I Got to Have My Cake and Eat it Too!

This weekend brought my last birthday in the 30's. It was the perfect mix of yummy breakfast with the family, pampering (mani and pedi w/ girlfriend, Tricia), journaling of the year past and looking forward to the future topped off with yummy Chicago Fire Pizza with the Smelser Family and my personalized birthday cake created by Tricia herself! She knows me soooo well that she even brought me extra icing because she knows that's what I REALLY love!!! :)

Birthday girl and her favorite boys!
Favorite neighbors and great friends - the Smelser Family
(Brad, Jack, Aidan and Tricia) Me and my "salt n pepper" boys

"Wow Mommy! That's a lot of smoke! You must have lots of candles!"

Okay - so this picture was supposed to come BEFORE the smokey pic above. I'm still trying to figure out this whole blog thing.

Happy Girl!

Me trying to light the candles without burning myself or my boys.

Eric having to get his "USC" sign in anywhere he can.

My beautiful purse cake Tricia made for me!

I LOVE the fall colors!

I absolutely LOVE all the colors that fall brings with it! I am certainly no photographer by any means, however I wanted to attempt to share with you a little of the beauty right outside our door.

Eric and Daddy at the USC Homecoming Game

A few weeks ago Greg took Eric to the USC Homecoming game with him. (Eric said it was too boring and hoped all football games weren't like that. Mind you it was a BLOW OUT so you can't really blame him for feeling that way.) In true SC fashion - Daddy stopped by the bookstore and got Eric a new jersey and Grandpa T summoned the USC cheerleaders over for a picture with his firstborn grandson. Greg assures me that Eric made the "SC" sign in the picture with the cheerleaders all on his own with no prompting from Daddy or Grandpa.....uh huh. Sure.

We have quite the rival in our family - Greg and his family are die hard SC fans and my brothers and I went to UT - keeps things interesting. :)

Daddy and his football buddy (mind you - Brett was NOT happy at all that he didn't get to go)

Proud Grandpa T

The REAL Tommy Trojan

confirmation that the game WAS indeed quite boring - so much so that Grandpa caught up on his zzzzzz's :)

Halloween 2008

This year we continued our tradition of pizza and trick or treating with our good friends (and conveniently our neighbors as well) the Smelser Family. The boys had fun answering the door (with parental supervision of course) and handing out the candy too. We feel certain that word spread quickly around the neighborhood to head to the Smelser's house b/c EACH boy was handing out a piece of candy to EVERY trick or treater! Translation - FOUR pieces of candy per person!

Unfortunately for Eric most of the candy handed out contained some sort of nuts so mommy and daddy made the sacrifice of eating that candy for him. :) No, we weren't totally thoughtless - we did have "peanut free" candy waiting for him to exchange for the candy he had to give up.

Not exactly sure what this was supposed to be. I just said, "Hey guys - let me get your picture."

Eric, errr, I mean "Tommy Trojan" (USC mascot)
Brett trying to keep up with big brother

Jack trying to keep up with his big brother, Aidan

Aidan, Eric and Brett making a mad dash for the next house.

"Trick or Treating" (as the boys would say)

Brett and Jack get the hang of things - just smile and the moms will quit taking pics.

Eric and Aidan know the drill - smile and it's over faster.

Jack isn't having any fun at all!

The big brothers are cracking up Brett and Jack.

You are SOOOO silly Brett!

Aidan is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to go trick or treating!

Eric, Griffin, Alec, (unknown friend), Brett and Priness Olivia at St. John's School "Trunk or Treat"

Tommy Trojan surrounded by Darth Vadars (aka Alec and Griffin)

"C'mon Brett - I'll show you the ropes." All the mom's agreed that maybe we should have taken a pointer from Olivia and started training our husbands at the age of 2.5. :)

Brett aka Lightning McQueen's Crew Chief (gotta love the 2 year old squinty smile)

Family Fun in Angels Camp

We recently enjoyed a week at our house in Angels Camp. We were fortunate to enjoy the company of many family members...Grandpa T, Sally, Uncle Chris, and Uncle Nick came to visit followed by Nana and Papa. Everyone agreed to come back even though we weren't able to view the USC game on cable AND we didn't have FOX news...we'll be sure to get both issues fixed before their next visits. :)

My mom has said, "Well, you didn't get a girl, however you did get Brett." :) In honor of her I got this shirt for Brett.
Eric has named this his "Superhero" pose - it's nowhis favorite pose when having his picture taken. Lovely.
Brett's "Superhero" pose - thanks to Eric.
Uncle Nick reading to his nephews. Yes, it is an interesting family tree on Greg's side. :)

Uncle Chris, Brett (gotta love the 2 year old "squinty eye" pose), Uncle Nick and Eric

Brett at the park

Love this pic of Eric - he actually has a "normal" smile.

Need I say more???

Nana and Eric making corn bread muffins

Eric sampling the batter

Beautiful fall colors in Murphys (neighboring town - sooooo charming and home to Ironstone Vineyards!)