Happy Birthday, Tio!

We celebrated Tio's birthday with a trip to the Baltimore Aquarium...since we bought a year long membership and we've only been ONCE this year, we thought it was high time we made another trip down there & I'm so glad we did!

The inner harbor is such a great place to visit, I don't know why we don't go more often. The aquarium is an awesome destination; the kids could wander around there forever. They were especially digging the jellyfish exhibit and the moray eel. We even got to see the stingrays being fed. Super cool!

And of course they LOVE the dolphin show...hence the expression on Joey's face...pure love, no wait...he just looks like that sometimes :)

We finished our trip with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (thank you to the waitress for snapping this lovely family pic), where Tio got a special piece of birthday cheesecake! Yum!!! Here's to the start of another great year!!!

Dash For Drew

Here we are...at another "fun run". We're lucky enough to live in an area that has lots and LOTS of "fun" running. I love it, I just wish I were better at it :) It's always nice when the kids can participate in a fun run/walk, and this is a really special one; the Dash For Drew. This race benefits the Drew Michael Taylor foundation which does a lot of good in our community.

Most of the races the kids run are 1 mile or less, but this one is a 2 miler. I signed all three kids up, thinking that I would stay in back and walk with Claire, and Joey and Emma would run ahead at their own pace. Little did I know that Claire had other plans!!! She took off at a dead sprint...and didn't stop running for the entire first mile. Her first mile split was 10:31...not too shabby for a 4 year old. She slowed down a little for the second mile, but still finished the race with a time of 23:30. I think we have a future runner in the family!

Trick or Treat!!!

The Neighborhood Crew!

We survived trick or treat night 2010! And we lucked out with perfect fall weather. I love where we live...we always get TONS of trick or treaters! I planned for 350 and this is the first year that I didn't run out of candy! We have our routine...I love handing out the candy and Tio loves taking the kids around. Some years we switch roles, but I'm a sucker for seeing all the neighborhood kids dressed up and talking with them about their costumes...they are always SO excited! Fun stuff!

This spooky witch was hanging out at our neighbors' house, complete with a bubble machine in her cauldron.

Emma really got into her roll as a hula dancer...she has the moves, she just needs the Hawaiian beach!

On to the next Halloween festivity...we're all in a parade tonight. The fun keeps on going....

Carving Away...

I LOVE this picture! I captured my kids carving away out in the yard, diligently working on their own unique pumpkin creations. This moment is too sweet...and I have this sudden urge to freeze time and keep them exactly like this forever...

Whitetail Festival

I LOVE FALL!!!! Especially when you have the perfect day to spend at the Whitetail Fall Festival...which has become a favorite annual outing for the Paci's. Each year it gets better and better!

The kids' favorite activities this year included the rock climbing wall, archery, and paintball (guess who loved the paintball?)

Claire surprised us on the rock climbing wall...she just scampered right up past the older kids that were with her...it didn't even phase her how high up she was. I think we have a dare devil on our hands!

Emma had good luck on the archery range, popping a balloon and winning a prize. Pretty cool!

Joey, of course, loved the paintball, and would have stayed there all day if it wasn't for a very tempting obstacle course nearby.

There just wasn't enough time to do all of the fun activities, but we did make time for a ride up the ski lift to take in the

view. Did I mention that I LOVE FALL!?!?

Haunted Gingerbread?

Now this is what I call fun...a Haunted Gingerbread House! Leave it to Grandma to find something so cool!

This was a total group effort. Emma rocked the icing, Joey handled the pumpkin shaped gumballs, and Claire mastered the candy corn. Not too shabby!

Of course, the best part was when I caught Emma squeezing a tube of black icing into her mouth....yum, yum!

Let the Halloween Festivities begin!

Soccer Saturday!

So, if you've wondered why it's been SOOOO long since my last blog post....see the above picture. That's right, we've been in full soccer swing, and this year we added Claire into the mix!

As I type this, we're almost to the end of the season, so I can no longer complain about the three different teams, the three different practice times, the three different game schedules...nope, I'm not complaining a bit...hallelujah I'm almost done!

I really don't mind, though. I mean, look at these pictures...you can tell they're having a blast! The teamwork, the exercise...I wouldn't trade that for anything.

But I'll admit, it will be nice to have one or two Saturdays to sleep in...wait a minute, that's WAY too much to wish for :)