Pumpkin Carving

Jack carved six jack-o-lanterns this week ... Traditional, Snoopy, Minion, Rainbow Dash, Justice League, and Benny from the Lego Movie.

Tricks and Treats

Lots of trick-or-treat fun this week!

We started Wednesday with Trunk or Treat at church. We decorated our trunk with a Gotham City skyline, with all the Justice League signals in the sky.

Thursday was costume day at preschool. We did "book character day," which really just meant the kids were encouraged to find a book with their character. All our kids had books to accompany their costumes. I went as Pinkalicious.

Friday was book character day for Carter, with Trunk or Treat after school. I'm Carter's class room mom, but another mom helped by decorating her trunk so I wouldn't have to be there all evening. I did take C&E for the second half.

Saturday of course was Halloween and trick or treat. My family joined us. Last year, G&G only did the nine houses in our neighborhood. This year, they hung with us for the huge neighborhood next to ours. After an hour, they went home with Daddy and Grandma. The rest of us stayed out for a full second hour, racking up a hike of about four miles.

Candy trading began before we all returned home. For some unexplained reason (actually I know the reason ... He doesn't like biting into peanuts), Carter happily handed over a whole pile of Snickers.

So much fun! I think we've hit the Halloween sweet spot in the kids' ages.

Ath-Half

Sunday, Jack ran the Ath-Half ... A half-marathon (13.1 miles) of hills in scenic Athens.

After Jack's accident in 2011, his orthopedic doctor told him he'd never run distances again. (Prior to the accident, he had Ben running half-marathons and training for a full marathon.)

It has taken time, but he overcame his prognosis to finish this race.

I took all the kids and Jack's mom to Athens, to watch. I made coordinating "dad spirit wear" for the kids. We stood about a mile from the finish line ... Watched Jack cross Sanford Bridge, take a victory lap through Sanford Stadium, and turn toward the finish line. We probably slowed his pace a little, but the kids were excited. Graham insisted he was racing, too, so he ran down the sidewalk as Jack finished.

Jack and his mom.

Jack and his Aunt Janet. The bank she works for, sponsors the race. I ran for the bank two years ago, and Jack ran for them this year.

Victory lap inside the stadium.

Turning out of the stadium.

Cute Kid Pics

We were in Athens this morning (separate post to come), and I snagged some new pictures of the kids.

At preschool, one of the songs we sing at Thanksgiving says "Count your many blessings ... name them one by one ..." And that's what I hear when I see them numbered here.

Silly kids before they even got their donuts.

Last but not least, this is my new favorite picture of them. Someone byuy me a lottery ticket, because it myust be my lucky day: they're all smiling! Love!

Carter's Notes

I love when Carter makes lunch notes for the other kids! Jack does, too. He takes lunch notes seriously - like this Minion one. And they take him some time at night.

By the way, report cards came home today, and Carter got all A's - his lowest grade was a 93 (90+ is an A, and this is the first year he's received real grades). So he did inherit something from me after all. ;-)

October Zoo Trip

While the kids were off school for Columbus Day, we made our monthly zoo trip.

Grant with his favorite animal, the elephant.

Graham with his favorite, the giraffe.

Carter with his favorite, the alligator.

Each of the little three got to ride their favorite animal on the carousel. There's no picture of Ellyson with her favorite animal, since our zoo has no dolphin or cheetah.

The big two climbed the rock wall. And with a boost to get started, Ellyson did about as well as her brother.