Cousin Fun!

We've had quite a few weekends with the cousins, Eliot and Merritt, this fall. We always look forward to seeing them and Uncle Jim.

 Sunday morning.

 "The sun is too bright, mom!"

 The girls wanted to pose with Uncle Jim!

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!)