Halloween 2011

It's only 3 days past Halloween, yet it feels like forever ago, already! As always, we celebrated with some fun new foods and activities, as well as old traditions. This year I couldn't pass-up the box of "Count Chocula" at Target; (mostly because I always wanted to try it when I was a kid, and never did!)

We did a Halloween version of school, including a devotion on Isaiah 46:10 reassuring the girls to "Fear not, For I am with you..." It was a good reminder during some of the spookier houses we came across that night!

We also had fall sudoku, and a new game: "m&m math." It was suppose to be a candy corn game, but Natalie doesn't like candy corn.

I found the game on Pinterest. Basically, it is a very simple game. You roll 2 dice, add up the numbers, and eat the corresponding m&m. I added an extra step of making the girls write-out their problem on a white board.

One activity that I was really looking forward to was the pumpkin flip book; also an activity I found on Pinterest. My girls' reaction?? "This is ok... not so fun." Huh? Funny how these things work out sometimes!

For lunch, I made goofy pumpkin faces. Deviled egg eyes, ham and cheese crescent roll noses, and apple, peanut butter, marshmallow mouths. We also made some guacamole for our orange and black chips. I'm happy to report lunch was a hit!





Dinner was our traditional sloppy joes before hitting the neighborhood. (The girls informed me that they no longer like orange jello, so if anyone wants I have a whole thing in my fridge!) We got kind of a late start, but were still some of the first to hit our block!

Here are our dressed-up girls:

Of course, Sierra makes the perfect lion with her natural mane. Natalie was a beautiful butterfly! And, I was SO proud of Allison for making-up her own costume. I didn't help her one bit. She was an "old-fashioned girl," and very proud of her original self!






Sierra loved going to the doors, and often stood there for a while. She was so funny! I think this will be a favorite time of year for her.


Lots of walking. Lots of fun treats. Way too many fun treats, really. Until next year, Halloween!

Celebrating Sierra

For the first time ever, I didn't plan a birthday party for one of my girls. And, it felt quite strange! But, we decided our Legoland getaway was a good celebration for Sierra, and that we would have a fun celebration day with the grandparents, as well. Since Sierra is really into horses these days, we started with a trip to the pumpkin patch; (specifically for pony rides!)


Sierra rode one horse named "Oats," and one named "Cookie Monster." Even today, Sierra was asking to go ride Cookie Monster. Despite being totally exhausted, she loved her pony rides!

Of course, the other girls had a blast, as well...


...Goat nibbles and all!!









Rootbeer floats and kettle corn... Yummy!!

Sierra chillin' with Grandma and Grandpa while the big girls...

... JUMPED! (And tried to flip!)


The vendor selling water also let us try some of his watermelon candy corn!


The U.S. Forest service was giving a demonstration on cutting trees. Daniel couldn't leave without paying them a visit. Both girls came home with a stamped piece of wood as their souvenir.



We couldn't keep Sierra awake in the car. Poor thing was out! But, that wasn't the end of her fun day.

Back at home, we made Sierra a birthday cake. I was so unprepared, and had a lone box of white cake mix in my cupboard. After playing around online, I found a recipe for turning white cake into peanut butter cake, and another place had a recipe for nutella frosting. So, that is what we did!

We also carved and painted our pumpkins! Allison carved Ariel, and Natalie painted a castle.


We ate dinner outside, enjoying the beautiful weather!

Finally, came presents. (Forgive the pictures; I apparently had the camera on a funky mode!)




Sierra loved her Barbie horse, and tried to ride it. The funny thing is, it didn't work too well. It would walk a few steps and then fall. But, that was Sierra's favorite part. She loved watching it fall!




The cake turned out ok... I wasn't a huge fan of the Nutella frosting. But, it was a great way to end a busy, fun day! Sierra... you are a precious gift to our family, and we are so in love with our little curly-haired 2-year-old!

It's A...

... BOY! Did I tell you we were having a boy? Well, it was suppose to be a surprise; for all of us! Unfortunately, the technician blew-it. She made it quite obvious. "Wow, look at that! Are you sure you don't want to know? Look at his ** um ** it's leg!"

Yes, she blew it! But, we still waited 7 more weeks (in torture) before we decided to find out for sure. The second technician confirmed it. "Yup -- there's the turtle!" To be honest, it's been so much fun to think of my son. I'm loving telling one person at a time the exciting news and seeing their reaction.

When I told my sweet friends Kelly and Tricia the fun news, I was offered a little boy shower. I can't think of 2 more creative, generous, and prayerful friends... truly, they should be professional party planners! I did feel a little funny saying yes; after all, it's my 4th baby! But, I am so glad I did... these ladies blessed my socks off!


Here I am with my sweet friends:

It was a beautiful breakfast with fun, original games, awesome food, and a wonderful devotion/ prayer time. The theme was "trains;" both for little boys, as well as "train up your child in the way he should go..." from Proverbs 22:7. (I told you they are super creative!)




My favorite game was "Boy mom in training." I was asked questions such as "Name as many 'Cars' and 'Thomas the Train' figures as you can." -Or- "Scenario: you're playing and your son shoots you -- give your best dramatic death." Hilarious! So creative! (This girl mom didn't do so well!)





As I mentioned before, we also had a wonderful prayer/ devotion time. God filled my love-tank big time! I feel so refreshed -- and that perhaps I can do this! I am one blessed Mommy! A huge thank-you to ALL my wonderful friends!

Speaking of thank-you's... time for me to go write some cards!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sierra!

It's been a BUSY weekend.... a long weekend... and a very fun weekend! Baby shower, birthday party, grandparents visiting, Halloween, pumpkin patch... ok, I am exhausted just listing it all. Honestly, I am exhausted anyway! I don't remember being this tired my first 3 pregnancies. I am sure I was, but right now I am beat! I can't wait to blog it all. For now, enjoy this picture of my little sweetie who is 2 years old tomorrow!!!!

Happy birthday, precious Sierra!