First Tooth - Lost!

Penelope gets her first tooth, Claire loses her first one. It's the circle of life ;)

Claire let Matt pull it out this morning before school. Halloween AND a lost tooth - big day around here. Oh, and Claire was a princess at school today - she gave Princess Leia the morning off.

Finally, Nice Weather!

It only took until late October to get some 80 degree days, but I am so glad they are finally here. It's snowing in other parts of the country, crazy. With noon soccer games every week (who makes these schedules?!), it's nice to get a bit of a breeze. We had a great day out at the fields last week. With just a few games left this season, I think Coach Matt is getting ready to do next season as well.

Go Claire, Go!

First Tooth

Penelope cut her first tooth last Sunday but she has been shy about showing it to us, though I definitely feel it when nursing. She hasn't bitten me yet but I know it's inevitable. After a few failed attempts, I finally got a picture of her tooth (though she wasn't loving it, as you can see).

 Mom! Leave me alone!

Grilled Cheese

We are out for lunch at one of our favorite spots - Egg and I - and we usually order the kids one item off the kids menu to share. Matt asked Claire if she wants grilled cheese - she says yes, so he asks Miles the same question. Miles says, "Girl cheese! Me no want GIRL cheese, me want BOY cheese! Sheesh!"

What. a. character!

 

 

 

Letter from Claire

The kids were not cooperating tonight for bedtime - probably hyped up on the candy they had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After the third or fourth time one of them came out of their room, I was getting pretty annoyed. Their new thing is that they always have a leg ache - never mind the fact that they just walked down the stairs on the aforementioned sore leg. And the second excuse is that they are scared of shadows in their room all of a sudden. I said the only way to get rid of the shadows is to shut off the night light, and that ended the discussion real fast. Anyway, the last time I went up to their room, Claire hands me a folded note. The outside says - I love you Mom. And here is the inside:

I will translate for you: I know that you are so mad now. Here's the deal - I love you.

I couldn't let them go to sleep with the last words from me being something about taking all their candy away and cutting up Miles' pacifier if they come down one more time.... so I went up and said good night and that I loved them and sang a few more songs. Haven't come down again. These are the moments to remember. Here's the deal Claire - I love you too!

Trunk or Treat!

The Star Wars costumes were finished just in time for the Trunk or Treat Friday night  (Nevada Day).  I was sewing Matt into his costume 10 minutes before we walked out the door, but it all came together. We crashed the Jensen's ward party (Sean won funniest costume for his Tooth Fairy) and had a short cameo from Becky Baird, who was in town for the weekend. Miles wouldn't stop smiling once his costume was on, but Claire didn't love her wig - it was itchy. So I will probably have to do her own hair in Princess Leia buns for school this week. I bribed her with candy to keep the wig on for a few pictures.

 

Gilchrist Orchards

I am determined to do fun Fall things with the kids - if only to get cute pictures like these and hope that they remember picking out pumpkins and not screaming over a thrown away EMPTY bottle of apple cider that led to our prompt departure... Miles.

Anyway, I love this time of year, love that I finally wore a sweater today (even though I was then hot by 10:30 am) and love that we actually have a working orchard in Las Vegas called Gilchrist Orchards. It's no Apple Hill, that's for sure (an area in Northern California where I grew up with a ton of apple orchards all together with fun shops and apple-themed food), but we will take what we can get in the desert.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Claire's school has a pumpkin decorating contest with Albertsons this week - no carving, just decorating. Here is Claire (and Matt's) entry in the competition.

Pumpkin Patch - Vegas Style

Rides, bouncy houses, giant slides, petting zoo and oh yeah, pumpkins, hay and scarecrows. I love our corner pumpkin patch that sprouts up in a week or two, shipping in pumpkins and hay, and then disappears after October 31st.

 

 

Hanging On By a Thread

For some reason I feel very sad about this loose tooth... baby girl growing up!

Halloween Artwork

Claire did these photos and added the words all by herself. She does pretty well writing phonetically, but she reads much better than she can spell. That is pretty normal I think. She is even reading this blog over my shoulder right now!

In Over My Head...

Halloween is almost here! And I don't know how I am going to pull off all these Star Wars costumes... I have the patterns, and a few accessories, but I have to sew something for just about all of our costumes, and start on mine! Here is the line up for our Star Wars family:

Matt - Aniken Skywalker: need to sew cape, leather vest, belt and fake boots
Shannon - Queen Amidala: haven't started because I have no idea what to do!
Claire - Princess Leia: bought costume and wig online, but need to sew a belt
Miles - Luke Skywalker: need to sew a v-neck tunic and belt
Penelope - Ewok: done!

Move over Wicket - here is the cutest little Ewok in town! At least Penelope's costume is done. One down... thank you Amazon!

 

 

 

Here is our family in costume, by Claire. I love the Princess Leia buns!