ARRRGGGGHHHH!.... YE LILLY LIVERS!

Dan has gone pirate nuts! On any given day, you can find him wandering the house dressed like a pirate, using an empty playdo container for his peg leg and a plastic hook in place of one of his hands. It's pretty funny. It's just that age......the age of pirates. Ha! Next year for Dan's birthday, Beck will have to come out and do a pirate ship with me again. So, that's one flight and pirate ship for each of us, aye Beck? Although, o be fair, we didn't get all that much done on Ben's pirate ship while I was there. You finished the painting byyourself :-( So, here's to next year's pirate ship, and then we'll do one for Eli, too!

HALLOWEEN!

Brit was Bat girl and Dan was a skeleton. I went out with Brit and Dan, while Bill and Brad held down the fort, handing out candy (I think we had ONE group of trick-or-treaters). Actually they spent most of the evening playing X-Box Live. Meanwhile, Mike and a few of his 8th grade friends dressed up in goofy costumes and went out trick-or-treating by themselves. Each of the kids got a TON of candy! I have been trying to steal it and get rid of it so they don't eat so much. Mike is famous for being able to "hold his candy." At scout camp, when all the other scout campers have eaten themselves into oblivion with candy, and are puking up their guts, Mike proudly struts around noting that he doesn't feel the least bit queasy. What the heck is wrong with my children? Three years ago at Scout Camp, all the scouts came home telling tales of how Bill was able to ingest 56 "extra-large sized" Reese's peanut butter cups (the kind that come two to a large pack) in ONE sitting. I ask you,... is that something to be aspire to? Mike generally catches on to my candy disposal techniques very quickly, and he finds places to stash little pods of candy all over the house. Over the next couple of months, in moments of weakness and sugar craving, he'll pull little stashes out of the craziest spots. It's kind of a game with us :-)

Birthdays-R-Us!

The last week of October/first week of November is nuts around here! We have Dan's, Mike's, and Brit's birthdays within about a two week block, not to mention Halloween! We had a family birthday for Dan. He also got to celebrate his birthday at preschool. He loves his preschool class! We are so delighted that he made it in, after 4 months on the waiting list.


Mike had his birthday at our house and invited a truck load of his good friends (mostly guys, but a few brave girls, too). They played airsoft out in the woods, flashlight tag, played some Halo and Call of Duty, and watched "I Am Legend" (too intense for me). They had a great time! Mike is growing up quickly.... and has officially passed Bill (who is working on Pop-pops's famous body stretching exercises!) Mike is 5' 8&1/2" 170 pounds..... so, if anyone is interested in seeing Mike as a kid, now is the time for a visit. He's growing like a weed :-)

Brit and her cute bunch of girls were over earlier tonight for her birthday. We had a big treasure hunt, they made their own personal pizzas and and ate donuts, and then we watched "The Black Stallion." She has a good little group of friends :-) they had a lot of fun. Man, the girls are sooooo much louder and more rambunctious than the guys! Brad, the boys and I were all covering our ears the whole night.....as we listened to screaming and squealing and laughing, etc. It's a whole different deal with girls.