Halloween is Here

May we present our little devil and the Lone Ranger...

Time Away

This weekend, Jack and I are in Atlanta celebrating the marriage of our dear friend Kevin Robison to Keith Langston. While we're away our darling friend Martha has the boys. They were together earlier this month for an overnighter and had lots of fun. Jack's SMU colleague, Jim Crawford, brought his son Cameron for a play date while we were away. Here are some photos from their time together:

Martha and Charlie

Cameron and Walker

Good Friends

And just for fun, here are some shots of Charlie at the part yesterday:

Notice the great use of right AND LEFT hand!

All smiles.

Arboretum - The Children's Garden

Back at the Arboretum to explore the new Children's Garden. We did this a few weeks ago when Grandpa John and Grandma Patti were here. We got some great photos of the boys! The climbed in the tree net, played with the water features and Walker even made his own topiary garden. Such fun.

Elementary School Farm Visit

Today, the Greenman Four took a short tour of a local elementary school farm. We wanted to do a little hands-on research before installing our own raised veggie garden. We also wanted to visit their laying hens to get a sense of what it might be like to raise some of our own. My friend Tiffany, a work-out pal from Positively Fit Lake Highlands, oversaw the farm installation at this school and gave us a lovely tour. We even got to keep the egg Walker harvested!

The Puppet Master

Today, two care packages arrived in the mail. Halloween has now officially begun with all sorts of spooky characters. The plastic finger puppet ghouls were a big hit (thank you Betsy) as were the Halloween Glasses (thank you Happy). Walker decided he needed a puppet theater for his band of actors. He and Jack constructed this little get-up using a shipping box and some construction paper. Walker made the star field as a back drop. Genius.

After everything was prepared, Jack and I were treated to this:

Nothin' Like a Good Book

Just a quick look at Charlie playing in his room. Things to notice are the dexterity with which he goes from sitting to his belly, his extension with the right arm to retrieve books off the shelf, his fine motor skills: the soft finger trying to open the pages of the books, and at one point he turns a book around so it's facing right side up.  We are in awe of you darling boy!

Oktoberfest

This was our third year to attend the Lake Highlands Oktoberfest, but the first year to watch our friends Evelyn, Eleanor and Reid Power dance with the Alpine Dancers Youth Group!  Walker enjoyed the bounce houses and slides, Mom and Dad enjoyed the cool air and beer and Charlie enjoyed the Oom-pah bands. Grandpa John and Grandma Patti were also along for the ride this year!

Charlie is saying "eat, eat, eat". 

Walker escorted Reid to the stage area.

Doesn't Reid look great in his lederhosen?

Eleanor, the littlest German dancer.

Gus, Alpine dancer in training. 

He grooved his body to all of the music from the comfort of his wagon.

PROST!