Trick or Treat

I'm rushing to get these online so John can see them. Unfortunately, sales close fall at the end of every month, so John missed trick or treating with the boys this year. Bummer. 

Walking down to the neighborhood kids parade

Waiting for the parade to begin

Our favorite house in the neighborhood for obvious reasons

First house

Old pros

One treat before bed.

Or possibly two.

Halloween Costumes 2012

I thought I'd try to get a picture before all the trick or treating excitement this evening. It certainly wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be. The boys are going as a fireman and his dalmatian. 

This guy isn't at all excited about trick or treating.

Jack's Camera: From Our Walk

Jack o' Lantern 2012

Jack has been pretty excited about carving a pumpkin ever since the first Halloween decoration went up in our neighborhood. I kept telling him that we had to wait until it was closer to Halloween or our pumpkin would spoil in the heat. The temperature dropped drastically over the weekend and pumpkins went on sale at Publix, so Jack, Luke, and I went to pick one perfect for carving. 

I left the actual carving to John. Jack was his full-time assistant. Luke served in more of a part-time capacity. Jack had pretty specific orders for what he wanted his jack o' lantern to look like. He wanted circles for eyes, a circle for the nose, and an oval for a mouth. John tried his hardest to convince Jack that triangles were the way to go, but Jack wouldn't hear of it. He even showed his dad a picture from one of his Halloween books of exactly how he wanted it to look. John rose to the challenge. Everybody went to bed happy.

(grossed out when he first stuck his hand in)

(Mickey from Walgreens)

All Morning Long

These are my favorite kinds of pictures these days.

Chit-Chatty and Spider Man's Visit

We were excited to host Erin, Ross, and Sarah this weekend when they came down to visit us and the kids' aunt, Jennifer. It's amazing how much the Perlick kiddos have grown up since we moved away in May. Sarah is chit-chatty and smiley. Ross isn't Ross. He's Spider Man. We showed our friends our favorite park and our favorite restaurant. Hopefully we'll be planning more fun soon when they come to visit again!

Feeling Sentimental

For a long time after my dad died, I would get in the car after work and think I should call Dad. Being that while he was alive I called him basically every day at that time to check in, I guess it wasn't that strange that the urge didn't just die with him. But, it still made me sad every time when I remembered that the call wouldn't go through. 

Then I had kids, and my life got busy tending to them. I didn't work anymore, so that routine was broken and the sadness that came every day finally eased. 

The last couple of days the kids and I have been spending a little more time than usual in the car running errands. And twice I've thought I should call Dad. Thankfully, I don't feel that overwhelming sadness when it happens now. Instead I just think about how bizarre it is. 

Jack and I picked up a bunch of acorns from the backyard last week. I began hunting through my cupboards for a pretty dish to put them in when I came across this depression glass bowl that was my dad's. I remember my dad telling me that when he was a kid smaller glass bowls, which I also have, came in oatmeal containers. His family saved them and sent in enough oatmeal labels to get one of these larger bowls as well. 

For a few days, the bowl of acorns was alone on the table. Then the Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail. I saw lots of little owls decorating the table and thought of all of my dad's owls. I have packed almost all of them away, but I left one in my bedroom to remind me of Dad. It joined the acorns on the table. 

The table still didn't look exactly how I wanted it to, so I looked around the house for something else that was a little taller. The jug pictured, from my Dad's stairwell, was perfect. So now there are three pieces on my dining room table that remind me of my dad that I walk by many times a day. Wouldn't it be nice if I could just give him a call and tell him about it?

Being Neighborly

Jack has been waiting longer than any little boy should have to wait for it to be time to make some Halloween cupcakes I bought a couple of weeks ago. Today was the day since we have company on their way who we know love cupcakes too. 

Luke is no longer a spectator in the kitchen. Both boys have aprons and jobs. Luke put the cupcake liners in the pan. Jack stirred and put the decorations on the top once the cupcakes were frosted. 

Between the three of us, we made some "wicked" cupcakes. 

John and I are dieting. Cupcakes are a temptation that we don't need in our house right now. So, I kept just enough cupcakes to feed our guests, the boys, and a very small one for John, and packaged the rest to deliver to neighbors. 

Jack thought it would be fitting if he wore his cape and mask to deliver the Halloween goodies. 

Who wouldn't smile seeing these boys at their door? One neighbor and I got a chuckle out of Luke. He handed her the cupcake he was holding and then his lip started to quiver and he cried big tears. He didn't understand that there were more at home. 

Before long we will be trick or treating at these neighbors' houses. Isn't it smart that we are buttering them up already being neighborly?

Costume Party

Jack hosted a costume party. Luke (+1 lion) was his only guest. He set the table with a decorative bowl of acorns and served cake and tea.

A Whole Lot Of Random

Ever since the neighbor put ghosts in their tree, Jack has been begging for ghosts in our tree. We looked all over the place for these plastic ghosts to no avail. But then two big, fat envelopes addressed to Jack and Luke arrived in the mail this week. Aunt Kathy found two packages of the ghosts. She is currently Jack's hero. We ran into the neighbors last night when we were on our evening walk. Jack explained to them that Aunt Kathy found the ghosts that are decorating our tree. Ha!

I've probably already told you how excited Jack is to decorate for every holiday these days. Here is a sampling of what you'd find at our house if you were to visit this Halloween. Combining Mickey and a holiday definitely has Jack's seal of approval. 

I set the boys up to color yesterday so I could pick up the house. I suggested that Jack make a pumpkin since he's so crazy about them. I set a pumpkin on the table and came back 15 minutes later to discover this guy. It's the first piece of art that looks like what he was trying to draw. 

Luke's scribbles warm my heart too. He was pretty intent on his work. 

Jack may forget to thank me for handing him a cup of water, but he never forgets when it is time to write a thank you note. I think it is one of his greatest joys. We generally work together to make a card, which makes Jack happy. Then he puts it in the envelope and seals it all by himself. I let him run out to the mailbox and put the envelope inside by himself too. He takes this all very seriously. I had to chuckle at him this morning as he was running to the mailbox in his Halloween pjs and slippers. 

Boone, North Carolina

John has a reputation around here of packing a whole lot of fun into every weekend. He outdid himself this weekend. Granted, he had one extra day to pack in the fun, but still he outdid himself. 

On Saturday morning, we left Atlanta and drove north on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our original plan was to use one of the fleet vehicles that had a dvd player. I'm so glad that every one of those vehicles was checked out for the weekend because our kids would have missed some of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Not once did I hear a complaint from the backseat. Instead Jack was asking if we could stop and take pictures of the things he found delightful. John and I learned that Jack has an affinity for "fallen down trees", something I never would have thought to photograph. And Luke just seized every opportunity to stretch his legs with his usual good cheer. 

The day passed quickly with the short photo breaks and a walk through Biltmore Village in Asheville. Just before the sun set, John and I saw a black bear run across the road in front of us. It was one of those did I just see what I thought I saw moments. 

On Sunday morning, Luke woke us all up early so we could get a full day out on Grandfather Mountain. It was a foggy day, so the pictures weren't spectacular. Jack got to see four bears (the kid counts everything these days), which made up for him missing the sighting the previous day. Then we set off on a rugged half mile hike to The Swinging Bridge, a bridge that is exactly 1 mile above sea level. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am terrified of heights. In fact, I woke John the night before and told him that I really didn't think I could cross the bridge and I didn't want the boys to do it either. But when the time came, I walked across that bridge! John wasn't too impressed with my style (slow and uneasy), but I know he was glad that I didn't miss out on the memory with the kids. 

Our idea of supervising...

Jack has added a coonskin hat to his Christmas list. No lie.

After hiking back down the mountain, we stopped to get ice cream cones and throw rocks in the prettiest spot imaginable. 

Then Monday morning came around, and it was time to end our mini vacation and head home. We are all exhausted. The boys were asleep by 7:15, and John and I are headed that way now. Making memories is tiring business.

Photos From Jack's Camera...