Halloween costumes

 Eliza as a little deer.

 She was talked into this costume because I happened to be dressing as a deer for my office costume.

 And she got to wear a twirly tutu.

What else could a girl want?

 Adam wanted to be a Lego ninjago, but a new nerf gun talked him into being a hunter.

Watch out small deer.

 Merry as a lovely fox,

 to continue our woodland theme.

 The whole foxy effect.

 Grace wanted to be Cinderella, which didn't go with our theme at all.

 I think she just wanted a poofy dress.

 Jacob as a stick man.  He requested a top hat and monocle.  Unfortunately my duct tape skills only extend so far.

 Some out takes of taking pictures.

 This is what happens if your mom tapes your choker on.

 Surprise!

Naughty fox.

 What a happy little deer.

Ready to go to the trunk or treat.

Cousins come to visit

 Bryce and Tanner came to visit for the weekend.

We went to watch Jacob play soccer but unfortunately the game was rained out.

 The kids played at the park instead.

 Eliza being her normal self.

The kids also visited an American Ninja course and decorated eyeball and brain oreos.  I just didn't take pictures.

 Bryce and Grace.

Please don't corrupt Tanner, Eliza.

Tanner celebrated his second birthday while he was here.

He did not seem overly excited about all the attention or a cake with eyeballs on it.

 Eliza and Bryce went on a frog/lizard hunt. 

Gloves were a necessity.

 They did catch 2 frogs.

Tanner seemed pretty happy to have big cousins to push him around.

Adam enjoyed being a big kid instead of a little kid.

 

September

 September sort of flew by.

Jacob had band.

 Eliza started dance.

Soccer is eternal for Grace and Jacob.

Merry has been the score keeper for volleyball for the school team.

Adam started baseball.

We were shut down for a week with hurricane Irma hitting, but other than our powering being out we fortunately didn't have any damage to our home.

Weekend soccer and the solar eclipse

 Grace played in her first competitive soccer tournament over the weekend.

 The tournament was at the ESPN Wide World of Sports so the fields were beautiful.

 The only bad thing was it was Orlando in August which meant 95 degree weather.

 Grace seemed to have an awesome time which is what soccer is all about.

 We also got to view a solar eclipse.

 The kids school district decided the eclipse was too dangerous to view, so I had to check them out of school.

 Merry was at volleyball practice during most of the eclipse

 

but she got to come out for the peek.

I made these designer eclipse glasses, complete with flower for Eliza because the others would not stay on her head.

 We also got eclipse cookies

 and smeared them all over the place.

 Nice chocolate goatee.

 The most fascinating part of the eclipse was the cool shadows

 that we had to document on everyone's arms.

 This was entertainment for a long,

 long time.

Happy eclipsing.

1st day of school

 Here are the happy middle schoolers.

Don't they look excited to go to school.

Jacob picked out his own outfit.

Looks like he inherited his father's love of blue.

 As ready as he will ever be.

Merry is off to middle school this year.

Loving the braces smile.

This is round 2 of the drop off. 

They look a little happier about the 1st day of school.

 Grace is off to 4th grade.

She is very happy she has Ms. Townley again this year.

Adam and Grace are in the same building which made drop off awesome.

Ready to get to work.

Adam started 2nd grade.

He was not a fan of the collared shirt this morning.

 He looks so cute heading down the hall.

The teacher is already keeping him busy.

Cute Eliza is off to VPK this year or BBK as she calls it.

Love her hair twirling.

Eliza in the circle ready for some fun.

I stayed home and dejunked the family room from a summer of too much fun.