Halloween & Misc.

So, initially I thought I'd get around to updating my blog every week...maybe once a month is a better goal.  Let me backtrack a little to some Halloween pictures.  The holiday fell on a Wednesday, but I was able to get the day off work so that I could join the kids in their school festivities.  In the morning, James's daycare trick-or-treated around to the nearby buisnesses.  James cried most of the way saying he wanted to "go home."  I think he was just confused by the whole thing.  Later in the afternoon, at Haden's school, the kids paraded through the gym for the parents.  That evening, after a quick dinner, we headed out trick-or-treating with some neighbors.  The kids had a blast.  Here is Haden as Captain America.

James was a firefigher.  Here are both boys together:

At the last minutes, I decided to throw together a costume for myself and this is what I came up with:

Here are our pumpkins:  one is an Angry Bird, the other is just a cat.

The kids each had big accomplishments this past month.  James learned how to zip up his own coat and is very proud to demonstrate his new skill.  Haden learned how to tie his shoes!  Another skill Haden has been practicing is paper airplane making.  One day I rounded up 40 airplanes that were scattered throughout the house!

Haden is still loving Kindergarten.  We had his first parent/teacher conference a couple of weeks ago.  His teacher had many great things to say.  He is such a good boy at school and a great role model for the other kids.  He is getting very excited for his 6th birthday in just over a week.  He'll be having a pirate party with some friends from school and the neighborhood.

James continues to be as wild and naughty as ever.  He is always singing new songs and has been enjoying the christmas CD's I dug out.  Speaking of Christmas, the kids were bugging us so much that we already put up the tree.  I don't think I've ever had it up before Thanksgiving before.  This year I bought an "Elf on the Shelf."  I'm excited to start using that.  For those who haven't heard of it - its a small elf that you position somewhere different in the house each day.  The kids find it and the elf reports back to Santa every night so the kids need to be on their best behavior so no santa doesn't get any bad reports!

The basement project is coming along nicely.  Kye finished the drop ceiling last week and we have the carpet ordered for the toy room.  I also have a treadmill ordered that will be delivered after we get the carpet.  I'm super excited to get the treadmill.  A couple of friends and I have decided to run a 1/2 marathon next June and then continue training and run a full marathon in September.  Here is picture of the room.  I'm impressed every time Kye tackles a new part of the basement.  This was his first time doing a drop ceiling and it turned out great.

Here our the boys working on a project at Lowe's.  We discovered these classes last month.  They are free kids workshops where the kids get to build something from wood.  Haden loves these, James was a bit put off by all the noise (50 kids hammering can get quite loud)!