Happy Halloween! From, Luigi... and Tiger and Elin

Ever since moving out to the boonies we have had to hope and pray for some of our old neighbors to host a "trick or treat" party so we could have somewhere to go out with friends and have a place to sit to hand out candy. The Zallers were always gracious hosts having everyone over to their house but they have since moved to Columbus so somebody different had to step up... and step up they did! Shea and Tori hosted a super fun Halloween party last night. One in which everyone... EVERYONE had to wear a costume. They went all out... scavenger hunt for kids, tons of food, plenty of great company and after trick or treat, an adult, girls vs. boys scavenger hunt (girls won, btw... duh).

Max has known he would be Luigi since February. His good buddy, Austin, was Mario. It's always great for me that he decides way ahead of time cause I can get costumes on clearance. Next year he wants to be a vampire so if you see a good deal on one...

Since Chris and I had to dress up too (which I haven't done since college probably) we needed to get crafty. My friend Sara came up with the greatest idea ever... Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren. Genius!!! We went for it! While walking around the neighborhood with my blonde wig and golf club I got several laughs and shout outs from men but many women had no clue who I was. Seriously? It was fun dressing Chris... doing black eye makeup and scars! Cool! Chris and I won "Best Couples Costume".

Anyway, it was a ball! We are all extremely tired today from staying out late and running around all night (in fact Max and Chris are sleeping now... don't worry though, I got the dishes and laundry done while they snoozed... Grrr)

This morning SCCC hosted a Halloween Brunch. Kids dressed up. They had food, a haunted house, a magician, dancing contests and more. We had a great time. We sat with our friends, the Hoskins, so Max got to dote on Fiona and Chelsea a while.

We love Halloween! Hope everyone has a good one!

I Heart Faces Pink Photo Challenge

Still trying to learn all about the fun things my camera will allow me to do; I have so much to learn! In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to enter this I Heart Faces photo challenge in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness this month. PS- the pink highlighter pen stuck into his buttoned up collar was alllllllll Max's idea!

to see more great "pink" photo entries, click the button below

EDIT: 10/31-- My photo made the I Heart Faces Favorites Page!!!! Not the winner, but pretty cool for it being my very first entry. See the winners (and Max again) here...

http://www.iheartfaces.com/2010/10/pink-photo-contest-winning-photos/

My New Camera Lens Kicks A$$!

Mom, remember when I graduated from college? The gift I wanted more than anything was a super nice photo album (which you had engraved for me) and a fancy camera (which you consulted people about and purchased-- thank you!). Ever since then I have been reading and learning and practicing taking great pictures. I have, however, never had a professional grade camera... but I do now!!!!!

I'm so excited!! I'm gonna start taking pictures... like for money... as a hobby on weekends. I need LOTS of practice though! So I got my fancy camera and then consulted friends of mine who are great photographers (thanks Nikki, Heather and Brad!) for more tips. Nikki forced me into buying a new lens. A better lens. Forced me. ;) It arrived today. HOLY CRAP IT'S AWESOME!!!! I can't wait till Max gets home so I can start taking pics of him with it. (for the record, he is SUPER annoyed with my picture taking)

I also purchased some great editing software for the Mac to help me make photos just right. I love it. I have SO much to learn but I have been playing with it in the process. Here are some before edits and after edits I took recently (NOT with the new great Nikki-forced lens but with the lens the fancy camera came with)...

before...

after...

before...

after...

Awesome right? I've already had a few people tell me "nice camera" when looking at my pictures and according to my super-talented friend Nikki, that is the highest compliment a photographer can get! :) Should I brag and tell them "it's not the camera; I've got skillz"? ;)

Anyway, after I have a few practice sessions with my friends I'll be starting my own little business, somehow. It'll be inexpensive and fun for clients... and great for me! I can't wait!

More From Our Ladies Man...

Last Sunday we got an invitation to go to the Dragon's stadium for a family fun night. It was sponsored by Entertainment Book (you know, the coupon books?) and kids who sold a certain dollar amount in books got a ticket to go. Max only sold one book, the one we purchased out of obligation to the school, but because I'm on the PTO the coordinators for this fundraiser were kind enough to give our family a pass to this event as well.

The event ran from 4-8pm. They had free hotdogs and popcorn, bounce houses, obstacle courses, batting cages, blow up slides, base running on the field and pictures with Heater and Gem, the Dragons mascots. They also had people doing face painting and balloon animals (that takes serious talent, btw!) and at 6:00 showed the movie "UP!" on the jumbotron. It was SOOOOO crowded and quite honestly smelled like b.o. and farts everywhere we stood. (sorry, if I had to endure it you can stand to read about it) Max loved every minute though and I really think he ran the 90 ft between every base like 234832 times.

Guess what though? While we were there we ran into the elusive Samantha. You know, Samaaaaaaaaaaantha? The one who gives Max drawings and notes on the bus daily? Well well well... here she is... with Max. They had fun playing together. I think Samantha must have had some chocolate somewhere too, judging by her mouth...

The next day Max got on the bus and the bus driver, Janet, told me that Samantha had a note for him that I might want to take to keep safe. Here it is:

Cracks me up. (sorry it's sideways)

Oh here are a few more random things... Max got his kindergarten pics back from school. Seriously adorable!!! Take a look!

And here are some from a cookout we had at the Breehne's last night... Max had fun with Carley, Christina, Ella and a few other of our friends' kids...

Christina Breehne, Carley Breehne, Max

Max, Carley Breehne and Ella Giuffre

And finally, from today's soccer game. Max scored two goals; he also got plowed by his own teammate and friend, Ryan. Sometimes it's hard for 5 year olds to remember to share the ball or that they are on the same team! :) Max banged his knee pretty hard... I got the shots in sequence! Check it out...

above- Max in front, running for the ball...

Ryan comes in from behind to try to get it too...

and he's down... there he goes!

The "after" shot (why is this underlined?)

Kleather's. It's Tradition.

Kleather's recently stocked up on their pumpkins for the fall and as has been tradition since I was little, we went pumpkin hunting on October 1st. Max was pumped! He waited all week for September to be over so we could go. Plus, Friday Oct 1 was his day to bring home Ducky Duddle from school AND the day the boys got off the bus first. He was full of joy!

We searched and searched and pulled the wagon around and around looking for three perfect pumpkin representations of Max, Chris and me. (yes, we try to find pumpkins shaped like each of us) Max desperately wanted this huge one, just like he does every year.

Max grew very frustrated with me and my camera! DUDE! I'm trying to learn how to use it! Let me take your picture! Oh and poor Daddy had to sit the hunt out this year. He would yell and point to pumpkins for us to go see. It was annoying, really. But poor Chris. That cast is enough to take his sanity... and mine.

Finally. Max found one! But can he lift it into the wagon?? You'll have to wait till the end of the month when we carve and paint them to see how well we did...

I'm Raising a Ladies Man!

Max likes girls. I mean, yes, we all know he prefers to play with them but I always thought that was because nearly all my friends have girls so they are who he got stuck with playing with most of time... but no, I mean, he really likes them. He's a 5 year old ladies man, no lie.

Every single day he gets off the bus with something new that a girl gave him. Most days it's a painting or some art work that the girl should probably be taking home to her parents! Max will hand it to me to look at and I can tell when it's not his work so I'll say "where'd you get this?"... "Oh Mommy, Samantha gave it to me!". Every. Single. Day. Literally. Earlier this week after bringing home the umpteenth "gift" from a random girl I put the art work in the trash. I mean what am I supposed to do with 249238234 drawings by other peoples kids? Max found it in the trash and yelled, "MOMMY! That was very special to me!" and took it out and hid it in his room. (I still can't find it).

Yesterday he got off the bus with a fruit snack and a penny from Sarah. The day before he came home with this "letter" from Samantha or Anna or someone. When does it end?

So today I'm working at the school with Anna's mom. I had no idea her daughter was on Max's bus, but this mother "knew" Max. She said "oh, I think your son is on my daughter's bus... she says he gets on the bus and says 'Hi pretty girls'. WHAT!?!?! What is going on here? Chris claims he is just like him. Is this bragging? I don't know. But I find it hilarious and a tad disturbing at the same time and now look forward to what "gift" he'll come home with each day. I can't blame the little girls though; who could resist this face?