Happy Halloween!!!

Frankenstorm largely bypassed DC, in comparison to parts of New York and New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast, at any rate.  We are keeping the families hardest hit by the storm in our prayers.  We had four days without power and it was cold and inconvenient, but we are all safe and the house and cars did not sustain any major damage.  

We did not let Frankenstorm ruin our Halloween fun!

 On Sunday, before the storm hit, Nicholas and mommy went to the neighborhood Halloween parade, led by students from the marching band at the local high school, all in costume as well.

 Nicholas liked his Thomas costume until he saw the other kids and decided that a Superhero would be a better fit--hence the Thomas-turned-cape

 the band performed part of its half time show

 and the kids got to play in the leaves

 Nicholas loved getting to see the instruments.... he already wants to play tuba like his daddy

 Happy Halloween from the Machak Family!

our little pumpkin

 we decorated the front porch

we managed to carve three of the four planned jack-o-lanterns

We can't believe it's November already!!!!  We are really enjoying feeling somewhat settled and able to enjoy the fall festivities.  After the storm, the weather went from 75/80 degrees to COLD.  It's starting to actually feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.

and she walks!

Claire is walking, and we got it on video!  Also featured, Nicholas's new train table that he got for his birthday.  He and Claire both LOVE it, although Nicholas doesn't like to share.  We are just getting started with the Halloween celebrations, so I've posted a few pics of Boo at the Zoo below.  Sunday is the neighborhood parade, and if Frankenstorm doesn't ruin our plans Nicholas will wear his costume to school on Wednesday and we'll trick-or-treat Wednesday night.  But, Frankenstorm is no joke--hurricane meets cold front.  We expect to be hunkered down in the basement for a few days and without power for long after that.  Fingers crossed that the storm is not as bad as predicted, especially since Christy isn't exempt even if the rest of the Federal Government is closed, so figuring out how to get to work will be interesting....

She walks!

 Go Buckeyes!

 11 months old!

 Love those Oshkosh overalls!

 Nicholas loves raking the yard... if only he will love it when he's 15....

 playing football with daddy

 Carving pumpkins--we got 4 this year

 Berlin flashback... at the Newseum in downtown DC

 The Newseum has a great view of the Capitol

 Getting ready to head off to view at the Zoo with the Hetricks

 at the Zoo

enjoying the beautiful fall weather

Wow, as it has every year, fall is flying by.  With all of our birthdays occurring in the fall on top of the regular holidays, Labor Day to New Year's each year is a blur.  We can't believe it is almost Halloween.  We've celebrated three of our four birthdays, taken a wonderful trip to Strasbourg, PA, to see Thomas the Train, and made several visits to the pumpkin patch.  Christy started her new job as a Watch Officer in the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (NRRC).  Our bids for our next assignment are submitted and "handshakes" are supposed to be given out on November 5th, so we will know our next assignment soon.  The fall weather has been gorgeous--70 degrees and sunny most days, and life is good.  Our babies are growing up:  Claire took her first steps forward last night!

 

PapPap brought lots of fresh Ohio corn, which we cut off the cob to freeze and have fresh corn year-round.

The Hetrick Family came over to celebrate Nicholas's birthday with us.

 Nicholas did a great job blowing out the candles!

 Nicholas's birthday dinner request:  waffles!  No picture, but David's birthday dinner was "Oktoberfest Pie"

Nicholas loves his Thomas the train whistle (Mommy and Daddy aren't quite so thrilled with it)

 

Nicholas got a second birthday cake from Grandma and PapPap when we met up in Pennsylvania.  He loved his Mickey cake!

 

 Seeing and riding Thomas the train was SOOOOO much fun!

Family Photo Op in front of Thomas

The Train Museum was pretty cool, too!

 

 

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Claire is exploring solid foods.... the dinner roll was probably more fun to tear up than to actually eat, though

Claire at the hotel's playroom.

 Claire enjoying a beautiful fall day, in her first pair of shoes!

 

Claire also graduated from her infant tub to a blow up one.

 the Pumpkin Patch was so much fun too---we went out to Great Country Farms in VA, which has wagon rides to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard, a huge kids play area, a pumpkin Princess, pig races, and more

this is one of my favorite pictures

 

our firepit--David was able to pick up some free wood from a neighbor who cut down a tree in their yard

 

we got fall mums this year, although they didn't last very long

Claire at 10 months old!

We went to a cute French cafe near Nicholas's school for Christy's birthday

 

                                        Beautiful flowers that David gave Christy for her birthday



       We are looking forward to more fall fun with lots of Halloween activities coming up this weekend!