Trick or Treat

Another advantage of living here is there are different nights for each township to have trick or treat.  Our area had Thursday, and the next area over had Monday, that actual Halloween.  So of course we had to go both nights.

Trick or Treat; Night one, the after shoot.  Doesn't Jackson look like he is already in a sugar coma? Notice that Asher changed his costume?  He decided that he wanted to be the pilot.  This makes year number three for this flight suit.  They do look so cute in it, I just thought he made such a handsome knight.

 Trick or Treat; Night two.  Actual Halloween.  Notice the snow on the ground.  The left over from Saturday's storm.

The doorway shot.  Sometimes, I have to leave the good camera at home and go with the point and shoot.  The pictures aren't very good, but it sure does simplify my life.  And really, the motivation on this night was just to document that it happened.

Halloween

Hershey Park in the Dark.  Our last year. 

 It was kind of sad to think that we won't get to do this again.  It is so much fun.  We are really in the right town for a holiday that is all about candy.  The night was cold but clear and the kids got to ride all the rides they wanted to.  Asher even did the Sidewider with Mitch.  He loved it!  Of course, we got a ton of CANDY!

Jackson the master hunter

Sir Asher the brave knight

Lily the sweet cupcake

All three of my kids on the airplanes.  This has been a favorite ride since we first moved here.

The kids love this ride.  (made in Logan, UT btw.) I couldn't believe that Lily was old enough to go on this ride.  She spent most of the ride with her thumb in her mouth.

But near the ends we got a reaction.  You might need to click on this picture to see her face.  It is pretty funny.

Lily's happy place is the Carousel.  She could ride it all day.  When we walk in to the park we have to make a quick turn so she doesn't see the carousel.  If she does, we would have to spend the entire day on that one ride.  At this point in the evening she was so tired, but she didn't want to go home or get off the ride.  I think she would have slept on the carousel if she could.

Jackson: age 8

Jackson, the TOP SHOT, shooting from the hip.Turning eight has caused him to levitate.

A Top Shot birthday party

Top Shot is Jackson's favorite TV show.  That's right, a History Channel, marksmen competition is my 8 year old's favorite show.  We don't do typical here!  So, of course he chose Top Shot as the theme for his birthday party theme

Here is the target cake.  Doesn't it look delicious?  It was!
the party goers.The games! We had a ball toss, (not pictured,) A balloon dart board; notice how I got this shot just before he popped the balloon. Nerf target shooting. Jackson got a bulls eye, and Asher got TWO! My little marksmen. Did I mention it is Jackson's goal to be on Top Shot? Then the boys tried their hand at slingshots. This one was a little more challenging. Notice my angle. I thought I was safe standing in the line of fire this time since they were only shooting marshmallows. Boy, was I wrong! I had a few welts on my neck. I made a rule that they would get -50 points if they shot me again.then is was on to cake, ice cream and presents. Jackson had so much fun and was so grateful for all of his gifts. My house is filled with Nerf darts. They are everywhere! It kind of drives me nuts, but they boys are having so much fun, so I will give them a break for a little while longer.
I should also point out that he was indeed a TOP SHOT!

Stitches....again! ARRRRGH!

This is the last picture of Jackson before:


This happened:


This is the second time in less than six months that this boy has had stitches NEAR HIS EYE! and the third time over all. (He had stitches last summer near his eye) SERIOUSLY! Can we stop it with the stitches now? If we have to keep doing stitches, can we please aim for the legs, elbows, arms, knees,  you know, places that aren't near Jackson's beautiful eyes!

To sum up; boys acting crazy, Jackson falls, hits his eye on a bench, we drive around DC for a while looking for a hospital, find one, there is a three hour wait, ditch that idea and drive back to Hershey, get stitches at Hershey Medical Center, Jackson and Mitch are home and in bed at 3:30 AM, day two of our DC trip is cancelled. The rest of the memorials and museums will just have to wait for another time.

Jackson was so funny and very brave (after the initial freak out).  He injured his eye right as the waitress at the restaurant said that our table was ready after waiting for 30 min.  Initially Jackson was more upset that he was missing dinner, than he was about hurting his eye.  Then he said " I just wish we could go back in time"  I think we have all felt like that before.  Later he said " We just need to pray all the time so that bad things won't happen". 

Washington DC - Smithsonian

After the temple, we went in to DC to see some monuments and go to the Natural History Museum.
The view of the Jefferson Memorial from our parking spot.Lily looking at the fish.The boys getting eaten by a great white shark.Asher and the giant sea turtle.After the museum we spent some time on the lawn. I think the kids might have had more fun there, then they did in the museum.

The World War II memorial.Each star on this wall represents 100 soldiers lost in the war.a nighttime view of the Jefferson Memorial.