Halloween Happenings

This past week we've been "Everything Halloween". We saved our pumpkin from the patch until this past week when Daddy had the time to sit down with Anne Marie and help her carve her pumpkin.

We also were invited to a Halloween party this past weekend. Not only did kids dress up, but adults were supposed to as well. We had a blast!

I know I've said it before, but just in case you missed it, I have some VERY talented friends in my life. We borrowed a costume from our friend Avery (the one that she wore last year). Her mom Jenn made it -- and it could not be cuter!!! Anne Marie is a doll in it. It's a kitty costume. So, it only made sense for Mike and I to dress as mice. We just dressed in all grey and I sewed tails for us and made little ears for us to wear. Anne Marie thought it was just a hoot.

Then, Halloween night we went to our Church's annual Trunk-or-Treat -- my sister and niece joined us. It's such a great way for the kids to have a safe night, with no scary costumes or decorations, and to be around the loving friends at Church.

Helping clean the pumpkin - she didn't want to touch it!!

Helping Daddy clean & carve her pumpkin

Finally ready to light!

A cute cat & two very big mice!!

Two very cute girls - a kitty & butterfly
(Avery's mommy also made her costume this year too!)

(I told you she was talented!)


Our adorable Kitty!!

Mike & our friend Molly teaming up for the "mummy-roll"

Our friends Curious George & The Man in the Yellow Hat

More fun w/ the mummy roll & a beautiful fairy!

Again, I told you my friends (Heather) are talented -- this is a CAKE!!

Having fun w/ cousin Naomi Halloween night @ our church Trunk or Treat

We headed over to Grandma & Grandpa's house so they could see our cute little kitty! Grandma had special treats waiting for Anne Marie. She made spider & ladybug cupcakes for a treat & a bag full of stickers (Anne Marie's favorite thing!!) How cute are those cupcakes?

And to all a Happy Halloween Night (in my oh-too-cute Halloween jammies!!)

Congrat's to Diane & Brian!!!

One of my very best buds (going on 18 years now!! WOW!!) had a bouncy-baby-boy today!! YEA!! 8lbs 12oz's (and he was even a little EARLY folks!!). I only wish I had pictures, but daddy didn't bring his computer cable to the hospital, so we'll have to wait to see him, but I have been given a visual -- and it sounds like he might look a lot like Diane's brother!

We love you guys (all 3!!) Welcome to the world baby Andrew!!

Pumpkin Picking With Friends

Last week we got together with a few friends of ours and went to a pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful day. We had already bought a few "mini-pumpkins" at the local garden center when we went to get our mums, but we really needed a pumpkin to carve. The kids had fun. (Until Anne Marie fell in the pumpkin patch and hit her head on a pumpkin...ouch.) But otherwise it was a nice day.

Perfect spot for a "photo shoot"

Anne Marie and her friends Mira and Emerson ready to hit the pumpkin fields


This one? No, a little too small for me. (She didn't want any pumpkins she couldn't pick up! As she said, "too heby mama, I don't want these")

One of the "too heby" ones

Finally -- we all found our pumpkins and were heading back to pay for our pumpkins

Back at the store - paying for pumpkins & getting a "snack"

Painting Pottery

This past Monday we had the day "free". I woke up and decided I was going to try to come up with something fun and "constructive" to do at the same time. Finally I thought that we call some friends of ours and ask her to meet us at the "paint-your-own-pottery" store. I decided that the girls would have fun and at the same time we could make a few Christmas presents!

So, we headed out. Anne Marie cracked me up because she picked her outfit out that day. She picked out most of it to match quite well, but then she wanted to wear this beach hat she had. It's hard to see in the picture but it's green with white dots & a pink bow...made me laugh.

Of course she had fun -- she was a little impatient as she waited for me to do the "hard work" on the pottery pieces, but she still had fun. And of course, I can't show anything that we did, because we wouldn't want to spoil the surprises before Christmas -- but believe me -- it's too cute!!

Anne Marie all dressed up and ready to go.

Getting ready to paint

Our friend Avery and her new pet horse

Finally!! Getting to paint something!!!

Cleaning our paintbrushes before we head out.

Anne Marie and her friend Avery after a fun day of being "creative".

A Visit With Cousins

This Sunday we met Mike's cousin in a nearby city to have lunch with him, his wife, and his daughter before they headed back home. Mike had to work and could not make it to visit with them, so Anne Marie and I went with Mike's parents. They were in town for a reunion. Mike's cousin married a lovely girl who is from China and they brought their beautiful 1 year old daughter with them. She is the sweetest little thing!!

I would have loved to sit and chat some more with them, I actually have not seen Mike's cousin since we were married. We talked over lunch and the two girls played a little. Anne Marie was so much bigger than their little girl. (And bossier -- haa) Even her mom kept saying how tall Anne Marie was. Holding both of the girls you could tell a difference too ... WOW!! Why my right arm does not have a HUGE muscle bulging out of it I'm not sure. I think Anne Marie is 30lbs now!!

I hope that we can see them again sometime soon, I know that Mike was sorry he couldn't be there.

Mike's cousin with his little girl & Anne Marie

Two sweet little girls -- I think they even have similar facial features here?!

I think this is such a cute pictures -- the girls making each other laugh!!

Lost video... Just had to share!!!!

I was going through our camera cards had the other day. I have noticed that we have at least 4 or 5 camera cards and I'm not sure why we needed that many. Then as I was looking through them I noticed that I have tons of either pictures or video's on them. I guess that we bought extras so that I could keep things on them without feeling like I had to delete things.

Well, this video was on one of them and when I started loading pictures and video's onto my new laptop I just had to share.

This was back in February of 2008. Mike and Anne Marie are sharing a "soda" (from the food section of the kitchen she got for Christmas) Mike was showing her how to open a can of soda, toast, drink & say "AHHH" after drinking it.

What cracks me up is the sound they make when they open the soda and the little smile I get at the end. And doesn't she look SO little in this?? It was just 8 months ago, but it seems like FOREVER since she was this little!!

Apple Picking

This past weekend we went to a local orchard for some apple picking. We've been trying to do this every year. It's so much fun. Then we bring them home and I either make applesauce, fried apples, pies, or just eat them.

This year, we ended up taking some friends with us...it's more fun that way. Before we went, I sat down and sewed a tote bag for Anne Marie to carry her own apples in. (It was big enough for her to carry, but would only hold a few apples, so it wouldn't be too heavy.) We made a tree with her thumb prints for little apples on it and I sewed it to the tote-bag. She was so proud of her little creation.

We bought about 12 lbs of apples -- and you can't forget the apple donuts -- YUM -- warm, just baked & crisp --- I don't even want to guess the calorie count in them ... but they are a MUST when you visit the orchard.

Daddy & Anne Marie ready to hit the orchard.

Anne Marie showing off her new apple-tote


Our friends "M" and "J" joined us to pick apples

The prize 1st apple of the day

Proud of her apple

Enjoying the special apple donut we HAD to get before we left the orchard

End of Summer Luau

Last weekend we were invited to an "end of summer luau". Some friends of Mike's parents have a yearly luau party. This was the first year we attended, and we had such a lovely time! We got there and we were each given sea shell necklaces. We found quite a few people were also invited that we knew and Mike and I had fun catching up with some friends that we had not seen in a while.

There was a band, jumping castles and lots of great food. Anne Marie had the best time. She was just so upset that there were too many BIG kids in the jumping castle... it was just too crazy for someone so little to join in. They passed out glow sticks to all the kids and they all danced with the band waiving their sticks once it got dark.

What a nice way to end our summer ..... a beach vacation & a summer luau ... now we can welcome fall -- I've been decorating this weekend!

Showing off her glow stick.

Eyeing those special "treats"

Anne Marie enjoying the band... this picture of her dancing just cracks me up!!

Anne Marie waiting in line w/ the "big kids" to jump