A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday we had our annual trip to Lombardi's Ranch. We've been going there every year now for 8 years. That is amazing to me. We went last year to support them after the fires destroyed just about the whole ranch. Being that this was the last weekend before Halloween you can just imagine how busy it was. I don't think I ever remember it being this busy in the past. Unfortunately, it was really hot, not like a fall day. We made the best of it. My dad (Avo) and mom (Nonee) came and so did my sister (Aunt Gigi) and her hubby (Uncle Nate). My sister is due in 2 weeks. We were teasing her that the employees may stop her on her way out thinking she might be hiding a pumpkin underneath her shirt. The kids had fun jumping on the hay stack, going through Scarcrow Alley and riding on the train. The best part of course was picking out a pumpkin. So many to choose from...little, big, and really big ones. We got several of them. We had a great time once again at Lombardi's. It was nice to spend time with family.

Frogs

Do you remember when you were a kid finding tadpols and frogs? I remember those days. Anyway, my neighbor found a frog yesterday in his yard and gave it to Sydney...yippie! She kept it in a container and took good care of it. Then last night she decided to set him free. She hopes he will come back to visit.

Sydney's Soccer Game

So I got a new camera on Friday and had to try it out. Sydney's soccer game was perfect for taking action shots. I got some really good shots. She played really good this game; she really got into it this time. The team she played against had several of her friends, that made it fun! At the beginning of the game as they are playing on the field you see them waving to each other...it was kinda funny. Colton had this weekend off...he was bummed!

Sydney's Field Trip

Sydney gets to go on her first field trip of the year to the pumpkin patch. Her teacher was the one who arranged this one for the first graders! Yeah Miss Hulsey! I tell ya I have some great teachers!

We went to Lombardi's Ranch and we had a great time, it was a little toasty. Our day first started out at Central Park in Santa Clarita and had lunch at 9 am. Then headed over to the ranch. We had a tour and learned so many interesting facts...Did you know that the number of silk strands in an ear of corn is the same number of kernals? Who knew? We got to pick out a pumpkin to take home, then we went on a train ride through Scare Crow Alley and we also got the chance to pet some animals. It was a lot of fun!

A Unique Opportunity

I love Colton's teacher, she has definitely gone the extra mile for her class. She was able to arrange a special field trip for her class. We will be going to The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 20th, 2009 (the Friday before springbreak) to see The Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform. The Alvin Ailey Company has performed for many presidents, they have received many awards, including the Honor for a Lifetime Contribution to American Culture, through the performing arts. This is the nations highest official award for the arts. Colton is so excited and so am I. Dan & Sydney will be able to experience this opportunity as well. Everyone has to get dressed up, it is a formal event. The class is actually very excited about getting dressed up in fancy clothes.

This is such a great opportunity, we can't wait! Thank you Mrs. Hansen!

Ultra Sound

Last week Colton & Sydney had the opportunity to see their baby cousin Isabella before she was born - not many cousins get that chance. It was pretty cool, some of the views were in 3D. We saw her head & all of her facial features, legs & feet, hands & fingers, her ribs & spine as well as her heart and the heart beat. You could see her moving and sometimes it looked like she was smiling...she knew her cousins were watching. We saw her opening and closing her mouth.
















This picture was taken last week at 36 weeks 4 days & already 6lbs 7oz. You can see her eyes, mouth, and cute little button nose. She is already head first and she's dropped. Her due date is November 9th...she could be early. We can't wait to meet baby Isabella!

Just An Update on Colton

I want to say

"Thank You"

to everyone for thinking of Colton!

He is fine, just some light headaches and throbbing. He is such a trooper, he went to school yesterday, the day after, and he went to soccer practice - that was a little scary, I kept thinking his head was going to get hit.

At school the next day kids kept coming up to him and asking if he was ok. I thought that was so sweet. There was a rumor that he was taken away in an ambulance, kids even saw the ambulance there. I don't know where the ambulance was but it wasn't for Colton - Thank goodness. But kids were asking if he went in the ambulance he said "No, I was taken in a helicopter." Then he would laugh and tell them what happened.

The way the doctor glued his injury you can hardly see it. There is some medical tape on it and you can see just a small line. Hopefully, that will be how small the scar is and it is right underneath his hairline. It is not very noticeable at all! YEAH!

Colton Gets Hurt

Let me set the scene for you...I'm working (thank goodness at their school) and I get called to the nurse's office. I call thinking it is in regards to one of the students I had sent up earlier. She tells me "I need you to come to the office." I tell her that I'm with a class. She then says "I need you come to the office...it is about Colton." I tell the PE aide I need to go to the office, I'll be back.

As I'm walking to the office a little girl yells to me "Mrs. Tow, Mrs. Tow Colton got hurt and he's being taken away in an ambulance!" You can only imagine what I'm thinking, so I start running to the office. I get there and there is this swarm of people gathered in front of the nurses office...now I'm freaking out...What the heck is going on? Then I see the nurses, one is holding Colton's head. I push through the crowd and get to him. The nurse sees me and tells Colton I was there, you can see he got a little relieved from that. I get there and hold him asking him if he's ok. He starts to say he is feeling sick and wanting to throw-up and is dizzy. Now we are concerned. Later he started slurring his words a little but then that cleared up. I get my class taken care of, one of the teachers took my class and just combined it with hers. I gathered his stuff and pulled Sydney out of class.

So are you wondering what happened...basically what happened was during lunch recess a classmates front teeth plowed into Colton's forehead. There was blood everywhere. I talked to the nurse this morning and she said his face was just covered in blood. They wanted to get that cleaned up by the time I got there just so I wouldn't freak-out. She said it was pretty bad. The custodian had to clean up some blood that got on the blacktop.

I took him to the doctor, he flushed it out and said that in the center it was pretty deep, but he recommends doing the glue instead of stitches. No concusion, just headaches. He went to school today. He never once complained. Even the nurse made a comment about that...how strong and brave he was, even at the doctors office. My poor baby, I'm so glad he is just fine.

Just wanted to share...

Both my brothers are very interested in photography, in fact they both go to school for it. My youngest brother has always pursued it and is pursuing it at his career. (If only we all pursed the careers that make us the happiest) He has worked for O'Connor Photography, has taken wedding photos, family photos (which I need to have updated), etc. Most of the pictures I have around the house have been taken by him (you know the ones I won't let him sell because I want to have the original...I know selfish me) He even has a website with his pictures (I'll post that later). Anyway, he got an internship with the LA Kings Hockey team. He will be going to their charity events and taking all their pictures. His first event is a golf tournament next Tuesday the 21st. From there the pictures will be posted on the Kings website and other promotional items. Pretty cool huh? I thought so.

He is a great photographer! He's for hire is anyone needs one :) I would highly recommend him!

Some Street Excitment

This morning there was a little craziness on our street...our neighbors work truck was stolen from the front of his house!!! He was getting ready to leave had everything in the truck (laptop, cell phone, keyes) and had forgotten his coffee mug in the house. He left the truck running, went inside to get his coffee and when he returned the truck was gone. It happened this morning at about 6:50. The police immediately responded. It did have Onstar but it wasn't active, so they had to reactivate it and that happened almost an hour after the truck was stolen. Up until 5 pm the truck still hadn't been located. As far as we know, no one saw anything. I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget something in the house and I'll run back in leaving the car running, I do come all the way into the garage - does that make a difference? I think our lesson here is don't leave your car running to run back in the house to get something.

Family Visit

This past weekend we had family come to visit. Dan's mom & stepdad along with cousin Aiden, & Dan's sister also came up from San Diego with her boyfriend. We had a great time. The kids enjoyed having everyone come to visit and see them play soccer. Aiden (2 yrs old) loved playing with Skiddy (Sydney) & Colton. The kids loved playing with him.














I have to mention Saturday nights dinner, it was terrific!!!! I should have taken a picture it looked so good! This just means we'll have to make it again - oh darn! Dan & I made dinner. I made this Italian pasta dish with clams - OH MY GOSH and Dan made this TERRIFIC stuffed zucchini dish. Both super easy to make. Served with of course 2 very nice bottles of wine. You couldn't go wrong.

All in all we had a busy but fun weekend with the family!

Colton Gets Glasses

Colton's been complaining about his eyes bothering him - I just thought it was allergies...watery itchy eyes, he has had a couple of bloody noses, sometimes not seeing right - pressure from his sinuses, etc. Then last week he was really complaining and wanting to see the doctor. I made an appointment on Monday and they got him in that day. Well sure enough the poor kid needed glasses. We got them that same day and boy did I see a difference immediately... I've been after him to do some more reading, I thought just the lack of reading over the summer just set him back - Nope, he couldn't see and that explained his sudden lack of interest in reading. Last year he loved it, it was hard to get him to stop reading so he could do other things.

He loves wearing his glasses and he looks so cute wearing them. He is so studious looking!