The desert

It's been years since we've been in the desert. It felt good to be back among the cactuses again, but the climate isn't easy...I was always thirsty. And so were the kids.

Trick-or-Treat Trail

Every year we go to the trick-or-treat trail. As usual, story book characters acted out small snipits of famous tales. It really is a fun event. Luckily, Julien is still young enough to enjoy it. Sebastian was absolutely mesmerized! (Isn't he cute staring up a the fairy?)

Later, when Julien asked each of us what we wanted for Christmas Sebastian exclaimed, "trick-or-treat trail!"

Hay ride

Sebastian was thrilled to go on the hayride! The hay ride took us to the beginning of the trick or treat trail.

Festival of the Falls

A couple weekends before Halloween we went to the festival of the Falls which included the trick or treat trail- always a hit. Sebastian refused to wear his costume, but was happy to have his face painted and had a wonderful time. Julien quickly made friends with another kid at the festival. It impresses me how easily he makes friends!

We did it!

I am thrilled that I now live in a blue state, and thrilled that Obama, his organization and his volunteers, managed to win the election. Thanks to everyone that volunteered and donated to his campaign!

Unhappy robot

I made Sebastian a robot costume, but he HATED it.

I took it off as soon as it was clear he was not going to recover from his tantrum.

Emmett had fun too

Hoosier Courts anniversary

Hoosier Courts had a big anniversary party a couple weekends ago. Julien's old friends Graham and Andrew came into town for the event. Julien had a blast seeing his old friends. Sebastian was excited to hang out with the big kids.

A little wound up

The boys got a little wound up, but were relatively well behaved, considering how loud and packed it was (and how long we had to wait for food-luckily someone gave us a couple pieces of pizza to give the kids). We left soon after this bit of wrestling.

Sebastian eats cake

Sebastian found a lap to sit on (I did not know this guy, but I did know the mom), and happily ate his cake.

Cake!

Georg'ann's 50th

Georg'ann, the Executive Director of Bloomington Area Birth Services, turned 50! BABS had a party for her at the local alternative pizza place as a fund raiser for BABS. It was a scene!

It took us about an hour to get our pizza and it was incredibly loud, but it was fun to see so many families together. A couple BABS people led a rowsing chorus of "This new mom" (this old man) and "Booby Boob" (Scooby Doo).

Georg'ann seemed very happy.

Quadrilla

Julien was very excited with the "Quadrilla" wooden marble run that Grandpa Bill and Grandma Jan sent him for his birthday. It is fun to build and fun for Sebastian to knock down (which does not always make Julien happy). Both boys enjoy sending the marbles down the track.

Mentos experiment

I forgot to add that at the end of Julien's party I performed the Mentos Coke experiment. Have you ever seen this on the web? If you add Mentos to Coke it creates a very impressive geyser. I can tell you that it impresses 6 and 7 year olds. On the Monday after Julien's birthday all of Julien's class mates created birthday cards for him. Diego drew this lovely picture of me performing the mentos experiment. Julien said, "you look funny mommy!" It may not look much like me, but clearly the experiment impressed him! I look like I am about to get soaked.

The last night

On the final night of Kathy and Rick's visit Kathy read Julien a bed time book, Children Through Time (one of the new birthday books) while Rick read Sebastian a pokemon book. It was an nice, snugly scene.

In the morning, before going to school and pre-school, Kathy read Sebastian Julien's new DK Knights book. After Kathy and Rick left, the boys missed all the good reading time they had with their grandparents. It was a good visit!

After the party

After the party Sebastian enjoyed playing with the air "stomp" rocket. Even grandad had to try it out. It's pretty fun, the rockets can shoot higher than the roof.

Later in the evening both kids enjoyed playing with all the new toys on the train table.

Presents

Julien got lots of fun presents from star wars speeders to a make your own volcano kit, a police accessory set, and a paint your own bird house.

You can see Sebastian in the background with his buddy Demaris and Demaris' mom.

All and all it was a very fun, very exhausting birthday party. And I have promised next year to cut down the number of kids invited.

Cake!

Once again I made a yummy chocolate cake from scratch. Kathy decorated it with lots of instruction from Julien.