Khuslen's Halloween at school and Trick or Treat

Khuslen had his first Halloween costume at his preschool and three of us went together Trick or Treat first time and it was fun for me since I have been to Trick or Treat for Halloween.

 At his preschool Halloween with his friend Elsie

 Just before leaving the house for the Trick or Treat

 With Ruby and Henry

Halloween Weekend in London

Halloween in London was unusually warm this year...a record-breaking 23.5 C (74 F).  I took Ryan and a friend trick-or-treating.  I've never seen so many kids out on Halloween! While the holiday is gaining popularity over here, the number of houses giving out candy hasn't caught up yet.  Luckily, we know to look for the lit jack-o-lanterns.  Ryan's haul was mixed.  Who gives out "smoky bacon" crisps as a treat?

The day after Halloween Ryan went to a birthday party at The Soho Hotel, where they watched a movie in the posh cinema.

Today the weather is rainy and miserable again.  Garett had to call it quits after 8 holes of golf this morning.

Garett and Ryan carved this jack-o'-lantern (a devious-looking Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes)

The Grim Reaper of Lindfield Gardens...

Ryan's message above the buzzer (30 kids came by...a record for us in London!)

A random Victorian house in the neighborhood - decked out for Halloween

A day at the cinema with 10 and 11 year-old boys - Nov 1st

Kingswood Trip and End-of-Summer Party

To kick off the new school year, Ryan and all of his Year 6 classmates spent 5 days at Kingswood, a residential camp near Cromer, Norfolk, UK.  It's located along the north coast.  The highlights of the trip for Ryan the were the zip wire, seal watching (except he got soaked on the boat), river studies, beach studies, an art class on the pier, stopping for ice cream and having lots of bonding time with his friends.  There were 12 boys in Ryan's room.  Although Ryan had a camera, he only managed one photo...of the messy room.  The boys returned on Wednesday evening and then it was straight into school on Thursday morning.

Yesterday we went to an end-of-summer party hosted by Lucy and Louis (pronounced "Louie") at their country house. Louis and Ryan are close friends and Lucy is Louis' mum.  It was an amazing party - with lots of good food, live music and games for the kids.  Even the ice cream man found his way out to their house (in a remote, idyllic place) for a treat at the end of the party.  Despite a sputtering start, the weather turned out to be beautiful.  A lovely day was had by all!

Ryan and his friends waiting for the "coach" to arrive for the Kingswood trip

A double-decker luxury coach with a pull-behind trailer for the luggage (you seriously didn't think this was a camping trip, did you?)

The summer party at Lucy's in full swing - a traditional, English thatched-roof house, but totally eco-friendly

Lucy's raised garden beds - enviable!

Ryan and Louis (in blue) playing games -  plus tent with outdoor dining and live music

Ryan contemplating his options - laser tag, inflatable slide, games or water balloons?

Everyone heard "Pop Goes the Weasel" - the tune played by the ice cream man - and the kids came running

Ryan ordered a Mr. Bubble (something very blue), Shelly had a 99 Flake and Garett had an almond Magnum bar

Ryan cooling off with Louis and Sam

Garett and Ryan by the late-summer hydrangeas

Ryan and Shelly

End of the day in Oxfordshire - if you have good eyes, there is a bench just on the other side of the green area which overlooks the property

Looking back at the house and party from a distance

A great day!

Missing Tooth

Grace lost one of her front teeth.  Unfortunately, the tooth next to it has seemingly moved over and now she looks like she has a snaggle tooth!

A few photos from Ryan's visit

Here are a few photos.  I promise to try to work on these!  Honest!  The photos are from Lake Michigan New Buffalo Beach, Putt Putt, the Kroc Center Water Park, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Khuslen's visit to Omaha, NE - Өвөөгийнхөө Небраска мужийн Омаахаа хот

Last week Khuslen went to visit his grandpa with his parents for a few days. We went to the Omaha zoo. Khuslen's favorite part at the zoo were the train ride, see a puma cat and animals in the aquarium. He also loved playing the football with grandpa and dad.
Хүслэн хүү хэдэн хоногийн турш өвөөгийнхөө гэрт зочлоод ирлээ. Тэнд байхдаа зоо парк болон аквариумыг очиж үзлээ. Хүслэнд галт тэргээр явах, зэрлэг муур болон акварумд байгаа загас болон далайн амьтдыг үзэх нь илүү их таалагдлаа. Тэрээр бас өвөө, аавтайгаа хамт америк хөл бөмбөг тоглох их дуртай байлаа.

 Дөнгөж өвөөгийнхөө гэрт ирээд байгаа нь

 Playing the football with dad and grandpa - өвөөтэйгөө хөл бөмбөг тоглож байгаа нь

 Clear Lake, Iowa - Аяваа мужийн Цэвэр Нуур хотод

 Globe at the Omaha zoo - Зоо парк дахь дэлхийн бөмбөрцөг

 Train ride at the zoo - галт тэргээр явж байгаа нь

 Khuslen's favorite animal: Puma cat - Хүслэнгийн дуртай зэрлэг муур

 Train ride - галт тэргээр явж байгаа нь

 Being silly - өвөөтэйгөө тоглож байгаа нь

 At the jungle area - зоо парк дахь ширэнгэн ой дотор

At the zoo entrance - зоо парк руу орох хаалганы дэргэд

At the desert dome  -  цөлийн хэсэгт

 At the playground near the grandpa's house - өвөөгийнхөө гэрийн ойр байдаг тоглоомын газарт

 Remembering our childhood - хүүхэд насаа дурсан санаж байгаа нь

 Learning to play the golf - гоолф тоглож сурах гэж байгаа нь

 At the Mexican restaurant: La Mesa to celebrate the dad's birthday - Мексик хоолны газар аавынхаа төрсөн өдрийг тэмдэглэж байгаа нь

Corn field in Earlham, Iowa - Эрдэнэ шишийн тариалангийн талбай