Trick-or-Treat!

Ben swooping into action to grab some candy. These boys are so nice and play football with Ben and another little neighbor boy on the grass in front of our house. We are really enjoying getting to know our neighbors better and are finally feeling like (after two years) that we have some friends on the block. Everyone is nice, it's just quiet and people often keep to themselves, so it's nice to have nights like these where everyone is out and about.

The superhero and ther mermaid. Lucy almost didn't fit into the costume, she is so long. We laughed at the conehead look she's sporting. Ben will get to wear his costume four times this week - once for the library party on Wednesday, today for our church Halloween activity, tonight for trick-or-treating, and tomorrow to school for his fall party, where I'll be helping out. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ben in his element at school and meeting his friends we hear about all the time.

Beggar's Night

Hilliard, Ohio - watch out for a dashing superhero and a tiny mermaid on the prowl tonight for some candy. Pictures to come...

One of the quirky things about Ohio (along with the fact that there is no such thing as a truly public swimming pool) is that each city institutes a Beggar's Night as the official day to trick-or-treat. Even though Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, we'll be out tonight gathering candy. I'm not sure if it's because they don't want too many coflicts, but it seems like they'd want to avoid a school night. Perhaps a Buckeye game on Saturday and trick-or-treating would be too much excitement for one day so they have to spread out the fun. :)

P.S. Andy's boss gave us his tickets to Saturday's game - our first Ohio State game in The Horseshoe. Ben can't wait!
P.P.S. I think we got the tickets because they're playing New Mexico State and not another Big Ten team. Beggars can't be choosers, right? Especially not on Beggar's Night. Here's to hoping that Ben gets lots of chocolate candy (to share).

Un Gran Viaje

Earlier this week, Andy's dad threw out an unbelievable proposition. He offered to come and watch the kids for five days next summer so I can go to Colombia to attend Andy's cousin's wedding. Andy hasn't been bitten by the travel bug so he's content to stay home and work/golf with his dad and forego a fabulous adventure. I am in serious need of something to look forward to since we're staying here for Christmas and don't have any other trips planned in the near future. Andy's twin sister and his mom will also be going, along with a good family friend. We'll be in for a major cultural experience with a bona fide Latin Catholic wedding extravaganza. Plus, we'll be staying in Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, far enough away from the drug runners.

I really hope this works out because South America is the only continent I haven't been to, save Antartica. My passport can't wait for its next stamp!!

Happy Fall

I know, this blog has been horribly neglected over the past two months, so this is my first effort to reconcile the error. Ben, Lucy, and I went to the park yesterday and found a magical wonderland of gorgeous fall leaves. By great luck, we happened to be there with two other moms who are talented photographers and one of them was kind enough to snap this picture of us.

P.S. You'll notice Ben's red upper lip. Any tips for healing chapped lips that a certain boy won't permit to accept Vaseline?

Strike a Pose

Here are some of the photos from Lucy's first photo shoot. She didn't quite have a chance to perfect her catwalk sashay or fierce model stare, but we still think they turned out pretty cute. As they say, time flies, and these pictures were taken when she was about two weeks old, so she's filled out since then. Thanks to my good friends, Heather and Noelle, for taking these adorable photos, and for being so understanding when you arrived to one of one of my post-baby meltdowns. They threw in the listening ears and emotional support as a bonus.

Lucy with Grandma Lori (my mom). She was so kind to manage the star and move her around to all the different locations/positions.

Love this shot of Ben. Yesterday was picture day at his preschool, but maybe we'll just print up some 2x3s of this one and send them out with cheesy messages written on the back.

Lucy's sporting the old man wrinkly forehead.

Siblings. Ben has been good with Lucy, but is still somewhat disinterested. He says she's so cute and gives her lots of hugs, but doesn't like it when she cries and his ultra-sensitive gag reflex kicks in when there's even a mention of a dirty diaper. This photo managed to capture perfectly Ben's mischievous smile/smirk.