Thanksgiving Lunch

Last Friday Lauren's school had a Thanksgiving lunch for the students and their families. Since each lunch took a little longer then their regular lunch hour they moved up the lunchtimes about 30 minutes. That made the Kindergarten lunch at 9:45 am. Yes, turkey, stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes, and rolls at 9:45 in the morning. It was bit strange. I think I finished drinking my morning coffee right before they served us lunch. It was a bit strange.

Other then the odd time to have lunch it was fun to go and have lunch with Lauren. I got to see her friends and then she took me into her class and showed me the things they were working on . I think she was happy that I was able to leave work and come and have lunch, I know I enjoyed it.

My Folk Singer

Lauren's cousin, Elaine, started to take guitar lessons a few months ago. Elaine is very musical and was a very good clarinet player before she gave it up this year. I was happy that she started to play another instrument. She learns to play so quickly and it is a joy to watch her.

Lauren adores her cousins and tries to be like them all the time. Her new thing (which started when Elaine started to take guitar lessons) is to pull out her guitar and tell me that she wants to play a song for me. Or she will tell me she needs to practice one of her songs. It is pretty cute and I snapped a few pictures the other day when she was singing me one of her songs.

Veteran's Day

Both Lauren and I got off today in honor of Veteran's Day. I decided not to do a bunch around the house and just enjoy the nice weather and the time with Lauren.

My father died last year and since his death, I have tried to keep his memory alive in our home. I try to talk about both my father and my mother, who died in 1993, so that Lauren could learn a little about them. One way that we remember them is when Lauren and I put flowers on their grave. Since today was Veteran's Day and my father was a WWII veteran I thought today would be a good day to go and bring some new fall flowers for their grave.

I wish my parents were still alive and able to see Lauren grow up. I wish Lauren could have grandparents that are living and active in her life. Those things are not possible so we have to do with just memories.

Fall Festival

I love this picture. Lauren seems so intense.

She had a great time on this and went on it again and again.

Playing one of the many games.

Doing an art project.

Rock climbing.

Lauren won one round of the candy walk.

Today was Lauren's school fall festival. It was a lot of fun. Lauren had her face painted, her hair painted, she played a ton of games, did some art projects, and went on a few of the rides. Lauren saw a lot of her classmates and some of her teachers. She won some prizes and ate some goodies. It was a fun time. She asked when they would have it again. I think she was a bit sad when I told her they would have another one next year.

Halloween

Ready for her school party. (I think she was trying to have a piece of candy in the morning.)

Ready to go trick or treating.

Cousins before going out.

Getting treats and helping her cousin, the doctor.

This is such a fun night!!

Eating one piece of candy and looking at all the treats that she got.

After baths and ready for bed but one more Halloween treat!


Halloween was a fun full day for Lauren. She started the day with a party at school. Her school does not allow them to wear costumes. Instead she wore her Halloween skirt and shirt. We have had such a busy week that we overslept on Friday. It was an interesting way to start Halloween but it probably worked out for the best since we got a bit of extra sleep for a busy day ahead of us.

After work, Lauren and I went to my brother and his wife's house to join them for Halloween night. Their daughter, Sammie, was excited to go trick or treating with Lauren. Sammie is two and so it was all pretty new to her. I explained to Lauren that she was now the big cousin and would have to show her what to do. She did a good job of making sure Sammie was with her and helped her when needed.

We got them dressed in their costumes, Lauren the bunny and Sammie the doctor. Then we were off. It was a great night to be out. Not too hot and not too cold! It was nice to go trick or treating in Sammie's neighborhood. It is a very family neighbor and a lot neighbors were sitting outside waiting for the kids to come. There was a ton of people out and about. It made for a fun time.

After walking around the whole neighborhood we headed home. It was time for chili and of course to check out the treats they got. They had baths and then enjoyed a pumpkin cake that Aunt Diane made.

It was a very fun Halloween and now it is time to start get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!

Lauren AKA Sharpay

Tonight we went to a Halloween party at our local library. Lauren decided that she wanted to go as Sharpay. We got her dressed and then put on her wig. I think she looked so funny. She was so proud of how she looked and she thought she looked so pretty with her "blond" hair. I don't know what it is but she looks so strange. Her coloring is so off with blond hair that it just is a weird look. She got some interesting looks when we showed up at the party. All I could do was laugh. Lauren AKA Sharpay thought it was fun and isn't that what Halloween is all about.

Halloween is almost here!

Lauren is so excited about Halloween. She reminds me every morning how many more days until it is Halloween.

She has a bunch of Halloween tee shirts and wanted to wear them this week. So every morning she would pick out another one. She has a couple long sleeve ones that she really wanted to wear but since it is still in the 90s here I explained that she would just be too hot. One of them lights up and she is dying to wear it.

We are still deciding what she will be for Halloween. A few weeks ago Lauren wanted to be Sharpay, one of the characters from High School Musical. Which is an interesting choice since Sharpay is blond and Lauren is anything but blond!! But then her love of animals appeared when she saw a bunny costume. She begged me to get her the bunny costume. Since we already had the dress up for Sharpay from a while ago, I got her the bunny costume and told her she would need to decide by Halloween what she wants to be. I am not sure what one she will choose in the end but I think she is leaning toward being a bunny.

My camera was sitting on my table this week so a few mornings before we left for work and school I took some pictures of Lauren. She was in such a good mood due to Halloween coming that she was really posing and acting silly. It is fun to see her so happy and excited about something!