fall catchup 2010

This is going to be one of those posts where Team Fulkerson catches up. Random, yes, but it will make me feel less behind. I need that some days.

First, preschool. Luke has started preschool and he is loving it! It took a little while for him to decide he loved it, though. This is his photo before his first day.

And this is the after.

hmmm. not quite sure about that.

He's enjoying drawing these days, which is great!

You can see if you look closely that he decided to draw this on the back of a note I'd written to one of the other kids' teachers. I hope it made her smile when she got it...it's much fancier than the notes I normally send to school!

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Leah has decided to start walking. The day we carved our pumpkins was the day...she'd fall down and immediately get back up and keep going. Don't you love when babies start walking that they don't even have anywhere to go, they just walk randomly around the house for the sake of walking? Sometimes she's looking one direction and her legs take her the other direction, almost like she's going against her will. It was really odd to see her upright for a few days, and now, like every other childhood milestone, it's become normal in the blink of an eye. I'm thankful she's healthy and reaching milestones, but it also makes me want to cry.

Slow down, baby Leah.

Mommy's not ready.

Emma, Leah, and a book. :) Perfect

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pumpkin carving and Halloween

Clone Trooper, 10 yr old boy who handed out candy with Dad, princess, football player, bat

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finally, here are Daniel and Noah meeting cousin Max :)

So sweet!

We hope you're all enjoying a fanastic fall!

Love, Team Fulkerson

san francisco

Dan had a work conference in San Francisco a few weeks ago. My mom was an absolute angel and kept all five kids for five nights so I could go with him. It was our first truly kid-free getaway since Emma's birth nearly 13 years ago.

It was awesome!

Dan went to class sessions and I wandered around. I love touring cities on foot. I walked around with my camera and had a fantastic time. We also took a bus tour to wine country for a day. It was so beautiful there!

These images are of Artesa and Silverado wineries, Napa

Look closely...olive trees! Hoosiers aren't used to that. In my experience they come in a jar or in a salad bowl at Olive Garden.

Below is Old St. Mary's Church, Chinatown

The streets of Chinatown made me feel like I was back in Japan. I know that isn't *right* but a general 'Asia' vibe was close enough to make me giddy!

We had a fab-u-lous dinner with Dan's coworkers here! Thanks, Shapiros! I went back the next morning so I could take a good picture in the daylight.

I took the bus (!) to the Haight-Ashbury area to see all of the hippie lore. This chess set was probably my favorite find...on the box it said, "Dude, whose turn is it again?"

Loved the hilly streets and houses thisclosetogether!

Dan in a park near our hotel

One of Dan's research papers was chosen to be a featured 'poster' at this meeting.

Silly me, I thought that meant there would be an actual poster with the abstract printed on it or something.

Turns out the attendees have to stand at computers and look at the posters digitally. Here's Dan with his 'poster.' :)

Our first night there Dan and I found a sushi place and darn near ordered everything on the menu! We always get outvoted when we want sushi for dinner at home. Yum-o!

streetcars running through the downtown - how cool is that?

Thanks to our brave Nana for our getaway!

noah's 8

Noah's 2nd grade photo

Cookie cake

Noah and his friends throwing the pinata after the hook broke off (three times).

Dan's a master at Simon Says (who knew?) and Jodi (Dan's sister) knows how to fold dollar bills into origami shapes for prizes. Impressive!

Happy Birthday Noah! We love you!

maxwell michael

our new nephew Max

Amy's sister, Lori, gave birth to baby Max about a month ago. We are very biased, I know, but isn't he CUTE?

Our kids can't get enough of him. He's so snuggly and sweet!

Welcome to the family, Max! Way to go, Aunt Lori and Uncle John!

football

Let's start by saying that it took football season ending before I've had time to post about football!

Whenever Daniel and Noah play a sport at the same time -and Daniel continues to take karate classes -and Emma takes art classes, confirmation classes and is involved in two after-school clubs-- my quality of life takes a hit. For the past few months it wasn't uncommon for us to be coming and going between 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. four nights a week! That means that dinner happened at 4:45 p.m. and cleanup of said dinner didn't happen until after everyone was in bed...or the next morning.

Yeah, it's been kinda ugly. I know many of you can relate!

Soooo not a lot of blogging time.

Here are some photos from their season!

Daniel played center and was #41. His team wound up winning their division's Super Bowl! It was a fantastic year for the Eagles!

Daniel's primary position was center (#41)

It just so happens that Noah's team, Killer Orange, tied for a win in their division too! Noah wore number 7 this year. His age group requires the coaches to move the kids around to different positions. His favorites were quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

Noah, #7, playing QB

Leah's one!

Aunt Lori, due to deliver a baby boy cousin next week.

Doesn't she look fantastic?

Mommy, Leah and Daddy.

Why is it that our backgrounds always seem to feature the *aftermath* of party preparation?

Leah's first cupcake...and the first shot where you can really see her new earrings!

Those were as much a gift for Mommy as they were for Leah.

Probably more.

Leah and Nana (Amy's mom), who celebrated a milestone birthday this week, too.

See Mom, I didn't say which one.

You're welcome.

Cupcakes, made by big brothers and sister - pink for Leah, green for Nana.

Princess Leah

:)

Yes, baby Leah had her first birthday yesterday!

No, there isn't anything wrong with the camera. I've been reading lots of blogs where people fade out the colors and antique them so I've been playing with those features on iPhoto. I thought these faded-out, vintage style images were fitting for a little girl's first b-day pictures.

Maybe not so much for the next post -- which will feature big brothers in manly football gear. :)

new tricks

August is flying by for Team Fulkerson!

Football (x2) is in full swing. Karate and lots of back-to-school-parent-meeting-open-house outings are keeping us hopping.

Here at home Luke taught himself to cut with scissors.

Not quite proper form, but he gets the job done.

Oddly enough, Luke learned how to use the vacuum cleaner the very same day.

He might like the vacuum a little too much.

Baby Leah, 11 months old, loves showing off in her new favorite place to play.

It's also new schoolyear!

Alex (our nephew) and Noah, ready for the first day of second grade.

Daniel, awake at the crack of dawn for the middle school bus. 5th grade is middle school here in Zionsville. I personally think it's criminal to make middle school last any longer than necessary, but here the kids get treated to four years of it. Blech.

Emma, our seasoned middle-schooler, starting grade 7.

We hope you are enjoying these last days of summer!

Love, Team Fulkerson