Trick or Treat

This year, my arm twisting tactics failed and I was unable to convince the boys to be what I wanted them to be... so Kellen was recruited to make the costumes. Since I can only copy things I see, I needed Kellen's ability to create a couple of common costumes... Batman and a Ninja. (It didn't help that Braeden refused to try on the hood for fittings! - Thankfully, Luke didn't mind standing in his place and even went so far as to let Kellen SEW with the hood on!! THANKS, LUKE!!)



Here they are at Joanne and Charlie's house (our neighbors across the street.)



Poor Braeden - 2 days of fun with cousins caught up to him and he crashed in the car between stops. We managed to wake him to go to Ute's house in Windsor Locks, but then he fell asleep again before we arrived at the Moriarty's. He was a tuckered out little Ninja!

Carving the Pumpkin...

It's been a tradition in our family that Robb carves a pumpkin the night before Halloween. As you can imagine, with the age span of our kids, he's been doing this for a very long time.

I love the look on Wiley's face - he's feeling the pumpkin's pain.



Braeden enthusiastically helped clean it out.



Checking out the inside...



The finished product

He Hardly Ever Slows Down...

Although Braeden doesn't "officially" take naps anymore, every now and then he collapses. This was one of those rare moments when he actually sat down long enough to fall asleep.

Leaf Peeping

Granny, Lee and I set out Wednesday morning for a drive and lunch at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA.

Our first stop, Barkhamsted Reservoir


This is outside the Inn - after lunch. There was quite an array of gourds and pumpkins throughout the town.


We gathered for supper Wed. evening. We were missing Robb (in NJ) and Kellen (working at Barnes and Noble.)



We were going to go for a hike in the woods until we were attacked by mosquitoes. So, we paused for a picture at the barn, then came back to the house and watched the boys play.


Granny played a game with Braeden while Wiley was at school.

When there's a fire, they come out of their rooms...

Just thought this was a funny scene - when we built a fire in the fireplace, everyone came to the living room. Of course, they arrived with their computers and other gadgets. Between 3 TVs, 5 computers, 2 refrigerators, 2 washers and dryers, 5 cell phone chargers and IPODS... Is it any wonder my electric bill hovers around $400 a month?

The Birthday Boy...

Robbie celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday. It started with a random call to Aaron (his phone dialed Aaron's # inadvertently) while he was in the middle of singing some song (quite loudly, I might add.)

He requested french toast and bacon (cooked the "right" way) for breakfast. Of course, he asked for his typical chocolate cake with double the frosting.

We told him we were going to camp out for his birthday. Here he is... waiting for the party to get started! I think he's wondering if anyone's going to show up.



I cheated and only put 1 box of candles on the cake.



This was during Sunday afternoon football!

Wiley, the Destroyer...

Robbie has been working with Wiley on his soccer skills. Now... the only problem with this is that Robbie forgets what "kindergarten" soccer is supposed to be like and only remembers the collegiate level. Wiley obviously listened to Robbie when he said "be aggressive and move the other kid off the ball." Unfortunately, this is only 1 of many "checks" that Wiley administered yesterday morning.

Yes... we have talked to Wiley and have corrected Robbie's instruction.

Wiley's cousin Aaron was at the game and loved Wiley's style of playing. (No surprise, there? Right??)