Halloween

We took the kids over to a neighborhood where some of the kids I teach live. Apparently they go all out for Halloween. It was actually a lot of fun and Xavier and Alexis got tons of candy.



My little darlings.


All three of the kiddos. (this was the best of the bunch. It's hard trying to get a 4yr old and a 9 month to look at the same time.)



Trying to get everyone and the dog to look at the camera. Not much luck.







All the fun before trick-or-treating.






Let the trick-or-treating begin.



Father and daughter.




Who's that cute puppy on that fire truck?




Yes, I want another picture of you guys.




Father and son.




Group picture at the end of the night. The fireman, the Dalmatian, and the fire.




How can you resist a sweet face like that?




My two cute, and very tired, trick-or-treaters.


Addie with her hand in the candy dish. Look at her face, it is pure delight.

Addie's Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwhich

Addison was given a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich last week. She absolutely loved every bite of it. Unfortunately, she can no longer have peanut butter. She has had a terrible diaper rash for weeks and after ruling out lots of things and changing brands of diapers, we have discovered that she can not handle dairy products or peanut butter. We are hoping this goes away as she gets older. Xavier couldn't have wheat when he was her age and now it doesn't bother him at all. We are hoping this is the same case for Addison. Time will tell.

More pictures from West Virginia

Here are some more photos from our trip to West Virginia.

The Great Georgia Airshow

Last weekend was the Great Georgia Airshow in Peachtree City, GA. My friend Tammy lives down there and had some free tickets. So, we headed down there for the show. It is the first time I have ever been to an airshow. Besides the weather being kinda weird and crappy, we had a nice time. The planes were cool and the company was great! Plus Xavier thought it was cool that we were shuttled from the parking lots to the show by school buses.



Addie had a great time attacking Xavier while he watched the planes take off and do their tricks.




Xavier got to sit inside a real cessna plane and pretend he was flying. He thought that was awesome.



Xavier beside a jet fighter. We don't know what kind because all identifying marks had been removed.




Some video of the planes. We have lots of video.

Family Vacation

Thursday: Lots of driving and some funnel cake.









Friday: Lots of stuff going on.














Sabbath (Saturday)












Monday: Fort New Salem


















Yes, the entire Pethtel family, even John, got to go on a family vacation. We took 6 days off to visit family and friends in West Virginia. We had a really nice time and it was hard having to come back to reality. We stayed with Pastor Dale and his wife Janet. They were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed our time with them. Xavier had a great time with them as well. He was very interested in their clocks, they have 3 different ones that chime or cuckoo. He learned about different types of birds, mainly due to the bird call clock and the many bird feeders around their house.

We also got into town just in time for the Apple Butter Festival. Gotta have our apple butter! Xavier loved the festival and talked about it everyday. Thursday night he got to listen to Bluegrass music and eat funnel cake, John had deep-fried oreos, and talked up the local town folk with his usual charm. (Needless to say my son is not shy.) Friday we went down to the festival before dinner and he got to pan for gemstones and play in the inflatable jump houses and obstacle course. He told us the obstacle course was a mini-American Gladiator course. On Sabbath, Saturday, we went to church and he told everyone and I mean everyone, how apple butter was made and was invited to ride in the parade on the church float and play chimes. Xavier has never seen a parade much less be in one. So, of course he said yes. After the parade he was able to jump in the bounce houses again, thanks to Aunt Sheila. (Mommy and Daddy weren't going to pay the admission price again.) We didn't go down to the festival the last day mainly because we had to meet family Sunday afternoon. I think we had had enough anyway, well at least Mommy and Daddy.

The rest of the time we visited with the Thorngates, Mike and Sheila, and old friends. We drove Xavier around and showed him the places of John's youth and were we met and fell in love. Although Xavier could have cared less about that fact.He got to see and play at the house John grew up in and the whole time he kept reminding us it was a small town, a very small town. (If you ask him if he wants to live there, he says no and he was just visiting for a little while.) We went out to eat a few times with Mike and Sheila and over to their place for a family get together. Xavier loved playing out in their yard with the little boys next door. We also got a chance to visit Fort New Salem. I never had a chance to visit while I was going to school in Salem and it is now closed to the public for repairs. But, Pastor Dale is on the board and has a key, so he took us around on a private tour Monday morning. Xavier really enjoyed the old buildings and getting an idea about how life was in the "old" days. We also stopped at the New River Gorge visitor center and checked out the large bridge. (I honestly think this was the highlight of Xavier's trip. He hasn't stopped talking about it.)

Addison was great on the trip. She hardly cried at all and was her normal sweet self. Everybody loved on her and thought she was definitely a Pethtel. (Yeah, my kids don't look like me at all.) Aunt Sheila spoiled her with new clothes and toys and lots of hugs and kisses.

Overall it was a great trip and we had such a nice time. But, life beckons and we had to get back to work and reality. Hopefully we will get back to Salem again, soon.