Special Time with Grayson

Every M-W-F, our big boy - Gordon spends 2-1/2 hours enjoying preschool. This allows opportunity for Grayson and me to spend special time together, just the two of us.

Typically, we kick off our time walking on the green belt along the Boise River, looking at trees, ducks, geese, and squirrels, etc. This stroll often leads us to the library, where Grayson loves reading books, playing with puzzles....

...playing with puppets and dinosaurs....

...and playing computer games.

Then there are days when we need to run some errands and do a little shopping. Here, we had just bought Grayson's cowboy hat for Halloween.

Sometimes it's fun just to look around at Ross or Target.

The park is another favorite destination, of course. Here is a photo of Grayson from this past Wednesday, sweet as can be.

All this fun will frequently lead to a much-needed nap.

Sweet little Grayson!

Let It Snow...just a little

Last Saturday, we got our first dusting of snow for this season in Boise.

The boys enjoyed playing in the white stuff, even though it was crunchy, crumbly snow -- meaning we were unable to build a mini-snowman.

But it was fun while it lasted.

For now, the snow is gone -- but the temperatures are dropping, so it likely won't be too long before we see more.

The Sound of Music

For those of you in the Treasure Valley, if you haven't had a chance to see "The Sound of Music" at Knock 'Em Dead Theater in Boise, you still have this weekend and next to do so. My brother Joey is playing Captain Von Trapp in the performance, and it is a wonderful show!

Mom and Dad treated me to dinner theater tickets, while Gary gave me a night out as he stayed with the boys. Dave and Myra met us there for the performance, after we enjoyed an authentic Austrian dinner, catered by Le Cafe de Paris in Boise.

Here we are after the show -- Joey did a fabulous job, as always!

Joey with Phoenix, age 6, the youngest cast member who played Gretl.

For more information on Knock 'Em Dead Theater, including the current production of "The Sound of Music," click on this link:

http://www.kedproductions.org/

Grammy & Papa Arrive!

My parents flew in from Minnesota late last Thursday night. Their main reason for a trip to Idaho was to see my brother Joey perform as Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" at Knock 'Em Dead Theater.

I'm pretty certain that quality time with these little fellas made it an easy decision to fly to Idaho for a long weekend also.

Their first morning here, the boys showed Grammy & Papa our new house. They were most excited to show them the window porch, where the boys love to make art projects.

On Saturday morning, the boys woke up to more surprises from Grammy & Papa -- they each got a new red flashlight for trick-or-treating.

We loved having Grammy & Papa stay with us!

Pumpkin Carving

Unfortunately, Gary was called in last minute to work at the BSU football game on Halloween. Papa and Uncle Tony offered up their pumpkin carving skills to help create this year's jack-o-lanterns. As usual, I prefer camera duty for this project. Here is the process, just getting started.

Gordon and Grayson got a kick out of scooping out the pumpkin guts.

We enjoyed a whole bunch of happy helpers.

Gordy & Papa, working on Gordon's pumpkin

Tony assisted Grayson in his pumpkin project, while Auntie Nenny looked on.

All smiles....

Fascination.

I will post the finished jack-o-lanterns in my next post.

Trick or Treat!

And here they are -- this year's trick-or-treaters from the Salzman house:

Introducing *drumroll* ~

Cowboy Grayson!

And next *drumroll* ~

Gordy, the sweetest ghost in the west!

Here two of the three finished jack-o-lanterns:

This one was carved by Gary.

And this is Tony's creative jack-o-lantern, below. (Papa's was on the porch and the photo I took of it is still on my memory card).

Setting out for tricks and treats....

Jen & Tony

Ding dong.

"Trick or Treat!"

We spent a couple hours of the evening at our Church's 'Trunk or Treat,' visiting with friends and watching a Veggie Tales movie shown in the parking lot.

Then we strolled down a few more cul-de-sacs for tricks or treats on our walk home.

Hey, this house looks very familiar!

We're home! Gary went home early to relieve Dave & Myra, who had been handing out candy for us while we were out and about. Thanks, Dave & Myra!

Time to sample some of this candy!

It didn't take too long for the boys to fall asleep, after all that fun!

Gordy shared his bedroom with Grammy & Papa while they visited, and so he got to sleep in a tent in our room for a few nights. Here, Gary reads bedtime stories to the boys, camping style.

Happy Halloween!