Halloween Weekend

This post will be in media res, as the synopsis of our summer is going to take a while to compose and I want to post something.


Happy Halloween 2011!

We started the weekend with Carter's school parade. He decided he did not want to wear the mermaid, err... merman tail, aka "Fin Fun", which my mom crafted this summer at his behest and which ended up inspiring our Halloween theme. Since he had a change of heart, he instead became the Greek god of the seas, Neptune although we all thought of him as Triton since that was the original intent.

Here he is feeling confident pre-parade.

Once it started he became timid, concerned that "everyone is looking at me" and started saying "I'm weird" as he walked around. I guess it's hard to be the little fish in a big sea. Carter, like all of his peers, is still trying to figure things out and that's OK. When he got home both Danny and I talked to him about the fact that everyone looking at you isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on the reason.


That night we carved pumpkins and biked to the Halloween house. In case you haven't heard of this residence, essentially a family which lives just a little over a mile from us created a computer controlled light show that now has had over 6 million hits on YouTube and has garnished significant attention from the media. It was fun but we couldn't get in front of the house and the kids were pretty antsy. We met up with friends there and had fun once we found them. We did almost got killed more than once on the way there and back since there was no shoulder on the road during portions of the route. We've been told Riverside is not a bike city and it is true! There just aren't bike lanes or sidewalks in some places around here and not that much of demand for them obviously. It was a memorable experiences for sure; from now on we will be more careful about planning our routes!

Our pumpkins:





Saturday morning Carter had a soccer game. He is on a team with great kids and a kind coach. They aren't winning much but Carter seems to enjoy it and it has been good for him to learn to persevere; even after he got hit in the face with the ball earlier this season, got smashed in the face by an elbow and sustained a black eye and had some major bodily collisions, he still kept going!

Here he is being goalie:

From October and Nov. 2011

And, his loyal fan club:



Aren't they cute fans? :)

Saturday night was our ward Trunk-or-Treat and it was great! There was a bounce house, popcorn, cotton candy, tons of cars decked out and lots of fun costumes. We had fun getting ready together! Major props to our dear family friend, Kathy Rex, who is a seamstress extraordinaire and helped me make Flounder with no pattern!





Triton!


Walking in a tail only caused a few injuries; thank goodness we have legs, not fins!


I had to post this just so you can see how lady-like Ariel is:) She refused to wear the correct top and hiked her tail up into a skirt. Claire plays by no one's rules but her own when it comes to costumes and what-not. Ha!




Flounder & Ursula


Prince Eric be lookin' good! Danny was a good sport.


So happy to have him Flounderin' around!!


Pleased with himself to have stolen lights from the pumpkins!


This picture sums up my life;)

On Halloween proper, we made chili and had all the family come over to trick-or-treat with us after dinner It was very enjoyable! Our neighborhood had lots of trick-or-treaters and the kids LOVED being with their friends and cousins!

Ella, Shayla and Claire playing tether ball out front (the house came with it:))


Peyton, aka cutest Rubber ducky ever


Ryan, aka handsome Captain Ameria


These two are only 4 1/2 months apart. It is fun to watch them grow up together!


Ryan, Carter, Ella, Claire & Asher...the two youngest cousins weren't complaint!


Uncle Wes!


Nana with her girls in the niche they hung out in most of the evening. Once we got home from trick-or-treating, they had fun sitting up there handing out candy!


Pretty Apey & Peytie


My handsome brother and red neck extraordinaire, Eric.


Eatin' some chili


Cute Kollin...I couldn't round up my kids for a picture with him:(


Eric & Syd

A good time was had by all! I put away Halloween decor today and we are gearing up for Thanksgiving which we'll pass together with Rob & Laura who live just outside of San Francisco. They had their first baby, Chloe, on October 7th. I got to go see her last weekend, but the kids didn't and are very excited to meet their new cousin!

Thanks for reading! We look forward to posting more now that things have finally begun to settle down. William is only on one medication now and we can't help but feel great gratitude that he is home and doing so well.

William's Illness

Hello friends and family!

I am sure nearly everyone who follows this blog already knows about our youngest son William's terrible illness. A few short weeks ago he was as healthy and happy as a baby could be. Then, suddenly, he somehow (we have no idea how) was infected by e. coli which led to Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome (read more here) which caused complete kidney failure. He then experienced a perforated bowel and while under surgery it was discovered that half of his lower intestine was necrotic, or dead, and had to be removed.

William is currently in critical but stable condition at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in Hollywood, CA.

You can follow his progess at williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com, a blog my sister is updating on a nearly daily basis.

Please pray for William. If you do not pray, we appreciate your thoughts and support regardless.

Kindergarten Wrap Up

Summer is in full swing already around here but it was just earlier this month that Carter "promoted" from kindergarten. We switched his school when we moved and have been so happy with his new school! At the promotion ceremony, the kids sang the school song and I have to admit getting teary eyed--schools were a big factor in our decision to move and I feel so blessed.


At the honor roll assembly before getting his award (just have to mention that I was at work that night so Danny had to rush home from work, pick up kids and get them there all on time--he's a stud)






Carter was on the Principal's Honor Roll--he loves to learn!


At promotion


The note regarding promotion said to have the kids dress nicely, so we had him dress that way. He was mortified when he saw other kids not dressed up. He calmed down when he saw all the girls were in dresses and one of the boys was in a lava-lava.:)


Love those freckles!


Receiving his diploma (ha ha)


We are so glad Nana was able to join us that morning


And this picture is just so sweet


Danny took Claire and tired William home before the end of the ceremony and then Carter and I just walked home so we didn't get a family photo


With his great teacher--I should add that we really loved his teacher at his previous school. Carter always says how great she is and how she taught him to read!

Memorial Day 2011

We started our memorial week when we visited the Riverside National Cemetery last Sunday morning. We enjoyed the beautiful grounds and, more importantly, speaking with our children about sacrifice, honor, freedom and the terrible reality of war. Of course our children are still quite young so the conversation was simple, but they understood the key points.

From May 2011

Carter and I reading the grave stones and discussing names, dates and the World Wars. He asked the logical question a child might ask, "When is World War III?"

From May 2011

William enjoyed walking around although the grass was so thick it swallowed his chubby little feet.

I wouldn't have posted this, but Sarah insisted.

Claire being Claire.

Will is ever pointing the way...to what he wants.

Carter helping us out with William...and ensuring he will soon have a full diaper.

On the way out we were struck by all of the flags; too bad we didn't get a photo of the cemetery today, it looked spectacular as we drove past.

Carter and Claire preparing to pose for the Memorial Day outfit shots at Grandma and Poppa's. As you can see, this shoot was doomed before it ever started.

William bails immediately.

Carter is enjoying the meltdown for some strange reason and Claire appears indifferent.

He's done...

And Claire declares the sun to be simply too much.

And we've lost #2...and I argue it was a success. We captured our children as they often are and we managed to display their outfits.

This morning's preparations and yard work included a visit by my every-helpful father-in-law who put up another mini-fence in order to ensure our pool is securely gated off to prevent children drowning.

Sarah looking content (and cute) at our little family get-together today out back.

My mom also looking pretty and content.

We also took the chance to celebrate our amazing niece Ella's fifth birthday.

Claire handled it all fairly well. Ella shared very well which made things go much more smoothly.

My dad and Ned playing with their cameras. They never figured out how to turn them on.

All in all we had a great day remembering loved ones who've gone before and those who sacrificed all for our freedoms. I wish I would have snapped more photos, but I know many other shots were taken and we look forward to seeing them.