Tchaikovsky!

Last Friday night we kicked off our Christmas holiday season with a family date out to the ballet to see The Nutcracker. Charlie was so beyond excited and told every one he was going to see Tchaikovsky (which he pronounces surprisingly well!). We got a great price on great seats through Groupon and it was the children's ballet with lots of other kids there and we ended up with no one sitting in front of us! It was perfect!

Charlie stood for much of the first act with his elbows resting on the seat in front of him, propping his chin up on his hands as he watched - - I wish I could have gotten a picture of him like that! And he knew there would be mice in the show so the moment the lights came up, he yelled out "Where's the mice?!?" and got quite the chuckle from everyone around us. He got to pick himself out a couple little Nutcracker ornaments before leaving and was a happy boy. It was a really great night all around!

October Rewind: Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving was a big hit in our house and we ended up with some great results. Charlie directed daddy as to what shapes were needed where and Eman took charge with the marker, drawing his jack-o-lantern face before his mom helped him carve it up.

Cheesy smile Charlie

Helping to dig out the guts

Team Trouble

Look at that concentration!

Very closely observing daddy's progress

Just about done!

Pumpkin teeth!

Eman's finished product

And the final display

(Before we put them out on the porch and they were eaten by squirrels!)

October Rewind: Apples & Pumpkins

There's not much better than apple and pumpkin picking on a sunny fall day....

Taking a break from his apple to show me that super smile!

cousins and apples and smiles, oh my!

Charlie and Grandma picked out a good one!

October Rewind: Abbott's Farm

A few weeks ago, we had a nice fall outing to Abbottt Farms where we got to visit some animals, get lost repeatedly in a corn maze, and enjoy some delicious fall treats. It was a chilly, grey day - but it was a good time!

Charlie was intrigued by the turkeys

The chickens came running expecting to be fed,

but then Charlie growled at them instead...

Sorry chickens. :-)

posing with the pumpkins

mmm... warm cider donuts...

Such a goof ball!!

Trick-or-Treat!!!

Charlie and his little friend, Noah, were a big hit in the neighborhood while trick-or-treating in their thinga-ma-jigger last night. I have to give credit to our friend, Melissa, for coming up with the idea and making the awesome blue wigs though! We did nothing but buy a t-shirt and pair it with some red footie pajamas. They were both super cute and had a great time raking in the goodies!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 ready to go go go go... on a trick-or-treating adventure!

Posing with The Cat in the Hat (aka, Melissa)

Eman the skeleton and Thing 2 raring to go!

cute face!!

Happy Halloween from Thing 1 and Thing 2!

Camp Week: Walks at Sunset

Just about every day at the beach ended with a slow and leisurely walk along the beach at sunset. Camera in hand. Charlie often with a freeze pop from courtesy of our camping neighbors and good friends, the Sherwoods. Life doesn't get much better. The beauty of sunsets at Southwick never cease to amaze us, even after years of being in awe of them. Each night is just a little different and spectacular in its own way. Here are a few pictures from throughout our week. Enjoy...

Camp Week: Big Wheels

One of the best things about camping at that the super fun outdoor toys are always ready and waiting to be played with. This year, Charlie brought his big wheel (handed down from cousin Emanuel) and had a great time riding all over. There was also of course lots of time for frisbee throwing, ball bouncing, bubble blowing, tee-ball hitting... :-)

This is the look I got when I said

"Charlie, show me your cute face!"

riding big boy style :-)