Halloween Parade

Today, our neighborhood had their annual Halloween parade.  Lots of little kids in their Halloween costumes that are lead around the neighborhood by a Cary Fire Department fire truck.  After a short fire safety discussion lead by the fire fighters, the parade started.

After the parade was over, there was a little picnic with hot dogs, chips, and drinks.  There was a kids game as well.  Kids took turns playing the doughnut on string eating contest.  Lots of fun.  As expected, Jack and Mark did not participate in the contest as they don't like doughnuts (although to be fair, they were Dunkin Donuts.  I mean, it wasn't real doughnuts like Krispy Kreme).

The boys were dressed up as a policeman (Mark) and fire fighter (Jack).

Here are a few pictures from the parade and party:

Don't do anything wrong.  The law is watching.  Here comes Mark the policeman.  

If your house is on fire, I will put it out.  - Jack

Getting ready for the parade.  

Daddy helping us walk the parade.  - Jack and Mark

Daddy and his two best friends.

We like to have fun sometimes in our family pictures.  Mark's turn first.  

Not to be outdone, Jack's turn is next.

In reality, they are watching the Donut on a string eating contest.  But they look like first responders on the scene of a car accident or something.  So serious.

Trip to See Mimi and Poppy

We traveled to Kingsport last weekend to check in on Mimi and Poppy.  And it worked out that the Morgans were going to be there too.   Mimi all of a sudden had 9 people in her house.   It was loud and exciting, as it should be.  Friday night, after we got into town, we went over and saw Poppy to see how he was doing.  He was doing pretty good.  He had spent the afternoon with the Morgans and Mom so he was a little tired and didn't interact a whole bunch with us.

Then we went over to Mimi and Poppy's house where it was good to see everyone.  We had a pretty uneventful evening, and then Saturday morning we just played around inside.  No one had anywhere to be early so it was nice and relaxing.  After lunch, Jack and Mark wanted to kick the football, soccer ball, and throw the baseball some.  So that is what we did.  They enjoyed playing with Kate and Macy and Mimi.

Then we went out to the park and played for awhile.  The Kiwanis built a playground at Warriors Path State Park a few years ago.  It is a great place for everyone had a lot of fun.

Afterwards, we went out and fed Poppy dinner.  He was doing pretty good.  It is always good to see him.

We had a good time at church the next day.  We went back with Mimi to see Poppy on our way back to Raleigh.

It is always a fun time when we go to Kingsport.  Jack and Mark both asked us Sunday night when we would go back to Mimi's.  Soon we said.  Soon.

Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend:

Once we got there, Mark and Jack wanted to color with Macy.  

Bedtime stories by Kate with Mimi, Macy, Jack, and Mark listening on.

I am going to strike you out!  - Jack

That was a good pitch Jack.  - Mark

Mimi and Poppy's grandchildren.  Gotta love those kids!

Hey, why don't I have a pumpkin?  - Mark

Mimi fixed that for me.  I love Mimi!  - Mark

Now what can I find to do now?  Hmmm.  - Mark

I love piles of leaves! - Macy

Jack, come on down.  These leaves are loads of fun! - Mark

Time to start climbing.  - Jack

This the 30th straight time I have gone down this slide! - Jack

Uh, boys, a see saw needs one of you on each side, not both on one side.

This is a big boy swing!  - Mark 

Macy gets a push from Aunt Janet.  

Jack gets a swinging while Mommy looks on.

School Work

Recently, we realized we hadn't updated the blog with any updates from preschool about the work the boys are doing.  And within a couple of days, we received emails with pictures from their teachers with their work.  Here is at least one thing that each of them did and what they were doing (from their teacher descriptions):

Jack had a lesson on the moveable alphabet and did great!  He could hear beginning, middle, and ending sounds and did a pretty good job finding the correct letters to form the words.  He was given 3 letter phonetic words to ‘write’.  After he had formed the words on the rug he wrote them in a booklet- he can’t read these words yet.  We will continue doing this and will add longer words.

- Diane

It is a big deal to do the hundred board!! He was so proud today.

"The hundred board is where a kid has 10 sections of 10 numbers.  He then puts them in order on the board so that upon completion, he is from 1 to 100."

We are so proud of all they are learning at Children's House Preschool!

Fun at the Phillips Farm

Being October, we had to go to a pumpkin patch. We decided to go back to the Phillips Farm over in Cary.  It is really kid friendly and very reasonable.  It was a cloudy day and threatened rain most of the time.  However, it just threatened and we had no problem enjoying everything there.  Jack and Mark had an absolute blast there.

They enjoyed everything they did out here (although knowing the boys, the throwing the football through a tire held a special place in their heart).  I don't have too much else to say, but just look at all of the fun they had:

Do I see farming in our future?

Now this is some farm equipment.

This isn't Charlotte's Web, it is Jack's web!  - Jack

I don't think so.  This is Mark's web!  - Mark

Jeff Gordon, I am coming for you.  - Jack

(Jack gave it a try on his own and then decided to ride with Daddy like Mark did!)

These things aren't the easiest to drive, so I let Daddy do all the hard work.  - Mark

The Air pillow.  Lots of fun!  Watch as I land I push Mark up in the air.  - Jack

And when I land, I push Jack up in the air.  - Mark

Do I hit or kick the tether ball?  - Mark

I am going to kick the ball Mark.  - Jack

Just finished going down the tube slide.  - Mark

This was lots of fun.  - Jack

I am getting speed on the sack slide.  - Mark

Uh, my sack isn't set up properly so I don't have any speed.  - Jack

Ahh, throwing the football.  My type of activity.  - Mark

I can throw the football through the tire.  Russell Wilson taught me everything I know.  - Jack

Time for the pumpkin launcher.  - Mark

Daddy, cover my ears when I launch the pumpkin.  - Jack

Oh no, Daddy is getting ready to shoot off the cannon.  

Time for the cow ride.

You ready for this Mommy?  - Jack and Mark

And away they go.  Daddy - I hope they come back.  

Oh goody, they did come back.

Who had more fun?  Mommy, Jack, or Mark?

The happy family all together.

Can't wait for the start of the hayride!

The annual sitting on the pumpkins.

Mark, let's go over here for our pumpkins!  - Jack

Hmm, our pumpkins should be somewhere over near the edge of the patch.  That is where the good ones are located.  - Mark

Look what I found.  Just the right size!  - Mark

Look what I found!  The biggest one out here.  - Jack

Working together in the corn box.  

Look what I found.  I appropriated this from some other kid over there when his mommy told him he had to go to the car.  - Mark

Can you believe I am having all of this fun?  - Jack

Yes, I can believe it Jack.  I am having that much fun too.  - Mark