Happy Halloween!

{It's an EXTREMELY picture heavy post, so I'll try to keep the text to a minimum!}

Happy Halloween!

While I still can, I'm dressing the Little Ones in themed costumes. I know the day will come when I won't be able to chose for them, so I'm taking advantage while I still can. This year: Pirates. {Next Year: already purchased store costumes. ha!} I didn't get the greatest photos of them together or of Ellie, so I'm planning on taking them on a mini-photo shoot this week to get a few better photos.

{I would like to remind myself that next time, use buttons or Velcro - not hooks and eyes and make shirt/pant garters. Else you'll be tucking in shirts and pants again all night, Sam.}

First stop of the evening was Trick or Treating on base. We only hit up the Commander's street due to time and energy. After just a few houses, Noah knew exactly what to do and even broke out into a run a couple of times to get to the next home.

He often checked to see that his candy was in his bag.

He was mostly a fearless pirate.

But still liked to have his Daddy nearby.

While walking back to the car, Noah got to enjoy some juice snacks. Once in the car, the last one in the package choked him up and got a little sick on his shirt....

So, when we stopped to see our friend Katie before going back home, he really looked like a pirate. Bare chest and all.

Like last year, we had our friends from Life Group over for a little party. Jadyn made an adorable Belle.

Erin and I took Jadyn and Noah trick-or-treating down the street. It was getting pretty dark, but Noah had the hang of it and once even tried to let himself in to our neighbor's house.

A few houses down, we passed some pretty scary looking kids and it was all over for him. He was totally freaked out, didn't want to walk, and was ready to go home. Jadyn, however, was unfazed. She's so brave.

"Trick or Treat!"

The yummy snacks and sweets that normally go along with Halloween {and the upcoming holidays} are something that I just love. I tried two new recipes this year: Candy Corn Cookies and Candy Corn Bark. I HIGHLY recommend the cookies... they were so tasty and so easy and I'm already thinking of different shapes that they could be molded into: hearts, trees, cars, etc. The bark was okay, but I probably won't make it again unless it's for a kid party.

Once we got back, Burgandi, Law, and Harrison came to join the party - Harrison makes a pretty cute pirate too! {And I totally forgot to take any of Becca and Natalie once they got here!}

Ben received a lot of compliments on his pumpkins... especially one of the new ones:

Darth Vadar {the leaves on the left side are also new this year}

Happy Halloween 2010!

Thomas {He Bought It.}

This morning, after Noah made his bed and got his money for doing it, we counted out how much he had in his "store" portion. $4.97! I asked him if he wanted to go to the store and use his money to buy a new Thomas... as if I doubted what his reply would be! "New Thomas Mommy! Le'ss go! Target! Le'ss go!" he shouted and ran {still in his PJs, mind you} to go put on his shoes.

After getting ready and lunch {we missed church again this week... Ben hasn't been feeling well - he even missed out in running in a relay marathon yesterday because he isn't feeling good - and we had a million things to do to get ready for everything that's going on tonight} we loaded up in the Sequoia and made a relatively quick trip to Target. {And I totally forgot my camera.. boo.} We had a very difficult decision to make in the toy aisle... and, admittedly, it was just as difficult for Noah as it was for me. Knowing that he doesn't get the {monetary} value of money, I pulled down the three trains that were in his price range {we were willing to match his amount}. He chose two and carried them around the store for quite a while. He finally settled on this one {which we were pleased with as well... since he loves his Cars toys just like it}:

We were just so proud of him when he handed over his money to the cashier. I'm sure the clerk was a little annoyed, but we're on a mission to train our kiddos up to live in financial peace.

Ellie, who really wanted to play with it too, was easily distracted with the packaging.

I'm secretly not-so-secretly hoping her first purchase is a Barbie.

Daddy's Little Helper

This morning, Tyler, Cindy and the girls came over so that Ben and Tyler could split some of the firewood that we had in our backyard. Ben got started before they came over and Noah got to help him.

He insisted that he have gloves like Daddy.

I love how much he wants to be just like his Daddy... and how much I want him to be just like him too.

PB&J's Biggest Fan

I have the hardest time getting this boy to eat. {Ben always teases me that I'll be singing a different tune when he's a teenager, eating us out of house and home.} So imagine my surprise when I fixed him a PB&J {one slice, open, cut into two footballs with a cookie cutter} and he ate them both... and asked for another one. And then another one.

The boy ate THREE slices.

Two and a half more than he usually will.

I'm marking this day on the calendar.

Our Day in Review

Noah loves to go get Ellie up from bed. He's been known to outrun me to her room when we hear her on the monitor and cry if I get there first. But sometimes Ellie wakes up before Noah does... and she loves to go wake him up just as much as he does her.

We went out to the mall today to meet another friend from our Life Group, Cindy and her girls, for some play time and lunch.

Ellie thoroughly enjoyed herself and kept me on my toes chasing her chasing after Noah.

Noah did his best to run away from her and found that the best way to was climb up the slide.

Noah and Becca got to ride in the Jeep on our way to lunch. {Thanks Cindy!}

Ben and I have decided that Ellie's laugh is so infectious. I'm certain that you'll have to agree.

And, I'm also certain that you'll agree that this Big Guy is pretty hysterical too.

{Also.. he does wear clothes. But seriously, every time he goes potty we lose an article of clothing until he's down to his undies.}

He's a poser. He put on Ellie's "pi-wat hat" and immediately needed to go look at himself in the mirror.

Keeping Me Busy

It's been busy around here. So busy, in fact, that Tuesday I forgot to even pick up my camera. So I'm rolling Monday's post and today's into one.

Here's a quick look at what has been keeping me busy:

A Little One that just doesn't seem as little now that she toddles around. She's getting more proficient daily and our high step count is at 18.

Halloween costumes that are nearly finished. His just needs a few finishing touches.

A playdate with new friends from Life Group. H is just a month younger than Noah and they both love Cars. And Thomas.

And after only one playdate.... each other.

We have a Toddler {Again}

We did a whole lot of nothing yesterday. Including not breaking out the camera. Mom and Jessie left to meet Daddy-Man and BB in Dallas in the wee hours of the morning, before any of us were really awake. It rained most of the day and we decided that the best thing to do on a day like that is to stay inside, in our PJs for most of the day. And mourn the OU loss.

While Mom was here, she was determined to get Ellie to walk. I've been trying for weeks. We know she can do it. I've even seen her take a couple of steps when she didn't realize it, but they were all while she was standing next to something that she could quickly grab onto. I think she's just convinced herself that crawling is faster {and the girl IS fast}. I jokingly told Mom that she was going to have her walking by the time she left.

Little did I know that I was almost correct!

She took a couple of unassisted steps yesterday and this morning, while I was tending to Noah in the bathroom, she came in, stood up, smiled slyly at me and then took two steps before sitting back down.

This evening, after dinner and baths and before Life Group, I took this video:

{sigh}

We officially have a toddler again.

Because this Little One....

thinks he is a teenager.

Busy = Us. {All Day}

We were super busy today. This morning we ran errands, including attempting to find a few garage sales, getting some needed sewing supplies, doing some Christmas shopping and, of course, eating lunch at one of our favorite places: Chick-fil-a.

The kids {and ladies!} were exhausted by the time we returned home and promptly went down for their afternoon naps.

While they were napping, I whipped up part of BB's Bellatrix Lestrange costume for the girls' Harry Potter party. I seriously cannot wait to see the whole outfit!

Once the kiddos woke up, it was close to dinner time, so we went ahead and started getting their dinners ready for them. Noah decided that he didn't want nuggets for dinner too, so Aunt Jessie made him a PB&J.

After Ben got home from work and the kids finished up their dinner, we all got ready and headed out to the Pumpkin Patch. Abilene only has one, so if the photos look a little familiar... you now know why.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Aunt Jessie and Nana with the Little Ones

Ellie did not let the little pumpkin go... it came home with us.

Ben found a {HUGE} pumpkin that he wanted, so he and Noah brought over a wagon to haul it in.

Wagons are also good for hauling Little Ones around.

Noah was determined to pull the wagon and the pumpkin.

All. by. himself.

After we left the Pumpkin Patch, Nana and Aunt Jessie took the kiddos back home and put them to bed while Ben and I went out for dinner. It was nice to be able to eat out without worrying about Thomas falling on the ground or making sure that sippy cups were full. {Thanks Mom and Jessie!}

And, the craftiness continued once we got back home - Ben helped Mom etch a couple of gifts and Jessie and I got some things cut out for the Harry Potter party.

Busy? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.

Nana/Mom and Jessie, thanks for everything! Wish you could have stayed longer - love you both!

Spoiled {with Love}

My Mom and Sister came into town this afternoon. Mom is on Fall Break and Jessie took today and tomorrow off so that she could come down for a quick visit with Mom. And, Nana can't come to town without spoiling the grandbabies...

with presents and with love.

And best of all, a little bit of play time.

So glad you are here Nana and Aunt Jessie! ♥

Wordless Wednesday: Mischief Managed

{click the photo for a flashback}

A Crafty {Cookie} Tuesday

We had a pretty busy day.

Busy, but yummy.

And a little spooky too.