Kullick Family Thanksgiving 09

We are so lucky to live close by both families, the Headleys and Kullicks.  We usually try to go to both dinners or celebrations which makes for really full tummies and a lot of excitement but a really long day for the kids.  This year we went to the Kullicks, next year the Headleys!  Here's some highlights:

Sam, JP and Nicki waiting on the couch

Renee and Cary are so fast on the cleanup and dishes, it's usually done before you can blink :)

From left to right:  Steve, Teresa, Ericka, Rachel, Ed, Steven Jr. and Audrey - smiling after an awesome meal!

Ericka and Steven Jr. the newly engaged - Congratulations!

What a lovely ring!

After dinner, we took a little walk and ended up at my old elementary school, Faria.  Cary, Renee, Teresa, Rachel, Erick, Steven Jr. and Nicki got into an intense game of hopscotch.  I had forgotten the rules, but was reminded after watching them play a bit.

You start by throwing your marker in the first square and then jump across, skipping your marked square until you return when you pick it up.  In order to finish the game, you have to reach every square.  Here's Renee's marker in the farthest square.

 

The ensuing celebration

We found a square with numbers inside it not in order and tried to figure out what kind of game it was...if Grandpa Headley had been there, he could have made up an interesting math game, I'm sure :)

Cousins

Nicki is always talking about her cousins. It's the highlight of her day when she gets to play with them. Last night we went to celebrate Grandpa Headley's birthday with him. We brought him pies. The girls had a fabulous time dressing up as princesses and took many pictures of themselves (most of them are blurry).
I am so grateful that my children have cousins living close by so they can get to know them.

Izzy, Maddie and Nicki

About choices

I grew up in a quiet atmosphere where the idea presented to me was to do things that didn't cause waves, to just be quiet and consider other's feelings and how my actions affected others; how I "should" be. It took me until my late twenties to question this way of being and to realize I had lots of resentments about it. To get rid of them, all I needed to do was stop worrying about others and make my own choices.

Now that I am a parent, I am doing it again. Only as a parent. I have been knocking myself out trying to sign my children up for things, displaying things on blogs and facebook to make them look more ...(fill in the blank).

Why?!!

Because I feel some sort of pressure to do things right? or whatever else I "should" be doing? In my opinion that's a weak excuse,(also a way to blame someone or something else). Although I have been told numerous times from various people that they don't agree with my choices and some of those people mean a great deal to me and I want their approval, these are MY choices to make. Doesn't it sound like a simple concept? I am just recognizing it now. There will ALWAYS be someone who doesn't agree with me. As long as I am considering feedback and responses from those in my immediate family with whom my decisions will affect, that's really all that matters, right?
I am in control of my destiny (well, as much as I can control). I can question why I do things. If I don't find a good reason, I can act, I can make a choice:)

JP's locks of love are all gone!

Before (only 2 1/2 years of time)

Sittin' in the chair

It took two of them to cut it all

Ahhhh, the finished product :) Isn't he a handsome devil?

Halloween friends at preschool

Ballet Class

Nicki absolutely LOVES her ballet class. They actually spend half of the class dancing tap and the other half doing ballet.

In Search of a petting zoo pumpkin patch...

Debbi, Maddie, Izzy, Nicki and I went looking for a petting zoo at a pumpkin patch on a weekday. This one on Snell Avenue has had rabbits in the past so we went to check it out. However, because of the wind and cold, the rabbits could not come out and play :(
So....we rode the train and played in the hay mazes instead.

Izzy and Nicki on the pumpkins

Maddie, Izzy, and Nicki loved the train

Three little girls sitting in a row

Family Pumpkin carving

Dad is having so much fun...he's about to throw pumpkin guts at me :0

Zack really enjoys the insides too

The wonderment of carving the pumpkin

Dig, dig and more dig

Smack Birthday party 09

The boys's birthdays are September 25th and October 17th. They end up having combined parties often because they are close in age, close in birth dates and invite the same friends. We call it "Smack" because Sam + Zack = Smack :)
Sam wanted everyone to make your own medieval weapon and Zack wanted an all out air soft war...are you seeing a theme, here? :) Those in attendance were: Jacob and Isaac Aronen, Jacob McGraw, Alex and Andrew Black. They all got along fabulously, for such warring themes. I really enjoy the people my boys choose as friends. :)

Smiling Alex :)

Here is our "keg" of root beer...Zack couldn't get enough

See...

Nicole, Jacob McGraw's sister, graciously stayed and watched Nicki for me so I could attend to the party.

Sam's cake choice on top: edible arrangements of fruit and Zack's choice below: BR cookies and cream ice cream cake

Sam wanted to make medieval weapons out of pvc pipe, styrofoam and duct tape. Here is the result.

And more...

No Fear

Today at the pumpkin patch after walking through the haunted house a couple of times, Nicki asked me to meet her on the other side outside the house. She wanted to walk through alone. So independent lately -- I love it! Here she is leaving me in the dust :)

Field trip to Uesugi Farms pumpkin patch

Maui and disneyland back to back

Nicki's preschool

Fairyland with cousins

 

 

 

 

Princess potty party from "How to Potty Train Your Child in One Day"

 

 

 

 

Our New Puppy: Star

MY NEW MAID!

So we stayed home from church today because we are getting over colds and Nicki decided to do a little cleaning up!

Princess Nicki

Nicki is quite into being a 'ballerina' (her version:  twirl around in a dress).  Here she is with her tiara; note my title for her!  The shoes are a riot! (got them at gymboree on sale for like $2.00!)  Oh, the drama!

What's goin on with us...

Sam and Zack have been taking tennis lessons for several months now and getting quite good at it.  One mother who was watching them noted on how they have improved since the last time she saw them.  I am relieved to know they have found a sport that they like.  It's an extra bonus that they can play it together.  Here they are playing their version of "street tennis"!

The fam

October HFWD (Headley Family Work Day)

Nate, Maddie, Nicki and Izzy

Beth and Nate on the tramp

Alex wields a sword (see how much fun we have at HFWD?)

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Nicki and Maddie

Debbi, Izzy, Nicki and Maddie at the "pet pool"

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Headley grandkids in the bunny hutch

Sam, Nicki and Zack

Debbi, Beth, Laura and Christine (some Headley daughter in laws)

More bunny hutch fun

My Wonderful Kids