Cachuma Lake...

Today was a beautiful day so we headed off to do a little hiking. We decided to try somewhere we hadn't been yet so we headed off to Cachuma Lake. Overall we weren't impressed with the park. It really did just turn out to be a giant, very crowded, campground with a few small trails. We chose a short trail that was just over 2 1/2 miles long. We saw many birds, a few woodpeckers and a beautiful red tail hawk. The area is so dry from the lack of rain that almost everything that should be green is brown. The lake is also much lower than normal.

Heading back P had to walk in front...someone (P) couldn't seem to control the urge to hit everyone in the back with acorns as we hiked.

Views from the trail of Cachuma Lake

Some scenes of the trail

Thanksgiving...

What a busy and fun week we had. Some good friends of ours from Memphis came in to visit this past week. It's always a good time when we get together with them. Our Thanksgiving Day went as usual wake up, start cooking, watch the parade, eat too much, watch football and eat too much again. No day after Thanksgiving shopping this year since our friends left Friday morning. Maybe, we'll brave it next year. M is dying to go. I have to admit it was hard getting into the Holiday feel with the weather being what it is here. 62 and sunny. We miss the change of seasons so much and can't wait until it's time to retire to New England and enjoy the Holidays with our family again. I think next year we're going to invade our family in Arizona for Thanksgiving. I know my sister-in-law will be up for some early morning shopping!!!! (We're hopefully going to go to see them in Arizona over the Christmas break next month.) Here are a few pictures from this week. I had every intention of taking more but you know how it goes. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

K, Carson and M at the duck pond

Some early morning pie making

It was hard to get a picture of these three not laughing

Math Award...

K received an award for excellence in Math this week. As you can see after the awards ceremony all the kids posed for pictures. It was Red, White and Blue day at her school which would explain the added splash of red most kids have on with their uniforms. Some children's parents actually sign a waiver so that their children don't have to wear a uniform to school, I can't understand what the train of thought is with that.
It has been a pretty slow week around here. We have actually had a couple of rainy days, which I loved. I don't know if you'd call them rainy as much as drizzily. (Is that even a word?) We're getting ready for a visit from our friends from Memphis. They will be visiting us for the week of Thanksgiving. We all can't wait to see them!!

Enjoy the pictures...
Say cheese... they are all in 5th grade

Run, they put the cameras down...

Weekend...

K's soccer season ended this Friday. (FINALLY) The kids celebrated with cake and a awards ceremony after it. All the kids were asked to say something positive about each other about their playing this season. Everyone was in agreement that K was by far the best DANCER on the field this season. Way to go K! After being here for over six months we figured we better get around to having people over, so on Saturday we invited four families over from P's work for a big Italian dinner. We all had a great time and enjoyed some good food and yummy Sangria. Sunday the weather was a bit chilly so it really did almost feel like Fall outside. We worked on homework and school projects then spent the rest of the day watching Football. It was nice to spend a day doing alot of nothing. We don't seem to do that enough sometimes.

Halloween...

Let me just say one thing, Trick or Treating without winter coats was great! Halloween was a very long and fun day. K's class had a big bowling party on the 30th with so many sweets I don't know how the kids didn't turn into cupcakes after it was over. M was allowed to dress in costume for school on Halloween. She wore bunny ears and tail. Some kids went all out and wore their costumes. They're also allowed to wear them at the High School so she's all ready getting ready for next year. We went to a before Trick or Treating party at our friends house. Everyone had a great time there! The marine layer came in nice and thick adding a really creepy feel to the night. After a couple hours of Trick or Treating, with a friend from Cape Cod, we took the girls to the Haunted trail here on base. M & K weren't sure they wanted to do it but we talked them into it.While going through it K kept yelling this isn't fun, it's scary, I want to go home. I admit there were a few parts that were pretty bad. But, being the horrible parents we are we mostly laughed at how scared the girls were. Luckily no night mares last night so I'd say they're OK. Both girls are off from school today so they're sleeping in and I'm sure will be trying to have candy for breakfast!

M on her way to school

Pink Mummy and Little Bo Peep

Goofing around

Of course we dressed up...

They are ready to go...

Scary man from the Cape...

Trick or Treating with Mr. Kyle is a tradition

M & K with our too cute next door neighbors...

(C on the left was just a baby the last time we

saw them in Minot)

They will NEVER eat all of this