Happy Halloween

School was cancelled yesterday, thanks to Hurricane Sandy. It gave us a chance to get ready for Halloween. We baked cookies and cupcakes for the classroom parties.  We also carved pumpkins, although the school contest had been cancelled due to the storm threat (it was originally thought that there would also be no school today.) Heather carved a castle on hers.

 Wayne and Cole went for the classic jack-o-lantern look.

 This morning, ready for school on Halloween Day.

 After school, decorating Daddy's birthday cake. This is what happens when you put a piping bag in the hands of a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old and then turn your back for a minute.

 Ready for trick-or-treating, straight out of Star Wars - Boba Fett, Jango Fette, a butterfly (Heather was originally slated to be Princess Leia but at the last minute decided to wear the much loved butterfly costume yet again) and Darth Vader.

 Hope everyone fared the storm with minimal damage and that  you have all had a fun and happy Halloween.

Corn Maze

After Heather's first dance class this morning, we decided to enjoy this beautiful day by heading out to The Great Vermont Corn Maze. If this sounds familiar, it's because when Cole was in kindergarten and Wayne was in 2nd grade, their school took a field trip there.

Starting out, choose a path. Eeny, meeny, miny, or mo.

 Right or left?

 A view from up high.

 Heather rings the "bell of frustration."

 Another view from up high, on a boat in a sea of corn.

 It took about an hour, but we finally made our way out.

 The day wasn't over yet. There are other things to do.

 A playful barn.

 A petting zoo barnyard.

 We took a break for a picnic.

 A unique take on miniature golf.

 It even involved a slingshot.

 Then some playing in kid village.

This is only a fraction of the pictures I took. If you're up for seeing more, you can try to visiting my picasa web album. I hope it works.

Dance Class

Heather started her first dance class this morning! She was very excited and has been counting down the days for a long time.  She's been wearing her leotard everyday since we signed her up and I was sure she'd have it all worn out before the classes even started. Luckily it held out.

 Parents are not allowed to watch the classes so I only have pictures of her on the steps of the town hall and in the basement getting ready to go up to her class.

Makes my heart ache a little to see how grown up she looks.

Bald Eagle

The other day, coming home from Barton with the kids, we saw a lot of cars pulled over to the side of the road. I couldn't imagine what was going on until Wayne exclaimed, "There's a bald eagle up in that tree!"  I pulled over too and took these not-so-great photos with the junk camera I keep in the car for just such an occasion.

He just sat there patiently letting everyone take pictures, not knowing what all the fuss was about.

October, This and That

October has brought us foliage and bow season. Even Heather is getting in on the bow shooting after school.

Wayne is a really good shot, but he doesn't have a bow hunting license  He needs to take a special class for that.  In the meantime, he spends hours in the backyard shooting at targets. This evening he was out there until it was too dark to see anymore.

Cole has learned to play chess from a book his teacher has in his classroom. 

The next best thing to a partridge in the pear tree - turkeys in the apple tree. (Took this picture through the window)

Last year we had tons of apples from the two apple trees here in the front and back yard. This year, not a single one.  We had to buy these apples to make an apple pie. It hurt me to do so. Wayne loves using this peeler Joanie gave us last year. It works beautifully.

Chopping.

Peeling.

Everyone had to have a turn. It's fun!

The finished product!