Halloween 2013

Halloween was great this year.  The kids had a nice warm day to trick-or-treat.  Lilly was a witch that she created herself (she pieced together the costume).

 Andy and I took the kids to our friend's haunted house.  We took the 3 little ones to the "no scare" version.  Ella didn't even make it past this fence.  She walked one step and screamed and freaked out so she sat with our friends while we took the boys through.

 Ella couldn't handle this guy.  The boys were fine!  I'm laughing right now thinking about Ella's reaction.

 Lilly was at a party while we had the little ones there so when we got home I took her back.  She was pumped and excited and insisted we go through the scare version.  We waited in line for a very long time.  We went through one room and she lost her mind sobbing and screaming and I had to carry her while she buried her head.  I laughed so hard I couldn't walk which scared her more as she punched me and screamed, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"  Maybe I'm evil but I thought it was soooo funny!  And no, she wasn't scarred in any way nor did she have nightmares.  Here she is after the incident...

 The boys and Ella had a Halloween party and parade at their preschool.  Gabe was a trash man, Luke a fire man, and Ella was a fairy.

 Ella with her friend Bianca.

 We then headed to my old school and Lilly's school for the annual Halloween parade.  Lilly's teacher was a minion and can be seen in yellow behind her here.

 This here may be my most favorite picture I've ever taken.  Gabe loves everything garbage.  He's been following these garbage men since he could walk.  Halloween fell on trash day so they stopped and posed with Gabe.  My heart melted.

 And this...

 Our misfits.

 The trick-or-treating crew.

 Gabe got tired.  Andy ran home to get the stroller.  This was about 8 houses in...

I know it's now December but better late than never.  Happy Halloween!

Random

Life is flying by.  So many little things happening that add up to one big fast paced awesomely happy life.

Ella is deathly afraid of anyone dressed up (Easter Bunny, characters, etc.).  She was at a birthday party last year when Hello Kitty appeared and she had a nervous breakdown and we had to leave.  She still asks at every.single.party, "Is Hello Kitty coming?" 

At this party I almost fainted when they announced princess Aurora was here!  Holy cow!  Ella went into sheer panic and started to lunge as I mouthed to my friend Jillian GET HER and Jillian caught Ella mid-flight and I was able to protect her as Aurora arrived.  After the initial shaking, crying, and trying to exit the party, Ella checked out the princess cautiously and eventually warmed up to her!!!  I was so proud.  It's the little things in life...

 Andy's been working on our new master bathroom.  It's beautiful.  He's so talented.

 Lilly's been winter swimming every Monday, Wednesday and every other Sunday.  She's doing a great job and sort of enjoys it.

 Luke is lovey and sweet and caring and likes to make funny faces and pretend he's mad at me.  Little lover...

 Oliver loves his friend Scooby, also a St. Berdoodle.  Oliver loves everyone.  He's an awesome dog and turned 2 on Nov. 1st. 

Loving life!  

Original Work of Art by Lilly - "Unique"

I found this video on our home computer.  I was laughing so hard but was equally concerned!?  

Time to get Lilly off of You Tube I think.

Enjoy the show.

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Dude

Happy Saturday!!!

Awesome Playground

 The boys and I enjoyed an awesome new (to us) playground in a nearby town.

Wooly Bear

I never knew about the Wooly Bear Caterpillar before the kids found this poor guy in the driveway.  I guess he positioned himself with my tire.  Oops.  That didn't stop the boys and Ella from going on a Wooly Bear adventure (after looking up what kind of caterpillar it is).  Did you know that according to legend, the wider the middle brown section is the milder the winter will be?  Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter.    

I hearby predict a very mild winter!

 The kids carried around the dead Wooly Bear for quite some time before finding two living friends for dead Wooly Bear.

 An adorable toddler hand complete with marker and a beautiful (all orange?) Wooly Bear.  Love.

 The kids went inside and found a home for all of their new friends.  Yes, dead Wooly Bear is still hanging out on our front porch.  It's all good.

Don't run out and buy snow boots!  Happy Mild Winter.

Quarry

I had no idea we had such an amazing place right down the street from our house.  Our friends asked us to meet them at 'the quarry' one Sunday afternoon, so we did.  Boy am I glad we did!  It was beautiful.  The kids all handled the 10 minute "hike" to the quarry with ease.

 After trekking through the path in the woods this is what we saw...

 It reminded the kids of Jockey's Ridge in the Outer Banks!  These stones were surprisingly difficult to climb!

 Lukey found some quicksand...

 The kids had a great time capturing toads.  This is a teeny tiny one.  So cute!

 Andy and Thomas decided to try to climb a cliff on the way back. I believe they ended up taking the trail in the end.  But Andy gets an A for effort!

Sometimes the most beautiful things are right before your eyes.