Fall Update

Sorry it's been so long between updates here.... I have to admit that I post most of these pictures (and more) over on my facebook page... so if you want to be kept more up to date, friend me!!

Anyway, school has been in session for about a month. Alex is in 7th grade. Hudson is in 5th and Ethan is in 2nd. The boys nearly missed the bus on the first day because it comes 10-15 earlier this year than last year! Ethan ran down the driveway with no shoes on yelling, "Hudson tell her to wait!!" Not the greatest way to start off the school year. So, as you can probably guess I didn't get any pictures of the boys before school, but this one is from when they got off the bus.

Ethan has started tae kwan do! He goes twice a week at the Y, and so far he really enjoys it. So add to Ethan's 2 lessons the 9 dance classes that Alex and Hudson take between them (well, Alex demonstrates for one of those- her first paying job!) we are in the car a lot!! Ethan has four more classes before he goes for his next belt (orange).

Alex has had her first dance at school already! The middle school has a dance every month. (Here are a few of her friends at our house on the way out the door to go to the dance.) This week is homecoming and she has dressed up for all the theme days... hillbilly, Disney and geek so far. Tomorrow is "Holiday"- she's going to dress like a funky witch. Friday is Spirit- blue and white. She also auditioned for the middle school musical today. Call backs are tomorrow. Wish her luck!I don't have a picture of it, but Hudson's team won their first fall soccer game of the season... 7 to 0 I think. Hudson scored! Its a good group of boys. I think they will do really well. He is also taking part in a new thing at our school, Lego League, where the kids build and program a lego robot to run an obstacle course. It has just started, so they've only been building so far.

We also have two new babies in the family!!! Cooper Rickart was born on September 15th and Gianna Pearl was born on September 29th!!

ADK Trip

We had a wonderful week in the Adirondacks. We rented a small cottage in Inlet for the second year in a row (but this was our 5th annual trip to ADK) but drove to many new locations for hiking, letterboxing and such. I was telling my sister it may seem like Boot camp to some as opposed to a vacation- lots of hiking, swimming, kayaking, etc. We did a ropes course as well which was the highlight of the trip. (I know that many of you have seen these pictures on facebook, but I thought I should share some here as well.)

Our cottage at Sunset Beach Cottages Death Falls

Letterboxing at Death Falls On a giant rock on the hike to the top of Goodnow Mountain at Ferd's Bog Killing time in Bolton Landing waiting for our appointed time to go on the ropes course Ethan all by himself on the kids' rope course Alex on one of the zip lines Justin and Hudson on the ropes course Eating pizza and wings at the Screamen Eagle Climbing Black Bear Mountain

On top of Black Bear Mountain Alex at Chimney MountainSunset BeachOn top of Chimney Mountain

Funny things

My dad told me I had better write these things down....

Hudson had outgrown his Yankee jersey. I tried to put it on Ethan one day and he said, all aghast, "I can't wear this!! I'm not a sport!"

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The other morning Ethan crawled into bed next to me and asked. "Where is Hudson?"

Me: "In his bed sleeping."

Ethan: "I saw him not."

Me: "Oh, o-kay Yoda."

Our Summer so Far...

We decided to brain storm some fun things to do this summer... between camps and soccer and hanging at the pool and dance classes. I asked each kid for a few ideas, and Justin and I came up with a few of our own. Ethan's big thing was to stay up till midnight watching movies and eating snacks. We finally did that Friday night (check!). We watched Harry Potter 3 and 5, and then went to see the new movie on Saturday at the theater (check!) Alex's were silly- like "eat watermelon out of the watermelon with a spoon like they did on iCarly" which she did (check!) Some things we had to "divide and conquer". For example, Justin took the boys to Grimes Glenn (check!) and I took Alex and Cate to Sonnenberg (check!)

We crossed off Geneseo Air Show (check!) even though we didn't pay to get in, but watched it from the campus grounds after a walk with Grandma Chickie. My sister said we were cheating- but o-well.

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Hudson has been doing really well in soccer this season. His skills and confidence have really improved. He was quite pleased with himself when he scored 3 goals in one game!

I'll leave you with some funny pictures of the boys. Ethan- you're so weird.....
And I don't think Hudson likes his lunch!!

Ethan plays soccer

The picture below speaks volumes about his playing.... he doesn't really "get it" yet. Lots of standing and watching. Some kids at this age (U8) have such an instinct for the game. And some, like my guy, haven't developed it yet.

His "season" so far has been a rocky one.... first week he got a terrible headache and walked off the field in pain, so we left. Second week, I guess he played and did ok- I was at solofest with Alex, so I'm not really sure how he did. Third week he didn't go as we were in the midst of his icky illness. Last week it was pouring rain, but they played anyway and froze. So he really has only had 2 good nights of playing this year.... not a lot of time to get a feel for the game.

And it was hot last night, and I had to drag him out of Grandma and Papa's pool to go to his game, so he wasn't really happy with me. He has next week off for the 4th of July holiday, and a few weeks of games after that. We'll see how he does.

Ethan's Birthday

Ethan's 7th birthday celebration stated on Friday, the day before his "big day".... when he had cupcakes at school ..... ...then (just like his brother Hudson did a few years ago) he ditched his car seat and went to the library to get his library card!

On Saturday he had some school friends, cousins, family and family friends over to Grandma and Papa's house for a pirate party. (Also, must be the theme in the Williams house when you turn 7!) Justin put together a treasure hunt that ended with the kids finding a pirate boat for the pool...which was a lot of fun...

...but didn't last very long.

Then Ethan blew out the candles on his pirate cake and opened his gifts. He said it was his "best birthday yet!"

Recouping From A Busy Week

Wow... I started this post on Monday... and now it's Wednesday already and I'm finally getting these pictures from last week up!!
We had a very busy week last week.... parade on Monday (Hudson and Alex both marched with their bands) dance rehearsals on Tuesday, Wednesday and dress rehearsal on Thursday (that's Alex's little head in there during her gypsy dance), ...Alex had a concert on Thursday as well.

On Friday afternoon Ethan had his First Grade play, "A Year With Frog & Toad". It was very cute.Then on Friday night was the first night of the dance recital... which was fantastic! I'm so proud of Alex, Hudson, Gabby and Cate. They all did a wonderful job. I think it was Cathy's (our teacher's) best show ever!I didn't get very many pictures because I wanted to just enjoy the show. (This one is from backstage on Saturday night.) Saturday morning we had Mum's burial service. It was very lovely... a sunny day, and nice to see everyone, even though the circumstances were a sad occasion.

Saturday night was the second performance. (Hudson rocked the house as a Wolf once again.)

Sunday morning Hudson had to sing a solo in the church choir and then we had my cousin's bridal shower in the afternoon.
This week is a little less demanding- but we do have Ethan's party this Saturday. How can he be 7 already???