Thanks for all the well wishes. He understood it was his special day. It probably helps that he has something his sisters didn't have first!

Look who's in Mrs. Clev's class!!

Look who came to visit me today for lunch!! It truly made my MONTH. I got to show him off but he just wanted to know where the 'boys' were. The students were in the halls and Cody RAN so they 'wouldn't get him'. lol. Thanks to Craig for bringing him up to see me!! Loved it.

Strong Enough for a Man...

Four hundred and seventy-eight Chrysanthemums, in assorted colors and sizes (though all fairly large) in reusable adorable jack o'lantern planters, made from recycled materials.

That is what my tiny, though mighty, group of PTO ladies will be unloading and distributing today. Carrie has the clipboard, Sara has the order forms, Elaine the walkie-talkies, and I will have a tube of Secret Clinical Strength.

I'm also bringing the muscle.

Check it:



Happy Friday,
AL

Where The Wild Things Are

Sculpture by Kirby,
'Mr. Robber' by Max,
sidewalk art by Linds and Li,
and the tiny hulk hands are my fault ;)

AL

We Just Sat.

(Photo by Jen, Spring 2008?)

Earlier today I sat in the same spot, in a field, doing absolutely nothing, for over an hour and a half. I didn’t have a blanket to sit on, and there were lots of itchy weeds, many many bugs. A cloudy Sunday afternoon and my nine-year-old just wanted to sit.

I wanted to sit with him.

After an intense soccer match that just barely ended in a tie, Max had nothing left. It's ridiculously cliché, but he honestly did leave everything he had on that field.

Including his partially digested lunch.

(I guess it’s common in athletes – to, you know, lose their lunch. Although I know it’s not really as dramatic as it sounds, it still seems a blatant signal of Sports Gone Wrong. Should a kid his age overexert to that extent? His little body is obviously telling us something; perhaps something like “please stop”? I hope we can all be better listeners next time...)

Once he was able to catch his breath and step away from his mess, Max chose a spot in the grass and sat down. After a while, it was obvious to his father, his coach and his brother that he was physically okay. And so, with my encouragement, everyone left - save myself and Lilah, who calmly proceeded to decorate six pages from her Strawberry Shortcake coloring book.

We sat in silence for a while. Odd really, as our nearly-four-year-old is rarely ever silent –granted there was some brief discussion about which colors to choose for Strawberry’s hat and shoes (purple and pink, naturally).

After some time, other players and parents began to arrive at the field for their own games. Perfectly uniformed children with bounds of energy and their much more subdued adult counterparts, each one carrying a tube of chair, juggling their cell phones and their Starbucks. We just sat and watched.

We didn’t speak of soccer. I didn’t tell him how fantastic he played and that I was proud of him --- though he did, and I was. We talked about our good friends, funny things we’d heard recently. Max told his sister how sweet she was being, how much he appreciated her patience.

I never asked him if he was ready to go, though he thanked me more than once for letting him sit. Sure, we could have gone home to sit. But at home there’s a TV begging to distract from True Stillness, video games, friends outside ready to throw various balls around.

Max thinks that I was doing it for him; willing myself to sit there when I wished to be elsewhere. But I was so completely content. Taking a moment to sit with my Sweet Middle who leans towards the ‘strong and silent’ type. Talking when we felt like talking, not talking when we didn’t. I was surprised at my own complacency. I began to wonder which of us we were patiently waiting for.

After acknowledging with a chuckle that a visiting coach had just placed his duffle in the general vomit locale (should we tell him? Oops, too late!), Max stood up and began helping his sister collect her crayons.

In the car driving home we were both amused at how long we had sat. Was it really that late?! We could have watched a whole movie in that amount of time!

Wasn’t it so nice to just sit, though?

I agreed it was.


Love,
AL

P.S. In case you're wondering, I used a version of the word 'sit' 14 times above. Have you not heard about the synonym drought? ;)