I'm Still here...I promise.

Hope you have your comfy clothes on, cause it has been a while. Lot's to tell you. So, sit back, relax and enjoy. From baptism's to crafting. And from playing to the potty.    We got it..

Had the pleasure of being at the baptism of a dear friend's granddaughter. Oh, Baptism's get me. There is just something about the purity and innocence of a beautiful child being welcomed into a family of God. So precious. Just look at this gorgeous girl. She is so loved. By so many. That is for sure...

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My good friend came up with a wonderful craft idea and with the help of my mom and the purchase of a little twig tree, we now have as my friend named it, the Thanks"giving" Tree. Each day we write down something we are thankful for and then hang it on our tree. It has been so much fun and I hope for it to be wonderful family tradition we will start.

 the bean is so thankful for her teeth. guess i would be too if i hadn't gotten them until i was almost two.

Then there is just the plain ole enjoying my family. My awesome girls. They are just so great. I look at them sometimes and wonder how in the world I got so lucky. I can't wait to see their faces first thing in the morning and my sleep at night comes with the peace of knowing they are the last thing I see before I go to bed at night. They are close, my girls. They have a closeness I can't explain. The bear translates for the Bean and the Bean wants the bear when anything goes wrong for her. It is such a bond. I love it. Don't get me wrong, they have their moments. Moments where I am not sure if I am mommy or referee. But watching them grow up together, being best friends, well, that is just so fulfilling.

Their laughter is contagious and giddy. They make us laugh and they make each other laugh.  I love to see them happy. It brings me so much joy. I just hope that I make them as happy as they make me.

 

And last but not least, the bean has been showing interest in the... shhh "potty". It was going good and then not so good and then back to pretty good. I don't know if she will pick it up like her sister, but she sure tries. In her own time though.

So, that is where we are for now. We have so much to be thankful for and next week we will celebrate those things. Families will join and eat and laugh and cry I am sure. It is going to be different this year. Very different, but wonderful at the same time. There is just so much to be thankful for. I can tell you two things I sure am thankful for...

 P.S.~Don't tell Grandpa, but this picture was taken while they were sitting in his chair. But that is another post.

Good Night.



Pretend Play

We are gearing up for a very big day here at our house. We have library trick or treating this morning and then after nap, we have downtown trick or treating as well as at the grandparents house. It is going to be FUN!! With Halloween here, it makes me realize how precious and innocent the child's mind is. The pretend play that was happening in our house this morning was no exception.

This morning two pirates took on the roll of a baby, butterfly and mean monster.

Something I did learn this morning. If you ever want to know how you sound when you reprimand your children, just give them a couple of pirates, sit back and watch. Oh my. I do remember the words "quiet down honey" and "if you do that one more time" but mostly I was laughing so hard, I couldn't hear.

 ~the bear is spanking her pirate here

And then for the grand finale, the two pirate buddies, well they ended up in time out.

Hope your day is full of fun and pretend play. I know ours will be. Oh, and Happy Haunting!!



Crafts,Creating and Costumes...Oh my

It was a long week. One that meant I needed the comfort and love of my family. My husband and girls have been such comfort to me and we have been doing some really neat things. One of our most favorite things to do right now is play school. We have these really cool old school desks thanks to Nana. They are the perfect size. Sarah will point to the chalkboard and request your participation by asking you "what that is?" mommy. I love it. The Bean tries to copy her and that brings, well pretty much rolling laughter...

We have also been making our own puppets. Out of kits that is. This mom isn't that talented.

 

I really can't believe that we are going into the last week of October. The weekend weather sure didn't seem like it. It was so nice. We opted to enjoy some of that summer like weather today. Nothing like getting one more weekend of our swing set in before the cold weather starts. And with warm weather, you have to have ring pops....

And even though the weather is warm and sunny, the leaves and surroundings still remind us that it is time for Halloween. My girls are so excited. They have been practicing their "trick or treat". It is going to be great this year. I was telling my mom today, if I could freeze time right now I would. They are so much fun and so energetic. The bean is talking up a storm. Interacting with them seems to come so easily now. And watching the two of them interact, well that is just amazing.We have the best time together. Here is a sneak preview of our butterfly and cupcake this year.

We have a pretty low key week ahead of us. Hope to get back to some normal routine. I sure miss him like crazy. But I know that he is looking down on us and he is so proud. Because our house is full of love. And memories of him.

Music Class

We started a new music class. It is THE BEST. The four of us go and we dance and sing and play the coolest instruments. Ms. ReaAnne is so wonderful. She is energetic, funny and so talented. My Bear LOVES her. She is contagious. Her smile is so real and she is always in a good mood. Did I mention how much we like her?

I look forward to this day all week. This is such a fun time for my girls. They express themselves and feel free to just dance and play. I never realized how much little ones can learn from music. They are showing new skills each and every class. Repetition says a lot.

 

 One of the things I like best about the class is the interaction we as parents have with the kids. Our participation is just as important as theirs.

Oh, I have a great story to end this post.This evening, my heart just lept out of my chest as I watched my Bear go over to her sister. See, at the end of every class we sing the "goodbye song" and towards the end the lyrics say "So, how 'bout a hug for your mom and dad OR THE PERSON WHO TAKES CARE OF YOU" My Bear looked at me and looked at her dad and with a wink marched right over to her sister and gave her a big hug and kiss. Good Gosh, I think I melted right then and there. I love those girls so much it hurts sometimes....



Pumpkin Pickin

I love the Pumpkin Patch. Whether the air is warm or cold and rainy(which was our case) it still yells "fall". The colors of pumpkins, corn, and apples are so vibrant and bring the beauty of where we live out to it's fullest.

It was our Bear's very first pre-school field trip and we all went. As a family. It was so much fun. Mostly watching the girls explore and find the "perfect" pumkin and "perfect" apple. The apple trees must have been expecting the little kids. The branches fell to a perfect height for all of the little kids to get the experience of picking their own apple. So much fun. And the pumpkin patch, well just like the apple trees, those vines were full of the most perfect sized pumpkins for those little bodies to pick up and show off.

 

The hay ride was no boring event either. All of the kids and parents laughed and told stories about our old hay ride experiences. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know the other parents. Daddy is the homeroom coordinator this year, so we will be in touch with these same people a lot throughout the year.

At the end of the trip we were all ready for our warm cars and the quiet tunes of "The Wheels on the Bus". What a fun day. Many more to come I know.  Our house is now decorated with the perfect "fall" decor which will be the scene for some sweet costume shots in the next couple of weeks.


Hope you find lots of colors in your yard this time of year. And lot's of love as well.