Jack-O-Lanterns

For FHE on Monday we did Jack-O-Lanterns. The spider creation was Harrison's chosen design, and my hard work, while "Iron Man" as Noah calls it, was the work of Sam. On a side note, the boys have been obsessed with Iron man ever since they saw an ad for the movie while walking through Best Buy. Noah would have no other design but the one that looked like Iron Man. I bought a little carving kit this year - for the mere $3 it cost, I think it really improved our ability to make cool looking pumkins. Note the difference in the thickness of the pumpkins - the flesh of mine was so thin the entire pumpkin glows when it's lit. It was actually fun for me to do this year- I'm not artistic at all, and cutting a pumpkin with kitchen knives has never been a skill of mine. But with a pattern, tracing tool and two "pumpkin saws" I was able to pretend to be artistic, or at least not "graphically challenged" as my mother calls me.

There is hope...

Remember the problems Olivia was having in the car? Well, they're not over, but they're getting better. I decided that maybe her car seat was uncomfortable. Just because even when she was exhausted, she managed to SCREAM for an HOUR. So, I considered purchasing a new carseat, but then decided that I could remedy the problem if I made a cover for her seat in flannel. While she dosen't love the car, she has fallen asleep a couple times. And her cries are more of the complaining fussy type instead of the screaming type. Which is so good, since we are spending quite a bit of time in the car taking Harrison to and from preschool 4 days a week.

First Day of School

This post isn't as late as it may seem. His preschool started just last week. It's a program at a local high school, where the students teach the preschool. It seems to be an excellent program, just what I want in a preschool. Lots of play, learning, fun and social experiences. It's really a pre-K program, focusing on preparing them for kindergarten, which is just what he needs. He goes 4 days a week, and he's loving it. This picture was taken after school on the first day - forgot to take a shot in the morning before we left. Noah is also loving a little more attention at home, although he asks a couple times each day, "Where's Harrison?" Or he'll yell for Harrison to come look at something. The other good thing that has come from this preschool is Noah has found his nap again, after losing it in the move. He falls asleep in the car when we pick Harrison up, and I'm able to get him up to his bed where he contintues to sleep for another couple hours. This is a major plus.

Harrison Turns Five!

Harrison turned 5 a couple weeks ago. Here's some pics from the family party we had here at home. We had another party (for both Noah and Harrison) at my mom's house, but you can't not have cake and presents ON your birthday. So we did some celebrating on Oct. 7th.

He's looking so grown up! I made him a cake in the shape of a dinosaur this time (yes, that is dinosaur cakes for 3 years in a row - never gets old), and he asked that it be purple. The purple turned out kinda grey, but the boys still loved it. Complete with dinosaur shaped sprinkles.

Happy Birthday to Noah

Our Doll

When Olivia's not crying, she's actually very cute. She smiles a lot now, and is getting close to giggling when she's really happy. Here she is on Noah's birthday, just chilling out in her high chair. She is really good during meals, which is nice. She sits and watches us all eat during breakfast and dinner. Now if I could just use that high chair as her carseat...

The Great Move

As I informed you in an earlier post, we made it to Maryland alive. No, really, the move wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There were a few bumps in the road, but nothing some happy meal toys, a shake and a fresh pair of clothes couldn't cure.

When we arrived at the airport, after rushing through final cleaning, turning in our keys and parking permits, and letting the boys get a final round of play with their new dear friend Adelle, we were informed that our plane was 2 hours late due to some bad weather in NY. It was kind of a sad way to spend our last 2 hours in San Diego. But we made the best of it with some happy meals at McDonalds. We usually opt for just getting the boys a burger off the dollar menu - since they don't eat a whole happy meal anyway, but splurged and got them each a happy meal, complete with toy. The little Anakin racers provided entertainment that lasted the whole 2 hours. And annoyed a few travelers as the boys raced them up and down the terminal floor.

We promised the boys an ice cream cone at McDonalds, but finding that they were out, we opted for a shake to share. They loved it.

The boys each toted their own carry-ons and backpacks. Filled with their clothes for the trip. They were very good about wheeling them through the airport, although Noah looks less than happy here. He's just protesting getting his photo taken, not actually pulling his luggage...

Here's Harrison just after arriving at my parents house. He unpacked everything right in their entry hall. Note the PJ's. This is not what he wore on the trip, but due to a bout of air sickness after landing, he changed into some more comfortable and clean clothes. Luckily he had them in his carry-on, so they were very accessible. We stayed at my parents home for just over a week, and had a very relaxing enjoyable time - just what we needed. More on this in later posts.Home at last. Here is Olivia (I know, you can't really see her) just inside the door the night we arrived. This was our first morning here. We "camped out" in our house until the rest of our things arrived.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Last Saturday we went into town to see some DC sites. The boys were really excited to ride the "train." The "metro" did not sound as exciting.

We had planned on visiting the zoo, but that morning I found out that the Smithsonian had an exhibit on Jim Hensen which was ending the next day. So we went to see the Muppets, Fraggle Rock and Sesame Street. Sadly, they didn't allow any pictures anywhere close to the exhibit. But we had a great time. There were some early sketches, videos and interviews. There were some interactive pieces to the exhibit, like a hand puppet theater which was broadcast (to the other side of the room).

One great feature of the Smithsonian is that a lot of museums are located right on the National Mall. So after seeing one, you can just walk across the grass to the next. And as an added bonus, the capitol, national monuments, and White House are also pretty close.


After looking at the Hensen exhibit,we decided to stop by the natural history museum, mostly for the dinosaurs. We stopped outside for a quick snack on the steps, and then went in to see some truly huge skeletons.










































We finished off with a ride on the carrousel, merry-go-round. Noah rode for a while, then decided to opt for the saftey of Dad's arms.

Sugarhouse Ink

This was Olivia's beautiful birth announcement my sister Sarah designed for me. She launched her very own business of making announcements/invitations just today: Sugarhouse Ink Go check it out, and remember to think of her next time you have an important event!

Car Trouble

No, our van is running just fine. But I am still having car trouble. Olivia car trouble that is. This girl SCREAMS whenever she is in the car. No matter how long (yes, she screamed for an hour and a half one night, coming home from Virginia), no matter how tired, no matter how well slept. She screams. She can be as happy as can be, I strap her in to her car seat, and when I start the car, the crying begins. She gets quite worked up, and if we are going any distance, she is very upset, and her head will have little beads of sweat on it from the screaming. The boys have tried helping her, but in the end they just seem to zone out to the screaming. It makes me dread going anywhere, and I hate that. And whenever I tell people (as she's still crying coming in from the car) they can't believe it, "That's how I would get my kids to fall asleep!" or "My kids lived in their car seats!" Well, not Olivia. I keep hoping she will grow out of this (which I'm sure she eventually will), but I am also very grateful we did not attempt to drive from San Diego to Maryland. I cannot even imagine...

Sister

I am missing that extra pair of arms that my dear sister Sarah provided both when she came to San Diego, and while we stayed in Utah. Olivia really bonded with her, and is missing her also...

Note to self

Don't turn your back on your fussy 8-week-old when you have a loving, nurturing, good-intentioned 3-year-old in the room.

2nd note to self: don't yell "No!" until said 3-year-old is no longer carrying said 8-week-old. This may lead to unintentional dropping of the baby.

Don't worry. After a good cry by both kids, everyone is fine.