Halloween Preview

The PTA at Gerry's school hosted a "Trunk or Treat" where volunteers decorated their trunks and the kids went trick or treating around the parking lot. It was a lot of fun to see everyone in their costumes. Here are some of our little Elmo and big Darth Vader.

Gerry was awed at by many half his size. He posed for several pictures.

Ben was tickled to be Elmo, who is his favorite. One of his twenty words is Elmo.

Ben loved the idea of accepting candy from strangers in the trunks of their cars! We had to pry the tootsie roll out of his hands for his bath.

The Team Captain

Gerry was the team captain for his soccer team today. He took it very seriously. In this picture, he is doing the coin toss. He played his best game and saved several goals (he is on the defense). We are very proud of him and his efforts. We are fully aware that the genes are stacked against him so we are excited with every effort he makes-no matter how small.

You will be happy to know that he started taking piano lessons this year. We are hoping that he got a few of the musical genes. He tells us that he is very good. Enjoy the pictures!

The Saturday Morning Pipe Dream

I enjoy the morning. I enjoy a leisurely breakfast where I can drink my coffee and read the paper. On a weekend morning, I am usually not be in a hurry to be some where and I enjoy relaxing in a peaceful house with my paper and coffee. I am coming to the realization that this ritual that I have come to cherish is a thing of the past. I don't want to admit it. I want to hold onto my pipe dream.

This morning, I was awakened by a screaming hungry toddler at 6:45 a.m. This is usually not the time my leisurely Saturday morning begins, but I bucked up and stumbled out of the bed. After tending to Max's bathroom needs and making Ben's breakfast, I made my coffee. Step one complete. I then started cooking my breakfast and retrieved the newspaper. I was that much closer to my relaxing morning. When Ben was done eating, I put him down to play outside of the gated kitchen. Of course he immediately started screaming because he wanted in the kitchen so he can play in the cabinets. When he realized that wasn't going to happen, he started playing his lets drive Mommy insane game with Max. This went on for a few minutes and luckily stopped as I got my breakfast ready and was sitting down to eat, drink and read. I was optimistic that I would at least have a few minutes of peace and I could keep the pipe dream alive. Then the drive Mommy insane game began again after which Ben decided to get underneath all the chairs and then scream when he was trapped. After he got bored with this, he decided to go upstairs and play toys. My spirit was renewed that I could enjoy my now slightly cold breakfast and luke-warm coffee. Then Max started. He wanted to be petted. He wanted to play. He wanted my attention! So, I ate the remainder of my breakfast in the fetal position atop my chair in order to keep Max from chewing my feet and scratching my legs. Finally, my husband got up and I was able to escape into the office and close the door where I was hoping to salvage a few minutes of a peaceful morning with my cold coffee. A short 60 seconds later, the door opens and in walks my husband with a toddler in his arms. I am giving up. I guess I will try again in 18 years. It was a nice dream...

The Mystery at Preschool

They cracked me up today! We were in the gym for recess. The gym is used for many different groups at the church and today it was a little messy from the evening before. There is a stage in the gym and we have instructed the children not to play past a certain point in front of the stage. This group of children kept going past the point and congregating in front of the stage deep in conversation. We asked them to go back several times but they kept drifting back to the front of the stage. Finally, I had to see what the fuss was all about so I went over to them and asked what they were doing. They told me that they had a mystery to solve. Mystery? I was intrigued so I started asking questions:

Me: What kind of mystery?

Kids: Well, there are clues on the stage.

Me: What clues do you see?

Kids: A jacket, two pairs of shoes, some empty drink cups and a tape player.

Me: What do you think about these clues?

Kids: Someone must be living up there!

Me: Really? Did you see anyone?

Kids: No, not yet, but we are looking. We think he is behind the curtain.

Me: I wonder who it could be?

This comment started a series of debates and they settled on this answer:

Kids: It must be the music teacher! There is a tape player on the stage and it plays music. Yes! The music teacher lives on the stage!

They were perfectly happy with this conclusion and ran off to play. Not only did they give me a good laugh, but they reminded me that in their brain, we live at the school.