Pittsburgh Trip and Soccer

This past week was a busy one for us. The kids had their last day of indoor soccer for the season and I finally remembered to bring a camera so we got a few photos.

Goalie Seamus


Goalie Helena


Katie's got a wicked right foot!

Pat and I also had our nights of parent teacher conferences. The kids came with me for the final session and spent some time in the daycare that our Student Council provided. We had quite an end to that evening when the fire alarms went off and we had to evacuate the building. Let's just say that me racing across the huge high school to get to the kids and then standing outside in 30 degree weather with no coats for a while was something I won't be forgetting any time soon. Seamus was the only one who seemed at all upset about it, he did think it was cool though when the fire trucks came!



Over the past weekend we drove down to Pittsburgh for a surprise birthday party. Happy Birthday again Maria! We stayed the night in a hotel, which the kids loved because that meant they got to go swimming in the pool. The party was a blast and we all got to spend some time with extended family that we don't get a chance to see often enough.

Kid's table at the party

Our trip ended with a great breakfast at Helenea and Ed's. Our Helena was over the moon with being able to actually go to the "other Helenea's" house! She had been talking about seeing her with Grandpa for a whole week before we went.

The Birthday Girl!

Today we took the kids to go see Barney's Birthday Bash at the Fox Theatre. Pat and I are not the biggest fans of the big purple dinosaur but the kids seemed to like it. We were even home in time for lunch, naps, and house cleaning in preparation for Thanksgiving next week. Only 2 days of work coming up, woo hoo!
Well it's time to give some baths... enjoy the photos!

Preschool Photos

We finally got the kids Preschool photos! They even had a surprise for us with a couple pictures they took of the 3 of them together.


Seamus is a handsome boy!


Katie looks beautiful!


Helena looks cute as always!

Halloween '11

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This year's Halloween should have been sponsored by the good people at Disney. The kids made four appearances dressed as Buzz Lightyear (Seamus), Woody (Helena), and Jessie (Katie). The first time we went out for Halloween was Friday for my work's Family Night Trunk or Treat. The kids had a good time playing in the gym with the other kids. There were two parachutes to play with which were a huge hit. The next day Katie, Seamus and Helena played their last outdoor soccer game until spring. After their game we went Trick or Treating in Downtown Romeo with Grandma and Grandpa Huddas, Aunt Becca, Uncle John, Clay and Drew. Sunday after "Church School' and Mass, we got the kids dressed up again for a Halloween party at church. By the time the actual day of Halloween we were overrun with candy already and Mary and I were Trick or Treated out. The same cannot be said for the kids. They were running to every house when we went Trick or Treated at Aunt Debbie and Uncle Pat's house with Kevin, Uncle Tim, Aunt Robin, and Conner. We weren't sure if we'd make it, because during dinner at Aunt Debbie's Seamus barfed. I don't know if it as a combination of a stuffy nose and the excitement of Halloween, but he was able to tough it out and had a great time going out with his sisters and cousins. All in all everyone had a great time this last week, especially the kids.


Katie as Jessie


Helena as Woody


Seamus as Buzz Lightyear


Trunk or Treating at work


Snack time at the last fall game for The Pumpkins


Trick or Treating in Romeo


Helena at Aunt Debbie's house


Katie and Seamus at Aunt Debbie's house

Oktoberfest 2011

Last weekend on Saturday we had this year's Oktoberfest at Grandpa and Grandma Huddas' house. The kids were very excited because they got to visit with family we don't see very often. They were also excited to see Grandpas' dogs Venus and Apollo. After we ate some snacks and dinner, it was time for the annual Shoe Kick Competition. This years winner was their cousin Clay. After that we went on a wagon ride around the property and sand songs as we went. Somehow we always end up singing Yogi Bear songs. We also walked down to the river a couple times and the kids played with little spinning toys they got after the Shoe Kick. At school this week Seamus got his turn with Hickory, the classroom "pet" Hickory the mouse. He as very excited that its finally his turn.


Seamus, Katie and Helena at Oktoberfest


Shoe Kick 2011


Wagon Ride


Seamus and Hickory

First School Field Trip

On Thursday the kids had their first preschool field trip to the Cider Mill. I took a half day off of work to go and Grandpa came along to help us. It was lots of fun! The weather actually cooperated so we didn't get wet or freeze. We got to ride a wagon train to the orchard where we picked apples. Right across the road was a pumpkin patch so we also got to pick our own pumpkins. After the train ride back we ate some lunch and had cider and donuts. The trip was capped off by a visit to the Halloween fun area where they have farm animals to pet and feed, a corn maze, and a giant hay hill to climb. The kids loved all of it and were so whipped by the time it was time to go, that they took a huge nap when we got home.


Kids at Blake's for their 1st Field Trip


Seamus at Blake's


Katie at Blake's


Helena at Blake's


Blake's Train


Grandpa Huddas, Katie, Seamus and Helena on the train


Pickin' apples


Katie with her pumpkin


Helena with her pumpkin


Seamus with his pumpkin


Grandpa with the kids on the Hay Hill


Katie, Helena and Seamus looking like a bunch of animals


Katie racing Mommy on the tricycles


Seamus on the tricycle at Blake's


Helena on the tricycle at Blake's


Mommy and Seamus riding the tricycle at Blake's

Apple Picking 2011

A week or so ago we decided to go out to the apple orchard and do some picking. We are surrounded by orchards up here in the Romeo area so the toughest part of the whole trip was making a decision on where to go. We ended up at Blake's Farm. We've been to their Cider Mill but the Farm is much smaller and not quite so commercial. We were able to do our picking, have some corn at the free corn roast, and get some cider and donuts all in under an hour on a Saturday afternoon. That's crazy!

Soccer's been going well. The kids actually started playing indoor with their cousin Drew this week. Katie is still the most into it of the three, but Helena and Seamus have their moments as well. If you watch real close you might catch a minute of them actually wanting to play in between the picking grass, sitting down, or jumping on cones! After church today we went to Aunt Kathy Doggy and Uncle Chris's house. Uncle Chris leaves for Basic Training in a few days and we wanted to have a chance to say goodbye to him and wish him good luck. We stayed for a bit and had lunch, then came home and put the kids to nap. If only all of them had slept... they had flu shots yesterday morning and are still really ornery! I just hope they behave for Grandpa tomorrow. On Thursday the kids have their first school field trip. Stay tuned for details...


Katie and her apple


Seamus and his apple


Helena and her apple


The kids with their pumpkins


Katie and Hickory (Preschool class "pet")


Helena and Hickory

Future World Cup Players

Last week the kids had their first soccer game. Somehow Pat and I got conned in to coaching our three as well as 6 other 3 and 4 year olds. Needless to say, there's not a whole lot of actual soccer playing going on, but the kids enjoy it. Especially snack time! Today went a little better and we actually played something that resembled a soccer game for a few minutes. Of course one of the little boys was crying because he wanted to be the one to kick the ball, Seamus cried because he wasn't on the same side of the field as his sisters, and Helena spent most of her time picking blades of grass and laying on her back in the middle of the field. Maybe next week I'll actually attempt to take some pictures of our team aka The Pumpkins.
We also started catechism last week. Aunt Christi is their teacher and the kids were excited to be able to go to school with Drew, who is also in their class. After church we met Uncle Tim, Aunt Robin, Conner, and Uncle Ed at the Renaissance Festival. It was super busy but we all had a good time. Especially me, since last Sunday was also my birthday. The kids made cupcakes for me during the week with Grandma and Grandpa and that's what we used to sing...