Getting Ready for Halloween

We had a very full and spooky weekend, which makes me slightly less sad about missing my favorite holiday due to a work trip next week.  We decorated the front yard, carved pumpkins early and Charlie and Carlos did a race in the cemetery.  Charlie was super excited about his race which wound around a block of graves while music thumped and creepy costumes surrounded us.  It was pretty comical, but he loved it and Diego says he is building up enough courage to do it next year.  It took Diego about an hour to agree to go talk to this woman on stilts....Can't say I blame him...I was so proud of Charlie for running the whole way and he was so pleased with himself for "beating" his father.


Not surprisingly Charlie and Cici settled on the same pumpkin design, while Diego requested Batman.  I am hoping that by next year Charlie should be able to mostly carve by himself. Both Charlie and Diego loved the activity which, of course, makes me very happy.

Sunday afternoon we went to see the Georgetown women's soccer team play. I'm trying to make sure the boys realize girls can kick butt on the field too.  It was super fun and there is a turf field next door where we played during half-time.  But it is tough to compete with the Nats stadium experience.  After the game Charlie expressed general approval, but also general disappointment that there were no hot dogs or cotton candy.

Last week I went on a field trip with Diego's class.  It was the first time I got to see him interact with his friends.  He seems to really enjoy them - especially Noah (who looks oddly similar to him), Aubrey (whose parents are deaf) and Rileigh (whose parents have raised 4 biological and 12 other kids - but who is counting!).  Nevertheless, as soon as I left after the field trip Diego started crying again.  It's so sad.  The teacher said he is usually fine after a few minutes in school, but recess is also tough.  I guess he gets to see Charlie for 10 minutes and then Charlie has to go back inside and Diego gets sad.

To go along with my parental outsourcing theme I have started making Charlie read to Sofia.  He doesn't appreciate how squirmy she is, but I think it's good for both of them.