School Party - Fall Fest

After school on November 7, the after-school program at Cardinal Charter Academy hosted a Fall Fest for the children involved in after school care.  The boys really had a good time.  They went around to different rooms and played different games.  There was a cupcake walk, a hockey puck speed and control game, face painting, etc.

Anyone could tell that all the children were having a great time.

Check out a couple of pictures from the event:

Nice stache and Top Hat

If you have a big smile, then you are either Jack and Mark.

Bobbing for ducks! - Jack

Bean Bag toss up against the wall.

Time to concentrate on the bean bag toss.  - Mark

Operation Christmas Child

Every Thanksgiving season, as we approach the Christmas season, we participate in the Operation Christmas Child.  Both Jack and Mark get to help fill a shoe box  full of toys, gifts, and clothes for a kid somewhere in the world whose shoe box will be the only Christmas present they receive this year. As a family, we went to Target after church one Sunday.  The boys pointed out things that they wanted to have in the shoe box for their recipient.  Jack and Mark really enjoyed shopping for someone who is less fortunate than ourselves.

We are proud of how the boys want to give to other people, especially during the Christmas season.  Here are a couple of pictures of the boys after finishing their boxes:

Mark with his shoe box.

Jack with his shoe box.

Halloween

The next Friday, it was Halloween.  The boys were really looking forward to going trick or treating.  The interesting thing is that the boys don't really like candy so most everything they got we would immediately put it in our basket and re-gift.  The boys kept any suckers and goldfish they got.  However, anything else they said we could put out in a bowl and give to other kids.  The construction workers were really happy to get home from school and get ready to go trick or treating.

Here are a few pictures from Halloween night:

Mark, Daddy, and Jack ready to get some candy.

Mark, Mommy, and Jack are ready to get some candy.  

Uh, is that a gorilla with Mark and Jack?  Nope, that is Grandpa...we think.

Looking at their loot.  

Jack, if we liked chocolate, this would rock.  - Mark

What?  I couldn't hear you as I was sucking on my sucker.  - Jack

Halloween Parade

Mimi had come to Raleigh for the weekend because she wanted to see Jack and Mark play baseball.  And then she got to see them play a double header.  After we got home from the doubleheader, it really was time for lunch.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time.  The boys changed from their baseball uniforms and put on their Halloween costumes (after a quick snack of course).  Then, it was time for the annual neighborhood Halloween parade.  The children have a fire truck come to the neighborhood where the firemen tell all of us about fire safety.  Then, with the fire truck leading the way, Jack, Mark, Mommy, Daddy, and Mimi took a lap around the neighborhood showing everyone the cool costumes that have been made.   When we got to Granna and Grandpa's house, they were out there with Mama, Roger, and Evi.  The boys had a great time.

The boys enjoyed dressing up as construction workers.  Over the past few months, we had driven them around the school while it was being built.  They enjoyed seeing all of the construction workers and decided that is what they wanted to be for Halloween.

Here are a couple of pictures from the parade:

2 construction workers ready for the parade.

We are listening intently to the firemen about fire safety.  - Jack and Mark

This "line" is to take a tour inside the fire truck.

Time to show everyone our outfits.

Anyone on the street need me to saw something?  - Mark

We are almost finished.  Got some good woodworking in today.  - Jack and Mark

Whoa.  I missed a spot.  Let me saw down that tree real quick. - Mark  

Volcanoes Pictures

West Raleigh Baseball has a photographer that will take pictures of your kids playing baseball if you want her to.  We saw pictures of their friend Alex, who won a raffle for free pictures.  After we saw them, we decided the boys needed to be photographed as well.  These pictures were taken on the double header day, which was great because of all the family that was there.  Granna, Grandpa, Mimi, Uncle Roger, Mama, and Evi were all there.  Here are the pictures from the photographer (40 of them):