The Mac Kinnon Family

Mac and Emily had a great Halloween.  True Northwest fashion..it poured today.  Emily's field trip was cancelled to the pumpkin patch and when we headed out to trick or treat it was pouring buckets of rain.  About a half hour into trick or treating it lightened up some but we all were soaked to the bone.  The kids didn't seem to care, Emily was done after about an hour and a half but Mac wanted to keep on going.  They had more then enough candy so we headed home.  I think were all tired....Happy Halloween!  

While watching either football or baseball on Sunday Mac saw the commercial for a free taco from Taco Bell on Tuesday (today).  When I picked him up from school today his first question was when could we go get a free taco.  I couldn't believe he remembered, guess he really wanted that free taco.  Mac and John got their free taco's and ate them after swim practice!  Mac enjoyed is "Dorito Taco"!    

2 days before Halloween and we finally got the pumpkins carved.  Grandma Jan helped get them scooped out and John helped created their faces, with much dictation from the kids!  Mac's is the first one pictured, Mac's the second.  He thought it would be funny to make one of the teeth "loose"!  It's hard to see the one with candles in it, but they look cute on the porch.  The kids feasted on caramel apples afterwards, with they found might tasty!  

Mac needed a bigger cage for his snake and Emily wanted to get a pet so we told them a while ago they needed to save up "chips" (tokens they earn for good behavior, etc.).  Mac had to save 90 and Emily 65, in addition to using their chips for their normal stuff like a TV show or to play on our phone. Emily seemed to like hermit crabs so we rolled with it since they are pretty easy to care for.  They worked hard and reached their goals last week.  Mac got his cage first and they gave  the old cage to Emily.  We spent a few days getting the cage ready and today Emily picked out her hermit crabs.   She named them Hermie and Belle, both she and Mac are wanting to hold them and play with them frequently...we finally told them they needed to get acclimated to their new world.  Hopefully we'll be good hermit crab owners and Emily will still love them after the newness wears off.  

  Mac's class (along with the 4th graders) did a special Oktoberfest celebration.  They learned a bunch of dances and performed for the parents.  Mac really enjoyed learning the dances and would try to teach them to us!  There are a few short video clips at the bottom of the pictures.  The last one would make Grandma Shaffner proud!                                                    

Last week Mac found a yo-yo at a garage sale and became enthralled with figuring it out.  He was getting good at using it, it was a bit worn so when Pappy sent him $5 he asked if he could by a new yo-yo.  I took him Sunday to get a new yo-yo and it's much smoother then the old one, which he gave to Emily.  He pretty much has it in his hand when he's home, trying to learn new tricks like "walk the dog".  He also wants to know what looping is....guess we'll have to help him figure it out!    When the string broke, and I was able to fix it he told me I was the best yo-yo fixer ever!  I'll take my compliments where I can get them!           

We've played Uno so much in the past months that we wore out our cards and had to buy new ones!  The kids just love it, we play at least one game almost every day.  

There's a nursery  here that does a "pumpkin walk" every year for two nights right around Halloween.  You can carve and donate a pumpkin to be displayed, which we didn't have time to do this year.  The line was incredibly long but moved quickly, there were probably 150 pumpkins.  There were all sort of designs from basic to very intrinsic.  We couldn't take a whole lot of pictures, too many people but I wish we could have! The kids really enjoyed seeing all the different designs and John got a few ideas for some fun pumpkins we can do!   

  We went ice skating yesterday.  Mac begged to go, Emily wasn't sure if she wanted to do it.  Both kids ended up doing great.  Mac remembered some of what he learned last year and after a few laps around he was doing fairly well on his own.  This was Emily's first time on the ice, she was very nervous at first but became more comfortable and even wanted to "try it" on her own.  We all had a great time, both kids wanted to know when could they take lessons!          

Yesterday was a teacher in service day so Mac was out of school.  The kids love to play spy and created their own "glasses" and "rings".  They did a good job!  

Emily loves when they do the rings in gymnastics.  She is able to pull herself up.  She's one of the bigger kids in the class for a change.....but she's moving up to the next level so she'll probably be the littlest one again!    

Saturday was Holly's big day, she was very calm and collected.  We first had a brunch we attended for family and friends introducing the homecoming court.  Each of the 7 guys and girls were pretty amazing, their list of accomplishments and achievements were impressive.  After brunch we went to the "SVO" house for some pics and for Holly to change into her dress then we were off to the game.  At half time the homecoming court went onto the field and did their "walk".  Holly was paired up with a really neat guy.  After all 7 couples were introduced they announced the king and queen.  Holly was very excited and seemed a little relieved when one of the other girls name was announced, all the girls on the court were amazing, it must have been a tough decision for the committee.  Holly's partner was crowned king, which also thrilled Holly.  After a bunch more pictures we were finally able to go....eat and then Ho...