Happy Halloween!

We have embraced Halloween in this house. Originally, it was a holiday that I wanted to avoid in our household. However, Zach felt left out in preschool, so we have done variations of celebrating Halloween over the years. Savannah is not crazy about it and gave it up last year. Zach still wants to dress up and go trick or treating, but an invitation to a college football game trumped that plan. Our celebration this year included a visit to the zoo on October 15th. The afternoon was chilly, but it was just plain fun. I talked Savannah into going with me against her better judgement, and she seemed to enjoy herself as well.

Optimus Prime and the disco diva are ready to go

This pumpkin scared Julia, but Wyatt was unfazed. The pumpkin spoke to the kids and commented on their costumes.

I enjoyed the characters.

disco dancing under the disco ball

The carousel runs backwards on Halloween.

Savannah wanted to ride too, but I did not have enough money on me. I felt terrible, but as always she was gracious.

On Friday I visited Wyatt's class for their Halloween party.

Optimus Prime and the disco diva pose near the pumpkin Julia chose on her field trip.

This is Julia's, "I do not want to pose for pictures. I want to check out my candy!" look.

finally willing to cooperate

Wyatt insisted on posing with candy.

Do you think this is a little much?

I carved this pumpkin from our family trip to the pumpkin patch.

Andy carved Julia's pumpkin.

Andy took the kids trick or treating. He reported that Julia informed him every time Wyatt forgot to say "thank you." One man came out of his house and to his driveway to tell Andy how cute our little people were and how polite. hmmm, maybe, just maybe, we are getting something right here

school pictures 2009

October update

On October 18th, we were reunited with our old Adult Bible Fellowship class. 18 families were represented, and 76 people attended. Our teacher Danny taught on Family Mission Statements and felt called to lead people to do great things in the name of Christ. Our group includes missionaries, and of those present, we counted approximately 10 adopted children....furthering the kingdom. On Monday, the 19th, we celebrated the end of field hockey season with a Mexican feast. Unfortunately, Zach was sick that day and would end up staying home for 3 days with some mysterious illness. We think he may have had the flu. Pictured here are Savannah, Emmalee, Dana, Leah, and Olivia. Olivia recently recovered from pneumonia.

Savannah and Coach Liz---Savannah was excited to receive a field hockey necklace and some fun field hockey socks.

By Saturday Zach was feeling better and on the 24th, we joined our current Adult Bible Fellowship for some fall fun.

The evening started with a treat walk for the kids. They received treats after being taught a verse from scripture.

couldn't resist this view at the end of the walk

They were starting to cook out when we left...

to join family for our nephew's 11th birthday celebration. I got this cute shot of Logan, Wyatt, and Julia huddled to watch a video Logan shot on his new iPod.

On Monday the 26th, we had two field trips planned. Wyatt and Julia were both visiting pumpkin patches at two different locations. I took off work to join Julia--my first ever field trip with her, and Andy took off work to join Wyatt. Unfortunately, Wyatt landed in the doctor's office instead of the pumpkin patch, and he has a confirmed case of the flu. Now the question is to vaccinate against the H1N1 virus or not. Doctors in our area are not testing for the virus unless the patient or someone living with the patient has a condition that would cause complications. However, friends have told me that their doctors have said that if the diagnosis is a confirmed case of the flu then it is the H1N1 virus as that is the only flu going around.


When I arrived Julia's class was already in the pumpkin patch, and her pumpkin was already selected. This is Julia on the tractor. (This happens to be the same farm where we celebrated the moon festival).

Another local farm has a rule that if the children can't carry the pumpkins, they can't have them...no such rule here...I could barely carry Julia's choice. I do have to say that the pumpkin crops are looking very good this year, nice shape, color, and size.

We enjoyed the corn maze again.

I tried to get a good picture of Julia's class for the yearbook.

The petting zoo was lots of fun. Julia counted the rabbits and remembered not to put her fingers in their cage.

a ladybug enjoyed hanging out on my thumb for a while...ladybugs are important in Chinese culture, so I had to snap a pic

I forgot to bring change, so I had to go to the gift shop for some corn to feed the animals. Julia was careful to treat them all equally.

Lots of climbing, jumping, and sliding took place on the straw bales.

Can you find the girl in the pumpkins?

Report Card Day

One very excited little girl came home from school today announcing, "we got our report cards today!" She further explained that they are big kindergartners now and that she hoped there were "A"s on that report card. On our way to pick up Savannah from school (she normally rides the bus, but Zach has been at home sick all week, so we were also retrieving his make-up work), Julia asked, "can we get an ice cream?" We normally celebrate report card day with ice cream because a local ice cream joints offers a free scoop to students who made "A"s. This is funny because she then announced, "I don't even know what a report card is!" I was instructed not to tell her while she made guesses such as "can you buy food with it? a house? a car?" Finally, I got to explain report cards, and from that point on, they were clearly much less interesting.

today marks fourteen years of motherhood for me (that is if you aren't counting those pregnancy months)

Yes, our Zach is now 14 years old, and I offer another picture post.



from 7.5 pounds to bench pressing 175 pounds in just under 14 years I have always loved this picture taken soon after he learned to pull up.

first birthday

yes, that is the dryer, and I also have a picture of him in the oven drawer

another favorite of mine...he loved the beach, still does

this is probably my favorite picture of the two of us together

Andy was being a good sport when I misunderstood Zach's AWANA workbook and didn't complete enough sections with him so he didn't get to participate in throwing pies in the leaders' faces. That was his last year of AWANA. It just got too intense.

Before there were four, I made the costumes for the kids myself, and they were better than anything we have had since... a huge feat when my total lack of creativity is considered.

He loved Steve Irwin and wanted to enter a contest to ask the great crocodile hunter a question. Zach's question, "Do you know Jesus?'' At one time, Zach wanted to be a crocodile hunter so that he could work with Steve Irwin and make sure his hero knew Christ.

We spent one of my favorite vacations in Estes Park, Colorado. We did not venture in to Denver, and on the last night there, several people decided to see the city. I had no interest in going, but Zach wanted to go so badly that I went, and he enjoyed a shake at the Hard Rock Cafe. By the way they make good shakes there.

2nd grade science project

always our adventurous eater, Zach enjoyed some sort of Japanese dish that included tentacles at Lucy's in Guangzhou, China

He loves his sisters, but once he was outnumbered, he was anxious for that to change.

Zach played football in third grade and then did not return to the field until sixth grade and hasn't stopped since.


Today was the last game of the season for Zach's team. Unfortunately, they lost. However, Zach and four other players from his team were awarded "all conference" medals by the coaching staff. Blake and Zach wrestle and play football together.

Zach and Coach McGee. Every athlete should have an opportunity to be coached by a man of integrity such as this guy. We will miss him when Zach moves up to high school action next year.

following family tradition, Zach had his picture taken with his guests tonight

Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Danielle....can you guess who one of the family clowns was when I was growing up?

Zach and Aunt Tara

Zach and Aunt Tessa

Zach and Grandma and Grandpa

Zach and Logan...Austin has the flu, so Logan had to represent his entire familyZach and Uncle Josh

It has been a whirlwind of a day from standing in the cold weather to watch soccer games, getting Savannah to and from a birthday party, working in the church nursery, and then celebrating 14 years of Zach. I missed his football game and am so glad that I told Andy to take the camera. We have another busy day tomorrow, so my bed is calling me. Happy Birthday Zachary!!