Halloween!

This year, we decided to save our money and not buy new costumes.  We encouraged Owen to dress up in his baseball uniform, but he decided to wear the same costume that he wore last year.

And minutes before it was time to leave to go Trick or Treating, Chloe decided to be a soccer player.

Silly boy could not wait to get out and see his friends and trick or treat with them.  The Grandmas stayed at the house to answer the door and pass out candy while we walked the dogs and the kids from house to house.

This house had some spooky windows.

It was dark in less than 30 minutes from leaving the house and pitch dark by the time we walked back up our street to go home.

I think this is the first year we didn't have any kids after 8pm.  That was a shocker.  Chloe designed the pumpkin on the left and Todd carved it.  Way to go, honeys!

Owen designed the one on the right, which I carved.  It was really important to him to have a peace sign carved into it.

Happy Halloween!

Meet Jessie

She is our babysitter.  Our favorite babysitter ever.

She is truly THE best ever.  We trust her like family.

She's awesome with the kids.  And she gets them to bed on time.  Score!

The bonus is that the kids adore her like nobody's business.

She is not allowed to to go out of state to college. 

She is not allowed to move out of state like her parents are trying to do now. 

We have not authorized her to abandon us as our only babysitter until our kids are over the age of 15.  She is tied to us for at least another six years.  At least.

Rock Climbing

Chloe was invited to Bridget's birthday party at Lifetime Fitness.  The first hour was spent climbing the rock wall.

Do you see Chloe on the far wall about 6 feet off the ground?

She was very adept at finding the unsupervised lines and getting extra time to climb or dangle.

Such a little monkey.  I think she would have been content to climb all day long because she was having so much fun!

Sand Gnats Season Ending

The boys finished strong and won their last game of the season.  They also got a season baseball which the coaches had signed for each boy.

Coach Thad is standing on the left and is the one Owen had been asking all season if he could pitch.  Coach Jeff is on the right.

This sometimes felt like an extremely long season with late night games and many school night practices combined with slow moving games and more walks than hits.  There were tears over being struck or thrown out.  But the smiles on this boy's face after every game and practice won out and keep him asking to sign up for baseball in the spring.  Owen has learned more about the game and has amazed us at his perseverance through his frustration, as well as his dedication to practicing hitting, throwing and catching at home.  Way to go, Owen on a fabulous first-ever season of baseball.

Belts and Treats

Tonight was the kids' belt ceremony at karate.  With Halloween being right around the corner, they were encouraged to dress up, get their belts, play games, enjoy a potluck dinner and go Trunk or Treating in the parking lot.  Can't get much better in a kid's world for a perfect evening!

The kids kids chose their costumes.  Owen decided to wear his costume from last year and Chloe decided to be Winnie the Pooh.   His face is on the front of her hat.

 She was up and running fast after her name was called.

Chloe couldn't wait to ditch her decided camouflage belt and receive her recommended green belt.

Because now she will be a green belt, just like her brother.  :)

Owen was up and running fast, too.

He was just as excited to get his decided green belt....one step closer to attaining black belt status.

So many new green belts!

Owen had fun playing games and winning black rubber bracelets (think of the ones Madonna made popular in the 80s) while Chloe just ran around talking to her friends.  After most everyone had eaten from the most humongous potluck dinner ever AND the rain had let up considerably, we headed out to the parking lot for the Trunk or Treat.  There were fewer than a dozen cars with decorated trunks, but the kids loved getting to do this for the first time!

When we came back inside, it was time for a costume contest.  This is one of their instructors (Ms. Sykora) who was dressed up like a Tiny Tiger (3 and under kids).

This boy dressed as a sumo wrestler rocked it and won the contest.  He danced around jiggling that big stomach and had everyone in stitches.

Owen Got to Pitch!

This was our last night game and in the second to the last inning, Owen was put on the pitcher's mound.

Coach Jeff stood out there while he warmed up with the catcher.

During his initial pitches, Coach Jeff made a video of Owen to send to Todd.

I heard several of the dads discussing Owen's pitching form and they were impressed.

He pitched for almost the whole inning and did so great!

Owen threw so many strikes.

When the other team had scored a few runs and the bases were loaded, Owen was swapped out with the third baseman.  He was beaming from ear to ear over being allowed to pitch.

 He liked playing third base, too.

Owen's next time up at bat, he got a hit.

And made it to third base before stealing home and scoring the final run for his team.

After exchanging high-fives with the other team, Owen ran and slid around third base with excitement.

Awesome game, Owen!  Way to hit AND pitch!!!

After the game, Owen went up to Coach Jeff and Coach Thad and thanked them for letting him pitch.  He was immediately told, "Owen, we didn't let you pitch.  You earned it.  And you did great!"

Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk

Kelley's friend Elizabeth flew into town from Austin, TX to walk in the 60 day 3 day walk for a cure to breast cancer.  Kelley met her at the closing ceremonies at Turner Field.  There were a lot of bikers there, too.

Guys had pink hair.

Wild women dressed funky.

Hi Elizabeth!

Amen!

So many people who walked and who came out to support the walkers. 

Survivors wearing pink shirts danced under the flags.

Elizabeth and the other women on her team who walked the 60 miles.

Way to go, Elizabeth!  I can't believe this is the fourth time you have walked the 60 miles!!!