How the Haskins Girls Celebrate Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day pancakes honoring our favorite veteran.  JACK!

We love you Grandpa.  Thank you for you service in World War II. 

p.s.  I came down the stairs this morning to this.  The only thing I did was take the picture.

How the Reagan Library Can Increase Its Patronage

They could give out $72 gift certificates to the gift shop on your birthday, just like Disneyland does.  After all, isn't it every nine-year-old who wants to go to the Reagan Library for her birthday?

Yeah, probably not.   September 2008 we took the kids to the Library to see the Emancipation Proclamation and Lauren told us she wanted to have her ninth birthday at the Reagan Library.  She anticipated the big day with the help of her Ronald Reagan calendar.

We gathered up the grandparents and some aunts and uncles and a good friend and trooped off to Simi Valley on Halloween morning.  Lauren received a special jar of jelly beans, and bought herself a Nancy Reagan pen.  Liffy bought a copy of the Declaration of Independence so she could read it, and Caroline bought a US presidents ruler.  They like to look at it and sing the Animaniacs song.

I think we're raising a bunch of nerds, and I couldn't be happier about it.

 Caroline Margaret is named after Margaret Thatcher, and Liffy finds bloated federal spending amusing, but adores Ronald Wilson Reagan.  Look at that face!

A Pioneer, A Race Car Driver, and Two Penguins

Sometimes after I download the pictures from a special event and I find that I didn't even come close to getting all the shots I wanted. Take this Halloween for instance: three obvious photo ops are conspicuously missing: 1) a good full-body shot of Caroline's costume, 2) the two penguins in a special shot of their own, and 3) Lauren with her doll Sarah, after which we patterned the entire costume. I had two opportunities to get these taken, and I failed both times. Notwithstanding my photographic amnesia, I still have several photos to show you.

The School Parade

Liffy as a macaroni penguin. We saw them at Sea World this summer. She loved the funny feathers on their heads. We think they're great. She even flapped her wings as they paraded around the blacktop. It's always fun when Liffy lets her silly side come out.

Lauren dressed up like her pioneer doll, Sarah. Sarah went everywhere with us on our vacation in San Diego. Do you think she like the macaroni penguins, too?

This little guy was the hit of the year. He was so cute as a tiny little penguin. When he runs it makes the tail flap. He ran A LOT when we were trick-or-treating.

Caroline was Daisy from Mario Kart. Her dress was a devil to make, and I can't believe I didn't get a full shot of it. The tiers turned out beautiful, I'm glad I got that far--the sleeves and zipper almost made me swear. Fortunately, it's just a costume, and it turned out pretty lovely after all that. This picture is pretty sweet, though, don't you think?

James was happy to hold hands with anyone who could lead him to candy. He really liked Grandpa Don and Uncle Joel, though. Thanks for coming down, Joel!

Caroline with her haul. She made a lovely little Daisy.

I made all the costumes this year; thanks Mom, for coming to stay the whole week so I could get these done. I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it again, but it was really fun to do this year. I have never made an animal costume or a princess dress, so I really stretched my skills. Lauren's costume was the easiest, but my new sewing machine did allow me to add a small surprise: at the bottom of the apron I monogrammed the name SARAH! Lauren loved that little detail.

Thanks kids, for making Halloween fun for this ol' mamma of yours (and for sharing the candy).