Disney's Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Well, last night we went to Disney's California Adventure where they have a Halloween party every year. It's fun! We went on rides and got a lot of candy from the "Treat Stations". Kaleigh and Cole as you can see by the photos were Pippi Longstocking and the dog-boy. Kaleigh's costume was a huge hit with everyone we came in contact with! Cole was his normal cute self. We were going to have him be a full on dog, but it was rather warm and the costume was a little tight and probably would have been uncomfortable. He was fine the way he went. We went with our friends, Elysia, Randy and their son, Joshua. We had a blast! Kaleigh's costume was also the most labor intensive of the two. Her hair was managed by using a coat hanger (a la Steve Martin's arrow trick) to make it stand up. We then hairsprayed her hair orange and viola! We did it. I was surprised we found all the clothes at Walmart! It worked out rather well, if I do say so myself! She will be dressing the same for Halloween trick or treating! Cole too.

So Far - No Fire Here
Well, so far we have been spared from any fire coming near us. They seem to be all around us at a distance though. Ontario is where Carl's sister lives and they are ok, Carl's cousin and family live in Irvine and they are ok, some friends have been evacuated and are living with relatives for the time being, most of which have moved out before mandatory evacuations. Unfortunately, some did not and when they tried to get to family they were stuck in a freeway parking lot for hours. One couple (older, from church) went to stay with their daughter who lives just 1 1/2 hours away and it took them 6 hours to get there! Whew, not fun. But so far, we are all fine, staying indoors and keeping the windows closed. Most of the time it is just hazy and we get a whiff of smoke now and again. The kids are all inside at school, no outside PE or anything, it makes it difficult with the winds, but as of today it is mostly calm. It was dead calm this morning and I was hoping it would stay that way a while but as I look outside I am seeing the palm trees blowing again. Well, I have to say we are really appreciating all the outside firefighters coming in to help. I am praying for the winds to really die down so that they have a good chance of ending the destruction! Keep on Praying please!

Kaleigh still not cut!
Well, Cole and I got our hair cut yesterday and Kaleigh had hers measured. That's right, measured. A few posts ago I blogged that Kaleigh was growing her hair out for Locks of Love. It is still long and it is still making me crazy. Yesterday her hair measured at 9 inches. 1 more inch to go, although our hairdresser said she would like another inch just to make sure all is long enough. That should mean early December. I can't wait!!! We are braiding her hair every night and that is keeping the tangles to a minimum. When we forget, whoooowhee! She cries it is that bad! So, I won't forget again to braid it! I always look the same after a hair cut and Cole's hair always sticks up a bit after a hair cut. It is funny how he looks so much older with longer hair! As soon as he is done with a hair cut, he looks a year younger!
I will have to post photos again, when I have the chance. Today is a busy day! Carl's Uncle passed away last Monday and today is the funeral. He had muscular dystrophy and was not expected to live to be 30, he passed away at 51! So he lived a pretty long life with this debilitating disease! Kaleigh and Cole will not be coming as one of Kaleigh's best friends has a birthday party today! Cole was not originally invited but the mom offered to take him as well. I thougth that was wonderful of her! We got Emma, Kaleigh's friend an extra gift from Cole! They will be going Ice Skating and then having Pizza. Well, that is our day in a nutshell. More to come....

TINA IS GOING TO FREAK!!!

Ok, so here is the deal.

Yes, it is the real Stanley Cup and no, I didn't meet any of the Mighty Ducks, they weren't around.

The school has a program with the Ducks that allows for freebees and special assemblies that allow the (mainly fourth graders) kids to participate in real accomplishments, for example the Ducks winning the Stanley cup. So, the Ducks take the cup around to the schools that participate in this specific program and they allow the kids to take photos and even touch the cup! No because the program is mainly for the fourth graders the 3rd graders do not get a class photo with the cup. The neat thing was this year they allowed parents to come and if they were there were allowed to take a photo (all at the same time of course) of their kids with the cup. I was there and took the photo of Kaleigh touching the Stanley cup and then the one of me in front of the Stanley cup was a staff photo, the principal said any staff can go up and since I am staff, I got to go up too. Of course this would have meant a lot more to Tina but I had to do it. So, Tina, I won't be offended if you put your head on my body and dream! Hee hee. I did learn a bit about the Stanley cup. It is the oldest sports trophy around today, 115 years old! There have been a lot of misspellings and even one name crossed off. The name that was engraved that was crossed off, however was the name of the engravers dad! He just thought it would be cool for his dads name to be on it! Sheesh! Anyway, it was pretty cool and I am just sorry, that my sis and bro in law, could not be present! I was really thinking of you guys!

Happy 80th Birthday, Papi!

Well, it may not have been too happy, but it was the 80th and we (Mom, Connie, Tina and I) tried to make it as happy as possible. Dad wasn't feeling very well, so when people came and he was asleep, they just waited and visited with us until he was ready to see them. They all wished him a very happy birthday and gave gifts to entice his taste buds! Since that was the worst part of his illness (didn't want to eat at all) we hope that the bad tummy goes away soon so he can enjoy all the treats that were given to him!

Tina made a gorgeous book (his autobiography beginning) and presented a bound copy to him. That was a definite winner and it won a smile!

Connie had a beautiful flag made up and Mom got a flag pole and a Canadian flag to fly on it. We all did the best we could to put him in good spirits. I helped Tina with the second half of the present. A digital voice recorder to tell the rest of his life story so he doesn't neccessarily have to get up and go to the computer. Good one again, my sistol! I on the other hand, did not have a cool present, although I came the farthest and that included a flight to Portland from the OC. That was a good present too I think! All in all it was a birthday to remember, for the good and the not so good. Fell better, Papi! Love you lots!