Nurtury Halloween Parade

Alex's class had a little Halloween parade at the end of the day today in the courtyard at school.  They marched around and then sang a couple of songs for us.  Too cute!

Orinda Tots Halloween Parade

 Getting ready for the parade

 Don the Pteranodon met a shark before the parade

 Taking walking in the parade very seriously...as usual. ;-)

Don climbing the rocks

We went to the Orinda Tots Halloween Parade on Thursday and Alex proudly walked in the parade with all of the other kiddos.  He took his parade walking very seriously, as you can see from the photos.  There were some cute kiddos in costume at the event.  I still laugh when I look at the picture of the pteranodon and the shark talking.

Trick or Treating with Lamorinda Moms and Fiesta Square

The local mom's group, of which I am a member, has an annual trick or treating event at Fiesta Square in Lafayette.  This year it was this past Saturday evening.  Most of the merchants in the square participate and the kids go around trick or treating to the stores and playing games. The event was also used as a way to collect jackets for families in need.  Although Alex was super shy, it seemed like he had a good time.  We met some friends there and ended up picking up a pizza to bring home and enjoy on our deck.  The weather was beautiful!

Carving Jack o Lanterns

 Trying to get all of the seeds out

 Working on Alex and Julia's pumpkins

 Julia taking it all in

Oooh...gooey and slimy pumpkin guts

We carved pumpkins last night and Alex really got into it.  I had him draw on paper what type of face he wanted on his pumpkin and then I did my take on it for the pumpkin carving.  He, of course, wanted a scary dinosaur type face.  Then we did a happy one to counteract the scary one.  Julia had a little pumpkin with a smiley face and an upside down heart nose.  We're roasting the seeds today, something which Alex had requested.  Actually, he requested to have them for dinner last night, but we thought that something more substantial might be more appropriate.  Crazy kiddo.

The Venus Flytrap Dance

I think MJ would be proud....

What a Helper!

You know that your fireplace ledge is dusty when your 3 year old independently decides to get a wipe from the container and informs you that he is going to use it to clean the ledge, because it is "really dusty".  Hopefully he will continue to be interested in such activities.  My future daughter-in-law should thank me ;-)

Halloween Fun

Lots of parties and fun this week and next leading up to Halloween.  This year's costume is going to get alot of wear, and Alex is very excited about it!  Earlier this week, we went to a fun Halloween get-together at the home of one of Alex's classmates.  One of the favorite activities was painting pumpkins.

Visitors

We all had a fun week with Grandpa and Cindy here.  In addition to having alot of fun playing, reading and hanging out in the backyard during our nice Fall weather, they also were very helpful with some projects around the house, including putting a new, easier to use faucet in the bathroom which Alex uses, and taking out the old metal and glass shower doors, both projects which we have wanted to do since we moved in, but just haven't had time to do.  Thanks for your help!  We had a fun time!  As is the case with all of you out there, feel free to come by and spend some time with us.  We now have plenty of room for visitors!

"Superman"

Here's a picture of "Superman" when he visited our house tonight.

Hanging out with Grandpa

 Grandpa and Mimi

 Mimi fell asleep while Grandpa was holding her

 Grandpa and Alex doing some "lumberjacking"

More yard work

Grandpa is having fun with Alex and Julia as you can see.  A little cuddling here, a little yard work there, a visit to the library here, some ice cream there.  Lots of activities to fill up the day.  

Spoonbill sighting

There was a spoonbill at our house this morning!  Alex, Julia and I were looking through his big bird book this morning and we came to the Roseate Spoonbill.  After listening to the spoonbill, Alex went into the kitchen and came back with two spoons, which he put together to mimic a spoonbill.  Silly, yet clever boy.

Pancake Breakfast at the Firehouse

 Alex checking out the fire engine

 Grandpa and Alex working the pulley system

Even Mimi looked at the camera for a group photo

We're having fun with Grandpa and Cindy while they are here.  Alex is keeping them busy!  Lots of reading, playing and showing them around.  On Saturday morning, the local fire department had an open house and pancake breakfast, so that was our morning activity.  Alex did not know where we were walking to that morning and was pleasantly surprised when he found out that we were having breakfast inside the fire station!  They had lots of fun activities for the kiddos and lots of good information for the parents.  Alex and Grandpa took a turn putting out a fire with an extinguisher, Alex spent some time in the firetruck jumpy house, and we took tours of a few of the many fire vehicles.  It was a great morning activity and we thank the firefighters for all of their hard work.

Cowgirls and cowboys

Puppet

Alex showing Julia the puppet creation which he made.  Julia was very interested in pulling off the parts, which are affixed with velcro.  

Farm Day

It was Farm Day at preschool today, so Alex was all ready to go with his jeans, plaid shirt and cowboy hat.  He had a very fun time at Farm Day.  Sounds like they had piglets, a miniature horse, chickens, and ducks.  And for snack time they had apples, carrots and homemade granola bars.  These were obviously the high points of the day, because they have been recounted a few times now.  

4 Months!

BBQ & Pumpkins!

Alex and Daddy eating up the ribs

 Julia after she fell asleep listening to the blues music

 Pumpkin time

Getting taller every day!

It was a Sunday filled with barbeque, some blues music and pumpkins.  We tried out Bo's Barbeque in Lafayette for lunch and we all give it the thumbs up.  I thought the restaurant had a good vibe, the food was yummy, the music was good and the staff was very friendly as well.  Alex was happily pretending to be a carnivore with all of the meat choices.  Definitely a place to go back to.  Julia fell asleep listening to the blues, so we decided to continue on with our plans to hit up a pumpkin patch today.   Alex picked out a selection of pumpkins and gourds and some Indian corn and promptly set up his own "pumpkin patch" for his stuffed animals at home.  Unfortunately, Julia slept through the entire pumpkin patch experience and of course woke up about five minutes into our journey home.  With a couple of pit stops, we were able to get her to go back to sleep and get home without hearing her sad little cry.  

My Brother is Funny....

Untitled from David Chng on Vimeo.

This afternoon we were sitting in the playroom and Alex was talking up a storm (as usual) and Julia just started giggling in amusement.

Lunchtime

Mimi is now sitting in her highchair, so she has a much better vantage point during mealtimes.  I do not remember Alex ever being quite so small in the highchair, but she'll grow into it.  We all had a nice little lunch today at the table.  It's great having lunch with my favorite little people!