Keeping in line with the tooth theme....

Paris and Alex (his first visit ever) had a total BLAST at the dentist's office yesterday. We might as well have been at Disneyland. There were a lot of toys to play with, Monster's INC. was playing on a big screen and they got a goodie bag full of dental treats. I was afraid Alex would refuse the X-rays, but he was gung ho about it all. They both want to go back ASAP :)
Meanwhile, Mason was lugging his backpack around school. He proudly sports that thing and the heavier it is the better in his eyes.

It's Out... and the toothfairy is on her way to our house tonight!

Paris' tooth fell out tonight while she was eating pasta - yah!!

Her brother's kooky reaction.

The dangler.

To add to yesterday's excitement, right before leaving for the game, Mason accidently bumped Paris' somewhat loose front tooth with his not so petite noggin. The result was a gruesomely dangling tooth- the picture does not quite do the tooth justice- it was hanging from a little thread. To Paris' benefit she could only eat cotton candy and frozen lemonade (and, of course any type of candy) all day.A scarier close-up of the scary close-up!

Stanford game Yesterday

Number 1 Cardinal Fan

Mason, Paris and Alex about to head into the stadium.

Paul, Jeff and Cass... and the kids showing Cass all of their distractions ($ store toys) to get them through the game.

One hour before the game starts, and the ONE and ONLY time that all three were sitting in their seats at the game.Cass and Liam after the game.Liam, Bo, Paris and Jeff (By the end of the game, Alex and Mason were not in a photographic frame of mind!!)

Funny Story!

Last night Nonna (Paul's Mom) was here babysitting. At bedtime she read Paris a story called "Incredible You! 10 Ways to Let Your Greatness Shine Through" (which, by the way is a really cute, spiritual book). At the end is a series of questions, so when Nonna read this one - Q. Some people feel a loving Spirit around them. Some feel it in a church, a place of worship, or in nature. Do you feel this mysterious love that connects us all? Where?
Paris' answer was --Yes, in downtown Walnut Creek, and in particular, at Claires. (In other words, while shopping.)
Wow, we got a good laugh out of that one!!

We hit the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Patch yesterday.

All the kids loved the big, dark hay maze. They ran through it all day long.Mason was "taking a nap" in one of the huge bins of beans.

Jennifer, Paris and Alex had fun shaking the gourds and making music.

Mason's favorite part was putting balls down these big pipes and watching them come out the other end.

Train ride around the farm.

Roman's 17th Birthday Party-

We celebrated with P.F. Chang's take-out and brownies.

...And trick candles

...so that everyone could have a turn blowing them out.

Weekend activities

The kids were very happy to have their friends, Ryan and Laura to "our" pool today. Paris and Ryan have been best friends for over 3 years now. They spent most of the time at the pool squeezed into the same float ring.

After the pool we had a Halloween sneek preview. Our neighbors even came out and gave treats- a new hot wheel car and salt water taffy for each of them. Paris, Alex and Mason were thrilled to say the least. Mason is not in the picture because, although he has the same skeleton outfit as Alex, he has refused to go anywhere near it. I've tried several times over the past month... hopefully we'll make some progress before 10/31.
This little hummingbird followed me throughout the garden center at Target yesterday. I took about 20 pictures and he just kept landing, flying and doing little tricks.

Omi came for a quick, spontaneous visit over the weekend!!

Fun lunch with Omi, Alex and Paris at Boudin Bakery.

Bo, Omi, Liam and Jeff - very happy after Stanford won!

Alex (sporting his new Stanford jersey), Mason and Omi.Happy Birthday to me!

A dream come true for Paris- Build-a-Bear Workshop. It was Omi's first time there, so Paris got to show her how to make a bear, Hannah Montana, and dress her up. Thank you, Omi!!

Mason's Masterpiece

Mason silently erected this structure for about 30 minutes. He wanted no help and was all concentration (much to his brother's chagrin).

We have survived three weeks of school!!

TGIF

Paris had black and white day at school today, and Alex is proudly sporting his new school shirt (thank you Omi)

Mason, Paris and Alex were all happy to attend Paris' first ice cream social at Buena Vista School last night.

Paul snapped this shot while I was out for a walk this morning. Paris has been hosting many a dress-up party for her brothers as of late.

New pool toys

Other than a couple days last week when it cooled off, we have continued our afternoon ritual of heading to the pool for a couple of hours.

Big Dollar Tree purchase!

Paul took Mason to the $ store and let him pick out a toy. Mason chose this baby and has proudly carried it around for the last couple of days. He even wraps it up in his lovey blankets to make it cozy :)

Mason had a great second day of preschool (the first day he cried for the 1st hour :( )
Today the teachers said he talked a lot and was very polite - phew!!!He was very happy to see Paris and Alex afterward. And, who knew that 'yellow day' at kindergarten would compel Paris to wear a VBS shirt for the first time in her career (it is her only yellow article of clothing, but it was her idea and she wore it proudly!!)

Yesterday, Mason came running around the corner saying "It's big, it's big" very excitedly. I went to check it out and this is what I saw- a condiment tower.

Labor Day at the beach- you can see San Francisco in the background- it was a beautiful day.

We spent hours digging large holes ("hot tubs") in the sand.