One of the unfortunate side effects of being really busy is that from time to time, certain academic activities for the girls get well…forgotten. Fortunately, Reilly is wonderful about reminding me of these projects with plenty of time…yeah right.

“Dad, you haven’t started decorating my turkey”

“No problem sweetie, when is it due?”

“Tomorrow.”

Gulp.

Now, I was in between sessions, and with a full plate that evening, it was now or never. I had about an hour.

Hmmm…Colored pens? Not enough time. Painting? No time for cleanup. Cotton balls and paper cutouts? No way.

…

(bell sound) “Reilly, grab the glue stick, we are going outside!”

Ten minutes later and a couple handfulls of leaves & we were in business. I ran the gluestick, Reilly worked the leaves. Total time invested-about 40 minutes. And hey, it didn’t look half bad!

We even had time to eat a hard boiled egg…not from a turkey.

Teagan and I took a walk today while Stef was out running errands. Clouds had rolled in and things began to look a bit…different.

We got a few blocks away and noticed we hadn’t seen a car since we left. Things were strangely quiet. No birds chirping, no dogs barking, and no people anywhere. Teagan however seemed unaware of the silence and was fixated on a striped cat sitting in front of a house. She waved and called to it but the cat did not move.

“Teagan, let’s go” I said and started walking. Only she wasn’t following. She wasn’t moving. Just standing there frozen with a blank stare at the cat.

“Teagan! We need to go NOW!” It was then I saw several other cats appear all moving towards us.

That was it. I grabbed miss T and ran. As I was huffing around corners, more cats were arriving. They seemed to be everywhere but I kept running. As I rounded the corner to the driveway I stopped dead in my tracks. Must have been fifty cats sitting there just staring at us, including the striped one we saw earlier.

“Put me down daddy, I need to talk to my friends” Teagan calmly said. I gently let her down and she walked slowly to the group. She said a few things in a soft voice then looked up. “We can go in now daddy” she said. Teagan took my hand and we went inside, locked the door and sat down. “Can we go for another walk?” she said.

Happy Halloween!

We were invited to a Halloween get together at Stef’s dad’s house the other day and he & Kim pulled out all the stops. Food and treats everywhere and the place was decorated to the hilt. Kim had several games planned including a popcorn relay (which my team won) and pin the nose on the pumpkin. The girls were of course thrilled and went home with many bags of tooth deteriorating sweets….um…thanks?

Really, it was a very nice time, thanks Ed & Kim!

The Roseville Firefighters host a benefit golf tournament each year and it always brings a crowd. Sponsors came from all over to play a round and do their part for the community. We were asked to photograph the event and had a great time. Couldn’t have asked for a better day, it was gorgeous! There was live music, great food, and some really good people & organizations doing their part for the fire department.

It was high time the Hays family took some needed time off, and with my 20 year high school reunion in San Diego, Stef and I decided to stay a few more days and take the girls to Disneyland.

Good move. They just loved it. We were a little nervous after our last experience how the girls would do. Last time, Reilly refused to go on any of those ‘scary’ Fantastyland rides or anything like them so we were relagated to the carousel and Dumbo.

This time was much better and she was much more daring. Teagan of course was game for everything. The park was all dudded up for Halloween and New Orleans Square looked delightfully spooky. A great time, but not enough of it.

Next time we’re staying a week!!

No teacups for me. Hmm….I’m getting sick just looking at this photo…

Hightlight of day 2 for the girls. Come all the way to Disney…and get their faces painted.

This was the low spot. Hot, tired, and not interested in waiting in line.

A petting zoo at Disneyland??? I don’t remember that.

It was red day at Teagan’s preschool, red hats, red plates, and red clothes…although someone forgot to tell me that last part. I was the only dad in the classroom not wearing red. I felt kind of like the kid in the mushpot…

Anyway, that didn’t seem to bother miss T from having fun. Nor did it stop her from eating…and eating…and…

Sac’s own Middle Class Rut played to a full house at Boardwalk Friday night and what a show! The barrage of sonics this two-piece puts out is incredible, not to mention their fantastic stage presence. Here are some of my faves from the show.

Opening act Last Angels.

MC Rut…

The air has changed, leaves are beginning to fall, days are getting shorter, football has begun, Starbucks has Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Apple Hill is in full swing, pumpkin ale is in stores, Halloween decorations are up at Michaels….

This is the best time of year.

We found a note in our door the other morning with some kind words of thanks that were so moving, it was a challenge for Stef and I to get through it dry eyed. I share a part – because it so well describes us and how we feel, and why we have chosen this journey.

“Photography reveals that regardless of circumstance, life offers moments – if only milliseconds – of beauty that are to be captured, cherished and remembered.”

Thank you for that.

Miss T began her preschool adventures last Tuesday and was an immediate fan. Within seconds she was painting, coloring and playing with puzzles. Once again, I might have well been invisible.

“Teagan, mom and I are leaving!”

…

“Teagan?”

…

And that’s pretty much how it went.

p.s. These photographs were last ones taken of her before the scissors incident.