Happy Halloween!

Last Saturday Zachary had a Boy Scout Campout at a lake about an hour north of us.

Christina and Ben even came with us.

We were having a good time playing by the water.

Caleb and Elektra also enjoyed playing in the sand.

Unfortunately, Zachary got sick with a fever, sore throat, coughing, and vomiting. So we had to leave.

It was only a 24 hr thing, because by Monday he had no problem dressing up and going to the Boy Scout Fall Festival.  They got to dress up in their costumes and play games for candy.

Zachary is Puss n Boots, Elektra is a Barbie Princess, and Caleb is Bumblebee Transformer.

Caleb and Zachary both won 1st place a couple of times.

Elektra's Princess status allowed her to play in front of the line.

Way in front of the line.

We lucked out. Our Den is smaller than the other Dens in our Pack, so we didn't have to wait with a bunch of other kids. In fact, our Den was able to play each game several times. Yay! More Candy!

So close Zachary!

We went to Universal again this week.

 Actually Mike and I went twice. Just the two of us for Date Night. I love Date Night!

We rode all the coasters there! Wheeeeeee!

Then we snuck over to where they are building Harry Potter Park, and took some pictures. Can't wait!

Spring of 2010 so they say.

Zachary rode the Mummy! But he says he will not go on it again. At least he tried it. Caleb rode on Jaws. He used to ride it, but once it scared him and he didn't want to go again. But since Elektra wanted to go on the Boat ride, so he agreed to go on it again. He was so happy he did! He loved the Killing the Shark at the end. He clapped and said "Yay!! Now that shark can't hurt anybody any more!"

The kids came home and CRASHED before we could even get them in jammies.

Ben came over to help Christina decorate the front yard with Halloween decorations.

He helped the kids get in to the Halloween Spirit by turning them into Zombies.

Then the Zombies found their graves and went back to wait for some people to cross their path.

But as soon as we brought in the pumpkins,

they forgot all about being Zombies and became Artists instead.

Everybody got really into the Pumpkin painting. Or carving.

Christina and Bens pumpkin cried when they cut into it. 

If you don't want to be cruel to your pumpkin, paint it instead.

 Maybe the entire thing.

Or paint a pumpkin on the pumpkin.

Or you can just pretend to hurt it by drawing blood splatters all over it.

What a family of artists we are. These will scare away any spooky ghosts that might be lurking around.

Elektra's Masterpiece

Caleb's Pumpkin within a Pumpkin

Zachary's blood covered Pumpkin

Christina and Bens Joker Pumpkin

My Witch Flying Over the City Pumpkin

Mikes Mickey Mouse Pumpkin

Leonard and Michelle sent some craft pumpkins for the kids to decorate.

Elektra colored faces on them, and Caleb glued them on paper.

Mike and I decorated the foyer for our Trick or Treaters.  We used the fog machine, and a strob light. He completely enclosed the foyer, and we put the scary dude out on the porch.

We then played scary Halloween Music and had purple lights for the background. We had so many trick or treaters that would not come to the door.  Alot of parents had to come with them.  They were so focused on the FAKE guy that they had no idea Mike was hiding behind the sheets dressed as a devil. They would be starring at the FAKE guy and Mike would jump out and scare them. The best one he got was a friend of ours, Darrell, who is Avery's dad.  He screamed and screamed like a little girl. It was alot of fun!

The kids enjoyed trick or treating. Elektra said "Do Again" after every house.  There are so many children in the neighborhood, and even the parents get into it. One house BBQs hotdogs for you, another has an ice chest full of soda pop and water.

But they all said, "You have THE BEST haunted house in the neighborhood!"

Their buckets were so full, Mike HAD to stuff some candy in his own pockets.

They had a blast trick or treating, and then eating some of the candy.

Today we walked to the park that Mike and I take Elektra to most mornings.

Instead swinging on the Monkey Bars, Zachary crawls on top of them.

I'm on the other side of this teeter totter trying to get Zachary to bounce as high as I can.

They are just like me, and love to swing high, and then JUMP off!

 Gracefully of course.

Then we came home and made a train city.

I have lots of ideas ready for burning off all that SUGAR high they will have for the next month.

I will try and update the blog more often, but I know I say that every time.

Don't enjoy reading? Try the Bible

There was a book fair at the boys school. They each got Pizza, book and a yummy smelling pencil!

They started reading them as soon as we got home.

Caleb got off the bus the other day super excited because one of his classmates, Tyler T, lives Right NEXT to Us!! Just 6 houses down! Finally! He has his very OWN friend! And he is close by! (the last 'best' friend he had lived about 30 mins away. doesn't make playdates very convienent.)

Tyler T (thats what Caleb calls him) has a little brother that is 3. So they both came over during the weekend to play.  All 5 of them had so much fun! They jumped on the trampoline after putting ICE on it. I dont get it

They played inside a little. The movie Caleb is putting in, lasted about 2 minutes before they were outside running around again. Thank goodness! Look at the toys they decided to play with!

  The weather has been so nice the last few days we all want to be outside!
I never thought I would see the day that Zachary would come in from playing outside to read.

And read he DID!  Elektra gets packages from her mom and dad once a week. A few weeks ago they put in her box her Beginners Children Bible. Zachary looked at it, and the next thing I knew, he had read 20 pages.  Almost every day he has taken it to school to read during Reading. He also sits (on his OWN!) and reads it.  He finished it last night! 508 pages! WOW! Daddy and I are so proud of you Zachary!! 

This morning, he turned to Caleb and said, "Here Caleb, its your turn to read it now. Its the best book you will read!"  I will start reading the stories to Caleb and Elektra. Zachary wants me to start with his favorite stories first.  He bookmarked David & Goliath.

In Elektra's last package she got some stickers (and other goodies)

She put them all over herself with Einstien the Cats supervision.

Christina and her friends met us at Target. They needed money.

 Hmm. I guess I need to find a money tree to plant.  or my daughter needs to get a job! hint hint.

We took the boys to get the Swine Flu shot.  Seminole County schools were offering them for free.  I really debated about getting them the vaccination, but knowing how sick Zachary gets, and how he catches viruses so easily, I decided to go ahead with it. The news stations were there filming it, and we got in a few shots. 

"In my nose? Im getting a shot in my nose?" 

No, not a shot, but a spray. They got it the easy way.

Elektra and Caleb are getting into the Halloween spirit. They are pretending to be ghosts rather than eating.

This is why Mikey is the FUN parent.

They wrestle and attack him nightly.  Sometimes daily too.

We are heading to Boy Scout Family Campout this weekend! For 2 nights. The kids get to bring their costumes and Trick Or Treat at the campsites. Then we get to hear Ghost Stories. They will also have Boys Scout Activities for the kids to do. Please do NOT rain! Please!

Buy Some Popcorn!

Christina and I went to Seminole Community College for a College Fair to check out all the colleges that are around us. There are alot! We think we have decided on her first College. Most likely it will be Valencia Community College. They offer a degree in Event Planning/Management. Also in Public Relations. Those are the fields she is interested in.  Now she needs to start applying for scholarships!

She also has a new boyfriend.  His name is Ben. He is really a great guy.  The day after Elektra and I got home he came over and prepared dinner for all of us. It was really good! He cooks...Check. Then he came over another night and we played Pictionary. They lost to Mike and I, but he was OK with that.  He's a good sport...Check. Another night we played Guesstures (charades). He's fun...Check. Then we played Cranium. They won.  He likes Family Game Night...Check.  He buys Christina flowers.  He's Sweet...Check. But most of all.... He makes Christina SMILE!  CheckMATE!

Frank invited Mike, Elektra and I to Disneyworld on his day off to ride the kiddy rides at Magic Kingdom.  We also met up with my friend Diane and her niece. (I didn't get pictures)

Elektra wore her Snow White Princess Dress. Boy does she get compliments!

She loves the TeaCups! She kept telling Uncle Owiee to spin faster! Then she'd fall over, so he would slow down. Then as soon as she sat upright again she'd say Spin FASTER! He was cracking up so hard!

She loves the 4D shows. No problem wearing the glasses at all.

At 5:00 Uncle Owiee took Elektra home and watched the kids for us while Mike and I had date night! We went to Epcot for the International Food and Wine Festival.  First we walked around the 'countries'. Then we decided on the foods. The food we tried was pretty good. We did buy a beer each, but at $6.75 for one, we stopped there. (and that was the cheapest one we found!!)

We got out the Halloween stuff. Although it does not feel like Halloween with the temperature sitting at 95!  Zachary is pretending to be a dog.

And Zeeb is pretending to be a bumblebee.

Trick or Treat!

Einstien says "Your an Embarrassment to cats everywhere! ATTACK!"

Zachary's Boy Scout Troup is selling Popcorn.  Popcorn in a Tin bucket, chocolate popcorn, caramel popcorn, toffee popcorn, cheese popcorn, microwave popcorn.  Hungry aren't you?

If you would like to buy some to support him and the Scouts (they get 70% back) go here:

  http://www.trails-end.com/estore/home_alt.jsp?_requestid=235771

Look for You are supporting no one. Change.  Click on Change. Then click on Find a Scout to Support.

Type in Zachary B and 32765.  You should then be redirected to the Home Page but it will say, You are Supporting Zachary B.  Now you will be free to do your shopping.

You only have until the 16th.  They make great Christmas presents for your family and friends!

We went to our local nursery to sell some.  Thanks to our friend Diane who bought 40% of all our sales!!

Today is my dads birthday, so a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!