What's That Spell?!

Halloween 2010 - Starring....

Elli as Hermione Granger...
Ralphy as Harry Potter...
Sal as Hedwig (Harry's snowy owl)
(the view from above)
and Jennifer as Professor McGonagall
(why is it that for the 3rd year in a row I have ended up as a witch?)

if you don't know about Harry Potter, then you really really need to watch the movies,
or better yet, read the books! we wanted ralph to be hagrid,
but he declined on the dress-up part!

we're already thinking about our costumes for next year (i like to get elli and ralphy thinking about them now so they have time to forget about the really silly ideas...)

so today we were talking about next year's costumes
and elli said, "we could be characters from redwall"
and i said, "i don't think many people know that story, so they wouldn't get it"
then she said, "i could be an angel"
and i said, "well, i really like it when we all dress up together with a theme"
so ralphy said, "i could be God!"
i said, "you can't dress up as God for halloween!"
so he said, "well, i'll dress up as Jesus, then!"

(too funny....you can't make this stuff up!)

we'll keep brainstorming...

Happy Birthday!

Ralphy is FOUR!

Here are some pictures of our big boy!

I think he's going to love being 4...He is learning and growing so much...

We love you, Ralphy!

Ralphy's First Day of Pre-School!

Ralphy is doing great at pre-school!

Here he is on his first day...

He also started soccer practice recently and loves it! We're so excited for the first game!

Love you, buddy!

Elli turns SIX!

Elli is 6!

Here are some pictures from her birthday,
the party she shared with her brother
and some random pictures from the last few weeks..



Friday Night Lights...


the new trampoline!


goin' in for a kiss...

Sal's mean face

elli's first day of... (deep breath)... KINDERGARTEN!

elliana started kindergarten today! she was very excited and very brave...
and she can't wait to go back tomorrow!


elli has informed us that she will not, however, be going on to first grade next year...when asked why, she explained that she really loves to take naps and you can't take a nap in first grade because you're there all day!


just for the record, i will say that i was not and still am not ready for this school business, but you can't stop time (or a growing child)...

we are so proud of our elli lou and we can't wait to see all that she accomplishes!

summer

OK- prepare for a whole lot of pictures...and i could have posted about 100 more! i haven't posted anything since sal's birthday in april!

here's a picture from his party in may:

fishing at gram & papa's farm:

(elli's dad wears pink! ha ha ha!)

our slugger

ralph and nick with their baby boys

joe & kristen's wedding in june...

ralphy and his pulley in the tree house

sal in the sand box

elli looking like a teenager...
aquatic creature

my 3 little aquatic creatures will be sad when they have to become land animals again!

playing on the beach at uncle don & aunt norlin's lake...

on a riverboat ride

elli lost her first tooth!

riding bikes

rescuing a stranded (stuffed) animal in the rain

playing with shaving cream

we spent a lot of time with family, friends and neighbors...this summer was a lot of fun, but i'm not ready to see it end...we're in for a busy fall!