Fannie Goat & Nilly Goat

Archer was in his first operatic performance this week, planing Nilly Goat in the 1st/2nd Grade Theater production of "The Three Nanny Goats."

He did a FANTASTIC job, even though he couldn't keep his hands off of his beard.

We're all very proud!

Tiger Cub Scout Archer Bennington Reporting for Duty

Archer's Halloween

Okay...sorry, everyone.  I've been so distracted by my other two blogs that I have been remiss in updating photos of the boy for all to see.  Here are some great photos of Archer as Harry Potter on Halloween.  He even had a wand (a great stick found by Papa), and a snowy owl that he tried to balance on his shoulder, but pretty much just carried around with him.

Archer covered a lot of trick-or-treat territory this year!  He was accompanied by his friends Hannah & Henry, Julia & Nina, along with Papa, Paul, Jo, Heidi and Daddy, of course.   Nana and I stayed home and handed out candy, and tended to the traditional hot cider & chili.  All in all, it was a great Halloween!

Archer's favorite people

Who does Archer love more than his cousins? Nobody, it seems.

Archer and his buddies

Archer and his friend Anthony. at the pool. I've never seen either of them not moving for this long before.

Archer and Kai at the Apple Valley Water Park field trip. Enjoying turning their teeth blue with Fun Dips. Fun Dips are fun!

Todd's 40th Birthday Party

He was surprised, all right...I can't believe we pulled it off. My mom did a lot of the work in preparing for the party, since I couldn't really be cooking things in front of Todd, etc. Thanks, mom! The greatest thing about the party was when Stacie (Todd's sister) showed up with "the cousins." They live in California, and he didn't think he'd be seeing them for a few days more, so it was a GREAT thing when she and the kids casually walked over and said "Happy Birthday." Archer had fun with kids of friends that he doesn't see very often. He was very excited about being in on the surprise when he found out about it (that afternoon), and immediately made himself very busy creating a card for his dad and running around with our friend Lynne and her daughter Sofia buying last minute ice, etc. Thanks, Lynne, for employing Archer and convincing me to throw a party for Todd in the first place! Thanks, Stacy, for picking up the cakes! Thanks Stacie, for lugging three kids to Minnesota four days early! Thanks Everyone who showed up to make Todd's 40th memorable!

(Click on the images to make them larger)