Happy Halloween

Grant is two this year. We have attempted several costumes for him. He started out as Elmo, but he didn't keep that on for more than two minutes. Then we decided on "Dennis the Menace." He kept the hat and frog in his pocket for a little longer. Someone thought he looked like a construction worker, so for the actually Halloween festivities, I put this tool belt and hard hat on. I think the "Bob the Builder" or "Handy Manny" was our best out of the three. Dennis the Menace just wasn't obvious enough - even though it fit his personality the best :)Whitney was a "Snow Princess." I found this costume on e-bay. Cassidy was a Cheerleader.

Lindsey was a fairy princess.

Tumbling

I have had Whitney is various tumbling classes in the past, but it has been several years since I have attempted it. The girls are constantly begging me to let them take tumbling or dance or something. I have avoided this out of fear. At this point, if I sign one of them up for something, I have to sign all three of them up for something. The thought of running them to various practices throughout the week just doesn't sound like my idea of a good time. (Not to mention the costs involved.) I can barely handle life with four kids, to add lessons to my life makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide. I don't know how moms do it.

I found a community ed tumbling class that was for 4-12 year olds. I decided that since I could put them all in the same class, I could handle it. The girls are having a great time. They love it. I know there are benefits to their self esteem to be able to be good at something. I feel guilty that I don't let them do this more often. Kids today are so over scheduled that they don't have time to be a kid. Where do you draw the line? I am a selfish person. I don't want to spend every Saturday or weekday driving my kids to their games or practices. Is this horrible of me? Enough of my ranting. Here are some cute pictures of my girls at tumbling class. . . .

Cassidy doing a spread somersault (It has a name, I just don't remember it) Whitney doing a hand stand

Whitney doing a back bend

Lindsey is unbelievably flexible!Grant is a trooper. He actually enjoys watching them at practice

Zoo Babies

Last week Aaron was gone all week. We were getting a little stir crazy, so to get out of the house I took my kids to see all the new arrivals at the Hogle Zoo.

Lindsey loves, loves loves Giraffe's so we just had to go see the new baby giraffe.

The baby elephant was adorable!The baby is hidden a little by the pole in the picture.This is the baby alligator. I haven't been into the reptile house for years. It was actually pretty cool inside. I loved the giant tortoises. We've been missing out by skipping it every time.There were also baby tigers, baby monkeys and more that I didn't take pictures of. This was a good year to get a zoo membership. So much fun to see all the little baby animals.

Lake Tahoe / Taylor Creek

Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places. I love it there. I only wish we were there when it was warmer so that we could play in it. We will have to go back again sometime soon.Whitney took this picture of Aaron and me. Pretty good for an 8 year old.

At Lake Tahoe we went to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. There are two weeks out of every year that is Salmon spawning season. We just happen to be there during those two weeks. Hundreds of these Salmon turn bright red, then swim up this creek from the Lake. They lay their eggs and then die. There will probably never be an opportunity when we can see something like this again. It was way cool. There are two hikes that you can take from the Visitor's Center, one goes along the creek and then ends up in this observatory where you can see under the river. The Salmon don't come up stream this far, but there were a lot of other fish to see there. The other hike takes you out to the Lake.

San Francisco

The kids loved the sea lions. They were all barking like sea lions the rest of the day.

We went down Lombard Street - the crookedest street in the world. I didn't get good pictures of this street because my camera would not cooperate. First I was out of batteries, then it was on movie mode, then my memory card was full. I guess I was not supposed to be taking pictures on this street! Golden Gate Bridge - we went across just so that we could say that we did. :)

Fairytale Town

This is a great little place in Sacramento. It is basically a giant playground. The kids love it because they can climb on everything. There were live animals there as well. (Peter Cottontail, three billy goats, three little pigs, Mary's sheep etc). King Arther's Castle

Mother GooseFarmer Brown's Barn and the Little Red Hen House Owl's HouseJake and Jill's HillCinderella's Pumpkin Carriage Old Lady who lived in a shoeThe cheese stands aloneThe Tortoise and the Hare