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!!!!

Gpa and Gma

Continuing on with what we've been up to for the last two months...

Here are the kids and I taking a train ride around the mall during one of our frequent trips to see Gma and Gpa. Thanks to Gma we were able to take some video. The kids and I had a blast.

Here are some pictures from when Gma and Gpa came to visit us.

Gma doing Olivia's hair/hanging out with TJ

Gma with Olivia sporting freshly braided hair

Gpa, Gma with 'the grands'

Birthday Party!

Lastly, this past weekend we took the kids to a Thomas the Train themed birthday party for my coworker's son. We all had a blast. Here are a few pictures of the kids on the train and at the party.

School

What have the Parks twins been up to for the last 2 months you ask? Where shall we begin:

The kids had their last day at BCC Montessori. It was a difficult, but necessary, move. We'll just leave it at that.

TJ driving his taxi/tricycle

Olivia coloring one...last...picture...with Ms. Alicia. She is quite the art-eest!

TJ and Olivia with some of their BCC Montessori classmates.

The kids transferred to their new school and didn't skip a beat! Here they are having snack on their first day of school:

...and at PE doing some jumping jacks...TJ clearly was not into the jumping jack scene:

This was the their first field trip (and my first experience as a chaperone):

Circle time at their KinderMusik class...Olivia's sitting next to her teacher, Ms. Arnold

Olivia and TJ in their KinderMusik Class.

Drumming with their lollipop drums.

After their music class, they were able play. Olivia played in the bounce house and dressed up.

...and TJ spent most of his time patrolling the play area in his police car.