After Halloween Treats

Every year I hit the 90% off Halloween rack at Target and snap up some cheap costumes to throw in our dress up box. These pictures are so much more to me than silly snapshots because they show me one of the few ways that Wylie and Jacy are similar! When Jacy gets up in the morning he puts on one outfit and he takes that outfit off when he crawls into bed. There are no wardrobe changes! Wylie would wear an outfit all day, wear it to bed and then be happy to wear it again for another day's adventure. Not so Todd (or me for that matter!). Todd and I change all day long. The second Todd knows he is in for the day, PJs go on. He strips clothes off and puts new stuff on all day long. So when it comes to costumes, Wylie chooses one he likes and sticks to it and Todd throws one off in giddy anticipation for what he will look like in the next one.Policeman Wylie and Dr. Todd
Policeman Wylie and Cruise Director/Policeman Todd
Policeman Wylie and Astronaut Todd.

Ruby Falls

I am really enjoying looking back on our vacation pictures from Tennessee and Georgia. I should point out that our family went to Point Place National Battleground, Rock City and Ruby Falls all in the same day. That's why we are wearing the same clothes in all those pictures. I have to clarify just in case anyone thought I made my kids where the same clothes three days in a row.
Our last touristy spot in our day was Ruby Falls where we rode an elevator deep into a cave and walked through the cave to a huge underground waterfall. I was a bit worried about the boys not liking the dark, claustrophobic feel of the cave and was glad they liked it so much. They both were impressed by the stalactites and stalagmites and appreciated the structures of the caves more than I anticipated. We ended our fantastic day in downtown Chattanooga with Brandon at The Mellow Mushroom followed by a warm evening walk on the city's all pedestrian walking bridge to get fantastic ice cream for Brandon's birthday celebration. It was the perfect vacation day.

Rock City

Rock City is awesome! Tucked on a hill overlooking Chattanooga Tennessee, it's vistas are amazing and huge. The park was once owned by a family who created a path way through the boulders and caves that were a part of their land. The effect is amazing. At one point in the path you are above huge rocks and then five minutes later you are walking through small crevices in between the same rocks. There are suspension bridges, creeks, a waterfall and perfect views for hundreds of miles all around.

Point Park National Military Park

When I was in the second grade I went on a family vacation to see my Dad's relatives in Georgia and Tennessee. It was fun to do some of the the same things Mom and I did on that trip on our recent family adventure. One of the few things I really remember is riding the Incline Railway car. I probably remember it because I was freaking out when I did it as a kid. I am not sure of that, but I remember me as a child and I was a wimp. I am not much better as an adult, but I have to keep calm around the children. I thought my kids would hate the incredibly steep ride up the mountain, but they loved it. They were both tickled to be on a train that has slanted seats and loved the feeling of climbing that hill. What I did love about the ride was imagining Civil War Soldiers climbing that hill to battle over the scenic spot.

Sabbath Pals

Almost every Sabbath our family spends the day with these cute kids and their parents. There are occasional squabbles and complaints, but they love each other so much and have the best time making messes and laughing at each other's jokes.
I snapped this picture last night about 10pm. They had been together through Sabbath School, Church, and lunch out. They headed to their houses for rest time and then were back together for dinner, a movie and lots of play time.

Sunday at The SAM

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is hosting a Picasso collection from Paris. I have been planning a Girls Only trip to see it with a friend and then realized that Todd would enjoy seeing the exhibits as well. So today, Jacy and I took the boys into Seattle so Todd could see Picasso with Daddy. Wylie and I hung out in the main exhibits and played in the SAM's fabulous play area.Todd enjoyed some playtime as well and built a "Picasso-esque" sculpture out of huge wooden blocks.
After the exhibits we headed to Fran's for hot chocolate and salted caramels.
Todd knew that his treat was going to be a postcard from the SAM gift shop and he chose a card of his favorite Picasso in the show. I asked him which piece he liked the best and he told me it had to be the drawing of "the head coming out of someones butt." That's culture when you are eight year's old I guess.

Halloween Fun

My cute little boys decided on their homemade costumes right at the last minute, of course. Todd knew he was going to be a remote for the day, but Wylie chose Diego and then decided he wanted to be a TV about an hour before our day of fun began. Daddy to the rescue. Jacy whipped that TV together in no time flat and we were out the door for some daytime treating.The highlight of our day was Todd's school Fun Fair. I was in charge of his grade's booth. Jacy and I made hundreds of Italian Creme Sodas last night. I love my cute hubby all dressed up as a lumberjack and I pulled on my boots to go with the Fair cowboy theme.