Pumpkin carving, one of Andy's favorite holiday traditions!

He's quite the artist with a carving knife. Here is Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin

My choice: cat with crescent moon

Ben's choice: big scary pumpkin eating baby boo!

The artists at work and play!

Andy's choice: Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas

I made the other two pumpkins: the floral one to the left and the third, which was Bella's design

Crazy Hair Day

Bella's school has chosen the past two years not to allow kids to wear costumes and participate in the usual Halloween traditions. This year they spend about 10 days talking up "Elect To Be Drug Free" week. Bella got really into it, wearing patriotic colors one day, dressing up in her best dress another. On the final day of this week, October 30, the task was to wear your hair crazy. As you may remember from the spring, Bella loved making her hair crazy for the walk -a-thon, so we had some colors on hand to help with the fun. Of course we couldn't stop there...Ben had to have his hair crazy too.

Halloween, a little late!

This year Bella planned to be a vampire for Halloween. After reading the book Bunnicula, she decided to change it up a little by adding bunny ears. If you don't know the story, it's a whole series about a vampire bunny who suck the juice out of vegetables. (The series was written by author James Howe.) In true Ben fashion, he had to be something similar to his sister and chose to be a vampire bat. (Use your imagination here people - I don't have time to make wings!) I've had many comments from friends who know of my love for the Twilight series and claim my children were Edward and Bella, but I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! Really!

Ben's First Field Trip

Ben's first field trip was a big hit! It was a short trip to Layz S Ranch, about 15 minutes from our house. This is a new place for us, as we usually head up to Carter Mountain for pumpkin picking and hayrides. This new venue is much smaller. Only one guy was there to show us around. The view was just beautiful though and we were the only ones there! No big crowds or other field trips, as with Carter's. The bonus: I was FREE and Ben was only $5. For your money, you get to play in a hay bale maze, a corn maze, take a hayride to pet animals (who apparently missed the memo about the petting...), and pick two pumpkins, one white and one orange.

Peek!

Ben and his buddy Bryce

Photo-op: hay bale teddy bear

Poor Bryce. Ben accidentally poked him in the eye in their climb. :(

Hayride!

Yes, this is the best pic of Ben with his pumpkins.

We have a sailboat!!!

We've always wanted a sailboat - Andy still thinks that when we retire we'll sell everything and sail to the Caribbean. Well, I went to a farewell party for a colleague a few weeks ago that was hosted by a friend here at the lake. My friend and her husband are retired and live right on the water. As I was admiring their gorgeous view from the house, I commented on their pontoon boat and the adorable sailboat next to the water. Their response was: "Do you want it?" Um, let me think about it...YES!!!! They were about to freecycle it - seriously - and just wanted it to go to a good home. Lake Monticello isn't really meant for sailing, but Lake Anna is a good alternative, and of course we can always head to Tall Timbers with it. Now the search begins for a boat trailer and a cover, as she is currently residing in our side yard just waiting to fill with rainwater. :)

Is it show and tell day?

Please take me.

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting!

U2 Footage

Autumn is Here!!!

This is Ben and me goofing around in the Jeep outside on a nice day. I was feeling rough most of the week with a respiratory thing, but we just had to get outside! The dogs had free run of the cul de sac and Ben didn't have to take turns for once.

Hey! You can check out the bumper of my new sweet ride! Woo Hoo Caravan!

Happy Birthday Archie!

My sweet furry boy is one year old!