Happy Halloween!

Ready to go! Spiderman and the Pink Poodle...



Ballard's first Trick or Treating experience...



The Family ...




Here they are in action...we tried to teach Ella to say "Trick or Treat" - she'd hold her bag out and say "Treat-Treat" at every door. Apparently she's not interested in Tricks, she just wants the TREATS! Smart girl.


Poor Kitty got left at home.

Halloween Parade at Kindergarten

This morning was Aidan's Halloween Parade at school...they came into the Gathering Space and sang songs for the parents, then paraded to the Church Offices to trick-or-treat, and then to the Preschool Classroom to show their costumes to the preschoolers . Can you guess which one is Aidan?

Ballard's making some progress...

He's now allowed to have half his body on the bed, for about a half a minute.

Aidan learned to tie his shoes!

Working hard...




Success!

See anyone you know???

{hint} look closely...

I'm dre-e-e-eaming of a whi-i-i-ite Columbus Day...

This is definitely the earliest snowfall I've seen in my life. I took this pic this morning, and it's still coming down. Got about 4 inches on our patio table now.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We hit the Pumpkin Patch after church this morning. It was about 35°, with a VERY cold wind. But we persevered.

Ella modeling her new winter wardrobe. She sums up the look in one word: "PINK!"


Our little Pumpkin. (Ella is the pink one.)


Aidan would have brought home a truck load if we would have let him.


Ella took me LITERALLY when I told her to find one 'just her size'.


Here's the fraction of one second when they actually stood still.

First Snow of the Season!!!

We woke up to snow Saturday morning. Most of it had melted by the time I took this picture in the afternoon (was too cold in the morning for Aidan to go out). But he insisted he go out and 'play in the snow'. He'd have gotten his sled out if I had let him. o_O

Ballard got a brand-new Dog Bed.

Don't ask him how he likes it...he hasn't gotten to try it yet.

Another innovative invention from Aidan...

...the laundrey basket recliner...perfect for watching Barney. (Notice each Laundro-cliner comes with it's own Remote Control.)

Ella

these are a few weeks old...

Some House Pictures

Here's some "Before" pics of the house, before new Roof and Siding:





And here's the "After" pics (click on them to see them bigger, more detail)

First day of Kindergarten!!!

Aidan did great - he was so excited to go, and was still excited when the day was over. We're so proud of him! Can't believe I have a kid in school o_O

Mr. Aidan kicking a goal in Soccer

Some pics of our Pretty Girl...

Ella doing dishes at the cabin...

She figured out that she could drag a cooler to the sink and 'do dishes'. Hopefully she thinks that is this much fun when she's 16...

Fishing in Canada

Here's one of the Northern's Aidan caught in Canada...



And I think this one is a Perch...

Aidan learned to ride his bike!

After a few failed attempts at us trying to teach/help him to ride his bike without training wheels, he decided to do it all by himself while at the neighbor's house. He came home and wanted to show us - sure enough, he could do it! (Of course, he weaves all over the street like a blind monkey driving a motorcycle, but by gosh, he keeps the bike up!)

4th of July

We spent the afternoon at Big Marine Lake, then came home to see the Cottage Grove fireworks. Nice family day!

Rock City

Fun at Nana's and Papa's

Rootin' Tootin' Scootin'

Ella Being Silly

Our Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model

Aidan's Preschool Graduation

They had a little Program the last day of school - here's a couple pics of Aidan performing with his class...

Ella, have you been eating Bubbles?

No. Why do you ask?

The Reluctant Hug...

My Chitlins on Mother's Day

What more could I ask for?

Ella's new Favorite Spot

There comes a time in every girl's life when she needs a little space. And since Ella doesn't have a Bedroom, she's decided this 8-inch space between the couch and the wall will just have to do.

More Reluctant Hugging

Ella in the Sandbox

This is actually a laugh, not crying...

Easter Day

More Easter Baskets!




More Easter Egg Huntin'










Sharing the Loot...

Easter Morning

Easter Egg Hunt...



Easter Baskets...

Ballard go Bye-Bye

Ballard was sent off to 2 weeks of Doggie Hunting School while Jim is in China. Here he is showing of his Easter/First Day of School outfit. (Just had a bath - he gets extra fuzzy and weird looking after baths.)

After-Bath Nakie Coloring Time

More Than You Ever Wanted To See Of Our Cat

Came across Kitty laying in the Living Room today. Thought he was dead, but no such luck. Just enjoying Life, the Sunshine, and his General Lack of Inhibitions.

Miss Ella

Playing Nicely...

is Oh So Nice.

Ella must have had Cooties this day...

Apparently, if you want a relaxed and comfortable, natural looking pose - DO NOT tell a 5 year old to 'put his arm around his sister'.

Coloring is Kind of Big Deal here

The kids are crazy about coloring right now. I'm loving it - a nice, quiet activity. So quiet that you forget where they are and what they are doing. And did you know that a Magic Eraser will remove crayons from a wall? An ENTIRE wall? It does!

Who can resist this FACE?

Plotting an Escape?

I've noticed the hole in our Screen keeps getting bigger and bigger. Hmmmm.....

It started with a Hug...

Aidan learned you need to be careful when showing girls affection - you might get more than you wished for. He gave Ella a nice hug and thought the encounter was over.

Ella had other plans. A nice hug deserves a kiss in return...


and another....


and another....

I finally had to pry her off of him. It was a nice change from the bickering though!

Birthday Pics

Did I tell you I hired a cleaning crew?

"THE LOOK"

This is The Look I get when I tell her 'No'.

Ella finally enjoys her bath...if it's in the sink

Ella playing in their Toy Food/Cooking Cabinet

Ella Marie

A Boy and his Dog

I can't wait til Spring - Aidan's obviously running out of things to do inside the house.