Child Tossing - A Time Honored Tradition

Aaron's 5th Birthday Blow-Out

Well, the plans for Aaron's 5th birthday party were well intentioned. It was a pirate theme, as a brand new playground had been newly erected at a local park, complete with two pirate ships. Aaron and I made and decorated cupcakes for the occasion.


But the morning of the party it was windy. By the time we got to the park - which is on the ocean - there was quite a gale!


We weren't going to be able to do any of the activities we had planned, nor put out any food, including the cupcakes. We called all the guests we could reach to give them the bad news. A few either got our message too late or decided to come and play in the wind anyway.




Some of Aaron's friends even managed to look like pirates even without all the accouterments they couldn't wear due to the wind (we had hats, eyepatches, earrings, etc).


After about an hour and a half people were pretty cold and most of us called it quits.


The next day, on his actual birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Meraz came to visit and we ate some of the salvaged cupcakes and hunted for presents around the house.




The next day, to make it up to him even further, I stayed home and we played video games all day long, in our pjs (His school was closed for the day anyway).

Ban's baby shower

We had a baby shower for a co-worker today and I took Aaron with me as he had not been to my office in quite some time and had been asking to go. He hung out with me in my office for a few hours (mostly running up and down the halls to visit people instead of coloring like I had hoped), and then we went to the shower where he had a blast. He particularly likes Ban, the mommy-to-be!

Obama Wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trick or Treating

Halloween was upon us.


The kids were excited, seemingly unaware of the frightening sights awaiting them...


Such as nutty, costumed parents.


Michael's photos were plagued by a gruesome ghoul...


I could see the sugar high coming for Aaron, and I was fearful.


But...it was too late to save Jon.

Costume ensembles from Fielding work party

Every year Fielding has a Halloween potluck and gives out prizes for pumpkins and costumes. Here are some pic of the costumes ensembles from this year.

Men In Black (Human Resources):


Star Trek (Admissions department):

X-Men (Academic Records)! Back row from L to R: Dazzler, Jean Grey (that's me!), Storm, Mystique (our one villian), Wolverine and Rogue. Front Row: Professor Xavier (the pumpkin with appropriate face carving, and in a suit of clothes, sitting on a wheelchair). We won of course.

My Pumpkin that did not win the contest at work