Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Foyer Facelift (in progress)

Last weekend we started working on our foyer facelift. We scrubbed all the wood trim downstairs and up (which was a lot: front door, two coat closets, stair risers, baseboards, four bedroom doors, bathroom door, linen closet), and Dan de-glossed and sanded it. He also cut-in the ceilings. 

The past few nights he has started priming all the trim. It already looks so much brighter and bigger! So excited to see how much we get done this weekend!

Awesome Day!

John and I started the day with an hour of bonus non-DST snuggles and such in his room before heading downstairs to bake muffins. Yum! James and Dan woke up and joined us for breakfast and viewing of the marathon pre-show. 

Then it was off to church (during which I admit to checking my athlete tracker app; my friends did great!!). 

After a quick wardrobe change and lunch, we headed off to Harriman for a family hike.

 After 80 minutes, we made it to the mountain-top lake where we enjoyed some delicious hot chocolate (milk and Giradelli) Dan had packed in a thermos and a snack. 

Then we raced the sun back down the mountain. (Dan and I were relieved to get the boys safely back to the car before the sun was too low behind the mountains!)  It was so fun hiking with James. He really talked to us and just soaked up the adventure. 

Next stop was a sushi restaurant for dinner. James ate like a king! That boy loves some raw fish! John was no slacker himself-- not only did he put away an impressive amount of chicken teriyaki, but he went wild for the baby octopus we ordered on a whim. (The couple at the table next to us were flabbergasted at our kids eating baby octopus. I think the quote was, "I don't know what that was, but I wouldn't eat it.")

We came home, and John promptly passed out. Dan built a fire, and the three of us watched The Little Mermaid. I managed not to belt out too loudly as I sang along. Come on, "Part of Your World" may be the best Disney song ever. 

Awesome day. 

Happy Halloween!

James has been SO excited about Halloween this year. Last night was like Christmas Eve around here with the excitement level. James and Dan carved their Jack-o-lantern and roasted the pumpkin seeds. (We all enjoyed a bedtime snack.)

Today James dressed up for school, and I helped out with the party as one of the class moms. 

Dan came home from work at lunchtime, so he painted spiders onto our hands (black widows represent!), and then we popped John into his tiger costume and headed to the school Halloween parade. 

After school, James got his face paint touched up and encouraged Daddy to dress up as a ghost pirate. John gained some whiskers, and we set out a bowl of candy. Then we headed out to trick or treat with our neighbors. So fun!

It was SO great to finally get to celebrate Halloween on October 31st! Hooray! 

Let's Go Mets!

John's first MLB game and our first visit to Citi Field. 

James said this was the "best hotdog ever." (I don't know about that, but I'm sure it was the priciest hotdog ever.)

The Family that Landscapes Together...

Bowling

Today was our second week of rec league bowling. Let me just say, upon arriving home afterwards I had opened a beer before I even set the diaper bag down. Yep. 

Here's the thing. You have a team of four five-year-old boys. So they chase each other around. And play with the balls and ball return machine. Constantly. And yes, of course, every adult is telling them to cut it out as we don't want any finger amputations or what not. And they need constant reminders that it's their turn. And that it's still their turn. 

They play two games, and let me tell you, the last three frames of the second game seemed to last forever. 

Did I mention that this is happening from 4:00-5:15? Yes, the "witching hour."

Oh! Then there's John. In a building full of what? His favorite thing in the whole world... Balls! But these are all heavy and dangerous. So he's mad that I won't let him play with them. And he's running around. And heading toward the lanes. And thieving other people's food (even though he'd already had a soft pretzel AND a squeezy fruit-veggies-grains pouch). 

Exhausting. 

But James likes it. It's actually fun. And those boys chant each other's names and throw their bowling balls in the funniest ways. It really is a good time.