We'll just call it 'husband training'....

somehow....

my boys have learned that when Mama walks thru the door after a day at work...

we don't play....

we don't talk...

we don't read books...

we CLEAN.

sigh.

But I have to say the last two nights of walking thru the door to my peaceful, loving and MESSY house have been really nice. My new babysitter Renata and the boys have had two good days in a ROW. its been so so nice to come home to a happy babysitter and happy boys...even if the house is a mess.

and Charlie and Max both...go get the wipes from the changing table and start wiping down the coffee table, the side table, etc. They are SO proud of themselves for being big helpers together. While Mama vaccums away the dust, dirt and sand from the day.

I do worry I'm turning them into OCD adults.

Maybe their wives will thank me someday.

Practicing....

for the big night.

he said....Trick or Treat!

I said.....say, Thank you Charlie!

We were a broken record all morning:)

The Burlingame Mothers Club annual Halloween party in the park and trick or treating thru our downtown. so fun:) Max & Charlie had a blast!

My friend Jamie and I had fun chasing our little cow and lion around!
The 'boys' trick or treating downtown.
Ah, the dilemena of what to choose. I could NOT convince Charlie to pick one Starburst or Skittles for his Mama's sweet tooth. We've got some work to do before the big night apparantly.
Jeff & Max, Warren & Grant shopping the Avenue.

13 years.....

We had a great evening and dinner. We are finding it's a bittersweet stage of life. And so... time together sans boys is pretty cherished these days. That's the good part of this stage. Valuing each other and time spent together....

because the flip side is.... The boys are so darn hard right now. Our weekends spent together as a family are incredibly draining...and yet....Jeff & I have pulled together as a team like never before in our marriage. Its the best of times because the boys are so amazing.... and yet whew its the toughest of times too.

We spent the evening celebrating the best of these days of ours. Jeff's job, my new job, Charlie's strikingly strong personality, Max's accommodating yet stubborn sweetness. Our love of California and our happiness with the choices we've made in our life.

It was a great evening together.

And we were home in bed by 9:30....we are in our late 30's now:) so that's the icing on the cake of great evening out (to be home early:).... such a fun evening celebrating 13 years of marriage.

Happy Anniversary to us.

October Sunday

Let's race Mama!!!

This boy does love to run....
And climb...thank goodness Uncle Nick's in town to help with the crazy monkeys...

Listening to the street drummers....
Walking to Taylor's for cheeseburgers....
A rest on the way there....
Is my cheeseburger done YET?!

Pumpkins!!!

I love this time of year.

and am so happy we have Half Moon Bay a short 20 minute drive from home.

check out the cute dirty cheek Max has...he was very into the dirt, not so much the pumpkins like big brother Charlie.