Happy Halloween!

Well here they are... Woody and Buzz!
For their first "real" Halloween!

Halloween Party at Preschool!

Maxwell's school has a ghost walk around the campus, and all the kids parade by the parents in their costumes! Even the teachers get dressed up. Maxwell is going as Buzz Lightyear, from the movie "Toy Story". He wasn't so sure about being all dressed up in his costume at first, but I think all in all he had a good time. After the walk was their Halloween Party in the class room. I was the Spooky story reader!
Here are some shots from the day!

Maxwell as Buzz Lightyear!

Here he is trying to draw me a picture... a little difficult with his gloves on!

Here is the parade starting.. He's right up there in front!

Here he is with a couple of his friends from class...spidey and a power ranger!

Pumpkin Patch

Last Sunday we went "down south" to a pumpkin patch about 45 miles south of Kansas City.
It was a warm, sunny and windy day in Kansas!


Liam loved playing in the corn with the trucks and tractors.....
Here they are at the duck races..

... and on a tractor barrel ride....
and their favorite ride of all... Daddy!!

Sorry Maxwell, but this shot will have to be shown at your wedding!!
Okay,, now I will play nice.. here he is .. what a beauty!

Friday Scavenger hunt in the neighborhood....

The boys and I went out on a scavenger hunt of sorts. The boys armed with their pumpkins, and beverages, and I with my camera, walked the neighborhood, city market, and train bridge.


We saw lots of neat things along the way, they filled their buckets and even shared a snack along the way.. What a great afternoon..

Day with the cousins..

Hannah, Brady, Maxwell and Liam always have a great time when they are together. We had a sleep over at their house last weekend, and the weather was perfect for lots of outdoor fun!

Liam goes to "school" too!

Here is Liam on his first day of his Parents Day Out program! He goes two days a week, finally, after watching his big brother go there all last year, it's his turn!!!!

He had no problem going and he looked at me and waved, "Bye" and he never looked back. He started playing with the toys in his room and had a great first day!

Maxwell's First Day of Preschool!

Tuesday Aug. 19Th was Maxwell's first of Preschool.
Here he is in all of his silliness ready to go!





He did great and he really likes going, although he has had one complaint last week, that it is "everyday".. "why do I have to go all the time...... good question.... This particular school is everyday morning preschool.
So far so good.. his teachers are wonderful and his room is a child's dream come true!
He's learned bout germs, sharing, caterpillars, and different kinds of trees and bushes..
They have a great water table they use during outdoor play, and they put on their rain boots and get to play all they want with soap and water! Maxwell has found heaven!

Maine glorious Maine!

This August we went on a wonderful vacation for 18 days!
This is the house we rented for our annual Arnold reunion on Mt.Desert Island in Maine!

Perfect photo op of Liam!

Then big brother joined in!

The cousins Niko (4) Maxwell(3) and Liam (2), were three peas in a pod the entire time!
They only see each other once or twice a year, but the memory lives on throughout the year and when they meet up, they are best of friends!

Here's Maxwell and Niko giving each other some cousin love!
Part of the Arnold clan... lounging on the lawn at Jordan Pond House where we have tea and popovers every year!
Picking Blueberries with Daddy....

Taking a rest from a hike on a big rock with Uncle Chris and Niko...

The view from the lawn looking out over Jordan Pond

Maxwell learned to play"tag your it" with Uncle Chris and Niko and I don't think he stopped running the entire vacation.. just look at those smiles! Priceless!


Hiking was a big thrill and Maxwell desired to be "the leader" on all the trails! He practically out hiked us all.. scurrying up the mountains as fast as his feet could carry him... tiring him out so much so that going down wasn't as graceful.

Here he is on top of Cadillac Mountain!

What a view!

Daddy and Liam and Maxwell on top of another mountain that we all hiked one afternoon.

Granddad and Liam! What a pair!!

All in all it was a fabulous trip and we are counting the months until we all can be together again. Great traditions are being formed and started and it is such a wonderful gift to give this to our kids......