Happy Halloween!

Hope you all have a wonderful spooooooky Halloween. We are excited to take the boys Trick-or-Treating again tonight at the same place we went last year with the same friends. They have a great loop - just the right amount of houses for them to do in a really safe neighborhood. Here is the reveal of Little Toby (W) and Thomas (J). The costumes were fun and pretty easy to make. They really like Thomas' smoke stack and Toby's light (a flash light we taped inside). The overalls from my mom saved make their outfits so authentic! They look like real train conductor overalls. I think they were my brother's which is why one is really short and one pair is really long!

Couple of more pre-costume pictures.....

Halloween Costume Clue #2

Any guesses now?

The guys before our kid's Halloween party at the squadron...

Time to get a new TV

W is just imitating Geoff and I...the dreaded white line appears (with no picture) and we have to bang the TV to get the picture to return. If you know us, we have NO luck with electronics. We have been married almost nine years and are on our third (almost fourth) TV. We bought this one used for $40 bucks when our last one broke after only a couple of years and we thought it would last us forever. Guess not...we don't want to buy a new one before moving so we will just keep smacking the TV until we leave...

Life Changing.......

Have you ever read or heard of a story that just changes your life? Read something that you just can't stop thinking about? And not just for a day or a week, but one that stays with you...for months or years. One that you recall in times when you need strength in your life. I can think of a couple of those stories for me. One that I draw from when I need to.

I read about the Hoyt family a few years ago and it has stayed with me. Their story helped me get through the grueling last six miles of the AF Marathon last month when I really wanted to stop.

Here is an excerpt from their website:
"Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace."

Fast forward to:

"In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." To see how far they have come and what they have done...you have to go to their website, read their story, and watch the unbelievable video:
http://www.teamhoyt.com/

My friend Kate posted on her blog of three Air Force families in the fighter world community who need prayers right now. And one story in particular stunned me. Imagine finding a lump in your breast....then discovering you are pregnant days later, then having a mammogram and discovering cancer. And undergoing chemo while pregnant with your first child. And ppassing away after only being home with the baby for two days. You can read about this amazing family in the blog they began shortly after discovering the cancer. I just can't stop thinking about it. The most powerful part of the story is that they powered through the treatments with such optimism and strength. They never wavered in their faith and drew strength from God throughout the journey.

The Sullivan Family (http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com): On September 22, 16 days after delivering a healthy baby girl, Sara Sullivan lost her battle with cancer. Brady and baby Chloe are adjusting to life without his wife and her mom. Here's a news story, too: Breast Cancer Claims Young Mom

I am not meaning to depress you all....although I cried my eyes out reading their entire blog...I can't stop thinking about it...these families inspire me to be so much more than I am.

Scare Crew

So I found these great Halloween shirts on clearance and then scored another 25% off...and I couldn't resist the boots. Their Oregon boots. Only W is wearing them in the pictures...J has his camo crocs on famously backwards. I was attempting to good a good shot of the two of them together. Sometimes the pictures getting to the picture are the best ones.

W:

Looking at airplanes:

Me saying "Hey guys, don't look down, can you look at me? Please for a picture...look at me...."

You can see they like to do the opposite of what I ask........=):

J showing his pin pin the Penguin:

Seriously...take the picture already mom!

This one is funny...J looks so much shorter than W because he is scrunching down and W has the boots on...love their expressions:

A keeper...

Sneak Peek

Any ideas what W is going to be for Halloween? Just thought I would give you a clue.........and no, he will not be a "box".