End of September to October 22

I am sorry. I know that I keep saying we will be better about pictures and then I'm not. Here is our average week - Monday school and baseball practice. Tuesday school, ballet and baseball practice or a game. Wednesday school, book group, tutoring at Sam's school (I help in Sam's class)and karate. Thursday school, gymnastics, daisies and cub scouts. Friday school and karate.(except for tonight because we have the fall festival) Saturday - baseball game, scout field trips and assorted birthday parties. Sunday we try to have some family time but lately have been busy selling popcorn. (this weekend we have a scout field trip, birthday party, playoff game and popcorn booth oh and Jeff is working with the Army) So my very long excuse for poor updating should show you just how busy we are. We also need to fit in homework, cooking, cleaning; Sam is in student council and is a safety so he has to do volunteer work at the school also. Basically we are really busy but we are enjoying the time too as you can see. So sorry for the delay and I will keep trying harder.

Sam's school is doing a Veteran's Day project and Sam needed a picture of his dad in uniform. Since he has been training this week he was home and in uniform when we needed it. Pheenie was jealous and so was the dog so this one was taken just for our house. (Ignore all the clutter by the front door)

We were up very early in order to go to Connecticut for the baby shower, this is the sun rising as we were on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Even getting up before the sunrise didn't get us there on time. We were still late :(

At the baby shower

Aunt Sara opening our gifts. (This little bundle will be here any day now and we are SO excited!)

At Shark River Park with Ben. Thank you Katherine and Dave for allowing me to snag your pictures.

Pheenie is eating a carrot that is why she looks so silly.

Ben and Pheenie really liked this swing.

Ben's birthday party

These are some really awesome cakes!

Ben, Katherine and Dave (his amazing parents)

Getting ready to take cookie monster out.

Our kids try

Pheenie just waited for Sam to get her some and of course he did.

Taking Ben for a ride

I love that our kids are so close and love each other so much. It is so great that they can spend time together and hear stories of when their mom's were little and went to the same places we are taking them to now. The other little guy in this picture is Zeek (Ben's cousin, not the one who shares Sam's birthday obviously)

This is Jeff in the tree. Ben's very special balloon was accidentally released into the sky and luckily got stuck in the tree. Jeff volunteered to climb up and rescue it.

Getting ready to decorate the house for Halloween/Samhain. Pheenie has the big pumpkin!

Hanging Skully Pettibones with Daddy.

Looking at the Halloween stories before bed.

Pheenie dancing the bat - toosy with her little bat hat she made at the library. She is going batty. -Groan -

This is what happens when you get hit with a ball in the wrist. That is Sam's arm after the game.

At the pumpkin patch. We love these things as you can see.

Daddy's turn and look Arnold is in there too!

This is a rare shot. A family picture and everyone is making a normal face.

This guy got on the hay ride with us. He was funny and cute on the hay ride not so much though when he popped up in the corn maze. Pheenie DID not like him then. We went to the haunted woods the night before and even though the boy scouts promised it wouldn't be scary she was afraid. I think ape man got lumped in with that.

Off to the corn maze

The annual go this way picture. Blame Jeff he makes them do this every year, kind of like the Luchenta point.

Coming out,this was an easy maze we didn't get lost so there are no lost in the maze pictures this year.

Daddy being silly and picking his pumpkin (I refused to be put in the cart however)

Sam making a break for it

Pheenie and Arnold found one

Taking her pumpkin home

Sam found his. This pumpkin was the 2nd largest one sold all year. He missed winning the largest by 1 pound. Can you guess how much it weighs?

Well I will give you a hint it is more then Pheenie but less then Sammy. Daddy lends a hand to get it home.

Hmmmmm which pumpkin should Mama pick?

Sam says this one is good. I want a small one though so Sam ends up picking Dads pumpkin.

Pheenie picks one for Grandma.

Our little pumpkins!

Sam also picked a small one for Grandpa. My little one is right there in the front.

Sam going to pay, man this cart is heavy.

Pheenie tried but seeing how Sam's pumpkin weighs more then she does this cart was way too heavy for her.

This picture is blurry and old obviously. I took this picture with my old phone. Sam is 6 here and Seraphina is almost 2. This picture was taken at Shark River Park in the exact same spot as...

this picture! Obvioulsy they (and the hair) have grown.

Hiking in the woods.

We think this is an Orb Weaver spider. We came upon it as we were hiking stopped to take a picture of the beautiful web with the beautiful home owner and then went on our way. Unlike most people we really enjoy spiders. Though the kids do get freaked out if they are in the house.

We were racing our sticks in the stream below the bridge. Daddy took the picture so Sam threw his stick for him. Sam won most of the time, he picks good pooh sticks.

Shark River Park is one of my favorite places in NJ. I love telling Seraphina about bridging over to juniors on this bridge and telling Sam about sifting for shark's teeth in the water below.

As you can see from my excuse above home school takes up a lot of our time however Seraphina is learning so much. So far this year we have learned all about the flag, pirates, how to read the temperature, pigs, bats, how sound travels, the months of the year, telling time, and the four seasons and so much more. It takes a lot of time but she is like a little sponge and she loves to share her knowledge (especially about bats and pigs) so if you talk to her ask. She would love to tell you all about her school.