Happy Halloween 2011

The Halloween festivities began for us on October 21st.  The four of us got all dressed up to attend a party across the street that our neighbor was throwing for her almost-four year old grandson.  We ate pizza, painted pumpkins, did crafts, ate candy, and played a couple games.  Here are a couple pictures of us getting ready, and us at the party:

(click on photos to see larger)

she wasn't thrilled

with the help of food, she came around

big phanatic helping small phanatic

After the kid party, we walked back home to meet my parents who where babysitting that night so Kevin and I could go to an adult costume party.

On October 22nd we took the kids to White Clay Creek State Park for a pre-planned hayride and bonfire with friends from The Moms Group.

he wanted to bring his tractor and wagon thing

On October 27th we had a Halloween party for the kids in the Moms Group.

 Events for October 29th got canceled due to weather (SNOW!)

At some point we let the kids paint mini pumpkins.  They really enjoyed it!!
 (check back for the photo)

On October 30th we went to the Main Street Halloween Parade.  This was our fourth year walking to the event from our neighborhood (I say neighborhood instead of house because some years we walk from our house, but other years [this year] we drove to the beginning of our neighborhood and walked from there.  We did this because it was a little chilly and because we knew we'd have a hard time finding parking if we got any closer). 

somehow Kevin got stuck holding both...

...and i pulled an empty wagon. what the heck

After the parade we went home and carved pumpkins

Trent insisted on a Thomas pumpkin.  I chose a simple pumpkin face for me and Claire

The Grand Finale: Trick or Treating on Halloween night!

still hates it

first house = major score

home from trick-or-treating!

Day at the Beach 2011

July 13th - The perfect day to be at the beach!  Kevin took the week off work so we could spend some Q.T. together as a family unit.  The first couple days were too hot to leave the house, but by mid week we were on the go.  Rehoboth Beach is our go-to beach.  This also happened to be Claire's first time at the beach! 

As I said - Perfect Day!  It was hot.  Hot enough to get in the water, but not unbearably hot.  Sunny with some clouds.  We got there early enough to get a great parking spot.  It was mid-week, so it wasn't too crowded (not to mention no traffic). 

Both kids really liked the sand and the ocean.  They liked when the wave would crash on their legs and when the water would creep over their toes.  Trent enjoyed filling his buckets with water, attempting to make sand castles, and throwing sand on Daddy.  Claire liked carrying sand around, shoveling sand into buckets, and walking up to strangers (kids and adults alike). 

After a few hours on the beach we walked up to the boardwalk and ate lunch then hit the arcades and rides.  Again, they both enjoyed each ride they got on.   Trent got on the firetrucks twice.  Claire attempted to climb out of the boat ride. 

Next on the agenda:  Antique Pictures.  I think antique pictures are going to become a "thing" with us.  We have one of Kevin and I when we were, i believe, in our late-teens.  Two years ago we got one of Trent and Maggie.  This year we got one of Trent and Claire together, and one of Claire solo.  They are expensive but so cute. 

Popcorn and more sand time concluded our day at the beach.  We had such a nice time that we hope to spend a week down there next summer.

Now, enjoy some of the cutest photos you've ever seen:

they're acting like they don't know each other

that's Kevin and Claire up there

Trent's excited to toss sand onto his dad

again...