Trick or Treat

The kids got to celebrate a bit early this year. One of the shopping centers hosted a trick or treat event on Thursday (10/28). They went from store to store to get their treats.

Oksana:Cruella DeVille Nico:Phineas Philip: Ferb
No, Phil and I are not in the Little Ceaser costumes!


Nico as Phineas


Oksana as Cruella DeVille


Philip as Ferb


Oksana, Philip and Nico in costume

School Awards

Oksana received a medal for scoring at the advanced levels in match and englist on last year's benchmark test. She also recived certificates for making the A-B Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance and for helping the special needs kids in her grammy's classroom.

Philip received certifiates for making the Principal's Honor Roll (straight A's, Perfect attendance and citizenship.

Congrats to both of you on your hard work-- Daddy and I are so proud of you.

Nico's Birthday Party at the Nature Center

We had Nico's party at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center on Sunday. We served cake and juice outside on the picnic tables, opened presents and then went inside for an adventure. Nico's whole class was invited, but only a few showed up. He didn't seem to mind--he had lot's of fun. The nature cneter is part of the AGFC, so the staff took good care of us. The kids watched a movie about AGFC and did a scavenger hunt. After the party Kylie (Nico's girlfriend from daycare) and Nick came back to our house to play. They left as were heard tornado sirens warning us to take cover. Luckily the storm passed over us.


Nico's Phineas and Ferb cake.


Nico and his buddy Kannon.


Skyla, Kylie, Nico, Kannon and Miranda posing by deer sculpture. That would be Philip's fingers behind the group.


Nico blowing out the candle on his cake, with his two girlfriends, Skyla and Kylie on either side.


Nico opening presents.


Kylie, Nico, Skyla and Nick by the aquarium.


Nick, Philip, Kylie, Nico, Skyla, Oksana, Miranda, Bro Shon by the aquarium.

Horeback Riding at Camp Crossed Arrows

Oksana and I went to Camp Crossed Arrows, so she could earn her horseback riding badge. The camp is about two hours from Sherwood, in the Ozark hills near Floral, AR. We left at 7 a.m. and arrived home about 6 p.m. that night. It was a long day, but the girls had a lot of fun. They learned about tack, the parts of a horse, how to put a saddle on, groom them and ride the horses.

Oksana brushing Scarlet


Oksana learning about tack

Happy 5th Birthday Nico

I still can't believe it, Nico is five today. He was so excited about his birthday. He handed out his party invitations to his class and gave everyone a Phineas and Ferb coloring page. Gone are the old days of sending in cupcakes. Schools think it's bad for kids to have sugary treats, but it's OK to serve funnel cake for breakfast.

After school we met my in-laws at Ci Ci's pizza for dinner and cake. Nico had lots of fun and got a lot of great gifts.

Dinner Cruise on the Arkansas Queen

Phil'a parents gave us a gift certificate for a dinner cruise on the Arkansas Queen Riverboat, for our anniversary. We went this Saturday. It was a cool night, but a pretty one. When we boarded the boat we noticed a few women wearing AVON name tags. Then we saw a sign that said, "Welcome AVON". My district leader was on the cruise for a leader event. Just funny how we picked the night they had an AVON event on board. We had a nice dinner and enjoyed the end of the cruise out on deck looking at the Arkansas River.

The last picture is of the USS Razorback submarine, which is now part of the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (AIMM). It is a veteran of World War II, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. The museum is next to the AQ dock. We'll have to visit it someday with the kids.

Girl Scout Fall Festival

Oksana's GS TRoop had a fall festival in which each troop made a booth that the other girls could Trick-or-Treat at. The came up with a "Tent of Doom" where visitors could listen to one of our girls tell a ghost story. I made up some funny tombstones (Ted N. Buried) and we placed them on chairs for "Tombstone Musical Chairs". It's amazing what a hit that game was. I would have thought the girls might be too old to want to play, but they had fun.


Oksana as Cruella DeVille. I still need to put dalmation spots on her fur coat.


The whole Troop in front of their booth.


Girls playing Tombstone Musical Chairs.


Visitors listening to a scary story at our "Tent of Doom."

Firefighters at the State Fair

The kids dressed up like firefighters at the LR Fire Dept booth at the State Fair.

Kelsey: Licensed to drive

My goddaughter turned 17 today--Happy Birthday Kelsey. Congrats on getting your driver's license! Watch out NJ--here she comes!

Happy Birthday Maria

Happy Birthday Sis! Miss ya and love ya!

Boy Scout Awards

Philip is a wolf scout this year in boy scouts. At his fist pack meeting he recieved three belt loops: Maps and Compass, Fishng and Bowling.


He also received this special patch for hitting the target 35 out of 40 with a BB gun during summer camp. It made him an official member of the Junior USA Shooting team 2010.

Catfishing

AGFC stocked our local pond with 5-10 lb catfish last week. 1-2 lb catfish is the standard size they stock, but they had these larger fish donated by a fish farm.
Oksana caught one and Phil caught two. I caught one and a kid nearby asked if could weigh it. When he hung it on the scale it weighed 5 lbs, but then it flopped off right into the water. I have witnesses- and that's my fish story and I'm sticking to it.

Sunday at the Zoo

Phil took Philip hunting, so I took Oksana and Nico to the zoo.

align:centerSitting in bird sactuary.


align:centerGabriella, the Burmese python we owned. Phil donated her to the zoo when she got too big. She came up to the window as if to say hello.

align:centerThe river otters put on a show while we were there.

align:centerNico,the penguin.

align:centerOksana,the penguin.


align:centerThis was by the site of the new African penguin exhibit that is due to open late fall- we can't wait.


align:centerEllen the elephant bowled a strike.