The Carving

"Welcome to the place that you can carve a pumpkin. Go!"
Cameron is the sign-maker of the family!

The older boys loved the goopy insides too much!

Ashton just enjoyed stacking the little ones into a tower.

Ethan was the only one who got a big enough one to carve.

Cameron prefered to get several little ones to draw on.

Pumpkin cookies for dessert!

Red-heads

The boys celebrated red week at school last week (Say No to Drugs week) and Friday was put something red in your hair day. We picked up some red spray and voila! I guess they both touched it at school and came home with red hands. The first thing Ethan said when he got home was, "I'm taking a shower!" We're gearing up for Halloween Friday! The boys have the day off school so we'll be watching the clock waiting for candy time!

Pumpkin Patch

We went back to Lombardi Ranch on Sunday and picked out some pumpkins. This is the same place that burned last year. We were glad to see it up and running again!



Yes, Cameron misplaced his glasses again this week but I'm happy to report they've been found!

Swinging into fall

We have officially entered fall here. It brings cool nights and warm days. It's a nice change from the heat. It also bring the Santa Ana winds and fire season. We visited the park Sunday and I got some swing photos.

Aquarium of the Pacific

We went to Long Beach on Friday and visited the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was fun! We had lots of fun looking at all the fish and other ocean life. While the trip there took us only an hour, the trip home in Friday evening traffic took us 2 1/2 hours!! Lots of togetherness!! Here are some highlights....

Derrik and the boys study the fish in a tank at the entrance

Me and the boys on a play ship outside

Cameron riding a fish

Ethan touching a sting ray - minus the sting

Ashton loved watching the sea lions swim, he just thought they were sharks. "Hi sharks" over and over again.

Emeril in training!

I put Ethan to work this week helping me cook dinner. Here he is browning some meat for speghetti. Good practice for later in life? I hope so. Don't look at Derrik in the background eating and making our garlic bread. :)

Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping

Just looking at these make me sleepy. It must be time for a nap!

Day for Kids event

We attended the Day For Kids event at the park yesterday. All the food and rides are free. My work had a booth there so I was there helping connect parents and kids with our program. Most of the pics are of Cameron because Ethan got a tummy ache after eating so much and going on spinning rides. He felt better a little later and ate some more before going on more rides! Ugh. Cameron loves getting his face painted, so we did that as well.

Padawan learner

Ashton began his Jedi training this week after watching his brothers act out various scenes from the Star Wars movies. Without any coaxing, he picked up a light saber and engaged Ethan in a duel! We're so proud!

Smooch!

Ethan and Ashton sharing a smooch - all for the camera, of course!

Cameron is 7!

Ethan, Cameron and Devin (friend from kindergarten)

Lots of swimming!

Opening his presents

We had an amazing weekend! I can barely believe we did it all! We had his party on Saturday, at the swimming pool. It was a swimming/lego party and was quite a hit! There were around 20 kids there. Cameron had fun and brought home lots of nice presents, most of them legos! Derrik and I spent at least half and hour yesterday bagging up all the kits he got to save space. We designed a lego cake which was a hit.

Designing stage

Derrik and I standing on our heads to frost the cake

The finished product - do they look like legos?

Hanging out at our house

Kristin and the boys came up yesterday to attend my ocean music class! It was so fun to have them there! I didn't get any photos of the class, but Kristin did and I'm sure she'll post them later. Then we headed back to my house (after picking up In'N'Out - yum!) and while Andrew napped, the boys played legos. We went swimming later and then Steve came up and we all had a nice dinner. We loved having them at our house! All good things eventually have to end and they packed up to go home. I wish I'd taken more pictures.....thanks, Gustafsons, for including us in your trip to CA! We love you!

Glendale Galleria

Kristin and I took Ashton, Thomas and Andrew on an adventure on Monday to the Glendale Galleria. I had to visit the LEGO store there (for a certain birthday boy) and they had a nice indoor playland for the boys to play at. We had lunch there and then I took her back in time for me to zoom back home to pick up Cameron from school.

Gustafsons in California!

We met up with the Gustafsons Sunday night and checked out Universal City's Citywalk, near where they are staying. We walked and looked at shops, had a nice dinner and then let the boys (our older two) get completely soaked in the fountain. Fun!

First Day 2008-2009

Yesterday was the first day of school. Here the boys are showing you the grades they are going into. Ethan is riding his bike to school this year, one of the privileges of growing up (and the cutting on one of the apron strings)! He is very excited! They are growing up so fast! They have good teachers and are happy to each have a few friends they know in their classes.


Off he goes!

Cameron waiting in line to walk to his room.