Hole in the Fence

Having a backyard is one of the best things about the house we live in.

The kids can go play care-free, and I can get dinner made while they do it!

Even though we have a fence, and there really is no way my kids would escape I still check in on them. I have to make sure no one ate something they shouldn't or is climbing on something they shouldn't, or sometimes it is just plain quiet which is not often a good thing.

When I peaked out the window while making dinner the other day, I didn't see Crew. When I walked outside, I still didn't see Crew. So I casually asked the girls where he was.

Kadie answered, "He's over there mama..." pointing to the side of the house. But when I walked over, still acting casual but starting to get a little nervous, I just said "No. He's not". So Laney yelled "Crew boy!" and we heard a little man yell back "Mam!" which is what he calls me now.

It was coming from the other side of the house, so we ventured quickly over there. Still no where in sight, we all started yelling "Crew!" and he would yell back "Mam!"

It went on for a few times...

"Crew!"

"Mam!"

"Crew!"

"Mam, MAM, Mam!"

Then Kadie started laughing and pointing at the fence. Looking through some loose boards was a smiling little boy with a strangely acquired southern accent. "Mam!" I quickly ran over and snatched him from our neighbors yard. We were all laughing, and I am pretty sure our neighbors were spying on us through their window.

I love when people ask if we have a dog, and I can honestly say Crew is the next closest thing.

Like Father Like Son...

Just like his Daddy, Crew loves electronics.

And now you are asking... "Does Josh surf the web commando?"

I will leave that question open.

Pumpkin Patch Number Two...

Windmill Farms. It is one of those places that I take for granted, but if we ever moved I would really miss it. A little outdoor market of fresh produce from local farmers.

Every year they have a low-key pumpkin patch. But this year...they stepped it up a notch!

I am still sad we only went once. :(

Crew was in love!

We actually found pumpkins! And we got busy carving right when we got home.

And here are our pumpkins. All carved and in their happy scary Halloween glory!

Can you guess who's is who's?

Pumpkin Patch Number One...

I decided that next year, we will be treating the pumpkin patch like a park. I was so sad that we waited until just a few days before Halloween to go to the pumpkin patch this year because the kids LOVED it. Crew acted like he was at Disneyland, trying to pick every pumpkin up and running all over the patch like a mad man.

Laney put the first pumpkin she touched into our wagon.

After 15 minutes of not finding the perfect pumpkin, Kadie found a ladybug.

Crew found his M & Ms...

Laney tried to help Kadie find a pumpkin because she was taking FOREVER to decide.

Kadie always wants every moment and item in her life to be absolutely perfect.

Then we found the CORN PIT.

I wish I had one in my backyard.

The kids played and played and played!

Crew attempted the tunnel with success!

Crew also tried climbing on a fence for the first time and succeeded at that as well.

What a go-getter!

And the slide was the end to our show.

Sadly we didn't even end up with pumpkins from pumpkin patch number one.

It was on to the next!

Costume Day

I am a little behind posting these, but school costume day was my favorite this year. There was just something really fun about sending my second grade Dorothy and her little witch sister off to school with their lunches and backpacks.

Kadie loved the parade, and was looking kind of grim and worried (scanning the by-standers for any sign of mom) until she heard me yell "KADIE!". She was all smiles after that!

Kadie and her little tin man.

Job Number Three

Remember this post? It was such a sad day. 6 years at Grant Thornton. I cried that night and I think Josh thought I was crazy because leaving GT was going to be so good for our family! Leaving meant that there would be more time for us to spend time together. It felt like saying goodbye to an old friend. Although moving on was so great for our family the last 15 months, it is time again to make a change. And so we are saying goodbye to GROCO.

What I will miss the most: The short lived experience of Josh working in Danville and we were able to have lunch together sometimes - it felt like we were in a movie. The kids have seen or talked to him on the phone every single day since he began at Groco.

I also love the different ways Josh grew personally in the last year+. Josh is a Rotarian, which is actually really cool. He has become very involved in the community and always helping in service projects. Josh also became the Treasurer for Oakland Parks and Rec, and I think if anything, it made him love Northern California even more. And so the decision has been made to stay here in San Ramon! Working for Groco enabled Josh to become more than just a CPA, and learning to love life is something we will never regret.

So...what is the new job?

Josh Waldron. Experienced Assurance Manager for Price Waterhouse Coopers.

I have always known that Josh will be successful at anything he sets his mind to. He is driven, and that is something I love about him. I can brag about him because this is my blog.

I am so excited to see where PwC leads us. ( Even more excited for amazing medical benefits!)

Third time's a charm right?!?

Love you Joshy!

Crickets

This is not the first time, and probably not the last time this story will be told.

Crew likes bugs.

He likes to chase and eat them.

I spend 30 minutes this morning chasing crickets. Catching them with two small cups. Catching them off of walls, behind doors, scanning the carpet which happens to be the same color as crickets.

I found 29 out of the 30 I got from Petco. 2 were decapitated and one was bitten in half.

I can't think of anything scarier than a 1 1/2 year old shaking me out of my "cage" and then loudly chasing, jumping and laughing after me only to pull off my legs and eat my head.

Poor crickets.

I think that makes for a good Halloween movie.