Friday, October 24, 2008

Fall Photoshoot

After a fun, but photographically challenged day at the pumpkin patch, I wanted some cute pictures of Austin. I'm also practicing with my camera on manual, so I'm messing up 90% of my pictures. Hey, practice makes perfect, but it won't make Austin sit still. I have mommy goggles on because I always think my kids are cute, but I'm always striving for better pictures. Here was our practice photoshoot today:































Wednesday, October 22, 2008

This is their tradition every day when Tyler gets home from school.


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Fire Alarm

Last Tuesday my next door neighbor, another friend right down the street and I were all at the park. My neighbor's husband called and said, "the hill by the water tower is on fire. " We looked up and saw the helicopters descending. We could see flames and tons of smoke coming from the direction of our houses. It looked pretty close to our house, but we didn't get too concerned. After about 1/2 an hour later the fire seemed to be out. My friend got a text from the school saying they had evacuated, but the fire was out. It was an option to come get your children. I didn't go to get Tyler because I honestly didn't think it was a huge deal. When I got home, it did smell like smoke pretty bad, and I dicovered that the fire had been pretty close to our house. When I went to pick up Tyler, over half of his class was gone, and he reeked of smoke. Tyler thought it was his best day of school yet. They all evacuated to the field and got to watch the helicopters scoop up water from the pond by their school to put out the fire. Everyone was so organized at the school, and with responding to the fire that I was so impressed. Tyler kept talking about the "rush" fire (he meant BRUSH fire).

And I just have to post some pictures or I don't feel complete.
This is the solemn face I always get now when I want to take his picture.

Teeter Totter Boy

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sunflare

Just practicing with my camera on manual, trying to get sunflare.


This is after Tyler got in trouble for turning on a sprinkler at the park.


Medical mystery

I look over during church and see that Tyler is writing in his notebook. "Oh good" I think, "He is practicing the words he knows. He's writing his name, using periods and exclamation points. He's writing his ABC's. ANd, Uh-oh, where did he learn THAT one?"

Can anyone guess how that got spelled at church?

Friday, October 10, 2008

Sunset Snailing

The boys have a nightly tradition of looking for snails. They search the iceplant for the elusive snail and then squish the snail underfoot (Austin has even been known to squish a snail barefoot-ewwww!) Please don't tell PETA that we allow this, but it provides endless hours of entertainment. As soon as Tyler says, "Austin let's go find snails." Austin is out the door like lightning.

Can you see that smooshed snail under Austin's foot?
He's got a live one to bring to the sidewalk
searching the iceplant
showing off his trophy before Austin destroys it

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Adventures in Grocery Shopping

I hate going to the grocery store with my kids. In Illionois I had a great babysitter who came once a week, and this is when I went. I had to give up all luxeries upon moving to San Diego so now I get to take Austin with me at all times. Today's adventure started with Austin demanding the race car cart. You know that HUGE cart that you can barely push. The one that you always run into a food tower or person with becaue it is a dinosaur. We headed off in the huge cart onto the first aisle where my sweet little boy threw up the sample of roast beef (he gagged, he's not sick grouchy old lady who gave me a dirty look while this was going on). After we got that mess cleaned up, Austin decided he wouldn't sit in the giant elephant sized cart anymore. I got him out and tried to reason with him, explaining that he can walk or SIT (not stand) in the cart. He wanted me to carry him and push the monster cart at the same time. It was tantrum time so he laid down screaming in the middle of the aisle. Enter the grouchy old lady who saw him throw up- more dirty looks. Luckily, a nice old man gave Austin a balloon and me some kind words before we left, which restored my faith in humanity.

Here's my favorite grocery partner with his daddy at the air show.


Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The 80's called and they want their shirt back

Last night Mike was staining something, and he needed some old t-shirt material for the stain. He cut up the bottom of an old t-shirt. Then, to be funny, he put on the remains of the cut-up shirt. It was basically just the arms so it showed his whole chest and stomach. Tyler must have thought it was a really cool shirt because when I picked him up at school I noticed his shirt was all ripped up at the bottom. I asked what had happened, and he told me that he was trying to make a shirt like daddy had on last night. Tyler had taken the safety scissors and cut/ripped his nice school shirt. Luckily, it must have happened right before they came home because his teacher hadn't even noticed. For his punishment (after we had discussed not cutting up our shirt at school) he had to let me take a picture of it for posterity.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Miramar Air Show

We went to the famous Miramar Air Show (yes people, conference was TIVOing at home). I was expecting Goose and Maverick to do a fly by, or play some volleyball, but I didn't even see them. Both boys loved seeing the planes and getting in the helicopters and BIG planes. Mike liked the fake battle that was enacted, including bombs going off in a nearby field. Although the highlight of the day for Tyler was the churros (yes, he is his mother's son).

Cool Austin
Tyler with the tank
Tyler pretending to shoot a big gun
This is how we carted the kids


Friday, October 3, 2008

That's gonna leave a mark

Poor Austin, he fell out of the booster seat. We had taken away his bottles, but I felt like a fall like that entitled him to go off the wagon, at least for tonight.
This was taken moments before the fall. (that is someone elses hands on his face)
The horn front view

A side view