Halloween Teaser

We have decided on a fairy tale theme this year. It has been the easiest year for costumes ever! I believe this is because I have now become so skilled (ha!) at sewing, and I have a deep reserve of costume leftovers to pick over.
But I thought I should send out a teaser by posting one accessory for each of our costumes...
Unicorn on a stick.
Spikey tail.
Black cauldron.
Magic wand.
Green tights.
I can't wait for Halloween!

ASU vs Notre Dame

Two weeks ago I said to Dan that I wished there was college football close by, that I missed going to football games. This week he calls me and says, 'My boss just handed me tickets to the ASU (AZ State) vs. Notre Dame game at Cowboy Stadium.' They happened to be GREAT seats. There were 3. I was lucky for the odd number, because that means I got to go!

What do you do when you go to a game and you don't care for either team? Dan and Alex chose to take a stand and be U of AZ fans. We were absolutely forbidden to cheer for ASU, so Notre Dame got our cheers by default.

 

We had awesome seats. We were off the 35 yard line, 17 rows back.

The big screen was a bit of a distraction.

There were mostly Fighting Irish fans around us. Lots of green and lots more of intoxicating beverages.

I enjoyed watching the half time show. Live shot.

Large screen shot. Do you remember when U of Arkansas got the Jumbotron? I think this new placement of the screen is much better for the players. They can't see who is running behind them, or watch the replays. But a kicker nearly punted into it.

The game was very exciting! The teams were well matched. The final score was 37-34 Notre Dame. A great game. We were spoiled to have such great seats. I'm sure if the Chargers ever come that it will have to be nosebleeds for him and Alex. At least there is that big screen there for them...

5th Grade Camp

Alex went to 5th Grade Camp 2 weeks ago. They went to a YMCA summer camp for 3 days/2 nights. He was in a cabin with his buddy Nico, whose Dad went as a chaperone. The girls' cabin attached to their boy cabin had our next door neighbors (mom and daughter) in it. I knew he was in good hands! I didn't get much of a report from Alex, but I do know he had a great time.

Eating ice cream. It was VERY hot week. 

The kids canoed.

Fished.

Home sweet home.

That's a lot of boys sleeping in one room.

Many nature walks.

Alex nearly stepped on this tarantula.

This is a cool picture of a garden spider and a viceroy butterfly.

It was something of an investment to send our kids, but I know they really appreciated this science field trip. 

Tadpoles

While in Arkansas we picked up some tadpoles. 17 actually. My uncle had a kiddie pool on his back porch. He lives in the country and the frogs thought his pool an excellent place to breed.  We selected a few tadpoles from all stages of development (along with some mosquito larvae) and brought them home in a jar. Luckily we had a small cage that would be perfect for their home.

It was very exciting when the first ones legs popped out!

 

After a while our frogs became thin and hungry. I convinced my young ones that the animals would be better off roaming the front yard then starving in a cage. It was with some tears that we opened up our cage. The frogs were relived and ready to escape. It didn't take long before they were camouflaged among the greenery.

We had these fabulous creatures since Labor Day. I was getting tired of cleaning their space, I thought, wouldn't be it great (big smile!) to let the last few tadpoles go into the wild. We went to the nearest pond and released the last 4 or 5 fellows.

There weren't any tears at this release, but that could be because we are getting butterflies next. Metamorphosis in its many stages!

that's just a toy!

I went to make a bath for Macey. Our tub tends to collect dust and whatnot so I was rinsing it out first. The cup I picked up had a small red octopus in it, unbeknownst to me. So when I dumped it out I said, 'Oh, there is an octopus in the tub!' I then continued to rinse the tub and Macey yelled, 'No, mom! It is just a toy. Stop! Don't wash it down the drain. It isn't real!' She was very agitated that I would try to get rid of her octopus. So, be aware. The sea life you find in your tub isn't real... no need to panic and rinse them away.

Preschool!

Macey is a big girl! She started preschool this week. She goes 2 days a week 9-2. I now have time to blog, clean house, and run boring errands and not feel guilty about ignoring or dragging sister along.
Dan is on a business trip this week, so he had to video chat before school to wish her good luck.

She had to wear her new school dress. I'm not sure it is appropriate, but she was happy. And she didn't come home covered in paint, thank goodness!

Miss Kathy is her teacher. The school is next door to the elementary school, so it is in walking distance. The school is part of the ministry for the church it is housed in. I love that Macey will learn Bible stories and songs.

You can't start school without a cool backpack or lunchbox.

Today Macey scootered over to school. She is getting better and stronger riding it.

Here is a pic of Macey and Sophie in class. I know they'll make other friends and learn a lot of new things together.