Ice skating and Cousins

The weather was not so frightful so a trip to the ice skating rink was in order.
The Idaho Adams came for Thanksgiving and were drug along. I recognize this, the kid sits there while I try to shove their skates on before my hands freeze.

The ice was nice and frozen but the sun warmed everyone nicely. I think it was in the low 40s.

We went from the 70's to snow and freezing days and single digits nights in about a week and a half.

Where did fall go?

Gregg was a good sport and hung out with the skaters while I put some decorations on the front of the house.

It was the perfect day for skating.

The parents. My brother Craig and his wife Yvett.

Parker was proud that he only fell once.

The happy skaters. Yes, that is snow piled up by the wall. It gets one in the mood for Christmas that's for sure. I'd say we have at least four inches at our house.

I hate snow! It all fell while Gregg was at work on Tuesday. My whole body hurt from shoveling. I just kept telling myself, this is good exercise. I stopped believing myself when my hands froze to the shovel and my back started hurting.

Photo shoot

The girls are always up for a photo shoot.
Parker just endures the picture taking and tries to not look too stupid.

Blakelee can't get enough of herself.

Beautiful fall day.

A rare moment with Bree. She's usually to busy to hang with the rest of us.

Man Minutes

Parker and I went to the movies last week and afterward I drug him to some stores for some errands. He begged me for a watch in Target and after that timed how long we were in each store. That night at dinner he was complaining to the girls that I had spent 8 minutes in some store. I defended myself by saying it was not 8 minutes. To which he replied "well in man minutes it was a half hour". Man minutes! What the heck is that? Where does he get this stuff?

Ducks, Geese and Seagulls OH MY

Show up at Paradise Lake with a loaf of bread and you'll get this greeting.
Blakelee not wanting to get too close. Those chickens in the way back are Bree and Keely.

These birds were not shy about getting a handout .

Bree hiding from the action. She's that little dot of a person on the bench in the middle of the picture. She said she didn't want a seagull pooping on her but I think she's a scaredy cat.

Parker was right in the thick of it.

I did mention a couple of times that this might be illegal but we didn't see a sign... until we got to the other side of the lake. It is illegal, oops. Now that I've provided evidence of our wrong doing I hope no one turns us in for a reward.

Keely wanting to get her picture taken with the creatures but remaining cautious.

They Made It

Reese and Blakelee made the 7th grade basketball team.
They lied to me on the way home and said they didn't make it. Since they had never played before this was sad news but not too sad. Little liars.
We've had some good laughs at their lack of experience but they are getting better.

The best part is when they play at the same time, they pass is to each other. Gotta love twin work.

Pumpkin Carving

Is this a thoughtful look or I'm doing this against my will?
It's nice that everyone is big enough to carve their own pumpkin. Keely taking her assignment very seriously.

The weather was perfect for gutting them outside. Blakelee's look of pure pleasure.

Cute pumpkin carvers.

We had to drag Parker away from his xbox to carve.

He whined a little so his dad helped him.

The craftsmen and their masterpieces, what a cruddy picture.

Parker's on the left, a monster of some sort. In the back Bree and her spider. Keely's with the bad candle, ghosts in lava lamps.

Blakelee's on the left, clown face. Reese's witch profile.

Greeting the trick or treaters. We didn't let the kids trick of treat this year, they are just too big. With a barking dog everytime the doorbells rings it's easier to sit outside and greet the masses.

Blakelee even got into costume.

They lasted quite a while, it wasn't that cold.

When the crowds thinned out Gregg and Bree finished up the night. Another fun holiday.