Cold Weather

Christopher finished his run of T-Ball and then got his trophy. It was a good thing it was the last day because the weather is turning cold and it was drizzly and getting dark! I think he really only took the class to get the trophy anyhow, but it was fun while it lasted. Here is Anna all bundled up as the weather is getting more winter-like rather than fall. She loves to swing and also loves fresh air!

National Monument Trip

Christopher had a few days off in the beginning of November, so we went downtown. Here are the kids, again with our neighbors, playing on the National Mall while a man was trying to suck up the leaves. That made it more exciting for the kids. This is at the Dept. of Treasury. We just missed the last tour of how they make money, but we got into the gift shop (those are always available) and Christopher showed us how much money he is worth. It is actually how much money there would be if they stacked $100 bills to your height. I think he might be worth a little more than that. Mark was getting tired and refused to stand up next to the sign.

Here is good ol' George inside the Washington Monument waiting for the elevator. Let me clarify, that's us waiting for the elevator, not him.

Here are the kids waiting to get into the monument.

This was grandma's last day with us and a parting shot!

Halloween

Grandma was in town for Halloween and got to enjoy all of the festivities. Hopefully it didn't wear her out too much! We went trick or treating in out building first and then the surrounding neighborhood and were lucky to be joined by our favorite neighbors, Laith and Layan.

Anna was the most adorable black cat ever (but I'm not biased)!

Christopher was a ghost and we had fun making this no-sew costume. (Yes, he really did help.)

Mark was sure he was going to be a pirate, but the sword made him feel very official!

Getting Ready for Halloween

This is a picture of Mark at Christopher's class party at school. Just when he thought no one was looking, he tried to sneak something out of the basket. Mark is sneaky for those who don't know, but doesn't always get caught in the act. A funny quote by Mark recently was when he was helping me cook dinner one night (he loves to help in the kitchen; a future chef perhaps?) and my eyes were watering from cutting onions. I said, "Ow, my eyes are burning." Mark promptly replied, "That's because you have onions in your eyes, mom!" Here is Christopher's first grade class on Halloween. He is in the front row on the left.

Our big pumpkin carving night. The boys are starting to be more and more specific with what they like and want. Mark's was a pirate pumpkin to go with his costume and Christopher's was a haunted house to go with his!

We have a group of moms that get together for Family Home Evening as all of our husbands are in school or work until late on Monday nights. It has been fun and this lesson was about Nephi and Laban and obtaining the brass plates. Christopher and Mark loved dressing up. Anna was obviously enjoying herself as well.

Funny Things

I have been meaning to write some of the funny things the kids say, but have forgotten to do it fast enough and have lost a lot of them. So here are two of them from tonight.

Mark: With a French Putamayo CD playing in the background. "Mom, look, I'm dancing in French!"

Christopher: Upon tasting the split pea soup that we are having for dinner: "This doesn't taste as bad as it looks!"

Gotta love 'em!