Happy Halloween

Those Things Again

The boys couldn't wear their official costumes to school today but were allowed to come to school as characters in a book. They are little terrors at times. The real costumes and some trick or treating tonight.

Alien Day


For some reason Sam's kindergarten class got to choose a special day because of being particularly well behaved or something so they choose to have Alien Day. I would have gone with Pirate Day but that's me, I want to be a pirate.

Nicole made same a lovely green mask with antenna that you can see all the way to the left in this picture. He's wearing a green shirt too.

Scary Music

We went up to Strathmore Hall in Bethesda today to see a kid friendly orchestra concert called "Carnival of Creatures" It was only a 75 minute show and featured scary type music, a dancer, story teller and live 12 foot anaconda snake. The pieces were short and the conductor explained the animal noises being generated by the orchestra. It was pretty cool and the boys love most of it but got tired at the end. Sam was pretending to play piano on the railing you can see to the right and Dylan really liked the xylophone. He said it sounded like a skeleton. We had a box at the right of the stage so could see everything extremely well. It's an introduction to classical music anyway.

The picture above is rather blurry but shows Dylan as Racer X and Sam as a Bat. Dylan's little face is all scrunched up to show him going really fast in his car and Sam is just doing the bat thing. Halloween is coming fast.

Box 6 at Strathmore Hall

Box 6 at Strathmore Hall
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting ready for the carnival of creatures concert.

Glam rock

Glam rock
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

At the party store

Kindergarten musical

Kindergarten musical
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

After reading a few books the last couple nights the Boys and I have watched high school musical 1 and 2 on the Disney channel. Getting ready for 3 coming out this weekend I guess.

This page is Sam's contribution to a class book that has been making it around. All bears made by him and his classmates. Hangin with the boys on my own is a good time every once in a while.

Change in Washington

AARP 08 Video

Enter your name to see who can bring real change to Washington. First Name: Last Name:

Ok, this is from my former employer and is actually pretty good. They can get creative over there if they try. Timely, personal and viral. Keep it up AARP and keep my 13 years of pension strong so I can retire someday.

Pumpkin Fun

It was a perfect day for a pumpkin patch trip. We headed out a little further than usual this year and ended up at the Circle of Seeds farm in The Plains, Virginia. It was a cool little place with a corn maze, hay rides, slides and various other things to keep the boys busy. We went home the long way and drove some narrow dirt roads in Fauquier and Loudoun counties. Pretty Virginia horse country with lots of leaves turning. I took a ton of pictures and put most of them up on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157608193358483/

Back to work tomorrow with a full week of meetings and budgetings. Good times.

Back to the Chill

I made it back to Dulles last night at 2am after a seriously delayed flight from SFO. I also had the pleasure of sitting between two fairly big dudes but it was all worth a extra hours with the family. I slept a bunch this morning then went to the fun fair at the boys elementary school and then to dinner with the boys, Finn, Rachel and Nicole.

It's nice and chilly here now and I built the first fire to go along with the new Indiana Jones movie, aliens, fickin aliens. We are off to the pumpkin patch tomorrow for pumpkins, slides, corn mazes and hay rides. It's suppose to be fantastic weather for it.

The Palace

The Palace
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Been in inside in meetings all day but got glimpses of the sky from this atrium. It looks nice out there.

Boo

Boo
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We ate out in the newly refurbished screen porch again tonight because the weather is perfect for it and this darn room gets so little use. It's all decorated for the Halloween party in a couple weeks and pretty spooky. It should be good to use for another month or so then will get ignored until spring. Still looking forward to that first fire.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dinner at Johnny Rockets then a local high school football game, complete with a parade and a homecoming court. The Hayfield Hawks were losing to the famous TC Williams titans when we left at half time. It was actually a pretty good game and perfect night for football. A perfectly crisp fall night.

Shoemobile

Shoemobile
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I've seen a bookmobile, bloodmobile and even a weinermobile but this is my first shoemobile. I wonder what it gets to the gallon.

Cheek Art


I missed Alexandria's Arts on the Avenue this year because I was in Arizona but that didn't stop Nicole and the boys from going and building a new scarecrow. This year's straw man is named Louis Scardy Zombie. I will try not to destroy him and the rest of the house with flame like I almost did to last years scarecrow, Shawn. It's getting cold again and we are starting to see some color in the trees. Fire season (in the fireplace) can't be far now but it does appear we will be sticking in the 70's this weekend.

Night Swimming

Night Swimming
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Not really but I thought it was a cool picture. One more poolside reception and dinner then an early flight home tomorrow. I haven't left the Ritz Carlton since I got here on Thursday night and need a change of scenery.

Plane Reflection

Plane Reflection
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

There is something about cruising at 30,000 feet, listening to music
and staring at America below. I hated leaving the boys this afternoon
and was secretly hoping for a flight cancellation to send me back home
again.

My mind is allowed to wonder and reflect on what's important while
tucked away in my seat with an inffinate view. Maybe it's the feeling
of wide open possibility with being able see so much going by. It's
either that or the free drinks that come with an upgrade.

I can't wait to get back to Nicole and the boys but for now I'm
relishing the beauty of the never ending horizon.

Waving Goodbye

I love how when I walk the boys to the bus stop and after they get on and start off, they wave through the window with big giant smiles on their faces. I know that won't last forever but it sure is sweet now. I'm off to pick them up at the stop today then off to Phoenix for a meeting. I won't be gone long but I wish I could take them with me.