BOO!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Honestly I didn't realized I'd dressed them as mortal enemies until after I made the Peter Pan and Captain Hook costumes. With the sibling rivalry we've been having, I guess it's appropriate.


We went to the Co-op party, as usual, and then visited a couple friends. We did take Aidan trick-or-treating to a few houses as well.

Peter Pan and Mr. Smee at the Co-op party.

Rowan and his friends Azalea and Taelem at the Co-op party.

Which Captain?

A little Halloween sneak peek for you.

I finished the jacket today, completing the Captain Hook costume. We even went and bought a black curly wig. The kid is beside himself. However, I realized with horror that my five year old resembles a different Captain altogether. See the resemblance below:

Mini-Me

Here's a trip for ya. Some pictures of me at age 4 or 5. Looks like Aidan in a pink dress, doesn't it?
That's my cousin Chris in the first pic, and my mom in the paisley 70's sundress in the second. Nonnie, what a hottie!

Goblin on a Mission

Mission: Operation Get-a-Half-Pack-of-Diapers-All-the-Way-Down-the-Stairs



Step One: Wait until mom runs downstairs to get something.



Step Two: Start taking 2-3 diapers at a time and tossing them down the stairs. Repeat until package is empty. When mom returns she should see this:









Step Three: descend 4 steps until diapers are reached. Continue to pick up and toss. By now mom should have grabbed the camera.




Step four: Keep working down the steps until all diapers have reached the bottom. Be thankful that mom knows how to pick her battles, and that she has allowed you to turn this mess-making experience into a game.






Step Five: hand a diaper to mom to remind her that she now has to pick them all up.





Step Six: Smile at your accomplishment, showing off your new two front teeth and your goblin jammies.

Sad But True #4

Our Murphy dog was returned to us on Monday after our friend Corryn took him on a 40 day "outward hound" experience. (He works with at-risk youth, taking them on camping trips., Murphy chaperoned the latest trip.) We sure missed him!!!
Murphs was a little shocked to discover how mobile Rowan is now and frankly, the poor dog never gets a break. Rowan follows him everywhere, usually licking him (yes, my son licks the dog) or rubbing his face into his fur or seeing which body parts he can pull and how far they can stretch. (Did you know dog lips are INCREDIBLY elastic?)
The sad but true part is that Rowan has a cold accompanied by copious amounts of thick green snot. When I came home from school yesterday I discovered that the dog had become a canine kleenex. He had a large green booger stuck to his forehead and three crusty snotwads stuck to his back.
Sigh. Something tells me he'd rather be back in the woods....

Every Pirate Needs a Parrot

Look what you can do with a styrofoam ball, a few feathers, and a plastic cup.

His name is Pete.

Autumn Day Hike

Pics from our Saturday hike in Jay Cooke with Andrew, Cedar and Ahna (our neighbors and friends...Cedar is Aidan's bestest friend). We took them on their first Geocaching adventure. Forecast was for rain, but we had a beautiful morning!



Children on the leafy trail.



The kids and Andrew opening the cache.
(Yes, Aidan is wearing a pirate hat and hook.)



Rowan wasn't so sure about the swinging bridge....



A beautiful overlook

Overheard #2 - Another Beatles Song

Song: I'm So Tired, by the Beatles

Actual Lyrics: "I'll give you anything I've got for a little peace of mind."

Aidan's Interpretation: "I'll give you anything I've got for a little piece of pie." (We did just make apple pie the other day, guess he really liked it.)

Asbury Street Folk Festival

My brother Jeff decided it would be a good idea to have a folk festival in his backyard. I thought he was certifiably crazy, but upon attending, I get it. What an awesome idea. Just a bunch of cool folks, music lovers and musically inclined, getting up and performing for each other with no pressure and lots of fun (and kids!) There were 80 or so people there, about 30 or more were kids. They also turned it into a benefit for their friend Amy Taylor who is battling cancer. (For more info on this extraordinary woman go to her caringbridge site.) It was a great day, with beautiful weather and fun people to meet. Mini-Ringo and Red-headed John put on a couple of stellar performances, hopefully to be uploaded to YouTube soon.

Thanks Jeff and Kara! Hope to do it again next year!

The "VonMarrtrick" Family Singers sing "I'll Fly Away" Jan(Nonnie), Kara, Amy w/Tim (Boppa) and his guitar Larry accompanying.


Mini-Ringo and Red-Headed John perform "Yellow Submarine"


Anna and Taylor perform "Traveling Soldier" accompanied by Jeff on guitar and Aidan on egg shaker and winter squash.


Rowan, Nonnie & Garrett enjoying the children's sing- along.

Geez, by these pictures it looks like it was just our family, but I swear there were tons of other people there! What fun!

Sad But True #3

I had to stick my hand in the toilet today to fish out a matchbox car. Oh well, at least he doesn't know how to flush. Better get the numbers of a few good plumbers just in case.

It seems to be getting harder and harder to Rowan proof. Notice I don't use the word Baby-proof. That can be done. This is an ENTIRELY different game. Today he figured out how to wedge his body between the t.v. and the coffee table, which currently serves as t.v. button pushing prevention. He successfully reached the buttons, ruining a perfectly good episode of Blues Clues and sending a 5 year old into hysterics (which I believe Rowan secretly loves.) So being the clever person I am, I made a long cardboard "L" which I wedged under the front of the t.v and over the buttons. I then taped the corners with masking tape for safekeeping. Darn it if that kid didn't INSTANTLY walk over and in one gracefull movement grab one corner, pull it off and throw it. I mean he just whipped it as if to say "Done with that, Mom, nice try!" I swear he's laughing at me when I'm not looking. Or there's a hidden camera somewhere.