Safetyville USA

We went on a Mother Goose Preschool class trip to Safetyville this week. Safetyville is a miniature town with store fronts, dumpster, traffic signs, buildings and more that are all child size! We all had a great time walking around the town and learning different safety messages.

Aly setting up the fire safety video at the miniature fire station.

In the event of a fire, don't hide - go outside!

Hands down, Owen's favorite part of the trip was the working crossing guard at the miniature railroad station.

Check out the mini dumpster - so funny!

The kiddos learning to dial 911

As we were approaching the hospital we were explaining to the kids about how people go to the hospital if they are sick or injured. Ava and Chloe promptly turned around saying, "I'm not sick!"

We tried to get a picture of all the kids in front of the school house but cooperation levels were low. Too many fun things to do and see, no time to stand still for a picture!

Anyone need any cash?

Inside the Capital building we watched a video on Bike and Helmet safety.

Aly talking to the kiddos about what bike helmets are made of and our they protect our heads.

Aly and Tammy helping the kids with their safety shirt quizzes.

Time to ride! Owen is checking his bike out just like he learned in the video.

Hailey and Owen waving hello to Jake while Aly takes a picture with her phone.

We were able to get Owen to ride around for a little while but he mostly wanted to play at the train tracks! We spent the remainder of our time at Safetyville right here.

IT Kid

Like father, like son, Owen LOVES his electronics. Aaron gave Owen a few spare computer parts to play with and Owen "built" his own computer! The upside down bucket is the CPU and the little suitcase he keeps his cars in, is a flat screen monitor. He amazes me...

Veteran's Day Parade

This morning Owen and I attended the local Veteran's Day Parade with our friends, Aly, Hailey, & Taylor. The parade was lots of fun. The kiddos really enjoyed the marching bands, motorcycles, neat old cars, fire trucks, and even airplanes.

On more than one occasion I got a little choked up. It was very moving to see the men and women in uniform. I'm so grateful to them. They risk their lives to protect our country, our freedoms, our families...

The American Flag looked so beautiful flying high above the parade route

Aly's always behind the camera, so I tried to get a picture of her with the kiddos. Cooperation levels were not high but Aly looks great!

The parade is starting

Airplanes over head

The Shriners were yukin' it up with their Keystone Cop routine

Owen's artsy photo

There were several marching bands

Our friends, Jason and Lex, drove their Jeep in the "Jeep Club" section

"Hi Jason and Lex!"

Mob Ball

Owen with his completion certificate for Pee Wee Soccer.

Owen's last meeting of Pee Wee Soccer was so much fun! They organized the kiddos into two teams and staged a little "game." For the most part the boys just ran after the ball toppling all over each other. So funny! Owen was on the blue team. Final score 2 to 1 red team won.

Farm Fresh To You

Owen in the buff - dipping into the FFTY box first thing this morning!

Shutter Bug

During our latest visit with Grandpa Tim, Owen brushed up on his photography skills. My favorites are his self portraits. :-D

Nugget

We love going to the Nugget market.

It's beautiful, has a huge selection of groceries, competitive prices, and best of all, Owen always leaves with a free balloon! The only draw back - it is located clear across town - it takes 20 to 30 minutes to get there depending on traffic. Nonetheless we make the trek nearly every week.

I still, however, pop into the grocery store that is near our house for small trips and last minute ingredients.

This week Owen was not thrilled to learn that we were going to a grocery store other than the Nugget. He was expressing his displeasure rather loudly in the car. By the time we got into the store he seemed to settle down so I was a little surprised by what happened next...

When I told him that this grocery store did not carry the item he was hoping for he yelled at the top of his lungs, "We should have gone to the NUGGET!! They would have it!"

Kids say the darndest things...

Trick or Treat

Owen went trick or treating for the first time this year! He LOVED it! It was extra fun because he got to go with his two best girls, Hailey and Taylor. :-)

Owen really got that it was Halloween this year. We decorated inside and out, participated in lots of fun Halloween related activities, and we all dressed up. After the whole Handy Manny debacle, Owen chose a pumpkin for himself, a lady bug for me, and a spider web for Aaron. To our amazement he stuck with these choices!

Our Ghost Garden - all lit up! It looked sooo cute, we got lots of compliments on it and it didn't cost a thing to make!

Taylor & Owen posing for a quick pic. We could hardly keep the kiddos at bay until it got dark.

Our Pumpkin Creations

Jake & Aaron
Jake's costume was complete with a work truck and everything! ;-)

First stop, Miss Gayle's

Hailey checking out her candy haul!

Frankenstein's House - our neighbors went all out with music and a fog machine. The kiddos were a little leery at first, but Owen is so curious about this Frankenstein that in the end he couldn't resist.

The morning after:

Owen left his Trick or Treating Pumpkin outside his bedroom door with hopes of a visit from the "The Great Pumpkin." When Owen woke up the next morning, The Great Pumpkin had exchanged his Halloween candy for some cool toys and a new movie!