"What??"

There are no pictures today because blogger has told me I have run out of space for pictures.  Now, I think I have to go back in time and start deleting old posts. I will get this done sometime around 2015. What a bummer.

We are beginning Thanksgiving crazy around here. Buck had a "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" party at school yesterday. The kids watched the movie and then had all of the treats that Snoopy made instead of a regular Thanksgiving dinner: ice cream sundae, popcorn, pretzels, and toast. The kids loved it.

Today is Thunder's preschool feast: Turkey sandwiches and potato chips. I'm in charge of this one (not the menu) but there are so many keener (read: eager breaver in Canada) parents that there is very little for me to do - Yeah!!

The kids are out 1/2 day today for the holiday. No one is coming to visit and we aren't going anywhere. I've decided that today we're going to clean as though we were having the pickiest visitors ever. Maybe I'll delete some old posts too ;)

You - belong in a zoo . . .

Buck's class went on a field trip to a small local zoo the other day.  (His teacher is the young, long-haired woman on the left). 

 There was a nice presentation of birds, mammals and reptiles. We were able to "pet" everything.

 Now, a small example of what 1st grade boys do on a field trip:

 

 The next day, H-P had to go to the doctor because we thought he broke his toe. He dropped a stool onto his foot while trying to climb where he shouldn't :)

 His toe wasn't broken but it took me 3 hours and 4 x-rays to find out. At least I got some cute pics!

"Bye Bye!"

"Set fire to the rain!"

 Buck is a boy scout. Technically, a cub scout and a Tiger Cub. These are all things you learn as a parent of a boy who likes to get involved. RKZ and I know nothing about the cub scouts except what everyone knows (i.e.: the stereo-types and "Hollywood" Boy Scout images).  We are new and it all seems very complicated. So far, everything has been nice for our family.
1st, our "pack" (all the boys together) has a cake auction where everyone makes a cake and they auction them to benefit the pack. Buck made a stadium cake and it won "best sports theme". He was very excited. Our family bid on (and won) a "space" cake that was quite tasty. The boy who made it (a Weebelo in the 4th grade) was sad to see it go.

 

 After the cake auction (literally, the day after) our "den" - just the 9 or so boys Buck's age who are also Tiger cubs - toured a local fire station. Exactly what we pictured from the boy scouts. Pictures follow.

 The early crowd in their uniforms.

We like the cub scouts because they focus on "life skills" like the stop-drop-and-roll demo'd here: 

 In our den, there are a lot of brothers and sisters, so Thunder and H-P got to come along.

 Buck's den. They are boys from our town - only 2 of the boys go to school with Buck (3 total). It's a great way to get to know other kids (who live around the street in most cases)

Fireman "Matt" showing us how quickly he needs to put on his fire equipment (under 1 minute). 

 The kids toured the fire truck. A big hit for Thunder (in the black t-shirt)

 

 Family day with the fire engine!! 

 

  Along with the tour, one of the dads gave some tips on fire safety in our homes. It encouraged us to come up with escape plans and meeting sites at our own homes (in case of Zombie apocalypse, but also fires and earthquakes :)

 How our den actually behaves (insane in the membrane) 

My boys clearly enjoying fire safety day. . . poor H-P. 

5 little pumpkins sitting on a fence . . .

At least I'm posting, but even I am sick of the Halloween 2012 already! I was sick of it then! Last Halloween post and I'll try to do a few this weekend to get me all caught up to November. 

 Buck's 2nd (or 3rd) costume was a paratrooper. There is a mask, but he's not wearing it here. And this is our backyard!!

 H-P back in the race car driver costume. . .

 trying to jump into Buck's cubby at school (during the Halloween party. I'm a nominal mom, see?)

 Thunder was excited that 2 of his best friends dressed as the same thing - Captain America! They are obviously not as happy. That middle guy is Luke, Thunder's bestie. He's a bit cranky. T loves that.

 The "zombie brothers" (seriously, it was what they were going for)

 pre-trick or treat lollipops shaped like ghosts (and one of the 200,000 Halloween themed TV shows).

 Ma and Pa Joad made the trip down for the big festivities.

 Costume #3 for Thunder and H-P - Thing 1 and Thing 2 (obviously). Buck was so mad he wasn't Cat in the Hat. Funny.

 What is it with siblings putting their hands on each other's heads? I could do an entire post with just "hand on head" pictures.

 My cousin, the Queen, has a big family/neighborhood party every year. Here are most of the kids from this year. I think RKZ was holding H-P already.

 Another cousin and her silly husband holding up light sticks while we walked.

 The Queen's husband, Poncho. He throws the party too, I guess. :)

Ma Joad and My aunt (and Poncho holding a stick over my moms' head). They look lovely because they didn't have to go out for candy!!