HALLOWEEN

Our annual Halloween party was held Saturday night and it was the largest yet. We had 35 kids and 24 adults and it was so much fun. The kids played some games (guess what's in the box, wink game, freeze dance....) and went trick-or-treating(in our house). What a relief this year to have JiaLi home--I remember our party last year only having on my mind that Joe was leaving in two weeks. We had so much fun dressing in our costumes and JiaLi actually cooperated with having her face colored--of course that was after watching Edward have his beard colored. In case you are wondering, yes, we did the Star Wars theme. We had Yoda, Darth Vader, Padme, Obi Wan Kenobi, Luke , Han Solo and I was supposed to be Princess Leia but my hair is now too short to really be her so we decided that Jenise was the young Padme and I was the old Padme.

Making Our Own Music

Didn't have too much to post but wanted to since it feels like we haven't posted in a while. Got these shots of the kids having a rock concert. They like to say they have their own rock band--this time they were doing a rock version of Happy Birthday to all their friends out there !! What a pair..... Oh if you could only hear them....

Apple Picking in the Fall!!! A Must!

We all went apple picking today this is a family tradition that JiaLi is participating in for the very first time. It was such a beautiful day there was not a cloud in the sky. We are all very patiently waiting for the hayride to get us to the apples for picking. JiaLi was looking at everything and very excited to pick apples. We had to keep telling her not to pick the ones from the ground. Can't blame her though they are a lot closer to her and easier to get. Joseph's prized apple, he wanted to make sure that he got that one when we got home. Did I get this apple from the ground, I am not sure... It looks good to me. Can we keep it, I promise I will get the next one from the tree. Edward was using his super powers to pick as he put it "the super juiciest apple". Edward has a flare for the dramatic. He gets so very excited when we do things as a family. As he puts it we are all his buddies because we are family. Okay so maybe daddy is his buddy because they have the same hair cut but in general it is because we are all family. Dan was going for the apples higher in the tree, he wanted to make sure that they were ripe and Not on the ground, he helped out a lot with JiaLi. All in all it was a great day, we walked through the orchid, got a whole bunch of apples, (1/2 bushel or two pecks) and had lunch with the family in the shade of the orchid. We love apple picking, it is something that is so seasonal here in New England and so dear to our heart as a family.

YAHOO... TENNESSEE!!!

Jenise was sooo very excited when she came home from school. During Media they get to take out books from the Library. She went in for a book about China but came out with a book about Tennessee... She is very excited to travel to Tennessee for New Years to see the Titans Play the PATS (thanks Laura and Mark!!!) We are all looking forward to the trip, the Game and spending time with new Friends!!!

The PATS Pull out the Victory

Joseph and Catherine are playing under the desk on the Bengals - PATS Sunday and JiaLi is having fun with cousin Jeffrey. The kids are having a grand time as the adults watch the Patriots Bengals Game. It was great fun, sometimes the last minute get togethers are the best. It was good to see Uncle Pete, Auntie Amy and Uncle Jeff. We have not seen much of each other in a while, life sometimes gets in the way. All the cousins had a grand time eating munchie food, juice boxes and playing around. It was a very good day. A much happier second half of a game that started out not quite so good, the PATS stalled on their first drive and the Bengals scored on their first two drives... The PATS came out on fire in the second half and really took it to the Bengals 38 to 13. Daddy was very happy after the second half, losses two weeks in a row would not have made for a good week at work... But all is well the PATS pulled it out.