Trick or Treat!

It was perfect fall weather here today, after a week of miserable rain and wind. Most of the city was downtown for the Philly's parade and Casey had the day off, so we went to a nearby orchard for hayrides. After that we came home for dinner and then went out trick or treating with some friends. As you can see from the pictures, Jackson and his friend Paul think alike, even when it comes to costumes. Francis was a spider, the "ispy bispy spider" as he kept saying. We went out for about an hour and a half and they must have hit at least 45 houses. By the end poor Francis was begging to go home to bed.

It was comical, on the way to Paul's house Jackson said he hoped no one filled his trick or treat bag with rocks! I told him that I thought there was little chance of that happening but he still wasn't convinced. I reminded him that last year no one put any rocks in his bag and he responded "what if they don't like me this year?" He was obviously heavily influenced by the Charlie Brown Halloween special.

Baby Shower

Here are some pictures from the baby shower, a couple of weekends ago. It was great to see so many people. Thank you all for coming and for the gifts. Just a little more than 5 weeks to go until my due date! I am really not that uncomfortable yet, although I am huge! The baby seems to be on track and is almost to term, which is great. Everything is basically ready and the kids are starting to get really excited.

Happy Fall!

Fall has arrived and it is beautiful. The leaves have just begun to turn and it is starting to get into the 60's and 70's during the day. I am not anxious for Winter, but I couldn't wait for fall.

As some of you may know, we were going to send Jackson to Pre-school this year but decided not to. We all had some reservations and we thought having to switch schools would make the pending move more traumatic. Plus, I wasn't sure how I was going to get him there once the baby arrived! Anyway, I am doing a pre-school curriculum here at home and it is quite an experience. Francis joins in occasionally but mostly it is just Jackson and I. I like the focus of the curriculum very much, but it is a lot more prep work than I had anticipated. I am sure I will become more proficient as time goes by, but right now I am a little overwhelmed.

On the other hand, I am grateful for the chance to do this with him. I initially feared that some of our power struggles would carry over to the "classroom" but so far it has been just the opposite. He sees school as such a positive experience and because I am able to share it with him it actually seems to be strengthening our relationship and making him more manageable otherwise.

It is certainly comical though. The other day we traced outlines of them on butcher paper and then drew in their clothes, hair, eyes, nose, etc. Jackson was deeply concerned about accuracy, so rather than just draw his mouth he drew in every one of his teeth, his tongue... Finally he insisted on drawing in his "bum" and then asked what I thought. Francis responds by telling him it looks like a cow's bum and a huge fight erupts... Teachers must have some stories!

Anyway here is a picture of the little hockey player in full gear and a more recent video of him at practice.