Deathly Hallow

This was likely the only year the kids will choose to coordinate Halloween costumes. I swear I didn't force them, but I was pretty happy about it. They looked great.

Super-cute Hermoine Granger.

Given Ethan was reprising his wizard role, he decided to shake it up and go as Ron Weasley rather than Harry Potter.

Adelaide's painstaking lists of her haul.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

(I'm headed to the kitchen right now to wipe one of those Butterfingers off the list. Don't tell.)

Think Pink

Because Blogger isn't recognizing my pics of the kids in their costumes, (and because I have a lot of catching up to do anyway) I will start with this...

Recently, I found pink flamingos at Target. They gave me an idea.

Once Ethan heard my idea he was very anxious to participate. (Adelaide's heart was willing, but she cannot seem to make herself stay awake no matter how hard she tries.)

We waited until it was late, we snuck over to our friends the Dukes, and we littered their lawn with the birds. Taped to their door, we left this official-looking note:

Dear Residents,

Under the Federal Species Act of 1973 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has determined your front yard to be a natural habitat of the pink, artificial flamingo; an endangered species. Therefore, your front lawn is now a fully protected, plastic flamingo sanctuary.

This fine bird once graced every trailer park lawn across America until the late 1980s. Now it is nearly extinct due to a number of rather unfortunate fashion trends. Environmental agencies have worked tirelessly, using your tax dollars, to see that this beautiful plastic bird grace the front yards of Americans once again.

Removing flamingos from their new habitat will result in a felony under penalty of law. However, if you are able to find another suitable front yard for the birds you may relocate them, thus transferring liability for their protection to another homeowner. It is advisable to move them only at night as the birds are heavy sleepers and will not suffer any undue stress from such a transfer.

Thank you for your cooperation. And God bless America!

He he he he he.

The biggest laugh was seeing them in the Sedlak's front yard on our way to church the following morning.

He he he he he.

It's not confidential

We love the Killers. It's nearly the only band Randal and I both have an interest in.

This is awesome.

Do you think he is in the ward choir?

Now that would be even more awesome.

Welcome Back

Hello. We're still here.

Fall has come to the northeast and it is beautiful.

Ethan has been doing a whole lot of this lately.

Adelaide is a whole lot of this Kindergarten cuteness.

I've been taking a photography class where I'm learning how to takes pictures like this.

And Randal has been here much of the time. We miss him a whole lot.

More to come.

PreK

This week Adelaide graduated from preschool. There are a number of things I love about living here. Finding this preschool is at the top of my list.

Adelaide experienced so many things. To name a few, she hatched hundreds of praying mantises, "rode" in a hot air balloon, helped plant the garden you see behind her in the pictures, and learned to pump herself on the swing.

The ladies who run the preschool, Gail and Sue, are wonderful. Simply wonderful. Adelaide has flourished this past year. She needed preschool. She is stubborn and shy about trying new things. Her teachers have worked so well with her. At times it seemed like they were teaching Adelaide far more than I was. I am very am grateful. I get emotional even thinking about how much they have influenced her for the better. I love them for it.

Leaving It All Out On the Field

We just finished baseball and t-ball season. First year for Ethan in the miners, and first year for Addie in anything.

We spent nearly every night of the week at the field because one or the other was playing--rain or shine.


Adelaide counted down each day until her next game. I'm not claiming she's any kind of ball player. Quite the contrary. But she has the heart of a ball player. And due to her cuteness she had loads of fans in the stand.


Ethan had his first year of coach-pitch. Believe me, they are serious about it too. None of this nicely lobbing the ball to the kids business. But to Ethan's credit he worked hard, tried his best, and managed a hit or two most games. He loves baseball.
Adelaide hasn't yet let her trophy go since receiving it.

We Still Exist

I keep saying I'm back, and then I leave again. Fickle.

Life has been a bit busy.

But I wanted to take a minute to say how much I love these kids.
Adelaide is staying busy too.

Carefully watering every dandelion in our lawn.

We're never going to get rid of them now. They keep telling their friends there's a sweet, little girl at this house who will take good care of them.