I have been taking pictures for others and have not gotten a chance to do any official (frame worthy) Fall 2009 pictures of my own.....until today. We had planned to go to the park and do them but decided to just stay in the backyard. I got a few that will be framed within the week.
I am upgrading to a new camera but will have to have an overlap period as the new camera I am getting is a bit different (Canon 50D) so I don't want to chance having some "jobs" and a camera that I don't understand.Then I plan to ebay the one I have now.....it has been a faithful friend. I have seen a lot through this camera.
Evan was invited to a skating party yesterday for his good school buddy Ryan O'Hal. Ryan is also in Evan's cubscout troop and we have become friends with their family over the last few months. Evan is still a very novice skater but he did his best. He enjoyed it so much though that I am going to start taking him to skating lessons (Audrey too!) on Sundays at the rink. It is quite good fun and a great alternative on rainy and/or cold days.
Obviously, I didn't take this but since this blog has also served as a great way for me to journal and look back at my own photos and memories I will post it for all to see. Evan's first grade picture. I can't believe it is the end of the first quarter and report card time. He has really grown so much in his educational setting that I can't even wrap my head around it sometimes. I can see him soaking up so much information and sorting it out. He enjoys school so much and has acquired such a great group of friends and classmates. Math is truly his favorite subject and he excells far past his grade level in it. He seems to be into History as well, which makes me glad that John is so well versed in it (because I am not). We are very grateful to have him in such a great school as Greensboro Academy. By the luck of the draw we made it in there and we are blessed to have done so. So proud of this kid.
The kids were so excited about Trick or Treat this year. Audrey especially. We went with Mackenzie, Connor and Christopher and they had so much fun running from house to house collecting the goods. Our first stop was Grammy's townhouse where they racked up to kick it all off. We trick or treated for an hour and a half (which is a long time for us) and then Evan and John went to a Hallelujah Party at the church across the street from our house while Audrey and I ate some candy and watched her new Dora the Explorer movie that Grammy put in her Trick or Treat bag.
Audrey has been begging to have her nails painted. I am not a big fan of all that hoopla for an almost 3 year old but she seemed to really want it and I can't see the harm in it so I let her pick out some polish and we painted them tonight while the boys are at their campout.
Today was the big day. Evan and John are going on their first Cubscout Campout. They loaded up at 7am and headed out. The Boyscout camp is only about 45 minutes from here and they were going to convoy with a few other parents in our pack. We got John a new 12mp digital camera last night so he can take lots of pictures so I can post some (and have some for the scrapbook Grammy). I am a little sad (and worried) but I know he will have such a great time. His best buddy from school is going as well and I am hoping the night goes okay. But I have to digress and say this will be the first night in 6 years that I haven't given Evan a hug and kiss goodnight and say our little goodnight rhyme. Ho hum.
Editing to add pics that John emails me through his phone:
I am very disappointed in myself for actually FORGETTING my camera this past Saturday. We went to visit Old Salem and take the tour of the 18th century and have lunch with my Aunt Trudy. I am reading a series of books that take place in the mid - late 1700s so it was very interesting to me to go and see a lot of how things were then. Evan had a blast but again, no camera. I tried my hand at one of the disposable cameras so once the film gets developed (what is that???) I may scan some to post.
One thing that I am so proud and happy about it Evan's school work. I talked with so many from his school about the big first grade Geography test that happened last week that everyone has been asking about it now so I am posting the results via picture.
The grandparents visited this past weekend and we took a picture of them and the kids. The kids had a fun filled weekend and were so delighted to spend time with Boppa and Gramma Jamma.
October means it is time for our annual trip to Maize Adventure. It was such a great day. The kids did a great job in the corn maze with no complaints. Evan earned two cub scout patches for his work in the corn maze and at gem mining. The boys are not too into being photographed anymore but luckily Audrey is still able to be convinced (or bribed) to pose for a few shots.
I decided it was time to cut Audrey's hair. The summer sun and chlorine had done a number on it and it hasn't been cut in quite sometime. The woman at the salon where Evan gets his hair cut suggested cutting a couple of inches off to thicken it up and it will grow in stronger. She gave me some tips on how to cut it for the "sophisticated bob" look that I was going for. Here is how it turned out.........I am quite pleased with it and Audrey is also. She calls it her "new mommy hair" (since I too just got my hair cut a few weeks ago). Evan and John went to greet the WWII veterans at the airport as the returned from a trip to Washington sponsored by the local Rotary Clubs to visit the memorial. He made a sign (it says "thank you for saving our country") with his own words and drawings.
Evan is absolutely thrilled about Cub Scouts. He loves it and talks about it constantly. He is in a great Pack and his Den (10 kids per Den) has 2 of his friends from school. He is looking forward to some great camping trips (Dad in tow of course) this Spring including one to the Yorktown (an old battleship ship in Charleston SC). He is already planning his derby car for the races in the Spring. Here are the first pictures of him in his new uniform. The best part is, I personally sewed all the patches on by hand. I am very happy with myself for that. Sore fingers and all.
Audrey has started blow drying her hair after she gets out of the tub. She is getting really good at it.
