Happy Halloween!

more pictures for you to see...

The architecture of this place was amazing. I love these old homes, but would hate the upkeep! =) Everything rusts and molds like crazy because of the heat and humidity!




This cemetery was part of the "ghosts in the graveyard" tour that I took the previous evening. The storyteller had a wonderful southern charm was great at storytelling, but I was more interested in the stories than scared. He stopped at this risen graven (to the left) and explained about about the different styles of graves, risen, vaults, etc. This particular grave belongs to 3 brothers, 3, 5, and 8 years old when they died within 10 days of each other back in 1870-something. They were buried one on top of the other. That was so sad, but what really gets me are the tiny headstones with only initials or one date. Babies. It reminds me of a story that my friend Tory had me read called "Mrs Mike". In the story, one lady was telling Mrs Mike about her first family. It was common in that time to have an entire family wiped out, and you would just begin again. Unfathomable to me.


Again with the history. This open air market (you can't see it here, it is to the right of the picture) has been in operation since the 1700s. A brick building with long tables where you can come and display your wears. At the end of the market is the Old Slave Market where they sold slaves. The building is in the process of renovation, so you can't go inside, but I couldn't help imagine the horrors of the time. An important piece of history, to be sure.


And of course, the reason for the trip. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Scott Arra!!!

pictures from Charleston

There were so many beautiful beach flowers and it was baby turtle season. There were these holes all in the sand dunes. We never saw any turtles, but we saw some scratch mark tracks. Pretty darn neat!



It was not really warm, but definately not cold there. A few days were overcast and rainy, but we still found time to hang out at the beach. A wonderful beach with warm water, long sandy beaches, and tidal pools in which there were lots of shells and sand dollars.


Avery ate more than anyone else that whole long weekend. Everyone was amazed at what she could put away. When she wants something that you have, she will walk up to you and say "thank you". You are then supposed to give it to her. "She is a little persumptuous, don't you think?" asked Papa.



The history of the city was just amazing to me. This was one of the cemetaries that we visited, and as you can see, even the kids were interested.



We just liked this guy's name. =)

home again

We are back home after a nice weekend in Charleston, SC. A weekend full of fun, family, beaching, shopping, ghost tours, historic Charleston sites (pictures will be here soon), and oh yeah, the wedding that we were there for. We all had a good time, but Dillon said it best when we walked back into the house, "home, sweet home."

Back to the grind tomorrow...

First snow of the season

When we woke up this morning, there was snow! And it has kept on coming.

A little word association game for you....
I say dog... you say cat, right?
I say night... you say day.
I say snow... you say baseball. Baseball?
I guess so...


Well, the Rockies ARE in the world series, so we have baseball fever!
GO ROCKIES!!!!!

A new page

Halloween is just around the corner...

and my kids are ready thanks to Aunt Bob! She home makes their costumes every year!! And not just for my kids... she makes costumes for every neice, nephew and her own young one. 7 costumes this year... next year it looks like 8 costumes will be needed. (don't worry, it's not me)
So here is what happened after the annual box was opened...




Yes, it is a tribute to the letter "S"... shark, strawberry, and the little stinker, skunk. =)

without a voice

Do you ever feel like you are walking through life without a voice? Not able to speak what needs to be said. Not noticed. Not heard.

I am going through that right now, but more literally. I literally have no voice. For 2+ days now, no words. Snaps, claps, slapping tables to get someone's attention. And even though I have no voice, I feel like I am really being listened to. The kids look at me and really listen, trying to hear what I am trying to say. At school, I helped out in a class yesterday and because I was not the teaching teacher, the kids had no problem with it. I was even asked to sub for the afternoon and today, but I had to decline, no voice, no teaching for me. The funny thing is that the teacher that asked me to sub for her didn't even realize that I couldn't talk. She was too miserable herself I am sure. She has the flu. I am glad I don't have that!

Oh well, be thinking of me as I snap and clap and whisper my way through the days until my voice returns. =)

a few notes...

I am sorry that I have been so quiet lately. I am a bit overwhelmed right now. Subbing, writing papers for school, Kevin gone for 5 days, plus I have a little head cold that has spread to Avery. Please forgive me, I will visit when I can.

A little story to get you by... Dillon has a play date today. I warned him though that if he did not behave well in school, that he could not go home with Grant today. So this morning he comes up to me..."Mom, I think that I have done pretty well for several days now, and that it shouldn't matter how I am today. I can still go on my play date."
"oh, really? It doesn't work that way."

a few minutes later... mind you, I have only been up for about 15 minutes at this point.

"Mom, how have I been today? I have been good so far, right?"

"Dillon! It has been 15 minutes."

"But, have I?"

"DILLON!"

What am I going to do with this kid?

more pictures for you to see...

I am lovin' the zoom! Can you tell?

Red Rocks Hike

Part of my fabulous birthday day was a hike around Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The fall colors have not descended the mountain as of yet, but it was still a gorgeous Fall day. Here are some pictures....