Recap: Jackson Carnival and a few others

I am working full-time for the first time since having children. The school is called Jackson Elementary and Julia is a student there. In the fall the annual carnival was held. Here are a few pictures:

 Pony rides! The normally extremely fearless Julia is DEATHLY afraid of tall horses. This is as large a horse as she will get on, and she doesn't want it to move. She will tell us by holding up her hand how small a horse she needs. She's talking about a Labrador.

 Carnival fun!

 Anja had a good time!

 Elina spent her spare change and won a cake! :)

 I helped out with the ponies the whole evening. 

Anja rode a few times.

 Two of my co-workers.

 Elina on a mule with Ms. Jenny Pratt, teacher of the year.

 Friends over at our house!

 Backyard fun!

 Evidence that they really DO love each other.

This is Julia at the annual jog-a-thon fundraiser for Jackson, called the Tiger-Trot. I did not attend the Truman jog-a-thon because I am now a working mom, so no running pictures of Elina or Anja.

Halloween 2013

For the first time since we have lived in our current house (since 2009) we actually went Trick or Treating our neighborhood. We had our friends the Sturges family over (Isak and their son Brody have classes together at Alcott), and our friend Erica and her son, Ian, came also.  We had a wonderful time. It was really nice to meet our neighbors and see the Halloween "climate" here in our own neighborhood.

The day began at school. Julia dressed up as a dragon. That costume has been in the family for a long time now and without my ever promoting it, every kid has wanted to wear it when they were 4 years old.

 Since Julia goes to school where I work, I was able to go to her party.
For the first time, I was NOT able to attend any of the other kids' parties.
Anja was sad about it after school. :(

 Caleb, Isak, Ian, Drake, Anja, Julia, Leah, Elina and Brody:
Ready for Trick or Treating!

 Isak, Caleb and Brody went Trick or treating alone. They ran most of the way, I think, and came home to dump their candy, then went out again with empty bags...

 Some neighbors did a much better job than me of decorating for the occasion.

 Julia and Drake

 

 Happy Trick or Treaters!

 "Trick or Treat!"

The candy party! 

 See those Almond Joys on the floor? (Typ Bounty)
Those are mine! :)

 Brody and Isak examining their "loot."

The King of Candyland.

Pumpkin Patch 2013

We went to the Pumpkin Patch again this year. It rained the day before so it was a little muddy. The kids had a good time, but we picked our pumpkins from the pumpkin wagon because the patch was so very muddy. But the animals were cute. The kids especially loved the pigs and goat kids.

When I look at these blog entries I realize just how much the kids have grown! Man, time flies... Ugh.
Pumpkin Patch 2009
Pumpkin Patch 2010
Pumkin Patch 2011 was intercepted by Elina falling and breaking her arm right before!

Pumpkin Patch 2012 (med mormor och morfar!)

Trunk or Treat 2013

Våra vänner, the Balkmans, håller varje år en fest som kallas the Balkman Bash. De bor ute på landet och har en stor äng framför huset där vi parkerar våra bilar (typ 50 stycken eller så). Sedan öppnar alla sina bagage utrymmen och så går barnen från bil till bil och samlar godis (Trunk or Treat). Sen efter 45 minuter av godissamlande så är det dags för världens bästa knytkalas efterföljande av disco utomhus. Jag tror detta är vårat 6:e eller 7:e år att gå på detta kalas. Och här är bilderna från i går:

 Elina var drottning.

 Anja var jediriddare.

 Julia var the Cheshire cat från Alice i Underlandet.
Anja skulle egentligen varit själva Alice och Elina the Queen of Hearts, 

men vi han inte riktigt fixa med allt i tid.

 Owen, Isak, Daniel och Tyler.
Isak är inte äldst på den här bilden.
Killen längst till höger är nån månad äldre än Isak, 

men hans pappa är Olympisk silvermedaljist i gymnastik...

Vära vänner Paul och Catherine. 

 Isak och Benjamin.

 Anja, Elina, Isak och Julia.

 Thad Balkman (Ron Burgundy) och Mark.

Maten. 

Kungen och hans kungliga efterrättstallrik. 

 Mark och jag.

 Hela familjen, för en gångs skull.

 Elina och hennes vän, Sadie.
De hade inte planerat att båda vara drottningar.

Isak, Isaac och Elina.
"What does the fox say?"