Jack-o-lantern time

The kids had a great time carving their pumpkins. Next event - costumes and sugar highs!

Grandma & Grandpas visit

My brain is probably out of order as well as this entry. Before we left for San Diego, Grandma and Grandpa LeChem stopped to visit for a few days on their way home from their 2 1/2 month road trip (lucky!) We loved seeing them. We all went to see Beverly Hills Chihuahuas and they took us out for a family night at Chuck E. Cheese Pizza. Believe it or not we had never gone before. I know...our kids are really deprived. But not anymore! Everyone had a ball! While they were here they got to watch the kids do their things! Emily and Gavin in gymnastics and Cory in skateboarding. Ashley is going low key right now. She has viola lessons and she had a major thing going with her Taekwondo for the last several years. She's a 2nd degree black belt...you better watch out! With her long legs she can kick you in the head twice before you even see the first kick coming! That's not a joke. Let's talk about the pics for second. Grandma and Grandpa with the kids at Chuck E. Cheese. Ashley and Emily are focused! I have never held their attention like the game at C. E. E's Pizza. Here's a pic of Cory at the top of the ramp. I wish I had a place like this to skateboard when I was a kid...and that coming from a girl! Emily is the one in red and upside down. She loves to bounce. Too bad you can't see who was taking the picture of Me, Brian and Dad aka Grandpa - then the picture would have been complete with Grandma in it too! and last but not least - If Gavin is going to drive like that he's not getting a license and I'm hiding the keys!

Los Angeles Weekend

We could only get a couple days at the beach (that's what I get for not making reservations 7 months ago!) so we booked it up to LA for the weekend for some extended family time. Melanie got to visit with Heather a great friend from H.S. as well as Sis Cheri. We all got to celebrate Jane and Toby's b-day with Grammy, Belinda and her fam, Toby and Jane and their little ones and Brians dad Frank and his wife Karen. Before heading home we got to visit with Melanie's cousin Michelle and her girls and had a lunch stop at Brian's Grandpa Z's house. It was a beautiful day and it was tough to get back into the car. Why can't we just vacation all the time?

The Beach or Bust!

We love the beach and especially camping on it in Carlsbad. We usually go there for Spring Break but have found the weather to be soooo much better in October. This is our 2nd year going there for Fall Break - I think it's going to be an annual event. The girls did spend a lot of time in the water. We're not to the point where they don't want to get wet (yet!) We all had a BLAST boogie boarding and playing in the surf! We had a great time digging in the sand and building sand castles. Can't wait to go again!

Ashleys October 08 Orchestra Concert

Ashley is in the Advanced Orchestra at her school. They are amazing. I've never heard a Jr. High orchestra play so well. She was WAY happy to get into the Advanced group! Hope you enjoy it. Ashley is toward the back with medium length brown hair (just behind the blond girl seated to the right of the conductor).