Random Thoughts....

1. Justin comes home today! Hooray! This has been his longest trip for CACI so far (11 days). Some good news... he'll be going to Italy in April!!
   

2. It is Homecoming Week and Alex has gone all out for the dress-up days. She won a free pass to the next dance with this get-up for "Stuck in a Decade" Day. (The funny thing is that she loves these glasses and wears them around the house all the time!)

   
   

   And this is what she wore today for Tacky Day.
   

   
3. Celia has turned into monkey girl.... pulling herself up on everything. She gives me a heart attack everyday. This box of blocks is one of her favorite things to play with. She tries to climb right into it.
   


4. And finally, from the news... did Clay Aiken really have to announce to the world that he is gay? Really? Clay, buddy... let me let you in a little secret... we already knew.

Hudson got his tumpet...

...and I will be investing in earplugs... just kidding!! It is loud though. Much louder than the flute. He can make a nice sound already, and is really looking forward to his lessons and band practices. He'll have to build up some muscle in his skinny arms to carry the thing!!

Last night was fun... Alex got out her flute. Hudson showed off his trumpet. And Ethan, not wanting to be left out, asked to borrow Alex's little recorder. He's very excited to some day play an instrument, and wanted to know if he could start with the trumpet next year. Not till fourth grade buddy!

And Jack and Griffin came over for a visit yesterday (with Maura and Grandma). I was all set to take a nice picture of Griffin's sweet little face when he dropped into a roll just as the shutter clicked. So this is officially an action shot.

Cousins!

Maura and the boys, Jack and Griffin, are in New York for a visit. This is the first time we've met Griffin, and it's been a year since we've seen Jack. The kids were surprised at what a big boy Jack is... Alex said, "I didn't know he'd be talking so much!" I guess the image of Jack has frozen in their minds from last year.

We had a nice visit at Grandma Chickie's house...

Hudson read to Jack....

and Alex thought it was pretty funny that she is nearly the same size as Aunt Maura!

Classic

Check out this video of the kids singing and signing at church. It's long- you don't have to watch the whole thing, but you'll understand after a few moments why I titled this "Classic".

Dance Baby

Today we started back at dance.... when I say "we" I mean Alex... and Cate! Alex is the demonstrator in both Cate's class and Gabby's too (Gabby's class is right after Cate's). Hudson starts tomorrow. Their schedule will be a bit easier this year.... we have Monday (Alex demonstrates), Tuesday (Hudson ballet), Thursday (Alex and Hudson both tap & jazz) and Saturday morning (Alex ballet).

First Day

It was the first day of school for the Williams kids today......a big day for Alex as she headed off to middle school... and no, she is not a bag lady, she was bringing in all of her "locker stuff" (shelving, essential mirror, you know... the cool, fun stuff) because we missed Locker Day while we were away. Hudson's not a bag-person either. He had to bring in 2 boxes of Kleenex and 2 rolls of paper towels. I find it funny that the schools cannot provide Kleenex for their students!

Ethan is a big first grader now!! And Hudson is enjoying 4th grade. All the kids said that their days seemed short. Ethan said, "It was like a half day... only with lunch."

I was kind of sad to not get a picture of the three of the kids together, like I have been doing... but Alex leaves for school an hour and 15 minutes before the boys do. I think they were still in their boxers when she left!!

We have Dylan and Jared joining us in the mornings this year! The four boys had a lot of fun playing with Legos, Playmobil and on the computer before the bus came for them.

Cannon Ball!