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. 

A boy and his toys

 John and I are just hanging out, enjoying the gorgeous day before we have to go pick up James from school. 

John insisted we go out to "play!"

He gathered these three items from the garage before heading out: a bouncy ball, and empty giant bubble wand, and a play pitcher (from my childhood).  

He has run around the yard/driveway/street, gone up and down the slide, and chilled at the firepit (no midday fire, in case you're wondering).  All with his items. 

Kinderkicker!

Today was James's first day of recreational sports! He's playing Kinderkicker soccer which is for kindergarteners (duh) and is clinic/fun based. Every kid has a ball, and there aren't teams. There are hundreds of kids and an army of volunteer parent coaches. James had a great time, and John had a ball as well. Truly, he chased down other younger siblings who had their own soccer balls. He'd take the ball and dribble it down the field. Dan asked, "How does he just know what to do?" It was impressive.

We were so impressed with James too. He listened well and really worked up a sweat! He also had a super fun time with his pal Sophie (whom he'd met during swim lessons at the pool in July; she goes to his school).

Renaissance Faire

Yesterday we closed out summer by venturing to the New York Renaissance Faire. James, as we'd predicted, was enchanted. As we walked from the parking lot, through the woods and over the hill to the fair, James said, "I think we're traveling back in time."

There were many people in costume, and it seems some people have a loose interpretation of the Renaissance. There were many elf ears, horns sprouting from head(band)s, tails, belly dancing skirts, dragons, kilts, suits of armor, wench-dresses, combinations of the above,...

Fascinating!

We had lots of fun though- caught an amazing magic show, a live-action Robin Hood-themed chess match, a jousting competition, a trapeze routine, the dungeon museum, a ride on a flying dragon, a turkey leg, some dragon chips, mead,...

This evening James created some armor for himself. I think yesterday made an impression!