Two Mermaids and A Pumpkin

Our house was full of Halloween spirit. It was extra special because our Sara, Ellie and Papa were there.  Every meal for two days was full of ghoulish character. A large spider and her babies took up residence in our stairwell and black and orange streamers set the mood in the kitchen. Many pumpkin faces and pumpkin Ariel sat outside our door inviting ghouls and goblins of all sizes to a bowl of candy.

Ghosts for breakfast!

We started our day at Addi’s preschool. Addi’s teacher invited Ellie back on Halloween to participate in their party. We all dressed up! Sara of course was a vampire and I dressed up as Papa. It was so funny. My dad said, “You know I am a person, not a character to dress up as!” Well, the girls appreciated it and even called me 'the other Papa' all day! We helped the kids with themed crafts and projects and then walked with them to the nursing home where the kids had prepared Halloween songs to sing to the residents.

Since I hung Landon’s costume in his closet two weeks ago he has wanted to wear it every day. When I finally got it out and put him in it he was so, so proud. When I would ask him where my little pumpkin was he would pat on his round pumpkin belly and smile.

After school we carved our pumpkins that we picked out at the pumpkin patch earlier in the week.

Trick-or-treating was a blast. The girls walked to a couple of our neighbor’s houses all by themselves. They were so proud skipping along holding hands. After dinner we went all went trick-or-treating. An old lady gave the girls a package of Top Ramen. Instantly Addi ran to Papa, slammed the ramen against his chest and said, “Papa’s favorite soup!” Ellie eventually forgave me for running behind a dark bush and scarring her and Addi just as they got up their brave to walk along the spooky, dark path. With a big hug, I apologized and she said, “I forgive you Auntie. It was just a trick.” Uncle Dylan tracked down the special house that was rumored to hand out cotton candy. It was the last house, the icing on the cake. Instead of saying trick-or-treat, with great excitement Ellie yelled to the man, “cotton candy!” The girls had a blast and quickly filled their candy bags. They literally ran to each house careful not to trip on their mermaid tails. Ellie, being less reluctant than Addi, rang the doorbells and pounded on the door until someone answered. She yelled, “Hello. Is anybody home?” She wasn’t leaving until someone gave her some candy! At one house where no one answered Addi snuck behind Ellie and dropped some candy on the stair and said, “Look Ellie, there is some candy for you. “ She is always looking after her best little cousin.

Checking out the loot.

The kids mixing up a pumpkin potion!

First Steps

Landon is walking ... if you make him! Landon will take up to five steps in a row if properly bribed.  He has been standing and walking along the furniture for a few months now, but has shown no interest in walking on his own. Then Auntie Sara came to town and she motivated him with her cell phone and M&Ms. He will confidently take two or three steps in a row and has taken five big steps! He knows what we want him to do and is so silly on purpose when he falls to the floor giggling.

When he stands he puts his hands up above his head and waits for you to notice and say, "Soooo big!" Then he laughs and falls to the ground!

{ will insert video once corrupted QuickTime is fixed :( }

Ellie is FOUR!

Today our sweet niece, Ellie Marie, turned four.  She is such a joy to be around. Her smile lights up my world and the day she was born was one of the most special days of my life. Her sweet and sassy personality is hilarious. She is so funny and without knowing it makes everyone around her belly laugh.

It was Ellie's day and she told us what she wanted to do. We went to the pumpkin patch and the carousel.  We went out to lunch and played in Papa's leaves. We had a spaghetti dinner with Granny. Ellie blew out her candles on tiny, little birthday cupcakes, opened her presents and played in a pile of balloons while singing songs to Papa's guitar.

The trick candles kept re-lighting! Even Landon was helping to blow out the candles!

Kisses from her horse-head-on-a-stick that Addi got her!

At The Pumpkin Patch

As part of Ellie's birthday celebration we visited the pumpkin patch.  It was cold and wet but the kids and Papa had a great time choosing their pumpkins!

I am still not allowing myself to use auto mode. I am struggling with being able to change my camera settings fast enough to keep up with the kids. Because Landon isn't running around yet, I find it easier to photograph him!

{Landon Wayne, 15 months old}

"This." 

{Addison Jo, 4 years, 11 months, 22 days old, that's right she turns 5 in a week!}

{Ellie Marie, 4th Birthday!}

So I had to kindly steal some of sister's pictures!

In Papa's Leaves

When Papa cleans up his yard he always leaves a huge pile of leaves for the girls to play in. With giant smiles on their faces and with handfuls of snow soaked leaves Addi and Ellie chased us around the yard. What is more fun than a giant leaf fight?

Ellie getting me! Sara's Picture

Sara's Picture

Sara's Picture

In Black & White

I am still forcing myself to stay out of auto mode. I am usually frustrated and think about putting down my camera permanently and trying out a new hobby! Today I played with the black & white feature on my camera, in manual mode.

Landon, 15 months. Running-a-muck, naked after his bath. 

Due to the low light in my house I used a high ISO. The picture is very grainy. I get what this means now!

After almost 5 years, she is so sick of having the camera pointed at her!

Playing with Princess the Cat, his favorite animal.

Playing with Auntie.