Pumpkin' Patchin' 2012

Our 5th year at the pumpkin patch, John's second (but first where he wasn't asleep!)

C's first year to try the pumpkin slingshot (and the corn shooter, not pictured)

MY first ride on the cow train

Stitches, Staples and Glue... oh, my.

When carter was between one and two years old, he accidents that required had both stitches and staples. 

John is continuing the tradition with an accident that required glue... 

1) I definitely didn't realize there were so many ways to put skin back together - until these boys came along. 

2) John's cut is in almost the EXACT same place that Thomas has a scar from toddlerhood. I think someone is feeling sad that he doesn't look as much like Dad as his brother does...

4 kids, 1 parent

I am traveling most weeks in October and November, so Thomas is solo-parenting a lot. This past week, he kept C and J and Anna and Sammy one night while Park and Ashley had evening committments! 

They all seemed to fare well (though the house was a bit of a wreck the next day when I got home). 

Many Sides of Carter

Saturday was a busy one for us, and Carter had many different roles to play

First up, soccer player: fauxhawk and uniform

Next, vocal (and bells) performance at a festival: fancy clothes and "square" hair

Third: Playdate at our house with a classmate (no pics!)

Late afternoon: Hiking on a local trail and errand running with mom

Finally, losing another tooth!

One day, lots of different Carters!

Weekend Getaway to Estes Park

The final piece of Thomas' birthday surprise was a weekend trip to Estes Park where we celebrated Thomas, Marc and Rob's 40ths together. Okay, it was early for Marc and Rob, but they didn't seem to mind. We managed to mostly keep the trip a surprise from all of the guys. Details here. 

We chose Colorado because it was vaguely centrally located, when considering couples from Atlanta, Houston and San Diego. We also liked it because of the beautiful views, hiking, breweries, and some of the features of the house we rented, including the hot tub and wood burning fireplace. 

The boys

View from one of our four decks (plus, mimosas!)

On our hike to Cub Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Cub Lake (did I mention about the beauty?!)

After our hike, we drove to Lyon, CO to the Oskar Blues Brewpub, where they happened to be having Octoberfest, complete with a polka band

Shannon, Rachel and I might have been a little lost in the polka music, had we not had our husbands to share their (apparently vast) knowledge of polka with us. Case in point, before the polka band even started to play, there was a prediction that this particular song would be 4th on the set list. And they were right.

The guy in the band is playing a washboard tie

After Octoberfest polka fun, the serendipitous fun kept coming!  Just around the corner we found this amazing place.

It was so great to spend the weekend together. Our children were well cared for by a hugely appreciated group of family, friends and babysitters. They seemed to have a really terrific weekend, too!

Thomas' 40th

Thomas turned 40 last month! 

Carter helped with the decorating, which included posting a little relevant math he worked on for his dad

Thomas' main present was a series of 4 fun excursions 

The night of his birthday, we went to hibachi with the family

It was the very same restaurant that Cart Cart took Thomas and Park to on their birthdays almost every year, growing up

But back then, they didn't create a personalized cake for you, complete with the picture they took of you with a fun umbrella

The night after T's birthday, we went to see a taping of Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me at the Fox

And then the Saturday night after his birthday, we had a cocktail party for T, complete with ONLY pink drinks, because they are his favorite (and he's old enough to not be ashamed)

Our friends Lance and Stephanie hosted the party (THANK YOU!) and Thomas got to share some of his favorite stories from his 40 years

It was a small gathering, but it included old friends, new friends and family

The fourth, and final, fun thing was kept as a surprise until last Friday when I picked Thomas up early from work... More on that tomorrow!