Clair cracks me up!

I don't know where she gets some of the things she says, but honestly people, I can't make this stuff up!

Tonight on the way home from grabing a little something to eat, she was in the back talking to herself about how much yummy candy she was going to get. For those of you who don't know, Clair REALLY likes candy and sneaks it and hides it and craves candy! Heck she even wants to know what's for dessert after BREAKFAST! So, I know she was excited but then she said the funniest thing! (Clair real sing-songy to herself ) "I'm going to get so much candy. It will be like falling in love!" I about wrecked the car I was laughing so hard!

Then while we were trick or treating one lady took a while to answer the door. No, she really did take a long time. We knocked, then Kate rang the bell, then Bowen rang the bell...it was happening so fast I couldn't stop them! I finally thought, maybe no one is home. Right as we got ready to turn around and leave the door opened and Clair said, with that Clair look of disgust, "You sure took a long time to open the door!" I was mortified! I said, "Clair that isn't very nice!" The lady said, "No, it's true, I was in the back room and it did take me awhile." Still as we walked away I had to tell her some other nice things she could have said like "Good evening!" "Happy Halloween" "How are you doing?" She just looked at me, slightly rolled her eyes (as if to say, no four year old with any dignity says those things) and replied "OK mom, I know! I know!"

That child!

Oldies but Youngies

Here are some photos of the kids in their Halloween 50's splendor for "Trunk or treat"

"Come on baby let the good times roll . Come on baby let me thrill your soul..Come on baby let the good times roll..Roll all night long..."

"Sisters, sisters, never were there such devoted sisters!"

"Earth Angel, Earth Angel...will you be mine?"

"Well I saw a gal walkin' down the street, The kind of a gal I'd love to meet, She had blonde hair and eyes of blue, Come along and be my party doll, "

"He's so fine(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)Wish he were mine(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)That handsome boy overthere(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)..the one with the spiky hair!"

"Only you (three) can make this world seem right...Only you (three) can make the darkness bright"

Don't Mess With Texas OR BOWEN!

Naked Babies!

Ok, they're not really naked. We covered all the appropriate parts. They had a great time splashing away in the tub last night. I had to take some pictures.

Wheelbarrow Ride

The boys had a fun time yesterday riding in Opa's wheelbarrow. Usually the grandkids get very excited about it, but for some reason it relaxes our boys. Once they even fell asleep riding in it. We also snapped some pics on my parent's front porch. It was a very cool, very clear fall day so the lighting was perfect for a photo shoot.

Later we went to see Creighton's Grandmother (the boys Great Grandmother Lynes). We just call her "Grandma!" She's so sweet. They boys (OF COURSE) were wild as little bucks so once again, our visit was short. AND I forgot my camera! UGH! But when I apologized for all of this she just said, "Honey, it's all right. I just don't expect them to act any other way." She made me feel better about them being little explorers in her home. She's so sweet! We just love Grandma (Great Grandma)!!!

Pablo the Penguin & Elizabeth the Baby Chick

Danial the Puppy & Elizabeth the Chick

TJ as Pablo the Penguin

We had our Stake Candy Corn Festival this past Saturday night, that gave us a chance to show off the kiddos in their costumes. We sure did have a good time, we even had our neighbors the Westbo's with us. Their son (Elizabeth's boyfriend was a cute puppy!)

Can't wait to see you all soon!!!

Love
The Franklin Family

Gotta have a pacie with the Chick costume

We took the boys to visit their Great Uncle Elijah tonight. He was so happy to see the boys. It was so great to see him and chat with him briefly. He's such a sweet man and has the best memory. He always knows everyone's name and asks great questions. We talked about Alex's glasses and how Ben got his name. Unfortunately, Ben was a little freaked out by all of the equipment in the nursing home and got a little upset so our visit was short. But we were able to snap a picture of the boys with Elijah.

More Maine

Another beautiful day in Maine!

First we went to Sand Beach to look for shells for the girls! Not too many sand beaches on this rocky coast! It was cold, but the sun was shinning and warmed things up. The sandy beach had rocks on either end.

Next we went back to Thunder Hole. It was much more awesome today. The tide was too high yesterday! Today it was "booming" away! (First picture in the hole when the tide is out...then second picture..."BOOM" in comes the tide to fill the hole!)

From Thunder Hole, we hiked along a trail that follows the coastline. It was so pretty. I felt like just sitting in the sun and watching the ocean all day! Most of you know, I am not an ocean girl...I am more a mountain girl. However, in Maine you get the best of both worlds! The trail was like something from the mountains of North Carolina, but you'd come to a clearing and "POP" below you is the ocean! Despite the cold I found several pretty wildflowers. I also saw more beautiful fall colors!

Next we drove to Bar Harbor. We did a little shopping...what bargains! All the stores are closing for the winter and everything was at least 50% off or more! We got the kids several little treats and spent less then we planned. We also saw many cool things like this lobster place...They catch them, bring them in, and serve them up at this dock restaurant! The things hanging from the walls are buoys for the lobster pots. Each fisherman has his own color scheme, so he knows which pots are his! (Here is what the pots or traps look like. The lobsters swim in a hole on the side to eat some food and then they can't get out!) I even got to pretend to be the boat captain!

Next we went to a Whale Museum. If money grew on trees we would have gone on a whale watching boat tour...but we only found leafs on trees, so we were not able to go on a boat. So next best thing, we went to this little museum. It had some interesting things including this jaw bone of whale! Yikkes!

Finally, we drove to the other side of the island to see a lighthouse. I love lighthouses! We could not go in, but we got to hike all around it. It is right on a cliff overlooking a harbor. It is called the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. It was so pretty here. Stephen and I sat on the rocks and just watched the waves crash the rocks below us! This is the view from where we sat!

So, another day over! Tomorrow Stephen has to go to work. :( So, I will be sitting in the hotel room reading and watching movies. I am sad our fun traveling days are over but it is supposed to rain tomorrow and dare I even say it...SNOW on Wednesday! Yikes! I guess I will be nice and warm in the hotel room! I am just so grateful for the wonderful weather we've had the last couple days during our exploring!

More of Kate's Cheerleading

I know Roz posted pics of Kate cheering already, but I FINALLY went to one of her games and was so impressed. She's so cute in her little uniform and she really tries so hard! It's quite adoreable. It brought back memories of, "ROLL OUT THE CARPET RING THOSE BELLS, WE'RE FROM EAST AIKEN TO GIVE YOU A YELL!"

Boys 18 Month Check Up and Kate's Football Game

So the boys had their 18 month check up on the 7th....I know...I know...I should have posted these sooner. But here are thier stats from the check up!

Alex
Height 30 3/4 inches (12%)
Weight 20 lb 9.5 oz (1.7%)
Head Circ. 45.5 cm (4%)

Ben
Height 35 inches (98%)
Weight 27 lb 1 oz (66%)
Head Circ. 48 1/4 cm (64%)

In other news, this past weekeend, we finally got a chance to go see Kate cheer at a football game. It was so much fun. We snapped a pic of the boys with Kate in her uniform. When the girls were done with their cheers they would clap and yell "YAY!" Well, Alex and Ben thought that was their cue to do the same. It was so cute. They were clapping and yelling, "YAY! YAY! YAY!!!"

Well, I'm off to fill out the paperwork for college scholarships for male cheerleading! Hahahahaha!

Maine

Here are a few pictures from our first full day in Maine!

Thunder Hole...it isn't a bathroom...it's a cool hole in the rocks on the coast. When high tide comes in, it makes a sound like thunder!

Oppps! I was so busy taking pictures of the beautiful view at Thunder Hole, that I didn't see a big wave and I got splashed. Burrr!

Cadillac Mountain (1580 ft) with a great view of Bar Harbor below! (Can you see it behind my head?)

Dinner at a Lobster Pound! Yummy!

In closing, while the rest of the world decides between McCain and Obama...Maine has their own well-known politician...