Visting Alan at Work...

We had never seen Alan's school before so we decided to go by and visit him on a teacher's work day when we met him for lunch. The high school he works at is beautiful. It's huge and it's spread out into several campuses but the original building is very picturesque! Jackson was in awe of the whole experience. I think it's fun for him to be able to picture in his head where Alan goes to work everyday.
I decided to put Chase in his bear suit. Alan has mentioned that some of his fellow teachers are more dog people than they are kid people. I figured this way I could trick the animal lovers into liking Chase and the baby lovers would just think he looked extra cuddly. It totally worked, I think. =)

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Jackson checked out some of the reading material. He thinks Ray Bradbury is overrated (much like his mother does).

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Chase was in a great mood the whole time. He was smiling and cooing and saying Dadadadada- his latest trick. I think he was excited to see Alan in the middle of the day!

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Here are my three boys together.

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I think Jackson wants to be a teacher. He made me sit at a desk and he handed me a piece of paper and a pencil and told me not to write on my desk. Then he decided to draw on the white board and told me to draw the same thing and spent the next 5 minutes telling me how I didn't do it right. Sigh. School is hard. =)

Who's a Month Behind?

I'm a month behind. Luckily, Oktoberfest seems like it should take place in October. I'm not sure why, something about the name perhaps? It actually took place in Montclair mid-September but we'll pretend this was October so I won't feel so far behind. Kay, thanks? Most families regard holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving as the big holidays. In the Blecksmith family, we love holidays. ALL holidays. We love to celebrate! This includes the celebration of all things German known as Oktoberfest. After all, what says holiday more than a petting zoo, pony rides, a bouncey house, beer, and bratwurst!? So the WHOLE family came from all over the state- Richmond, Blacksburg, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg and came 'home' to Montclair. Home to our mom and dad:

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Sigh. I love them so. =)
Before we left, Dad took Luke and Jackson around the block by pulling them in his bike trailer. Jackson thought it was pretty awesome. Luke had some concerns.

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Please note the cousins holding hands! Love it.

Here we are getting ready to walk to the beach at the lake where the festivities are occurring. We look perky and all-american.

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Here we are walking to the lake. We look bad A and gang-like.

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And here is Jackson's face upon arriving. Oh, to have the enthusiasm of a three year old every day.

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And here is Jackson being a cowboy on his noble steed, Lucky the Pony.

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And here is Chase looking a little less enthusiastic about the festivities.

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Here is my adorable nephew Luke with his Gpa.

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And the WHOLE family:

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Another successful Oktoberfest for the Blecksmith/Janney/Pierson family.

Baby Chase Laughing

Does it get much better than a smiling, laughing, chubby baby in a diaper!?! I sure don't think so.