HALLOWEEN

Kyle the kids and I hollowed these pumkins out. It was alot of work. My brother carved both of them free hand. Awesome eyes Thao!

Ethan and the pumpkin have a stare off.

Bitting is our name, getting messy is our game!

This shot was inspired by the bombs Ethan has been blowing out of his noise.
Behind every set of trick or treaters are a couple of loving parents. It all started here with a serious businessman Papa and a Spider Mama.(Kyle likes to look extra serious at 7am)

Ethan refused an adorable tiger costume and went as a totally cute two year old...basically himself. How clever of him.

And we all know who this is. By default Aidan got to be spider man for Halloween. his original costume to be a Nascar race driver fell through when he out grew it because I bought it two months ago. Thank you Luca for this last minute laoner! Check out the muscles of my little spiderman.

Trick or Treat!

Spiderman and our friend PJ the Transformer.

All fun things must come to a hault when little legs get tired of walking.

A photo op with Uncle Thao. This year's Halloween pictures were made possible and easy with his help trick or treating.

Tuckered out, we came home to pass out candy. Aidan made a tally sheet to keep a total of how many trick or treaters we had. Our coal bucket was almost emtpy by the end of the night. We had nearly forty costumes at the door.

Yale Univeristy

This is my brother Thao. He's a self taught, fisherman, artist, politician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. To me he's an awesome uncle and a load of laughs. During his visit to our home we visited Yale University Law school. Yes, Thao Tran aspires to be a lawyer also.

Hale Yale what a pretty campus! Reminds me of home - Zurich.

Unfortunately inside the building visits are only allowed on the weekends. A security guard came out to inform us that pictures are not allowed of the Law School building period. Thao traveled all the way across the country for this Forest Gump pictorial, this picture is of him and his next journey in life as a student again. I bet the Skull and Bones society had us on watch.

Is this ridiculous? The side walks were lit up with stars.

All the details. Yale's academic curriculum was modeled after Cambridge and Oxford. I think so was the architecture.

What would this building be without moss to give it character? You got it. Pretty!

Yale the week of finals.

This is one of the nicest college campus courtyards I have EVER seem. The benches scream "read on me".

All the walking made us hungry. We went to a favorite dive that Kyle and I love. The York Noodle House. I love everything Asian about this place. The big TV in the background, the worker behind making drinks with a dirty apron on, and the assortment of hot sauces that came when I asked for pepper flakes. We ate Pho with a Thai twist. Lemongrass in Pho made my taste buds sing for more. YUM!

I love this shot all over the world.

Heels on a rainy day to go sight seeing. Tired but happy feet.

A made bed is a happy mom

On Saturday Aidan came running into the kitchen blurting out something so fast I had to ask for him to repeat the statement.

Too excited to speak he said, "come on, come on, I have something to show you!"

The dish towel and I ran down the hall as Aidan welcomed us into his room with open arms "Tahdah, I made my bed!"

Confused I asked "oh Aidan, that is a nice job, did dad ask you to do that?"

"No, I watched you make your bed and I want to do the same." Aidan said.


Lesson of the week: Lead, lead, lead and one day the example will follow.

We love this tree

I loved this Japanese Maple from the first minute I layed eyes on it. It holds such climbing fun. For an entire year we have resisted off its' limbs. But now that we are friends with the folks who live on the property, let the fun begin!

I gotcha back brother! Fighting evil spirits back to back - oh I love little boys!!!


LOOK at that LIKEN!!! So pretty! Three pinned to my cardigan would be dazzling!

Praying really does work. Boys on a stone wall swinging sticks, hmmm. No trips to the hospital that day.

Hi handsome.

"Ney, ney".....Ethan on his pony stick.

Pumpkin Patch

This year it happened at Jones Farm.

Aidan the scarecrow.

"This way to the hay rides dad!"

Sweet corn.

Mom and lad.

"Can we go now?"

Kite Master

Easter 2009, Kyle and I decided to try something new with the boys. We woke up to a cool not quite that cold yet windy day. While sipping coffee I looked out our kitchen window and said, "it's perfect weather to fly a kite". Sometimes I think out loud and Kyle makes my thoughts happen by rallying the kids in the car to the nearest shop where kites can be purchased :)

Aidan was really good to keep away from the trees. I wish I took a close up of his perma-smile as he flew his kite.


Doesn't Ethan make it look effortless? As soon as we assembled the kite and attached the string, the wind picked it up and off to the sky flew Spiderman and Mickey Mouse.

Blue Power

BLUE POWER:Ethan's special way of learning his right from his left. This story started when Aidan was two years and two months old. We were pregnant with Ethan who was due in any day. I wanted to teach Aidan his right from his left so he can be a better helper. Aidan's ribbon was yellow. He learned this concept in two and half weeks.
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We took Ethan to the ribbon store and he picked out blue ribbon. I am sure Aidan had a big influence by shouting "pick blue, pick blue".

Ethan having his way with the entire spool.

Entertainment for 30 minutes.