Today

 Today we had an accumulation of hail on the deck, a cute doggy on the couch, and two boys who wanted their picture taken before bed. :)

(I also got rear-ended in the rain today after dropping James off at gymnastics, which was no fun, but the other driver and I were both fine and there doesn't seem to be much damage to the car.)

The Most Wonderful Night of the Fall

 Fall Fun Night seemed a little more low-key this year, but we all still had a lot of fun.  Matthew discovered the Cake Walk, and did it until he won a cake (about four times). Fortunately, the lines were not nearly as long this year as they were some other years!  He picked a nice cookie cake.

We also did the basket auction (each class prepares a theme "basket" and people bid on them as a fundraiser for the PTA), and we won one with Bills gear (Mike's choice) and dog stuff (Matthew's choice).

As usual, James enjoyed the games, and he was pleased to win enough glow sticks to make a huge necklace. At Fall Fun Night, every time you play, you win. :)

James decided to be a jack-o-lantern this year because he said he had so many missing teeth that he already looked like a jack-o-lantern. :)  Matthew is a creeper from Minecraft.

Unity Day

Last week, the kids were supposed to wear orange on Wednesday for Unity Day (some kind of anti-bullying or anti-drug abuse campaign).  It wasn't a competition, but if it had been, I bet Matthew would have won!

(He actually was in a good mood, despite his expression in the picture.)

Dog Party

 Our friends had a party for their dog's first birthday.  We didn't take Elsa, since we didn't know how she'd react to a lot of new dogs and people all at once, but Matthew had a great time with all the pooches!  (James also had a good time, but he spent more time watching the Buffalo Bills on TV.)

Soccer

 James has been having a great time with soccer (although it's a bit of a bummer that his team hasn't actually won any games yet -- they almost won this weekend, and then the other team scored twice in the last couple minutes. Oh well!)

New Girl

 Elsa's flight into Cleveland was delayed about an hour and a half, but she didn't seem too upset by her trip, and she was great in the car on the way home.  She seems to be adjusting well to her new life. :)  So far, she's not great with other dogs when she's on the leash, but otherwise she is a total sweetie.

Pumpkin Love

Sunday was a beautiful day for pumpkin patching!