Halloween 2010

So we rounded out the Halloween weekend with a trunk or treat at a local church. I tried my hardest to get TJ to finally dress up in his pirate costume, but he just wasn't into it. Olivia, who wasn't happy that she had to "be a ladybug again?!?!", immediately jumped at the opportunity to be a pirate in place of TJ. This happens to be another perk of having two kids the same age. Rejected, but already purchased, Halloween costumes do not go to waste!!!). The kids had a blast at the event. Here are some pictures:

Pirate Olivia

TJ dressed up as...well...TJ :)

TJ and Olivia waiting their turn to start the trunk or treat line:)

Olivia greeting her fellow pirates

Pirate's treasure!

TJ really got into "trunk" or treating

The fire truck was even there:)

Another pirate ship! We picked the right costume:)

Olivia was not phased by this pirate...

...or this one who made her "walk the plank".

She jumped...with daddy's help!

Daddy and his cute little pirate!

Recharging with some homemade grilled cheese:)

Happy Halloween!

Fall Hoedown

Yesterday evening we attended our first Fall Hoedown at the kids' school. The kids had a blast running around with their friends, going on hayrides, eating and getting their face painted. Here are some pictures from our fun evening!

Olivia and Daddy at the General Store and Post Office. They really did a great job decorating for the hoedown.

Here is "Coach Parks" at the bank...

They were super excited to play in the jailhouse. Don't know how I feel about that...

I couldn't find Terry when we got on the hayride so I had to take my own pics...this is the only evidence that I have that we actually went on a hayride...twice...

Olivia did not hesitate to get her face painted. Here she is standing in line with her $1 donation.

I really didn't think that she would sit long enough to get her entire face painted so we went with a half butterfly. Boy was I wrong. She did not move the entire time.

The finished product...Olivia was a happy customer.

Each class made their own jack-o-lantern and auctioned it off during the hoedown. The kids' class made this cute Cat in the Hat jack-o-lantern.

Here are the kids enjoying their lunch/dinner...

PreK-3 Halloween Party

I got to attend the PreK-3 Halloween Party/Trick or Treating Event at the kids' school yesterday. So much fun! The kids enjoyed the fun Halloween food, fun and crafts. After the potluck, we got the kids dressed in their costumes so they could go trick-or-treating around the classrooms at the school. Olivia was excited about her ladybug costume...TJ, although he could not stop talking about how excited he was about being a pirate all week, declined to dress up:( We did, at least, get him to put on a fireman hat from their dressup area. Here are some pictures from the fun afternoon...

TJ and Olivia eating some lunch.

One of the moms made these adorable ghost cookies with the kids' initials on them! TJ loved the entire cookie...

Olivia was into the icing, more than the cookie. Yummm!!!

Our little ladybug!

PreK-3...we had a ladybugy, a fireman, Alice in Wonderland, Spiderman, Snow White and a mermaid. Too cute!

Here we go! Trick-or-Treat!!!

Going into one of the classrooms to trick or treat!

Watching some of the other grades...they were able to go around to the local stores near the school to trick or treat. Something to look forward to, but I sure was glad we stayed on campus:)

More treats!

Their teacher explaining to them the rules of candy eating...ASK YOUR PARENTS FIRST!!!

Olivia showing me her candy necklace that the class made.

TJ showing me his candy necklace.

We had a great time...since Terry is with them everyday I rarely get to spend time with them at school so I was glad to do so yesterday. Happy Halloween!

PreK-3 Chapel Presentation

Here is a video of the kids doing their first chapel presentation at school. As you can see, Olivia seems to be a little more outgoing in situations involving crowds...we are working on TJ. Terry and I clearly didn't know each other as kids, but we each talk about how they remind us of how we were as kids - Olivia is more like Terry and TJ is definitely like I was as a kid. I definitely grew out of that, so there is hope for TJ! Enjoy the video:)

Welcome to Miami - Bienvenidos a Miami!

Last weekend we did something that doesn't happen very often...we SURPRISED STAR in Miami! Star and Travis were setting sail on their 1 year anniversary cruise in Miami and I couldn't resist traveling south to catch them before they departed. Now that we live so far away we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like and I wanted to take advantage of them being so close. It was a perfect trip. The kids did excellent on the way down! They are so easy to travel with now compared to when they were infants... We got to Miami in time to catch the kickoff of the Arkansas game and Star arrived at the hotel minutes after the game ended. As soon as Star got off the plane we were texting back and forth so she was kept abreast of every play and score of the game...but she thought that I was at my parents' house...she had no idea that we were watching it at her hotel. So as she and Travis arrived (big thanks to Travis for keeping me updated on their location) we were able to surprise them at the front desk ask they checked in. She was so ecstatic to see the kids and Terry (and me, I guess). The kids hadn't seen her since last Christmas so it was a visit that was long overdue. We ate dinner together in the hotel restaurant (we were not brave enough to explore Miami at 9:00 at night) and spent the rest of the night in true Jamesha/Star fashion - chillin' on the couch in the lobby watching tv. We got up the next morning and were able to eat breakfast together, and run a few last minute errands (during which we couldn't get the Will Smith song "Welcome to Miami" out of our heads...hence the title of this post), before they caught the shuttle for the port. The ride home was just as perfect as the way down. We can't wait for our next impromptu family mini-vacation!!

Here are some pictures from our Miami mini-vacation:

Olivia at breakfast

TJ at breakfast

Coffee talk with Star - there was serious conversation going on here...fruit loop colors, etc. :)

Apparently admiring the ceiling of the hotel lobby

Family pictures!

Teague Hall, circa 1997, son. LOL.

The Crawfords

The guys insisted on doing this pose.

Awww, look how little Star is...

Ready to catch that shuttle to the port!

I loved this bench outside of the hotel.

Terry's mini-me:)

The kids really enjoyed the ride upstairs. Good idea, TParks...good idea.

Happy Anniversary, Trahmen and Dar!!!!