Spoooo-ooky (But Sweet)

We put together this haunted gingerbread house for some family fun this weekend. Too cute, huh? The kids helped with some of the icing and all of the candy. It ended up looking pretty good, but the nice thing about a HAUNTED house is that precision is not necessary - the crooked window panes and drippy icing add to the charm!

Rainy Days and Fridays

He looked muddier in person, let me assure you. And we all look pretty wet, after several weeks of rainy, rainy football games. Seems like it can be clear and dry all week - but if it's time for a football game, it's time for rain. We got COMPLETELY soaked at one downpour filled home game where RCN filmed Kai standing on the sidelines, leaning on her crutches, playing her horn... and DRIPPING with rain. In fact, the band abandoned ship after halftime, it was so wet. This week's games were more of a constant, annoying drizzle. Still wet, but less pelting. Nicky didn't mind though. In fact, after I took this picture, he rolled in the mud, saying he wasn't muddy enough. *sigh*

I keep thinking I should spend the money to buy a big Panthers umbrella. Cause that would either guarantee that it wouldn't rain again so that I would waste my money, but stay dry, or it would be really helpful next time the sky opens up.

It's also hard to look forward to the games when the high school panthers have lost every home game and the 80 lb. Panthers have lost them all. (And scored 2, count them, 2 touchdowns all season!) But Nicky's having fun, and making his tackles and blocks, so I guess that's what counts!

Plus, he got to be team captain and go out for the coin toss this week, which is still pretty cool!

Nope, Never Get Tired Of It

Taking pictures of Juli, that is. Just LOOK at those eyes!

Which of these things does not belong here?

Which of these things just isn't the same....

Yup. Barry's a Cowboys fan. A Cowboys fan in Eagles country, now. We did our best. We served up Philly cheesesteak and pierogies. We got Eagles decorated cupcakes. We put up an Eagles balloon. We even got Faith to say the Eagles were going to win.

But the Cowboys won. Phooey. (Not to mention they beat the Packers, the beloved team of Nicky and me, the following week. Double Phooey.)


At least the food was good.

Nicky's "First" Bible

Nick had already begged for a Bible and been given one months ago, but it's still special to receive your "first" Bible from the church when you start third grade. Nicky, I hope the word of God is always a comfort and blessing to you. Use your Bible well, and pray often!

Just Call Her Persistent

Kairi's sprained ankle from VBS just hadn't healed. She kept complaining that it still hurt. Finally, we took her to the doctor. Who sent her to the orthopedic specialist, who sent her off to physical therapy. Turns out she has an "accessory navicular" which is fancy doctor talk for an extra bone in her foot. Two bones never fused when she was an infant, and they are all bound together with tendons. But when she sprained her ankle, those tendons became inflammed. Walking on it caused her Achilles tendon to tighten up, too. So she's back on crutches, and has weeks of physical therapy to get through.

But does that stop her from marching? I think not...
Leanin' on the crutches, playing the horn when the football team comes in. Standing on the sidelines, leanin' and playin' while the band marches behind her.
And a sight I never thought I'd see - my DAUGHTER being carted off a football field. Sad, sad. But at least she has company - a fellow band geek broke his toe. Maybe they should just add in some crutch maneuvers for the competition choreography!

Labor Day

Ah, Labor Day... Weirdest of all American holidays. As Scott often and derisively observes, "We celebrate being able to work... By taking a day off???"

Doesn't look like he's complaining now, does it?