Halloween - 2013

As the kids have gotten older, the focus on costumes for Halloween has gotten less each year.  But the carving of pumpkins continues to be a family tradition.  Here are the very creative carvings of this year.  It made for a fun family home evening.  

Nathan taking off the top while Evan does his dot outlining with some help from Dad

Such concentration

Evan with his finished pumpkin

The scary shot

Nate's finished product....

 

....and the two pumpkins together.  Great job guys!!!!!

Evan was our lone dresser-upper this year.  After much thought he decided on.....

ELVIS!!!!

Here he is relaxing after Trunk-or-Treating

The Tabernacle Elementary School Halloween Parade

(our last one, by the way)

With his class and teacher, Mr. Yates....

...better known as the Duck Dynasty guy.

Happy Halloween 2013!!!!

Welcoming the Tall Ships to Philadelphia

 Steve took Nathan and Evan over to the Delaware River to see the tall ships in mid-October.  They got to see several tall sailing ships in the river and the oldest steel gun ship still afloat, as well as visit the Independence Maritime Museum.  

Steve with one of the tall ships in the background

 Evan on the deck of the Olympia overlooking the Delaware River. The Olympia was a fascinating tour.  It is the oldest steel gunship still afloat.  It served from 1895-1922 and is most famous as the flagship of commodore George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War.    

 Nathan examining one of the tall ships while docked.

 The "Mystic Whaler" with sails down.

 Several of the ships sailed up and down the river. 

This is a photo looking north under the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The Hindu (above) is an 87 year old schooner.  She sailed to India to bring spices back to the US and served during WWII searching for German U-Boats.

Nathan and Evan with the Olympia in the background.  It was windy but a nice day.  

Thanks for taking such great photos and telling us about the day, Steve.  It looks like a great trip!

A Phillies Game With the Bickels

I know this is a blurry picture, but it represents a really fun outing that Steve and I had with our neighbors, the Bickels.  Steve received some free tickets to a Phillies game and since Nate was still recovering from his wisdom teeth surgery, we decided to see if the Bickels could come with us.  We knew that they were big Phillies fans but over all the years we have known them, we have never gone to a game with them.  We ate delicious food, laughed a lot, and just had so much fun even though the Phillies lost. Such great neighbors!!!