Is that a hole in your head?

Julia finally lost one of her top teeth. This particular tooth has been loose for months, but just never got loose enough to come out. It was finally so wiggly that Mike yanked it out. Now she has a hole in her smile. We keep joking with her that she has a hole in her head. She kind of pouts, but then flashes her smile and plays along.

(Julia seems to be wearing these pajamas in every photo. Does she ever take them off?)

Dwelling

Emily had a social studies project on Indian Culture. She had to choose an Indian Culture, create a dwelling of the people, and then write a project on other cultural aspects like food, clothing, symbols, etc. Emily chose to focus on the Hopi people who are Pueblos. She spent and afternoon with her dad and sister and 2 lumps of clay to create this beautiful pueblo. You may not be able to see her paper, but she got 100% on her project! Way to go Emily (Mike and Julia too).

Sleep over fun

Now that Emily is 10 years old she is allowed to have a sleep over. So far she has only had 2 sleep overs, all at our home. (I am still a little nervous about her going over to someone else's home, especially since we are fairly new in St. Louis.) Emily had her friend Haley over and they had a ball. They sang, they danced, they dressed up, they watched movies, they talked, they ate, and they used Julia as a life-sized doll. I think Julia liked the attention. At least she wasn't left out too much. Here are some silly girls enjoying playing like kids should.
Haley and Emily playing Barbies

Julia getting a "make-over" into a pop star

The "after" shot of Julia as a pop star

Some of my favorites from the video...
"Don't really sing"
"face the camera"
"Glamourafied"

Fall

They call autumn "fall" for a reason. The leaves FALL!
We have been in Texas for so long that we haven't seen a true fall in a long time. We have enjoyed this fall...seeing all the pretty colors, watching the leaves fall to the ground, having our neighbor "vacuum" them up (glad I haven't had to rake them all, heehee). Last week the girls were waiting for the bus and their was a little breeze and the leaves were gently falling all around them. I was watching through the window and it was just beautiful.

Mike took a picture of our backyard in all its colorful glory. Then a week later took another picture to show how the leaves have fallen.

I hope you enjoy fall as much as we have this year.


Before/After
















Before/After

Julia says the darndest things...

Julia cracks me up. I think she is just naturally funny. She has really good timing too. Here are 2 examples of her wittiness.

The other day Emily and I were talking about The Women's Suffrage movement. She was talking about the inequality of men and women and we discussed some of the changes that have occurred and the improvements in women's rights in the last 100 years. I stated that men and women really aren't equal and shouldn't be equal because they have different roles in family and society. She made a comment about ONLY being a wife and mother and I tried to impress upon her the importance of that role. Then I asked her if there was anything that she wishes that she could do that she can't. She couldn't come up with anything. So I asked if there was anything she could think of that men can do that women can't. Before she had a chance to answer a Julia voice spoke up from the couch...
Professional Football!

Emily and I were discussing the joys of womanhood and all that comes with it. Emily asked why boys don't have to suffer some of the joys that women do. I explained that boys have their own problems to deal with. Again, a Julia voice piped up from the other room...
Like hairy arm pits.

Halloween Fun

Julia The Witch

This year we had a Halloween week instead of a Halloween day.
On the Saturday before Halloween we had a church party at a local park. There were games and a costume parade. It was open to the whole neighborhood and it was fun to see the kids in their costumes. That night we went to a Halloween party at the local High School. It was put on by their student council and clubs. Again there were games and activities. The girls favorite activity was the huge inflatable slide. I think they enjoyed that the most.
Thursday the girls had a Fall Festival at school. They did a Pumpkin Run around the field and the highlight was that Radio Disney provided music and dancing at the finish line. Then they got to put on their costumes for their afternoon parties. I helped with Emily's 5th grade party. We ate food, did a toilet paper mummy wrap, and some craft activities. Unfortunately I missed Julia's party, but I think both girls had a lot of fun.

Emily The Snowflake Fairy


Friday we went trick or treating in a neighboring community. They have one long street with lots of houses next to the golf club (Caddyshack Circle). We chose it for its easy access to houses as well as it being on the girls' bus route, so they would know some of the kids. Unfortunately we live on a non lit, no sidewalked street that is not conducive to trick or treating. We saw lots of families out on Caddyshack Circle.
We learned about trick or treating in Missouri. The people in the homes ask for a joke before they give you the candy. We weren't prepared, but the girls came up with some jokes on the spot. Next year we will be ready with a joke or two. The other interesting thing was all the parents pulling coolers full of beer on the street. Apparently they enjoy a cold beer while they walk with their kids. Luckily none of them were drunk, just pleasantly buzzed. Maybe next year we will carry a cold IBC root beer.
Happy Halloween!






Emily kicking the soccer ball into the net for a prize.








Julia throwing a football through a hula hoop.








Face painting...a bat and a pumpkin











Dinner of mummy dogs, vampire fangs, and monster fingers

Flat Stanley

Our friend Flat Stanley came to visit from our cousin Shane Ludwig in Salt Lake City. Since the girls had a half day on Friday we decided to take Stanley around our town. It was a fun afternoon on the Metro and visiting some of the sights in downtown St. Louis.

The Laumiere Sculpture park by our house
























The home of the St. Louis Cardinals












The Mississippi River












The Gateway Arch