Halloween 2011

We had so much fun with Janie this year on Halloween! Last year, she was very cute in her baby duck costume but this year, she had so much personality and we just were able to enjoy her so much!

First... pictures from last year...

She was sooo small!!!!

But this year was so different... We dressed Janie, Wilson, and Aggie up with a common theme - medieval characters. We just happened to find a knight and a princess costume for the dogs months ago at TJ Maxx, then when we finally went out to get Janie's costume, the first one we saw was a dragon! It was perfect, and she loved it. She spent the whole night growling when we asked her what a dragon said - it cracked everyone up!

All ready to go with a thumbs up and everything!

She did not want me to be taking these pictures, can you tell?

Eating a pumpkin cookie.

Hanging with Grandma and Grandpa.

Visiting with neighbors.

The trio. What a feat to have this picture!

Ready for trick or treaters!

Our house also looked pretty good! Jason puts up weird, torn curtains and plays very loud and creepy organ music, and we always carve a few pumpkins. This year, we carved them with Timon of course, and also with our friend Shannon. They turned out pretty good, I'd say :)

Then came the best part of all! Our friends Justin and Sara came over with their two children, we (very slowly) walked down the street to our friend Jen and Stephen's house to take pictures with their two children, and then we all had a walking trick or treat caravan for a few blocks. It was so cute to see Janie play with her friends, walk in her dragon costume, and figure out what this Halloween thing is all about. Most of the time, she crawled up the steps to each neighbor's front porch, dropped off her bag, and waved bye bye. She didn't really get it. But we had fun anyway!

Asher (and his sister Abby) arrive. Janie's got a tiny little baby crush on Asher :)

The whole crew.

The babies :)

Janie's method of getting up the stairs. 

I can't wait for next year - I know it will be even more fun!

My heart explodes.

This year, my life skills students are participating in a rotation of adapted tech ed, gym, art, music, family consumer science, and computers. It is absolutely incredible to see this team of 10 different teachers work together to provide my students with the opportunity to do some incredible projects and activities. It is especially fun to see them do projects in tech ed. Some of my students whom I would not normally see working with machinery and dangerous equipment are right in there, working hard to make their own woodworking projects. I sometimes walk down there to check on a student or a situation and I find myself stuck, just watching this wonderful process. I brought my camera in a few weeks ago to snap some pictures. I can't post the pictures of their faces for privacy reasons but I had to share these of their hands, working right alongside the teachers and aides.

Lake Erie

We went to Lake Erie for a weekend... it was a wonderful weekend!!! I have no pictures because THIS is what it looked like all. weekend. long. and I was afraid to take my camera out of the bag!

Church Picnic

Last month, our church had a big renewal weekend and it finished up with a fun church picnic. Janie had the BEST time - it's so cool to see her interact with other people... she is so outgoing and social!

Searching for treats in the birdseed bath.

Tree climber.

Just dancing. No big deal.

Signing "eat" as she waits for her watermelon.

Watermelon eating contest!!!

Go, Janie, go!!!

Checking out her competition.

Back to work.

Kisses from Mr. Lou!

Janie, Mr. Lou, Pastor Rick, and his daughter's "son"

Highlands Festival

I finally dumped my memory card onto computer to post some pictures I've taken recently... "recently" being a little subjective seeing as these first pictures are from AUGUST!

We spent one day at a Highlands Festival at a local amusement park. The whole park was shut down and filled with bagpipers, Scottish dancing little girls, and dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. It was fun, but I've never been to anything like that before!

Weekly Recap!

I know I've posted these pictures on Instagram, Facebook, and Instagrid already BUT I love them so much that I thought it'd be fun to make a collage like I've seen other people do each week. These pictures are from the last week, since the day that my little brother Zachary and his girlfriend Ana came to visit!!