Halloween Was a Hoot!!

It was so nice to have Halloween fall on a Saturday so we had time to really enjoy all the festivities, taking our time carving pumpkins with dad, roasting pumpkin seeds and doing a few crafts before getting the costumes on and running amok around the neighborhood. Luke dressed as Rex, The Clone Trooper from Star Wars the Clone Wars and Kyle was our little Train Engineer. As usual, our neck of the woods was pumping, with lines from the sidewalk leading up to our door. We probably saw 300-400 kids, at least. There are many houses decorated and the neighborhood very festive on Halloween so it's a big thing for us. The boys rounded up a good stash (and politely handed over all the chocolate to mom and dad since they don't like it, lucky for us). And is it just me, or does Luke really look like a young Luke Skywalker from the original Star Wars movie???

LOOK I GOT OUT A SCOOP OF GUTS!

LUKE COLLECTING THE SEEDS!

KYLE THE TRAIN ENGINEER ~

LUKE AS REX, THE CLONE TROOPER

(THE ORIGINAL STORMTROOPER FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T IN THE KNOW)

HALLOWEEN BUDDIES

A YOUNG MARK HAMILL???

MOM AND DAD'S HANDIWORK

And On This Farm We Had Some.....Pumpkins!

It's just not Halloween unless we make our annual trek out to Bates Nut Farm, a beautiful place out in a rural part of San Diego where pumpkins are everywhere, animals eat corn out of your hand and you get a chance to wind around the haystack maze in search of stamps. The bonus in going ON Halloween morning is that NO ONE is there and we feel like we have the place to ourselves.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND, THE PERFECT PUMPKINS!

BROTHERS!

HEY, THAT SCARECROW IS LOOKIN AT ME KINDA FUNNY!

FALL TIME IS FAMILY TIME!

YOU JUST CAN'T PASS UP TAKING THESE KIND OF PHOTOS!

THE BOYS LOVED HUNTING FOR THOSE MAILBOXES

WITH STAMPS INSIDE THE HAYSTACK MAZE

Mohawk Soccer Saturday

Luke's soccer team, the Red Bulldogs, decided to get fired up for a big game last weekend and went all "mohawk". They even spray painted the tips red right before the game. And Kyle just had to be like big brother and go along. They ended up with a tie 1-1.

Can't forget the custom made red bulldog eyeblack!

Stellar Season of Soccer

The Red Bulldogs are once again having a phenomenal soccer season going undefeated thus far, with three games to go. Luke, #5, has been awesome on defense (having the ability to kick with both his left and right foot) so that is where he plays the majority of the time, but he's also come very close to scoring two goals. Luke had the privilege of moving up a league (to U7) since he has the same coach and is the only player on his team that is 5 years old. Photos are courtesy of Uncle David and Aunt Margaret, some of his biggest fans.

OHHHH did you see that kick my brother made??

Victory Lane....

School is Cool

Kindergarten is moving right along and Luke is enjoying every minute of it. We've already been on a field trip to the pumpkin patch which Kyle was able to enjoy as well. His favorite things about Kindergarten are reccess (of course), cooking days, music class, computer lab, science experiments and crafts. Luke is only 1 of 7 boys in his class (out of 19) so he gets lots of attention from the ladies. Mom has discovered that Kindergarten is also a busy time for HER - keeping up with homework, share days, special dress days, all of the things that are due each week like supplies, volunteering for this and that, and of course $$$ for this, that, and the other. I'm really going to need a vacation this next summer.

The Class on picture day....

Crafting away....

Look at that funny pumpkin...

Kyle getting in on the kindergarten action....

Listening to "Where Do Pumpkins Come From" at the farm....

Oh It's Good To Be Two.....

Are you ready for some football and some birthday celebrating?? Well we sure were. The Kyle Man turned 2 on September 14th which just so happened to coincide with the opening weekend of football season. We wore our Charger colors with pride (and held our breath when they barely won Monday night) and had a football theme party. Mom made a special football stadium cake and Kyle enjoyed opening his gifts, even cards and racing around the backyard. He even had fun popping the bubble wrap from one of his great gifts. He is still singing Happy Birthday days after the event............

Oh yeah, I'm 2, oh yeah!

Mom's masterpiece, Kyle Field!

Oh They Grow Up So Fast.....

Well mommy survived the first day of kindergarten, I buckled a few times, but made it through. I can't believe how old Luke looks, and he was so ready and raring to go. He seemed a little nervous but excited and I told him that was a good thing. He has a great class at Escondido Christian School, sweet, good-natured teacher and 18 kids in his class. He decided he wanted to stay through the afternoon which is optional so he'll get extra playground time and "rest" time from 2:00-3:00, we'll see how that goes. Before we know it, Kyle will be starting school too... :sniff: :sniff:......................

Learning how to catch kisses from mom and dad.......

Luke and Mrs. Carney

My three boys..............

Really, do you have to take that many pictures?

My photogenic guy........

Check out my new backpack

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

The Great Outdoors.....

It had been three long years since we had been back to Robinson Creek for our annual family camping trip, and boy had we missed it. It was still as beautiful as ever. We spent August 1-9 up in the Twin Lakes area, Robinson Creek campground, site #11. A place where we have spent so much time it has become a part of us. We had a fantastic trip spent fishing, hiking, playing in the creek, playing games at camp fires, scavenger hunting, and crafting. And we did spot Mr. Black Bear twice! One special night we gathered for a Hawaiian Luau which was awesome, the envy of the campground and delicious food. Luke learned to fish with dad and Kyle decided to play Houdini a few times and escape from the tent. But there were no major accidents or owies and I am thankful for that. We learned once again that it is priceless to step back, remove yourself from the hustle and bustle, technology, and the rest of lifes interruptions and just become one with nature.... so so peaceful.

Cousin Nevada and Kyle in a bear hug.

Some of the big cousins and their spouses/sigs

A few of the old school cousins

The Hanson Clan before the Luau

The littlest cousins

Beautiful Robinson Creek

Twin Lakes

Cousin Nevada and Luke

Luke and Kyle in the early morning

I don't need no stinkin' toys

I can easily entertain myself

A fisherman in deep concentration

Matt enjoying the peacefulness

Matt going over the rules of the creek with Kyle