The neighbor's kid wasn't nearly as excited about Halloween as was Lucy

Halloween

Here we are at the ward Halloween party. Makeup was all done by Bethany. The only thing we were missing was a ridiculously long tongue. We have more talent than KISS and none of us know how to play an instrument or sing.

When we put Em in her costume she looked down at herself and exclaimed "It's a bug!" (more like, "Izabuc!") Ben has been pointing out ladybugs to her in books and pictures, so somehow she made the association.

Why can't big rear ends look as cute on adults as they do on little kids?

This is the Halloween parade in our neighborhood. Notice the creepy Capt. Hook at the helm. Does he even live in our neighborhood?
...and the stragglers. Em was a little slower than the rest of the kids. Our home is the blue townhouse (third from the left)

This is Em's neighbor friend Ainsley. So cute.

Pumpkin Carving

Joe and I carved pumpkins tonight for family night. This is actually the first year since we've been together that we've had a chance to do pumpkins.

I drew the pictures and Joe did the cutting. Then I did the painting. I think we make a pretty good team.

Joe's pumpkin is the big one eating the poor little defenseless pumpkin. You can't really tell in the picture but the little pumpkin is crying.

Mine is the ghost one. We haven't done Lucy's pumpkin but I think the carving is done so I'm just going to have to paint hers.

It's a girl!

The doctor just confirmed today that the baby is definitely a girl! So, yea, we're excited! We're excited that Pat and Nancy will have four granddaughters! I guess it will be up to Katie or Bethany or Wendy to break the trend!

Chancellorsville/Fredericksburg

This is the approximate spot that Stonewall Jackson received his mortal wound

Military cemetery on top of Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg. Most of the graves were unmarked. They simply had a plot number and the number of soldiers buried at the spot.
Em and me at the Sunken Road at Fredericksburg. This part of the wall is original.

Gettysburg

This is a great view of Little Round Top
This is a view of Big Round Top and Little Round Top (to its left) taken from Seminary Ridge
Ben and Em at Seminary Ridge

More of Emily's first self-application of eye-liner

Emily doing a voice check with Nana (Grandma Blackburn)

Emily and Nana's eye-liner

US qualifies for South Africa!

Isn't this a great picture?

Everybody be happy! The US has qualified for the 2010 world cup! Huzzah!

Major Shaha

Just thought you'd all like to know...Ben is officially a major today. It's actually quite lame because since he's not assigned to a unit, he doesn't get a promotion ceremony or anything to acknowledge his advancement. Ben doesn't even want to do anything to celebrate...the party pooper. But, I thought I'd let you all know so you can wish him a congratulations.