Trunk or Treat

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to put together our very first Trunk or Treat by joining the church we go to Awana for to host the event to serve the surrounding community.  What would the theme be, you ask?  Star Wars, of course, it was.  Brett and the boys couldn't resist getting to do a cool set up in the back of our car, complete with hanging ships and posed figures.  Joy did a great carving of the Star Wars logo in a pumpkin and created a stand up Jawa figure.  It was easy to get into costumes that were Star Wars themed:  Brett was Chewbacca, Joy was Princess Leia, Garrett was Kylo Ren, Bryce was Boba Fett, and Griffin was Jango Fett.

Photo bombed by Pirate Chad

Chewbacca takes a break, he was pretty scary to some of the little kids, even though he wasn't trying to be.  Notice the Mountain Dew the he had to drink through a straw.

TIE Fighter being chased by an X-Wing, Republic Gunship and AT-TE attack the Homing Spider Droid, Crab Droid, and Vulture Droid.  A thing of beauty and what most adult males coming by asked questions about.

A close up of Joy's handiwork.

Joined by Chad, Jack, and Ben!

Lauryn dropped by in her cool cat costume to see what Star Wars stuff we had...Garrett is hidden in the background in his black costume.

Halloween Fun

We celebrated fall with a variety of activities including a trip to Del Osso in the middle of the week when we were able to have four pumpkin blasters to ourselves with no line!  And you should've seen our parking spot, too.  We played a bunch of pumpkin games and made caramel apples with our home group on the one year anniversary of the Giants winning their third World Series in 5 years.

Home Group celebration:  Scott and Jill, Sung and Dai, and us with all the kids.

Daddy, we are supposed to be eating caramel apples, not salad!  Oh, you haven't eaten dinner yet...all right, eat something healthy first.

Our boys with Lauryn and Dyson at the table.

Ready, set, find the worms!

We aren't quite Cinderella going to the ball, but this will do for a picture.

Fire when ready, commander!

Mom watches Garrett's good marksmanship.

I got this one, you take that one, we can all fire at once.

This is the pumpkin I fired that bounced off the car and flew back at me over my head and over the fence.

Family Fall Photo...alliteration again.

Either the boys are getting bigger, or the pumpkins are getting smaller...it was a drought this year.

It is wild west night at Awana, can't you tell.

Crazy hair night celebrated...Spencer was Garrett's leader last year.

Bryce 8y 3mo

Bryce was routinely bringing back large sticks (ie-logs) from soccer practice because they had cut down some trees in the park.  Little did we know these would be turned into bazookas and long range sniper rifles when duct tape was applied.

I'm Boba Fett...yeah that's right, Dad's favorite Star Wars character.

Veritas and kittens:  a good combination for me.

I think I got the award for the most pudding all over my face.

While with Bryce C, we found this great nest on their property.

Speak softly and carry a big stick...make it as big a gun as possible.

Coach Sergio, Sebastian, Zachary, Britton, Angel, Coach Maria (back)
Gabe, Brodie, Eric, Bryce (middle)
Adrian, Aiden (front), not pictured=Ryan

Griffin 6y 6mo

Griffin has surpassed the half year mark, so he suddenly thinks he is just a little bit older.  He chose to be Jango Fett this year for Halloween, which may have had something to do with the fact that he got two guns instead of just one.

Don't mess with the father of the clones...

Smear pudding all over my face?  Sure sounds fun, do I get to eat it too?

Why doesn't the bottom of my apple have caramel on it?

Theo was hanging around more while we did school in the backyard.

This white flower was too pretty to pick, so I just took my picture by it.

Coach David, Gage, Braden, Kolby, Coach Jim (back)
Ben, Rylan, Caleb, Luke S. (middle)
Corbin, Griffin (front)
(not pictured--Sam and Luke R)

Garrett 10y 5mo

Garrett spent a lot of time this month preparing for and doing presentations.  He had a big Teddy Roosevelt project that started as a three page paper and then transitioned into a three minute presentation.  He also gave a longer presentation at CC about how to play a guitar going through the basics and then concluded by playing the song "God's Not Dead."

Leia calmly sat with me as we pondered the next assignment.

If you know who Garrett was for Halloween then you are prepared for the new Star Wars movie early:  Kylo Ren.

Ready to give my Teddy Roosevelt presentation at the history day at our charter school.

One of the best parts of Halloween:  caramel apples with M & Ms on top.

It was a dirty job, but somebody had to rescue all of the gummy worms from the pudding without their hands.

My "how to" presentation on guitar playing.

Coach Dave, Tyler, Braden, Matthew, Rhett, Dillon, Coach Paul (back)
Charlie, Garrett, Collin, Jackson, Octavio (middle)
Jagger, Peyton, Jake, Victor (bottom), not pictured=Eduardo